Building a custom image

Aurora
1

@inffy pointed me to custom image. :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: So, I think it is best to create a new topic.

Currently, running Arch based Linux I have some required packages which are not included in Aurora (and nor Blueffin or Bazzite). Which makes sense, of course.

I need

  • dovecot server
  • opensmtpd
  • snapper
  • emacs
  • asusctl and asusctl-rog-gui (here I would have to add repo info in /etc/yum.repos.

My understanding is that it is possible to install those package as layered, i.e. rpm-ostree install … and I only have to pay attention if there is a switch from Fedora n to Fedora n+1.
In this case it would be (probably) best to uninstall those packages and after having rebased to Fedora n+1 I could install them again.

If I would be able to build a custom image would this cause any problems or would it be the preferred way to go?

2

All info found here GitHub - ublue-os/image-template: Build your own custom Universal Blue Image!

This is the easiest way to create an image.

3

Thanks a lot. Although I plan to start with installing these packages as layered I will take a look how to build my own custom image.

4

Also there is zero point on including snapper. It has no real use in the Atomic distros as we have deplyments and you can pretty much always boot the previous one if the newest one for some reason breaks.

Also recommended to test others first inside a distrobox (except those asus stuff).

5

I do not totally agree about snapper. Sure, I don’t need it for the system.

But ….

Although I have my backups I am used to use snapper for my home directory and some project directories which are all distinct btrfs subvolumes. In the past I had situations where it was so convenient to just go to a snapshot to get back something I damaged. :grin: Far easier than restoring from backups.

6

FWIW, I use rsync to backup to my NAS (OMV running on Raspberry Pi 4). If I just need a file or directory - restore is just an rsync or scp command away.

That eliminates the need of managing snapshots for me.

7

I use restic and kopia for backups. snapper should not regarded as a backup. Because, if the disk hardware-crashes then the snapshots are gone as well. But it is very nice to have an hourly snapshot during the day aso.