Arch-live Development Blog

Have a new blog home now

2008-11-12T10:09:00.000-08:00

I got a new blog for arch-live at godane.wordpress.com. This is going to be development and personal blog. I using wordpress now cause it has more flexable to what i need.

All my post here will be in my new wordpress page. I hope you guys understand why i'm doing this. Arch livecds will still be released but just on be posted on godane.wordpress.com.

Thanks for all your support on this blog page and my project.

Arch-Mini 20081104 Release

2008-11-04T21:48:00.000-08:00

I decide to make a new release now so the installer problem will be fix.

* added the older mke2fs.conf file in overlay so my problem will not happen again. (I report the bug here.)
* added gksu and rebuild larchin with new python 2.6 too.
* all package are up to date to today (20081104).

You can get the iso here.

Issue with installer in arch-mini

2008-11-04T17:17:00.000-08:00

I know what the problem is now. Its the new e2fsprogs package.

This is the problem:
http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Reinstalling_GRUB#Errors

/etc/mke2fs.conf file was change and so the set inode_size is 256 not 128. This is made grub not install right with arch-mini to your hard drive. So basicly its not my fault this time.

I will added in the older /etc/mke2fs.conf file in overlay so it will not happen again. At least i hope.

Arch-Mini 20081102 Release

2008-11-02T15:51:00.000-08:00

I'm final releasing a mini version of my project now. This release is differnet in that it doesn't have gnome and kde in it. Only light desktops.

* awesome has been fix. Its now it the Xsession script for calling on desktops. (I hope this works since i didn't test it.) Its not a boot option at the moment.

* Using isolinux boot menu now. This is so you can added files with isomaster and still be bootable. (grub livecd are not bootable if you remaster with isomaster.)

* Lxde, xfce, and e17 can be selected at boot.

* /usr/share/locale folder is remove like in last archiso-live. This is cause arch-mini is english only for now. (It also saves my ~40mb of space on the iso.

* The installer should be fine now. I have not touch those 2 files that cause the problem since i fix it. I just copy sysvinit and shutdown functions over the -chakra version in overlay. Made a if statement to see if /bootmnt/archlive.sqfs file exist so the cd may eject. If it doesn't exist it will think its on a hard drive.

Root password is ArchLinux

arch password is arch

You can get the iso here.

EDIT: For some reason this will not install anymore. I don't know why or how to fix it. In virtualbox it was something to do with /boot/grub/stage1 not be readable i think. Its best to not install it for now and coming future.

Fix for Archiso-live 20081028 Release

2008-10-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

i have made a xdelta file for fixing the Archiso-live 20081028. This is only need if your going to install it.

You can get here.

Do it like this:
pacman -Sy xdelta
xdelta patch archiso-live-20081028.1.xdelta archiso-live-20081028.iso archiso-live-20081028.1.iso

NOTE: This only need if your going install it. Otherwize you don't need it.

PS You don't need this if you just delete two files from your live system before install. Do 'gksu thunar' and enter in password 'ArchLinux'. Then go into /etc/rc.d/functions.d and delete sysinit-chakra and shutdown-chakra. This is so you don't have reburn the cd.

Archiso-live 20081028 Release

2008-10-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

Changes since last release:
* Replace the videoconfig script with the one from a upcoming distro called Chakra. Chaka is the new kdemod distro thats coming from kdemod team. Anyway they made a better xorg config system then me.
New Boot options:

xres (ex. xres=1024x768 will give you a 1024x768 resolution)

xdepth (ex. xdepth=16 will give you 16 color depth)

nonfree (yes or no) This is for auto detecting video cards installing the nonfree one to use. I set most of them to 'no' cause it could cause problems on some computers. (?)

* remove the /usr/share/locale files. This saves the distro 100+mb of space for video drivers and other programs. (Only the reason for now is the video drives.) This will make my archiso-live a English only distro for now on.

* Added gnome-commander and gnome-device-manager programs.

* I removed all wallpapers from kde but the default one. This saves another 30+mb.

