How to Make openSUSE 11.1 KDE 3.5 LiveCD or LiveDVD

Since openSUSE 11.1 was not officially provided KDE 3.5 LiveCD or LiveDVD, how to get openSUSE 11.1 KDE 3.5 LiveCD with easy step and a few modification by using our install DVD ?

Yes, of course you would have a choice to get KDE 3.5 installed by default by choose “Other-KDE 3.5” on desktop environment choice while installing openSUSE but we may need the LiveCD version for any specific reason and purpose.

Actually, the process itself is not too difficult to do. Thanks to KIWI team for providing nice set tools to make this as easy as modify a few lines of code and run the LiveCD ISO image creation process.

PREPARATION

1. Create local repositories as base installation source. You may used online repositories if you have fast and stable internet connection. The easiest way to make local repositories is by copying all of Installation DVD contents to specified folder. See step 2 for detail instruction.
2. In this scenario, I will used local repositories by using openSUSE 11.1 ISO image (32 bit) mounted to /srv/www/htdocs/11.1 and accessing by http protocol. My iso image location is /home/vavai. My IP address is 192.168.1.70
   [code language=’cpp’]
   su
   mkdir /srv/www/htdocs/11.1
   mount -o loop openSUSE-11.1-DVD-i586.iso /srv/www/htdocs/11.1
   [/code]
   I’m using http protocol with URL http://192.168.1.70/11.1 because the local repos will be accessing by another guys on Local Area Network. If you wish to try by yourself, you do not need to setup http protocol. Just replace the url address http://192.168.1.70/11.1 with your location like /srv/www/htdocs/11.1
3. Install KIWI tools
   [code language=’cpp’]
   zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/openSUSE:/Tools/openSUSE_11.1/ kiwi
   zypper ref
   zypper in kiwi kiwi-tools kiwi-config-openSUSE kiwi-desc-isoboot kiwi-desc-usbboot createrepo squashfs
   [/code]

CONFIGURING SCHEMA

1. Open the configuration schema : /usr/share/openSUSE-kiwi/livecd-kde3/config.xml
2. Optional : Change header of configuration schema, e.g : author, contact, specification and version.
3. Change the important portion : Base installation source from :
   [code language=’cpp’]
   
   [/code]
   into :
   [code language=’cpp’]
   
   [/code]
   or
   [code language=’cpp’]
   
   [/code]
   Depending your choice on preparation phase step 1 and 2
4. If you has no internet connection, remove this portion :
   [code language=’cpp’]
   
   [/code]and

   [code language=’cpp’] [/code]
   Note : there were 2 line of “openSUSE-release-livecd-kde3”. Remove both of them.

GENERATING ISO IMAGE

1. Run the first stage process :
   [code language=’cpp’]
   kiwi –prepare /usr/share/openSUSE-kiwi/livecd-kde3 –root /tmp/kde35-source –logfile terminal
   [/code]
2. Run the second stage process :
   [code language=’cpp’]
   kiwi –type iso –create /tmp/kde35-source -d /tmp/kde35-iso –logfile terminal
   [/code]
3. ISO image can be found at /tmp/kde35-iso. Run the image by burn ISO image onto CD or DVD burner or run the ISO with VMWare or VirtualBox or Xen Virtualip zation

WORKAROUND

1. I’m using optional process ” –logfile terminal”. This will display the installation process. If you found an error, please navigate or scroll up the log process to see what is the problem.
2. There is 2 main problem that usually occurred  on stage 1 : Error with base installation source and package not found.
3. You may also added another package into ISO image but keep in mind with maximum size for LiveCD and LiveDVD
4. If you wish to add 3rd party package, please read the restricted media format documentation due to openSUSE GPL license

SCREENSHOT

1. Image process stage 1
   
2. Image process stage 2
   
3. Booting the ISO
   
4. openSUSE 11.1 KDE 3.5 LiveCD