Debootstrap install

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intro

debootstrap is a program that is used internnally by the debian/ubuntu installers to create a base system. it is a handy tool to do stripped down system installs or installs from a running system, for example if you have a running linux box and you want another you just hook up your other hard drive to it via usb and load the os and there you go. this is how you can bend it to your will.

get debootstrap

it should be in the main repository so you shouldn't have to edit your sources.list at all. just

host$ apt-get install debootstrap

 note: most if not all commands need to be run with root priviledges, so either sudo all of them or just switch to root now (host$ sudo su -).

mountpoint

you need to select a mountpoint that you are going to use. i use /target for convenience. if you see $target in this howto, just replace with the path to whatever mountpoint you will be using. you need to make sure it exists.

host$ mkdir $target

partition/mkfs

IMPORTANT: you need to be absolutely sure you know what the devnode for your target disk is or risk losing everything. much safer to practice from a livecd on a system you dont care about.

host$ cfdisk -z /dev/[target disk]

create one partition for your root filesystem and one for your swap partition. i usually use a swap partition of 1 gig. you can look around the internet for different opinions and guidelines about it.

you need to mkfs the root filesystem.

host$ mkfs.ext4 /dev/[target disk]1

and mkswap your swap partition and turn it on

host$ mkswap /dev/[target disk]2
host$ swapon /dev/[target disk]2

note: if, after you partition your disk you get any problem mkswap and swapon, reboot. your partition table probably needs to be re-read. then redo the mkfs and mkswap. if you use a improperly setup fs, your work will be lost next boot. if you're on a livecd, repeat steps 1 and 2.

if those steps were good, go ahead and mount your target root filesystem on $target

host$ mount /dev/[target disk]1 $target

debootstrap

this is the minimum you should start with.

host$ debootstrap --include ubuntu-minimal,grub,linux-generic karmic $target

you need these to set up wireless generally speaking

wireless-tools wpa-supplicant

you may also want these so your system is more friendly/useful. you can wait to install these in the chroot step or after booting the new system if you want.

vim screen sudo language-pack-en gpm(i dont usually use a mouse in text mode, but i wont stop you) mc man

configure system

network interface configuration

you will want generally to have lo set for loopback and eth0 set for dhcp. i wont go into making wireless automagic from startup here, there are other resources on the net.

your $target/etc/network/interfaces file should contain these lines

auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

hostname by default is either ubuntu or whatever your host's hostname is

change the hostname on the 127.0.0.1 line in $target/etc/hosts

change $target/etc/hostname

chroot

you need to execute some things inside the target system. for this you will use chroot to enter. use host$

chroot $target /bin/bash

. from now on anything prefixed with chroot$ needs to be done in this chroot. it is very helpful if you are using multiple xterm to change the prompt in your chroot to make it clear where you are entering commands. try

chroot$ export PS1=chroot-$PS1

install grub

set up dev, proc and fake mtab

host$ mount -o bind /dev $target/dev
host$ mount -t proc proc $target/proc

you need a $target/etc/mtab to placate grub-install. it needs to contain the line /dev/[target disk] /boot [target filesystem] rw 0 0. ex:

chroot$ echo /dev/[target disk]1 /boot ext4 rw 0 0 > /etc/mtab

install-grub

you need to run install-grub in the target chroot and give an argument of where to install. you can use a devnode, but i prefer to use grub notation. (hdx,y) where x is the number, counting from zero, of the disk you want and y is the partition on that disk you want to install to. if you just specify a disk, ex (hd0), it will install to the mbr instead of a particular superblock.

chroot$ install-grub "(hd1)"
chroot$ update-grub

make sure $target/boot/grub/menu.lst is accurate. you should look for references to hda1 and change them to sda1 probably.

user setup

set root password - this is important. if you dont have a password set, you will not have a blank password, you will have no password and consequently will not be able to login

chroot$ passwd

you may want to setup a non-root user as is good security practice

chroot$ adduser newuser

(or whatever username)

then you should add it to sudo and audio

chroot$ gpasswd -a newuser audio
chroot$ gpasswd -a newuser sudo

setup sudo

chroot$ visudo

then add a line that says

%sudo ALL=(ALL) ALL

boot new system

reboot your system without the livecd if you're using a livecd or boot your target disk on your new system if you are doing it that way.

now you can add more software like ubuntu-desktop or xorg and fluxbox and firefox or whatever your heart desires. i just use fluxbox firefox and xorg and nodm on lightweight systems. nodm can be a security risk since it automatically logs on. maybe use wdm if you need a real logon.

new-system$ apt-get update
new-system$ apt-get install xchat

to get xchat so you can goto #shellium