How to create Ubuntu Live CD/DVD using Remastersys

This tutorial is for creating a Live CD/DVD based on Ubuntu 12.04. You can also try latest version of Ubuntu Live CD/DVD by using the following instructions.

Step 1
Install Ubuntu 12.04 in a PC or using a Virtual Box application.
Upgrade the system by installing latest packages, apply the following commands,

sudo su
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

Install the additional applications (e.g. Gimp) for your Live CD/DVD.

Step 2
Remove the uncessary packages using bleachbit. Otherwise the size of Live DVD will be heavy. Install bleachbit using the following command,

apt-get install bleachbit

Open Bleachbit from Applications > System Tools

To use bleachbit, see the documentation here.

Step 3
Installation of Remastersys in Ubuntu 12.04. Apply the following commands.

sudo su
wget -O - http://www.remastersys.com/ubuntu/remastersys.gpg.key | apt-key add -

gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Add the following lines in the file, save and close.

#Remastersys Precise
deb http://www.remastersys.com/ubuntu precise main

You can add repository for latest version of Ubuntu from here, 

Update the package repository and install Remastersys

apt-get update
apt-get install remastersys remastersys-gtk

Remastersys will appear in Applications > System Tools > Administration
  
See the screen shots below,

Main screen of Remastersys.

 

You can assign name of your project.

You can export user settings to Live DVD.

You can click on appropriate buttons to build Live DVD. You need Internet connection to run Remastersys. Certain packages to be installed from Internet to build the Live DVD. The output will be in .iso format, you can locate it from /home/remastersys. Burn the .iso file in a DVD and boot from computer.

How to create Ubuntu Live CD using Remastersys

Remastersys is a helpful tool for creating a Live CD. You can create custom distribution including your favorite applications for distribution among your friends and professional community.

Installation of Remastersys in Ubuntu 10.04

Download and install the Remastersys deb file from following location.
Download Link

Execute the following commands in Terminal,

sudo su

apt-get install ubiquity-frontend-gtk

rm /var/lib/ubiquity/os-prober-cache

sudo gedit /usr/bin/remastersys

comment out the following row (line number 242)

rm -rf $WORKDIR/dummysys/etc/gdm/custom.conf 


You can find it from Places > Administration > Remastersys

Building your Live CD/DVD
Install / remove applications for your Live CD/DVD project.

You can make use Ailrus tool for removing unnecessary files deposited in system.
Download Link

Select the Clean Up option from Ailurus tool bar.

Click on the buttons to clean up,

• Nautilus Thumbnail images
• APT Cache
• Auto removable packages
• Unused software configurations
• Unused Linux kernels

It will remove unwanted files from your system and it will reduce the Live CD size.

Creating an ISO image
Start Remastersys from Places > Administration

Remastersys Options

Backup- to make a livecd/dvd backup of your system.
Dist- to make a livecd/dvd backup and call the iso custom.iso
Clean- to remove files of earlier work

Remastersys start to build .iso file, when you click on Backup/Dist option.
While the livecd/dvd is being created, you should not open any other apps or windows. The location of your .iso can be find in /home/remastersys/remastersys

Before write the ISO image in a CD/DVD you can test in a virtual machine application like Virtualbox or VMware.

Read about Virtualbox installation in Ubuntu here.