You can get the iso here.

root password is ArchLinux

arch password is arch

EDIT: Installer may not work do some of the changes i made. I think is just cause of some files in /etc/rc.d/functions.d think its still a live cd.

Archiso-live 20081019 Release

2008-10-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

Changes since last release:
* autologin to arch user is by default now. The autologin boot option is for making a user to autologin to. (ex. autologin=liveuser will make liveuser account)

* kde is in iso now. :) So now the archiso-live has every desktop including kde(4).

* kino, kompozer, and gdesklets are not in this release. But isomaster is back in.

* Remove /usr/share/doc, /usr/share/gtk-doc, and /usr/share/devhelp. This is to save space so its under 700mb. (Plus there not normally need for a livecd anyway.)

* Using older dhcpcd 3.2.1 cause the newer one dhcpcd 4.0.2 is causing problems with kernel 2.6.27 for some reason.

* Desktop color depth is 16 now instead of 24. This is to stop video problems with using kde4 in virtualbox.

You can get the iso and build scripts here. Also the iso weight is ~687.7mb in size. So it should say 688mb in web broswer since it rounds in out.

Archiso-live 20081013 Release

2008-10-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

Changes since last release:
* grub-gfx is removed so it just plain grub in this release.
* Fixed a bug that cause 100% cpu usage for the 1st 5 min.
* Fixed and rebuild aufs for new 2.6.27 kernel.
* Added brs=1 kernel module option for aufs. This will allow more modules to be supported.
* Aufs supports up to 1023 folders in union.

login: root
password: ArchLinux

login: arch
password: arch

You can get the iso here.

PS I made a git version of my archiso-live scripts this week. And also a friend make a Main Site for me cause he likes my distro but hates the blog site. The links are in side bar to the right. Label has 'Archiso-live github repo' and 'Arch-live Main Site'.

Archiso-live 20081005 Release

2008-10-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

Changes since last release:
* I made a script called modatabase. This is so if you install this on a usb you can update all the modules at once. This is very alpha right now. You device has to be write-able and ext2 format. You can use iso2bootusb also to install it to usb device too. It uses syslinux for the boot loader.

* I remove 003-apps module because most are separate modules now in modules/extras folder. About 15 smaller programs in 003-apps module were merged into 001-desktop to save on boot time.

You can get the build scripts and iso here.

login: root
password: ArchLinux

login: arch
password: arch

PS If you need to use the installer then login has root. The same can be said for using shaman and gtk-pacman. I'm sorry if this in inconvineince to you.

Archiso-live 20080929 Release

2008-09-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

Changes since last release:
* Remove ffmpeg and xine-lib modules cause there in 002-lib module now
* Added iso2bootusb to iso now. I also added isolinux folder in image too but its not configure yet for archiso-live. I just copyed larch isolinux folder.
* Remove boost since its not need.
* Made the system more modular by freeing some packages in 003-apps to be separate modules.

You can get the iso and build scripts here.

root password is ArchLinux
arch password is arch

PS. If people need to know there is a noxconf boot option so your xorg.conf is not over writed. This is cause archiso-live has auto configuration for xorg. Arch-larch didn't have this.

Archiso-live 20080921 Release

2008-09-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

Archiso-live is back. I decide to bring this back cause its better then arch-larch. But i added larch, larch-live, and larchin packages in archiso-live. This means that the larch installer is in Archiso-live now and you can remaster it with larch scripts. Not the custom ones i made. Just the plain larch scripts.

Removed packages:
kino
miro

Added packages:
shaman
mixxx
kompozer

You can get the iso and build scripts here.

PS Please test larch installer since i don't know how will it will work on my Archiso-live system.

Arch-larch 20080914 CD Release

2008-09-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

Changes since 20080907 release:
* remove kdemod
* added shaman from archlinux repo
* using qt from arch extra repo instead of qtmod
* added modules builded from unsupported aur:
mixxx
pacbuilder-svn
yaourt
gtkpacman-svn
kompozer
xfburn

* added modules from extra repo:
abiword
gimp-devel
gnumeric

If you want kde you just install kdebase-workspace which should give you a working KDE desktop.

