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<htmlet>fedora</htmlet>
One of the common complaints about Linux distributions was that you had to download large installation images containing all kinds of packages that you probably didn't need and wouldn't even include in the resulting installation. These times are now changing and with Fedora you now have the power to create your own Fedora distribution containing just the packages you need. This concept is known as creating a ''Re-spin''. On Fedora, a re-spin is created using something called ''Revisor'', a graphical based tool designed to take you through the steps necessary to define and create your own Linux distribution.
== Installation Media vs Live Media ==
Revisor provides the option to build ''installation media'' (either CDs or DVDs from which the custom distribution will be installed onto the hard disk drive a target computer system) or ''Live Media'' (a copy of the distribution that is booted and run from a CD or DVD without the need to install to a hard disk drive). In the case of the Live Media configuration, extra steps are provided to preconfigure pre-configure networking, authentication, firewall settings and a user. Whilst these settings are mostly optional, configuring them into the live media distribution at creation time avoids the necessity to manually configure them each time the live distribution is booted.
== Installing Revisor on Fedora ==
== Creating a Fedora Re-spin ==
Begin by clicking on the ''Get Started'' button located on the Revisor welcome screen. The next screen to appear permits the selection of media type to be created (see figure below). If you are creating installation media (i.e . a DVD or CDROM from which you plan to boot and install Fedora on a system), select one of the ''Installation Media Types''. Alternatively, if you want to create a Fedora Live CD (a CD from which you can boot to try out Fedora before installing on a system) select the ''Live Media Type''.
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Generally you can leave the ''Revisor Configuration'' field unchanged unless you have created your own configuration file. The ''Configuration Section to Use'' drop down menu provides a way to select the desired Fedora version and architecture. Scroll through the list until you find the correct configuration to use. The ''Destination Directory'' field specifies where the re-spin images will be located when the creation process is complete. Change this to a suitable location if the default destination is not acceptable.
If you need to add additional repositories click on the ''Add Repository'' button and enter the information in the resulting window. Once the configuration is complete, press the ''Forward'' button to proceed to the next step.
If you plan to use a Kickstart configuration use the the current screen to enter the appropriate information. Inf If you elected to create a ''Live Media'' distribution, the option is provided to pre-configure settings such as network devices, users, passwords, locale, keyboard type, the X Window System and authentication select the corresponding option in the ''Advanced Options'' section. If you are not using Kickstart simply press the ''Forward'' button to continue to the next step of the Fedora re-spin configuration.
== Selecting the Re-Spin Packages ==
== Configuring Network Devices and Authentication ==
If Live Media is being created and the option to configure advanced settings such as networking and authentication was selected on the Kickstart configuration page, the next step allows network interfaces to be perpre-configured into the custom Fedora distribution. To add a networking device click on the ''Add Network Device'' button to display the ''Network Device Information'' dialog as illustration in the following figure:
Each network device may be configured to dynamically obtain an IP address from a DHCP server, or manually assigned a static IP address. Once a device has been configured, click ''OK'' to add the device to the configuration. Repeat this process to add additional network devices as required.
Having configured the network devices, the next screen allows authentication settings to be pre-configured. Options are provided to set up NIS, LDAP, Kerberos, Hesiod, SMB and Name Switch Cache settings. Unless you are setting up the distribution for use in an enterprise environment , these settings can be skipped.
== Configuring Firewall, Desktop and User Settings ==
The next steps of the configuration process (assuming, once again, the creation of Live Media and that the option to do so was selected on the Kicksart Kickstart configuration page) involves configuration of the firewall, desktop and user settings. For more information of configuring a Fedora firewall, refer to the the chapter entitled [[Basic Fedora Linux Firewall Configuration]].
== Creating the Re-Spin Distribution ==
Once the creation process finishes, Revisor will display a "''Congratulations, Compose Complete" '' message.
== Mounting or Burning a Fedora Re-Spin ISO ==
mount -o loop F-7-i386-DVD.iso /mnt/isodisk
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<htmlet>fedora</htmlet>