Remastering

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Introduction to remastering and remastering software. Meet Customizer, the advanced Live CD customization and remastering tool for building an Ubuntu-based remix.

Remastering means to create a new version from the original [1][2]. In software development, this refers to recreating system software that includes applications and customizations while sharing the same codebase of the original [3].

Debian is one of the five distributions that changed Linux [4]. Debian has been remastered to create many Linux distributions, including Knoppix (2000) and Ubuntu (2004). The latter was also remastered to create Linux Mint (2006).

Klaus Knopper, the creator of Knoppix, is said to have made remastering popular [3][5] among users of GNU/Linux software. Knoppix was remastered as early as 2003 [6] to create Damn Small Linux, which had its first release in 2005 [7].

The most difficult option

Knoppix has three options of customization (the easiest from top) [8]:

Load default image, then use cheat codes to specify parameters at boot prompt;
Install default image to external read/write media, with persistent memory and option 1;
Create new compressed image by remastering Knoppix itself

Following above, remastering is listed as third option and is the most difficult option. For typical users who are unfamiliar with chroot method, remastering seems to be a bad option. That was until Ubuntu Customization Kit (UCK) debuted in 2006 [9][10].

With UCK, adding language support can be fully done via graphical user interface [11]. However, when remastering using the alternate CD [12] or Ubuntu Mini Remix ISO image [13], users are required to use uck-remaster-* scripts i.e. command line method.

Besides UCK, other notable remastering tools available for Ubuntu are Remastersys [13] and Novo Builder [15][16]. While these tools have been working well, either one always lack something that user needs. Following these, Novo Builder was forked to create Customizer [17].

Remastering made easier

Customizer takes a different approach to do remastering, by extracting the content of ISO image and splits into /FileSystem and /ISO directories. As a result, user can modify the files at anytime, rebuild, test, modify and test again [17].

The general workflow is described below.

User runs Customizer and selects a supported ISO image;
The contents are extracted in the working directory;
Customizer enables its features based on the selected ISO image;
User can customize from package manager (if available), chroot Terminal or hook;
User can rebuild a new ISO image at anytime;
User can test the new ISO image in QEMU or any virtual machine.

For a simple customization i.e. installing an additional package, it can be fully done via graphical user interface and takes just few clicks to remaster the ISO image from start to finish. The minimal interface makes simple for user to navigate and almost intuitive.

For advanced customizations, use the chroot Terminal or the hook to automate the process. It takes just a single click to open the chroot Terminal. This is much easier than command line method, which requires a single line of command (via UCK) or multiple steps (via chroot) [18].

TL;DR Remastering is the most difficult option for customization. Customizer makes things easier for the users to create an Ubuntu-based remix.

References

[1] remastering on Wiktionary, a Wiki-based Open Content dictionary.

[2] remaster Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia.

[3] Software remastering on Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

[4] The Five Distros That Changed Linux on Linux Magazine, published on December 16th, 2009.

[5] knoppix-reloaded-2004-screen.pdf, 17-page presentation slides titled KNOPPIX RELOADED – Remastering des Live-Systems by Klaus Knopper, Stand: 11.02.2004.

[6] Index of /damnsmall/archive/ on ibiblio, The Public's Library and Digital Archive. Note: The oldest version found is damnsmall-0.4.8.iso dated 2003-Sep-20.

[7] Damn Small Linux on DistroWatch.com. Note: First release noted is 1.01 dated 2005-04-15.

[8] Customizing FAQ on Knoppix Documentation Wiki.

[9] Ubuntu Customization Kit on Launchpad.net, registered 2006-05-31.

[10] Linux Experiment : Ubuntu Customization Kit, the oldest review with screenshots of UCK 1.1, dated 2006-07-18 (lang:id).

[11] Building Customized Ubuntu Live-CDs With UCK On Ubuntu 9.04, the step by step to change the language of the Live-CD to German, on Howtoforge Linux Tutorials site.

[12] Remastering an “Ubuntu alternate” ISO with Ubuntu Customization Kit – the complete guide, posted by Fabrizio Balliano, on November 27, 2007.

[13] FAQ #1221, "uck-gui and Ubuntu Mini Remix" on Launchpad.net, dated 2010-07-28.

[14] Remastersys Backup, the legacy homepage via Internet Archive Wayback Machine, dated 2010-08-16.

[15] Novo Builder, the official homepage since 2010.

[16] make your own Custom LiveCD/distro easily Using Novo Builder, the earliest review on OMG! Ubuntu! dated June 27, 2010.

[17] Customizer User Guide 3.x, see page 12-13.

[18] DebootstrapChroot on Community Help Wiki.

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