You can get the iso and my custom larch build scripts here.

The iso is around 615.5mb in size.

Arch-larch 20080907 dvd Release

2008-09-07T18:12:00.000-07:00

I decide to take the jump and start using larch scripts. But i customize them so there is modular support, rootcopy, and form boot option. I also add a desktop boot option command to switch to a different desktop then the default one (lxde).

Autologin is only for live user. You have to login to root but there is no password for it. Also kdemod is in this release and most of the apps i have in the normal releases are in here too i think.

Its my first dvd release so be kind to my host. The iso is 948.8mb in size.

You can get the iso and my custom larch build scripts here. I used xmaxi profile for my livedvd.

If anyone wants to mirror it then be my guest.

Archiso-live 20080831 Release

2008-08-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

Changes since 20080823 release:
frozen-bubble dropped due to size

added blobwars, crack-attack, and zsnes

Archiso-live now auto login's in to arch user. The default desktop is lxde.

There is also a boot option called session to over ride the default desktop.

Desktops that can be used:
lxde
xfce
awesome
fluxbox
gnome
icewm
e17

I also added slax2hd back in. Its under /root folder.

You can get the iso here.

Archiso-live 20080823 Release

2008-08-23T22:23:00.000-07:00

Changes since 20080814 release:
Made the system modular like it use to be with the orginal arch-live

add bootiso boot option ( ex bootiso=archiso.iso will look for archiso.iso on all sd* devices)

added hal and dbus-python with deps to archlive.sqfs core module to stop a bug that would make usb switch impossible without using shell

packages added:
kompozer
frozen-bubble
ltris
gnome-commander
all packages in the FrOSCon 2008 Special Edition are added to archlive.sqfs

removed:
inkscape and deps for space reason

You can get the iso here.

Archiso-live 20080814 Release

2008-08-14T19:51:00.000-07:00

Changes since 20080807:
added a fix changes boot option meaning you can only use changes on ext2 partition or ext2 format usb stick. A folder name changes is used for this.

added rootcopy to hooks in initramfs image. Norootcopy boot option is there too.

The archlive.sqfs file is the main module image now. This release is not has modular cause of pacman -S -e being dropped. The only real reason i don't have a major probelm with this is cause making the modules doesn't take long with plain gzip squashfs.

Lxde is the main desktop for now. I decide this to see if people like it better.

Desktops removed/missing:
e17-cvs(?)
gnome

packages removed/missing:
gtkpod
mplayer
smplayer
gnome-commander

Added:
inkscape

You can get the iso here.

Archiso-live 20080807 (Second release)

2008-08-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

I started to look at the my custom build scripts of archiso again. I decide to start it up again since this will be more pure archlinux live cd and its faster.

packages missing that are in arch-live:
kino
inkscape and deps
kompozer
e16 (e17cvs is in iso)
windowmaker
xfburn
xfmedia
gonvert
nonfree video-drivers
and others

I have most arch-live packages in arch-live. The configs are the same has in arch-live I think. The major thing with archiso-live is you can use kernel modules from archlinux repo since it use arch kernel. :)

You can get the iso here.

root pass: ArchLinux

user : arch
pass : arch

PS There is no changes, load, or unload boot opitons.

arch-fah (folding@home) 20080803 release

2008-08-03T20:25:00.000-07:00

I releasing a folding@home edition of arch-live. This is just the core folder of arch-live with some settings for folding@home to work.

It uses arch user for folding@home for

security concerns.

user: arch
pass: arch

Root password is ArchLinux.

You can get the iso here.

PS I'm going to see about adding the folding@home editon has a boot option in arch-live. This release is only for people who don't need a desktop and like command line. Folding@home is started at boot so you shouldn't have to do anything but maybe login.

Arch-live 20080731 release

2008-07-31T18:15:00.000-07:00

Changes since last release:
added a mini, CD, and full menu options now.

mini option is the normal desktop apps. If you took the arch-live/base/extra folder from the cd with isomaster you will have more reasonble ~530mb live cd. This come with all the desktops but kde and afterstep.

