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Install Remastersys in Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic)
The Remastersys repository needs to be added to your /etc/apt/sources.list
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Paste the following into the sources.list:
# Remastersys
deb http://www.geekconnection.org/remastersys/repository karmic/
Save and exit the file.
Update the source list using the following command
sudo apt-get update
Install remastersys using the following command
sudo apt-get install remastersys
This will complete the installation
Using Remastersys
In order to learn how you can use remastersys, run
sudo remastersys
remastersys Syntax
sudo remastersys backup|clean|dist [cdfs|iso] [filename.iso]
remastersys Examples
1) to make a livecd/dvd backup of your system
sudo remastersys backup
2) to make a livecd/dvd backup and call the iso custom.iso
sudo remastersys backup custom.iso
3) to clean up temporary files of remastersys
sudo remastersys clean
4) to make a distributable livecd/dvd of your system
sudo remastersys dist
5) to make a distributable livecd/dvd filesystem only
sudo remastersys dist cdfs
6) to make a distributable iso named custom.iso but only if the cdfs is already present
sudo remastersys dist iso custom.iso
cdfs and iso options should only be used if you wish to modify something on the cd before the iso is created. An example of this would be to modify the isolinux portion of the livecd/dvd
Creating An ISO Image
To create an iso image of your installation, simply run
sudo remastersys dist
This will create an iso image called customdist.iso in the /home/remastersys directory. The dist option makes that your personal folder (e.g. /home/ruchi) will not be included in the iso image. You might have to insert your Ubuntu installation CD during the process.
This is how the end of the process looks:
[...]
92.16% done, estimate finish Wed DEC 28 15:31:25 2009
93.39% done, estimate finish Wed DEC 28 15:31:25 2009
94.62% done, estimate finish Wed DEC 28 15:31:24 2009
95.85% done, estimate finish Wed DEC 28 15:31:24 2009
97.08% done, estimate finish Wed DEC 28 15:31:25 2009
98.31% done, estimate finish Wed DEC 28 15:31:25 2009
99.54% done, estimate finish Wed DEC 28 15:31:25 2009
Total translation table size: 2048
Total rockridge attributes bytes: 3950
Total directory bytes: 9094
Path table size(bytes): 54
Max brk space used 0
406890 extents written (794 MB)
/home/remastersys/customdist.iso is ready to be burned or tested in a virtual machine.
Check the size and if it is larger than 700MB you will need to burn it to a dvd
796M /home/remastersys/customdist.iso
Clean Up
After you’ve burnt the iso image onto a CD/DVD, you can run
sudo remastersys clean
to remove all temporary file created during the iso generation as well as the /home/remastersys directory.
can this backup programs too?
@ Phil
Yes it does if you have all your apps installed in ubuntu.Even themes are in the iso.
I tried it last week to put the iso on another pc in the house and it worked perfectly.
All my apps were there with the themes.
Nice job remastersys.
Best regards.
Why are you editing /etc/apt/sources.list itself?
Isn’t it easier to do (as super-user)
cat >/etc/apt/sources.list.d/remastersys.list
and put the line or two in there? You can create many list files or a few in categories or however you want.
I couldn’t really understand: so this software keeps all the softwares and custom modifications I made to Ubuntu and allows me to keep them if for example I have to install it to a new computer?
@ Lucas
Yes,it keeps all your apps and custom modifications and even updates if i am right.
Example = you installed ubuntu 2 months ago and you have installed all your apps,installed all the updates and themes etc.
You use remastersys to create an .iso,everything will be in the .iso even kernel updates.
So your second computer will be exactly like the one you used remastersys to create the iso.
Works like a charm.
Did it with a usb stick,awsome and fast installation by the way.
Best regards.
so which command should i use to back up my programs as well?
sudo remastersys backup or sudo remastersys backup custom.iso
@ Phil
Well ,i went to
http://www.geekconnection.org/remastersys/ubuntu.html
then i added the repository of remastersys for karmic
For Karmic and Newer with grub2 - version 2.0.13-1 and up
# Remastersys
deb http://www.geekconnection.org/remastersys/repository karmic/
then you update the source with update manager or what you like.
TThen install remastersys via synaptic or terminal.
It comes with a GUI so you dont need the terminal.
You can choose several option,like creating an iso with all your personal data in it or just the programs and all that comes with your current Karmic.And even more option and its very easy to understand.
Try it and give some feedback.
Best regards.
Thank you very much!
This is a really usefull utility!!!
No prob,my pleasure,Best regards and have a nice day.
Well i tried installing this yesterday following all the instructions etc, rebooted my system and then lost my menus etc … had to do a clean install in the end … was so frustrating and such ashame
Well, I tried to use this with Karmic, the dvd burns good, but when I install this it says that Grub would not install .. so Idk how to make it work 0.o..
i have create a custum ubuntu9.10 using remastersys.
CUSTUM live cd work on live mode
But it can not install to standalone machine due to user account cannot create… ie installation stop at 85%.
Please Help.
Gracias Gracias Gracias
Thank you Thank you Thank you
gave me an error so i went to the link and it’s down?
Error message:
W: Failed to fetch http://www.geekconnection.org/remastersys/repository/karmic/Release.gpg Could not resolve ”
# Remastersys
deb http://www.geekconnection.org/remastersys/repository karmic/
Works fine with Ubuntu 10.4 - But no encrypted home possible - But thx thx thx
with Ubuntu 10.04 it creates image fine, but it doesn’t boot complaining about initrd.lz not found
It’s create successfully image file, but when I try to boot it gives me error:
boot:
Loading /casper/vmlinuz…………………………………………..
Could not find ramdisk image: /casper/initrd.gz
boot:
Help!
This has been fixed in latest remastersys release so try to updating to latest version
So I’ve created the ISO without a hitch but now I’m stuck at the suggestion of trying it on a virtual machine before burning it. A how-to go from the ISO to running it on a virtual machine (KVM seems nice but I’m open) would be very welcomed.
I am also looking for a way to back up an Ubuntu 10.4 installation. But how can this “Remastersys” back everything up on a CD or DVD? They only hold a few Gb at most. And hard disks in most machines are 40 Gb or much larger. Does it use multiple DVDs in this case? This would mean dozens, in many cases, particularly if your disk is full. It would be much better to back up to am external USB drive, since terabyte drives are now available for $100 or so, and will store more than 200 DVDs worth of data. If “Remastersys” can use an external USB drive as a target for both backup and restore, I would be interested. Another point - does the target system for restore have to be a similar machine? This could be a problem if the original hardware failed or was destroyed in a fire.