custom thinkpad linux

[dux5]

when i buy a t400 i am thinking about building a custom ISO based of xubuntu using refracta toos,

-500mb iso

More security focused, mostly for people who use pubic wifi etc

start up programs are going to be few,

I plan to remove all useless drivers, and use low weight programs, like leafpad ( text edit), the system will come a little bare, No printer support, all printer related stuff will be removed, in order to save weight.

Chrome with security plugins, https everywhere etc..

wifi will work out of the box, I am not touching anything that has to do with connecting to the internet.

I think i could knock it down to 300mb but that is a crap load of work, there is so much crap its not funny, I don't want to harm the system but removing something other programs use, I am going to need help in this area. I gotten it down to 480mb before on a hp system

[zogthegreat]

Hi dux5,

Not sure what you are trying to do, but since you seem to be leaning towards Debian/Ubuntu, I would recommend that you try this site: http://www.ubuntu-mini-remix.org/ , you can start with a minimal base and build from there.

Linux is not like windows in that the newer kernels, (any thing from 2.6 and up), are modular, i.e. the kernel only loads what you need at start up.

If you are leaning towards a security focused distro, try Kali Linux, http://www.kali.org/ . Although this distro is aimed at network security and penetration testing, it does have many security features that you average Linux distro does not.

However, IMO, the words "security" and "public wifi" should NEVER be used in the same sentence! If you want to use public wifi and have a degree of security, you really need a VPN, (virtual private network). This will allow you to create a "secure" tunnel to your home network, riding on the public wifi connection. I personally have an old x61 motherboard running my firewall/VPN. I use the on-board NIC along with one of these, http://www.ebay.com/itm/D-Link-PCMCIA-E ... 2c53193094 , and an old 4gb ssd from a netbook. This draws about 10w of power under load, so for me it is a perfect setup. For your VPN, I would recommend OpenVPN, http://openvpn.net/ , for your firewall, there are so many choices that you should research it yourself and find out what suits your needs. You can look here, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ro ... tributions .

Also, Linux means learning, so be prepared for a lot of gnashing of the teeth and pulling of your hair! But it's also a lot of fun and you will learn to be more than just a "user", remember what McGruff the Crime Dog says, "Users are losers!"


zog

[dux5]

I been using Linux since 1999 or 2000,

85% of the people in the world, unlike the USA, have slow internet and limited bandwidth, so a 350mb ISO would be great for these people, China, Russia etc,

Most people, as far as i know only want to surf the internet, they don't own printers or need cups, or samba etc

Most people do very little writing, they don't need a 200mb open office, or a 80+mb image editor like gimp, or 5 music players, or a 20 large wallpapers, 10 icon sets, My ideal system will have one very nice wallpaper, one very nice easy on the eyes theme, a browser with security plugins already installed, A firewall that is turned on, limited start-up programs, easy to click on controls etc and a faster software center.. that thing is slow.

[zogthegreat]

Yeah, I've been using Linux about the same amount of time, (currently a working as a sysadmin).

I was talking to my son who is an Uber-gamer, (I apparently am a mere "dabbler" ), and he said Linux games under steam actually perform better than under Windows! I will have to give it a try this week.

As far as rolling your own distro, sounds like a great plan. Since your going with a Debian/Ubuntu base, you might want to take a look at Remastersys, (www.remastersys.com). I was fiddling with it last year, seems to work. Also there is Live-Magic, (sudo apt-get install live-magic) which is also a GUI based builder. There is also Linux Live Kit, (http://www.linux-live.org/) or Instalinux, (http://www.instalinux.com/). One recommendation that I would make is to go with 2.6 kernel. I know 3.X is very bleeding edge and all, but in most production/working environments, this is the kernel that is used. It is very stable and MOST of the bugs/security holes are known and have been patched.