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mksusecd

This is a tool to create (open)SUSE Linux installation ISOs - either from scratch or by modifying existing ISOs. It is not intended to create an installation repository or completely new product media. For this, use kiwi.

mksusecd makes it easy to apply modifications to existing install media, like:

  • integrate driver updates (DUD)
  • modify the installation system
  • replace kernel and modules used during installation
  • add boot options
  • create and integrate add-on repositories
  • change the default repositories used during installation
  • create a mini ('network') boot iso from a regular dvd

The images mksusecd creates can be put both on a cd/dvd or a (usb-)disk. For this mksusecd creates so-called 'isohybrid' images. If you are interested in the technical details, you can read more about it here.

Downloads

Get the latest version from the openSUSE Build Service.

Blog

See also my mini-series of articles around SUSE installation media and driver updates that highlight specific use-cases:

Simple use cases

Note

In all the examples below, when you use an iso image as source (and not a directory with the unpacked iso), you must run mksusecd with root permissions as it will need to mount the iso image temporarily.

1. Update a package that is used in the installation system

We have a patch for yast2-core that is needed during installation and the final system, e.g. for an AutoYaST installation. The patch is included in yast2-core-3.1.12-0.x86_64.rpm.

  • Create a Driver Update Disk (DUD) from yast2-core.rpm:

    mkdud --create bug-free.dud --dist 13.2 yast2-core-3.1.12-0.x86_64.rpm

  • Create a new ISO from the original openSUSE 13.2 ISO and the DUD:

    mksusecd --create bug-free.iso --initrd bug-free.dud openSUSE-13.2-DVD-x86_64.iso

Now you can use bug-free.iso as a replacement for openSUSE-13.2-DVD-x86_64.iso.

2 .Create a network install iso

Say, you need to walk around and install a lot from http://foo/bar, then do

mksusecd --create foo.iso --nano --net=http://foo/bar openSUSE-13.2-DVD-x86_64.iso

--nano puts only the necessary files for booting on the media (not the installer itself, for example).

3. Add some boot options

If you need to repeatedly enter the same boot options, create an iso that already has them:

mksusecd --create foo.iso --boot "sshd=1 password=*****" openSUSE-13.2-DVD-x86_64.iso

This would start an ssh daemon you can login to during installation.

4. Modify some other things on the install iso

  • Unpack the iso into some temporary directory:

    mount -oloop,ro openSUSE-13.2-DVD-x86_64.iso /mnt
mkdir /tmp/foo
cp -a /mnt/* /tmp/foo
chmod -R u+w /tmp/foo
umount /mnt

  • Do any changes you like in /tmp/foo

  • Build a new iso

    mksusecd --create foo.iso /tmp/foo

Installation

Often you will need mkdud along with mksusecd. Both mksusecd and mkdud are included in openSUSE Tumbleweed. So on openSUSE Tumbleweed installation is as simple as

zypper in mksusecd mkdud

openSUSE Development

To build, simply run make. Install with make install.

Basically every new commit into the master branch of the repository will be auto-submitted to all current SUSE products. No further action is needed except accepting the pull request.

Submissions are managed by a SUSE internal jenkins node in the InstallTools tab.

Each time a new commit is integrated into the master branch of the repository, a new submit request is created to the openSUSE Build Service. The devel project is system:install:head.

*.changes and version numbers are auto-generated from git commits, you don't have to worry about this.

The spec file is maintained in the Build Service only. If you need to change it for the master branch, submit to the devel project in the build service directly.

Development happens exclusively in the master branch. The branch is used for all current products.

You can find more information about the changes auto-generation and the tools used for jenkis submissions in the linuxrc-devtools documentation.