This tutorial will explain, in what I believe to be, the simplest way to backup your system into a distributable LiveCD/DVD, with or without your personal data. This is done using a wonderful little utility called Remastersys. This utility can back up your personal data in a custom bootable LiveCD (a .iso that can be burnt to a CD/DVD, size permitting). Or it can create a distributable copy of your entire system, exempting your personal files (useful for systechs that need to install ubuntu on multiple machines without a network).
THIS HOWTO DOES NOT COME WITH ANY WARRANTY/GUARANTEE IN ANY WAR OR FORM, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Prereq's;
- Depending on the size of your system between 3-5 GB of extra space on you hard drive to store the .iso temporarily.
- Knowing how to burn .iso's. Don't know go here
- Admin privileges.
- A DVD/CD burner that works.
Installation: (Remastersys)
First you need to add Remastersys to your repository.
Open Terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal)
Type in the following;
Code:
sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
Scroll to the bottom of the list that appears and add the following;
Code:
# Remastersys
deb http://www.remastersys.klikit-linux.com/repository remastersys/
Save the file in gedit, and exit. We have now added Remastersys so that it can be easily downloaded/updated.
Go back to Terminal and type in the following to update the repository;
Code:
sudo apt-get update
Now for the installation of Remastersys;
Code:
sudo apt-get install remastersys
It may state that remastersys is an untrusted source or something like that I forget, just type in y and continue. You can find more information on it here.
Creation of customized LiveCD/DVD;
Remastersys offers a variety of options to create your copy. And all it takes is two lines of code. The first to create the .iso, the second to clean out all the temp. files Remastersys created.
Here's the syntax if your more advanced;
Code:
sudo remastersys backup|clean|dist [cdfs|iso] [filename.iso]
For newer users here are your options;
A complete backup of your system, which includes your system and your personal files type in the following into the Terminal;
Code:
sudo remastersys backup
If you want the .iso to have a special name simply type the following;
Code:
sudo remastersys backup example.iso
Where example is the name you want to call the .iso.
Another option would be to create a distributable LiveCD of the entire system without having your personal files (Home etc.) on the disk.
To do this simply type in the following;
Code:
sudo remastersys dist
When this is complete you can find the .iso in /home/remastersys. Burn that to a CD if its smaller than 700mb, or a dvd if its larger than that. If you don't know how to, refer back to my prereq's, there is a link on how to do it in Ubuntu.
Once the .iso is burnt you'll want to clean up your system of the files remastersys created. Type in the following command to do so;
Code:
sudo remastersys clean
If you would like to view the codes from the Remastersys help file simply type in the following in a list of codes will pop up. It will also state what each command does;
And voilla, you've created a bootable LiveCD/DVD, with your personal files and all your configurations, or a distributable CD/DVD that you can install on any computer. In a few easy steps.
This tutorial shows one how to customize their backup with the remastersys syntax. Remastersys was created by Tony Brijeski a.k.a. Fragadelic (if you wish use the GUI which is located under System > Adminstration > Remastersys Backup)
HOWTO: Create a custom LiveCD of your system (distributable) Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
Adv Reply
I've created that iso image of my system using the GUI of remastersys as described above. But the live dvd prompt me to login with my username and password!! How could I find those username and password? Please help me. 
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