CD option is just the base folder modules. This is so when i make the dvd edition you can still see what the CD edition looks/feels like with out downloading the cd version. CD option is Default.

The full option is so all modules in base and modules folders are load on boot.

The nonfree ati and nvidia drivers are moved from optional to modules folder now. This is why there is a CD and Full menu options now. NOTE: videoconfig script is bugy with my x200 IGP. This the main reason its being done this way.

I added info.pl script to arch-live. info.pl is called archinfo.pl in arch-live cause its made for archlinux. :) The forum thread about this is here. Packages giblib and scrot are added cause of this script.

I reverse aufs-slax to 20080527 so deactivate script will work again. Now you can remove modules again.

/mnt/live/memory/images folder uses tmpfs now if xino folder needs tmpfs.

I added slax2hd module from here. Its a installer but its uses dialog in shell like slackware installer does. You will have login to root to use it. NOTE: USE AT OWN RISK.

NOTE:
root password: ArchLinux

user: arch
password: arch

packages added:
giblib
scrot
xf86-video-vesa-2.0.0-2-i686 (my own package to fix some vbox problems)
lxde desktop
pacbuilder-svn

You can get the iso here.

Arch-live wiki

2008-07-25T04:41:00.000-07:00

i added a Arch-live wiki link to sided bar. :)
http://arch-live.wolf911.us/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

Here is just the mirror module repo.
http://arch-live.wolf911.us/

Thanks goes to wolfden in the #sabayon channel for trying out my distro.

Arch-live 20080723 release

2008-07-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

Changes since 20080714:
kernel26slax updated to 2.6.26
madwifi-slax package added
gspcav1-slax package added
added xine-lib in xorg to make it possible to do a arch-live-mini (300MB?)
desktop artwork
slim theme is now archlinux-darch-white.

Added packages:
crack-attack
dragonhunt
ltris
fceu
snes9x-gtk
gfceu
generator
simdock
xfmedia
vlc
audacity
mino
qalculate-gtk
emesene

Removed packages:
there are no dep module of kdemod and kdemod4 anymore
I upload it here. Its name will be 11-libkdemod4.lzm.
Only kdemod4 will be supported for now on.

You can get the iso here. I will also added a installer module to repo soon.

PS This release took longer cause i was making kernel 2.6.26 work with my wifi. I found out that you can only have rtl8187 devices working with 11M data rate now with pid data rate in the kernel. code: iwconfig wlan0 rate 11M
NOTE: rtl8187 devices will not work with data rate set to auto or any other rate then 11M.

A Mirror for arch-live ISOs

2008-07-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

I know have a mirror for my arch-live isos. You can find it here. I have it also in my side bar called US Arch-live Mirror 1.

You can thank crouse in the archlinux forum for the mirror.

Arch-live 20080714 release

2008-07-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

Changes in this release:
Made a more stable modular system with my devel package.
Removed most of 02-apps module packages. I did this for saving space.
Using block size 128kb now instead of 64kb.

Packages added:
zsnes
inkscape
utorrent
streamripper
streamturner
blender ?
hydrogen ?
lmms ?
scite

packages from 02-apps added to 02-xorg:
abs
htop
time
whois
lsof
hwd
netkit-bsd-finger
parted
mc
lshwd
syslinux

You can get the the iso here.

There are some extra modules for java runtime, kdemod, and kdemod4. You can get them here.

This iso will be fully updated at 4:00 EST.

EDIT: I changed the background, splash, and slim theme to this. I used the 1280pix version though.

Arch-live 20080706 release

2008-07-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

I'm updating arch-live cause I got linux-live to work with initramfs now. I think everything is working but I have not checked out changes boot option. Also I have updated everything to 20080706 in iso. The only thing I didn't updated is xf86-video-vesa driver. Its cause the new 2.0.0 vesa driver cause virtualbox not work with it.

I have also updated the kernel to 2.6.25.10. I'm using my new kernel26slax package in aur now. Aufs is also updated since I'm compiling againist the kernel for it to work now. The lastest devel package is also in iso under devel folder of the iso.

