Kopidel

This module suggests you a simple interface for copying a working system configured to your requirements to other PCs.

This module provides the following features:

• ability to create a "razlivochniy obraz" of the OS that allows you to quickly install a target OS similar to the original;
• ability to select directory exceptions;
• ability to specify a directory for creating an image;
• ability to use OEM mode. If this mode is enabled you will be able to configure all personal settings when you first boot the target OS (select a system user name, set the language, etc.);
• ability to compress the copied file system.

Note: you need to make sure that there is enough disk space to create a "razlivochniy obraz" (approximately 2.5 times the size of the entire file system).

Warning! The size and number of disks on the target PC must match the size of the disk on the source PC.

Kopidel suggests the following settings:

• Working directory — allows you to select the directory where the ISO image will be created (razlivochniy.iso);
• Use the default list of files to ignore when copying — the file /usr/share/alterator-kopidel/default-ignored-files.txt is used as a source of ignored files. This file contains a list of files and directories (one per line) that should not be installed on the target system;
• Path to the custom list of ignored files — allows you to specify your own file with a list of ignored files and directories (one per line);
• Installation in OEM mode — if this mode is enabled, the system setup wizard will be launched the first time after installing the image on the target PC. The default system setup wizard consists of six steps:
  • "Selecting the primary system language"
  • "License Agreement"
  • "Date and time"
  • "Setting a root password"
  • "Creating a new system user account"
  • "Finishing setup"
  You can configure the system setup wizard with the file /etc/alterator-setup/steps.
• Device for installing GRUB — allows you to specify where the bootloader should be located to launch the OS correctly;
• Compress the copied file system using xz — allows you to compress files as much as possible. If this option is selected, the file system copy step will take a long time.

Note: a working directory can be created on a partition where available space meets the following condition: the size of the file system excluding ignored files and the working directory * 2 + 1 GB.

Note: the working directory cannot be created on filesystems with the ro and nodev mount options.

The procedure for creating the "razlivochiy obraz" and transfering it to the target system consists of the following steps:

1. Install the system on the source PC (when installing, split the disk as it will be split on target PCs).
2. Install the Kopidel module.
3. Configure the source OS (install/remove packages, etc).
4. Make sure you have enough space to create the "razlivochiy obraz" (the amount of disk space occupied * ~2.5).
5. Launch the system control center, Kopidel module.
6. Choose the required options, press the button Create a razlivochniy obraz and wait for the OS image to be created (creating a razlivochniy obraz can take a long time). The creation of the image will be completed when the message Successfully created a razlivochniy obraz appears on the upper progress bar.
7. Transfer the razlivochniy obraz of OS from the working directory to the boot device.
8. Boot from the razlivochniy obraz on the target PC.
9. Kopidel will transfer a copy of the source OS to the target PC (the transfer procedure can take a long time). The process will be displayed on the screen.
10. Disable boot device.
11. Boot from the target system. If the OEM mode was selected when you were configuring the image, you will be taken to the system setup wizard at the first boot, otherwise the OS will be loaded.