OpenSolaris

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Distribution Constructor

The Distribution Constructor project is building a set of GUI and command-line tools allowing users to build an install image from a package repository. The distribution constructor tools accept input from the user and process a set of repository packages into one or more media images which can be utilized to install an OpenSolaris distribution.

A prototype version of the Distribution Constructor has been built and used to construct the Project Indiana preview releases. The team is currently designing a more robust, featured, and easier-to-use tool based on the experiences gained in building and using the prototype over the previous months.

A future phase of the project will add the ability to generate an installable distribution using an existing installed system as its input, rather than a set of packages in a repository. This would be either an enhancement to, or replacement for, the existing Flash Installation functionality.

Deliverables

The current phase of the project has the following deliverables:

  • A command-line interface to run the construction process
  • A manifest file format consumed by the constructor
  • Modifications to the Target Instantiation module built in Dwarf Caiman and Slim Install to create the file system structure needed for building thedistribution
  • Modifications to the Transfer module to support installing a set of IPS packages
  • A plug-in interface that the user or other projects can use to perform their image-specific customizations
  • Checkpointing interfaces which allow a build to be debugged, and restarted
  • A module for constructing a boot archive usable on installable media
  • Support for localization of the image produced
  • An installable package containing the distro constructor

Resources