I move cups from 02-apps.lzm to 03-xorg.lzm because its not need for the arch core live menu option to work. libcups is staying in 02-apps.lzm cause it maybe need by some command line programs. 02-apps.lzm module is now 6mb less without cups in it.

You can get the iso here.

It will be done uploading at 1:30am EST time.

wifi bug in offical archlinux kernel

2008-07-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

There is still some problems with the offical archlinux kernel that I have fould. This problem is not being able to connnect to the internet with my netgear wifi wg111v2 usb stick. This is cause of the mac80211 being set to pid data rate. I need it to be set to simple in order for me to use the offical archlinux kernel. For now I recomplied the archlinux kernel for with simple data rate. Its in the iso for those who are have trouble wifi drivers on kernel 2.6.25.

Here is the bug report: a fix for netgear wg111v2 not work on kernel 2.6.25.x (This bug is in the config upstream)

archiso-live 20080703 (first release)

2008-07-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

I have made some major chanages to the archiso scripts that are used to build the offical archlinux installer iso. I'm doing this for 2 reasons:
1) to be able to use the offical archlinux kernel
2) To be able to use initramfs instead of initrd

Changes from archiso scripts:

* Support aufs and unionfs

* Modular script addmods in /etc/rc.d and added to /etc/rc.conf (This script makes it possible for us to have other modules load at boot.)

* Bind /tmpfs to /mnt/live/memory/changes

* Mount modules in /mnt/live/memory/modules/name.sqfs

* addmods uses liblinuxlive to mount modules and put them in union. Since it uses liblinuxlive we can use load and noload commands now. Just like in slax. EDIT: Optional folder is not blocked from loading modules for some reason. I delete the optional folder cause of this.

* If you use bootusb and from boot options are used on start, there will be a folder called /device.
This /device folder is the usb or hard drive you used 'bootusb' and 'from' boot option from.

* /tmp is mount has tmpfs so we still use the new arch2sqfs. Its based on the old arch2lzm script i used for arch-live.

* Added a custom boot option. This is just so the default-config.sqfs from arch 2008.06 can stay in iso with out being changed. This also mean we can have the arch 2008.06 and the new arch-live run on the same iso.

* All my old configs from arch-live are in custom-config folder now. This means we can have are settings from arch-live stay with us.

* There is 3 new grub boot option.
Archlive Desktop
Archlive Desktop with unionfs
Archlive Desktop with failsafe vesa

Missing:
* Umount /device cleany so it can be mount has read and write
* changes boot option
* hard drives mounting on startup (maybe a boot option for safed reasons)
* Usb keys not know after boot

packages:
most of the package from arch-live are in this release.
packages removed:
enlightment 16 version
gnome desktop
miro
windowmaker desktop (i think)
kompozer
gonvert
deluge
wine
xsane
shaman
ati drivers and nvidia drivers

You can get the iso here.

PS It will be done uploading in about 30min.

Arch-live 20080626 release

2008-06-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

I have update the iso again. Its up to date as of 20080626.

Changes:
gtkpacman
shaman (Need to be root in order ro it to start. This is cause it doesn't has for root password when you start it.)
lighttpd replaces the server modules
mysql is in 08-xlib module now cause its kdemod dep(kdemod is not include)
qtmod from kdemod repalces qt from archlinux
xchm
keytouch (I added it in twice by mistake.)
keytouch-editor
Added e17cvs session to slim. Now you can use e17-cvs desktop on start if you want. (Press F1 on slim login screen to select a desktop.)
I changed the design of the extra/xapps folder. Now its by category of the library it uses. (gtk folder has pygtk, gtk1, and gtk2 apps. qt has qt4 apps, qt3 has qt3 apps, etc.)

You can get the full list of packages and iso here.

You can get kdemod and kdemod4 modules here. Kdmod4 needs jre6u5 for one of the apps to work.

Arch-live 20080619 release

2008-06-19T13:52:00.000-07:00

I have upload a new iso today. I added the following:
firefox3
lmms
hydrogen
smplayer
exaile
kino
added nvidia and ati drivers in optional folder
compiz-fusion in optional folder
asunder
audacious
gajim
gimp-devel replaces gimp
windowmaker
inkscape

I still have firefox2 in cause I couldn't make firefox3-i18n work.

