Description

Build iso images, create live usb drives, install on usb drives.

Archuseriso is based on Archiso, the Arch Linux tool for building the official iso image.

Archuseriso provides profiles and additional tools for building iso images and creating bootable usb drives. Features persistence, usb drive installation and encryption.

AUR https://aur.archlinux.org/packages/archuseriso

ISO download http://dl.gnutux.fr/archuseriso

Features

• desktop profiles
• easy build
• alternate language at build time
• zstandard fast compressor
• live usb drive with persistence
• pacman updates support
• installation on usb drive
• Btrfs/F2FS file system option
• LUKS encryption
• EFI rEFInd boot manager
• user packages additions to live image
• samba public folder sharing
• Nvidia graphics option
• Optimus hardware option
• ZFS support option
• testing package option
• user data addition to live image

Profiles

• Console
• Cinnamon
• Deepin
• Gnome
• i3
• Kde
• LXQt
• Mate
• Sway
• Xfce

Hint for gr, rs, ru and ua with two keyboard layouts: press both Shift keys together for switching the keyboard layout.

Installation

Install archuseriso available on the AUR

Alternate installation method from git repository:

sudo pacman --needed -S git arch-install-scripts bash dosfstools e2fsprogs libisoburn make mtools squashfs-tools syslinux grub
git clone https://github.com/laurent85v/archuseriso.git
sudo make -C archuseriso install

Create iso image

Synopsis:

aui-mkiso [options] <path to profile>

Xfce profile with default options:

sudo aui-mkiso /usr/share/archuseriso/profiles/xfce/

Default directory /usr/share/archuseriso/profiles is assumed when using profile name only:

sudo aui-mkiso xfce

Other examples:

Kde Plasma profile, German language, Optimus hardware (PRIME render offload setup) and additional packages

sudo aui-mkiso --language=de --optimus --add-pkg=byobu,base-devel /usr/share/archuseriso/profiles/kde/

Gnome profile, additional packages, user packages addition (directory containing user pkg.tar.zst packages)

sudo aui-mkiso --add-pkg=ntop,vlc --pkg-dir=~/mypackages /usr/share/archuseriso/profiles/gnome/

When done remove the work directory. The iso image is located in the out directory.

Live usb

The live usb is created with persistence, the boot menu offers live booting and persistence booting.

Synopsis:

aui-mkusb [options] <iso image> <usb device>

Example:

sudo aui-mkusb aui-xfce-linux_5_7_10-optimus-0724-x64.iso /dev/sdc

Drive partitioning, Ext4 default for persistence

GPT layout
Partition   Type              Usage
#1          Ext4              Squashfs image
#2          EFI FAT           Boot
#3          Ext4|Btrfs|F2FS   Persistence

Btrfs file system

Two subvolumes a created: rootfs and home. The rootfs subvolume is mounted as the persistent root file system. The home subvolmue is mounted as a separate volume for the home tree. This feature also facilitates the usage of systemd-homed for creating an additional user account with the --storage=subvolume option.

ZFS

The buid option '--zfs' for adding zfs support proceeds in two stages. First stage builds the zfs packages, second stage builds the iso image. Archuseriso also provides a program aui-build_zfs_packages for building ZFS packages against current Linux kernel.

Installation on usb drive

Standard installation except systemd journal configured in volatile mode.

Synopsis:

aui-mkinstall [options] <iso image> <usb device>

Example:

sudo aui-mkinstall aui-xfce-linux_5_7_10-0724-x64.iso /dev/sdc

Drive partitioning, Ext4 default file system:

GPT layout
Partition   Type              Usage
#1          EFI FAT           Boot
#2          Ext4|Btrfs|F2FS   System

Hybrid usb drive

Both live and standard installation. Boot menu offers standard booting and live booting.

Synopsis:

aui-mkhybrid [options] <iso image> <usb device>

Example:

sudo aui-mkhybrid aui-xfce-linux_5_10_9-0121-x64.iso /dev/sdc

Drive partitioning, Ext4 default file system:

GPT layout
Partition   Type              Usage
#1          Ext4              Squashfs image
#2          EFI FAT           Boot
#3          Ext4|Brtfs|F2FS   System

Testing

Running the iso image in a qemu virtual machine:

Bios mode

aui-run -i aui-xfce-linux_5_10_7-0116-x64.iso

uefi mode

aui-run -u -i aui-xfce-linux_5_10_7-0116-x64.iso

Testing the usb drive /dev/sdc:

Bios mode

sudo aui-run -d /dev/sdc

uefi mode

sudo aui-run -u -d /dev/sdc