Jigme Datse Yli-RAsku <jigme.datse <at> datsemultimedia.com> writes:
> I am looking at creating a gentoo install which I can use for my hosted > servers. The documentation I have seen about doing so is to mount an > "ISO" and then dd the mounted device to a data drive, make the data > drive bootable (set it in the settings for hosting provider) and attach > it to a server. Testing:: http://user-mode-linux.sourceforge.net/ VM/container images:: There are many around. Rich0 put up one of my favorites, which included btrfs:: https://docs.google.com/document/ d/1VJlJyYLTZScta9a81xgKOIBjYsG3_VfxxmUSxG23Uxg/edit?pli=1 And if you are into openstack cluster images:: https://blog.mthode.org/posts/2016/Jun/gentoo-openstack-and-osic/ > I want to be able to build these images and test them in a virtual > machine on my local server, then end up doing what I need on the hosting > provider to get them in place. Yes we all want this. Truth is, it is very easy to make a misstep. Catalyst was the traditional tool for this this, but it is still usable (at least some claim so). ymmv. Some of the older scripts are very instructive for the steps, but the details will need to modified to fit your current needs. https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Catalyst GRS:: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Project:RelEng_GRS Stage 4:: https://github.com/TheChymera/mkstage4 https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-312817.html http://www.tutorials.chymera.eu/blog/2014/05/18/ mkstage4-stage4-tarballs-made-easy/ https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?p=1751698#1751698 Random links:: http://opensource.dyc.edu/tinhat-howtocook https://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-995118.html http://www.syslinux.org/wiki/index.php?title=Isohybrid https://tails.boum.org/blueprint/bootstrapping/installer/ https://github.com/mikemol/gentoo-install/blob/master/gentoo-install.sh NEW pathways to robust, automated installation:: https://github.com/gentoo/stager/blob/master/road_map.md https://calamares.io/ app-admin/calamares Ansible:: http://blog.jameskyle.org/2014/08/automated-stage3-gentoo-install-using-ansible/ https://github.com/gentoo-ansible > Quick research hasn't given me any clear guidance as to how I can export > the virtual machine (ie. what even can do this) to an image that can be > copied to a drive to produce a bootable drive. > Anyone have some good starting points to think about this? Once you have worked through the gentoo handbook (maybe a few times) all of the methods do start to make more sense. I have been slowly been gathering and testing up old and new methods to automate gentoo installs, regardless of platform:: on discrete hardware, vm, container, hpc or embedded. All have similarities and mostly differ in how you set up the storage (ram, usb, disk, flash, etc etc). > Jigme Datse Yli-Rasku This list is not exhaustive. Before folks will help you very much, make sure you have gone through at least a few gentoo handbook installs and know those steps well. Do post back, as auto/image installs are still a pita for me, as it does take time to smooth out the details on any installation method for gentoo I've been in pursuit of the holy grail of gentoo install. A custom hardware rack/apparatus, where I can plug in anything and perform a myriad of gentoo installs, all with just a few click. ymmv. I have most of the pieces, but ADHD stills has me blocked.... GOOD HUNTING! hth, James
