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Idea #20652: Make a release-independent minimal CD

Written by marshmallow1304 the 13 Jul 09 at 02:58. Category: Installation. Related project: Nothing/Others. Status: New
Rationale
To perform a clean install from a minimal CD, you have to download and install the latest version of the minimal CD. A release-independent CD would save CDs while allowing users to very easily select their desired release in the same manner as the current minimal CD options (desktop, server, etc.).

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Solution #1: Easy-to-use release-independent minimal CD
Written by marshmallow1304 the 13 Jul 09 at 02:58.
Release a minimal disc image (perhaps a new one for every LTS release) that includes installation menus where the user can select his desired version (clearly marking LTS releases) and architecture (i386, AMD64, etc.), in addition to software packages (already implemented). Then everything can be retrieved from the servers at once, making minimal install CDs even more versatile.

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cheesehead (Brainstorm moderator) wrote on the 13 Jul 09 at 10:19
Does this idea mean the option to use netboot (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/Netboot ) from the Minimal CD?

marshmallow1304 wrote on the 14 Jul 09 at 00:43
Not exactly; it's actually closer to netboot from internet (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/NetbootInstallFromInternet ) from the Minimal CD, except that version (8.10, 9.04, etc.) and architecture (i386, AMD64, etc.) is selected during installation.

Of course, I can't attest to whether this is actually technically feasible.

marshmallow1304 wrote on the 14 Jul 09 at 02:08
To clarify, it would be something like this.


Boot up the minimal CD.

1. Localization questions (language, keyboard, timezone)
2. Get (from internet) list of available releases
3. Which release of Ubuntu would you like to install?
- 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) [default]
- 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex)
- 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron)
- 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon)
- 7.04 (Feisty Fawn)
- 6.10 (Edgy Eft)
- 6.06 LTS (Dapper Drake)
- 5.10 (Breezy Badger)
- 5.04 (Hoary Hedgehog)
- 4.10 (Warty Warthog)
4. Scan system to determine supported architectures
5. If more than possibility is found then:
What is your preferred architecture?
- i386 [default]
- AMD64
5. Retrieve and install all necessary base packages/files.
6. Continue to main package selection

mikaelstaldal wrote on the 17 Jul 09 at 15:52
Good idea. Please ensure that this can be used from an USB stick as well.

mikaelstaldal wrote on the 22 Jul 09 at 10:10
Why not make this a universal install CD for all official flavours of Ubuntu as well?

- Ubuntu desktop
- Kubuntu
- XUbuntu
- Server edition
- Netbook remix
- etc

marshmallow1304 wrote on the 22 Jul 09 at 20:01
@mikaelstaldal
Isn't the minimal CD already like that (somewhat)? It don't think it has netbook remix, but I know that it has Ubuntu Desktop and Ubuntu Server. I don't remember if it has Kubuntu and Xubuntu.

However, adding all the options that it doesn't already have is another step in the right direction.

marshmallow1304 wrote on the 23 Jul 09 at 05:06
I spoke too soon. I happened to use the Minimal CD today and I saw that it includes

- Ubuntu Desktop
- Kubuntu
- Xubuntu
- Netbook Remix
- Edubuntu
- A LOT of server options
- Some Mythbuntu options

and more.

This is a good thing.

maybeway36 wrote on the 23 Jul 09 at 19:02
Here's how I would do it:
The CD would contain kernel/initrds for all currently supported versions of Ubuntu. On the boot menu, the user would first select a version (8.04 LTS, 8.10).
The next menu would allow selection of variant, i.e. Ubuntu, Xubuntu, etc. This would be passed to the kernel on the command line, and the installer would use it to decide what version to install. (The current installer dialog - tasksel - would appear if there is no kernel argument.)
Only after both menus would the installer actually be loaded.
This seems like it would be possible by preseeding tasksel:
http://www.google.com/search?q=preseed+tasksel


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