You can get the full package list and iso here.

I hope this helps.

Arch-live 20080612 release

2008-06-12T19:47:00.000-07:00

I have added a new iso tonight. I added gnome desktop to the iso now. I was able to make it using a new "arch2lzm mergelist" option. This is like the addlist option but you make a module from a list in this new option. It will also install any deps missing from the current system too.

I had to reverse my kernel back to the slax 2.6.24.5 version. This is cause 2.6.25.x series has to many bugs in working with wifi. Even in myah 3.0 my problem was still there.

You can get the iso and package list here.

PS My internet upload speed is 3 times then last week. I was able to upload the 558mb iso file in 75 minutes. This is very good since i can make special dvd editions of arch-live and be able to upload them in reasonable amount of time. (Ex. Based on those speeds i can upload a 1.5gb iso file in about 4 hours. :) )

Arch-live 20080605 release

2008-06-05T15:24:00.000-07:00

I have updated the kernel to 2.6.25.4. I used patches from myah 3.0 kernel sources. I modified my patches for sqlzma against myah sqlzma patches for it to work in 2.6.25.4 kernel.

Kernel26livecd aur package is here.

I have added awesome desktop and merge 03-common with 01-core.

You can get the iso, package list, and new modules package list here.

Since the kernel has been updated i'm going to delete the older isos to save space on my host server. This is so the kernel drivers in the module repo will only be for new current kernel and there is no confusion with older drivers.

I will keep the last update and move my kernel drivers for the older kernel there. This is so there will be a older version for people that want it or need it.

Arch-live passwords

2008-05-31T20:19:00.000-07:00

I forgot to post the password on this blog.
user: root
pass: ArchLinux

user:arch
pass:arch

Arch-live 20080531 release

2008-05-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

I had to make this release cause of some bugs.

Changes since 20080529:
openbox works now (uses login has background)
enlightenment works and can be selected at login
made sure the xf86-video drivers were in 04-xorg module
added gtk-recordmydesktop and catfish to 07-xapps module
added parted to 03-common module
everything is updated to 20080531 has of 4:00pm EST Time
truecrypt was also added

You can get the iso and the packages list here.

I hope this fixes all the bugs in my last release.

Arch-live 20080529 release

2008-05-29T20:15:00.000-07:00

I have change the packages in the modules again. I did so it can be more modular. Now you can just use 01-04 modules if you only have a 256mb usb thumb drive.

Added packages:
miro
xulrunner
xine-lib
boost

You can get the iso and full package list here.

I'm also use 64kb blocksize now. I have heard of problems with speed on older systems if you use 256kb blocksize. I have change the arch2lzm script use 64kb blocksize by default. I will change the script in the next release so you setup your own blocksize. This way people can custom the size vs. speed of the modules.

EDIT: I forgot to added parted in the iso for gparted. Sorry about that.

Arch-live 20080521 release

2008-05-21T19:09:00.000-07:00

I have just updated Arch-live to 20080521 (today). I also added most but not all deps for kdemod or kdemod4 to work. This is so I don't have 20-30 little modules that are about 100-300KB in size. It makes it easier for me to not have too many modules that are deps. It would make it hard for me and you (the user) having that many modules for deps. This also speeds up boot time since most of the deps are in 03-lib module.

I added awesome, icewm, and fvwm desktop. Last time i checked openbox is not work in arch-live for some reason. But I think this should help you have a option for a liter desktop.

You can get the iso here. The md5sum is the folder too.

EDIT: I added slax kernel from 6.0.7. The kernel version is 2.6.24.5 now. Virtualbox is update for this new kernel.

What is Arch-live?

2008-05-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

I working on the development of a live cd/usb called arch-live. Its based on modified linux-live scripts with slax kernel and archlinux packages. The slax kernel is used cause of the initrd is need for linux-live scripts to work. That and I think archlinux kernel is unstable for a live cd that I'm doing.

Stay tune for more updates.