Editing Creating a CentOS 5.0 Template

[[Category: HOWTO]]
[[Category: Templates]]
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# Install a system (virtual or physical) with the default CentOS installation that you wish to package. This could be a minimal distro or the default distro or even something custom.
# Once the OS has been installed, you need to '''tar''' the contents of the OS.
## First, create a file called '''/tmp/exclude''' and add the following lines to it:
#:  .bash_history
#:  lost+found
#:  /dev/*
#:  /mnt/*
#:  /tmp/*
#:  /proc/*
#:  /sys/*
#:  /usr/src/*
## Now, tar the OS file up by typing: '''tar --numeric-owner -czvf /tmp/centos-5.0-<ARCH>-<DISTRO>-image.tar.gz -X /tmp/exclude /''' where <'''ARCH'''> represents the system architecture ('''i386''' or 
#: '''x86_64''') and <'''DISTRO'''> represents the distribution (default, minimal, etc.).
## Now transfer the file over to the OpenVZ server into '''/vz/template/cache''' folder.
# On the OpenVZ server create a “dummy” container by creating a folder called '''/vz/private/50''' 
#: and copying the '''/etc/vz/conf/ve-vps.basic.conf-sample''' to '''/etc/vz/conf/50.conf'''.
#: '''NOTE''': 50 is the CTID for the container. You can choose any unused CTID on the OpenVZ server.
# Now create a new folder called '''/vz/template/centos/5/<ARCH>/config''' again where 
#: <'''ARCH'''> represents the system architecture.
# Create a file in the folder called rpm and add the following line:
#:  43
# Create a file called '''yum.conf''' in the folder and add the following lines:
#:  [main]
#:  
#:  cachedir=/vz/template/centos/5/<ARCH>/yum-cache/
#:  
#:  reposdir=/dev/null
#:  
#:  installonlypkgs=
#:  
#:  [centos5-base]
#:  name=CentOS 5 - <ARCH> - Base
#:  
#:  baseurl=http://mirror.centos.org/centos/5/os/<ARCH>/
#:  
#:  enabled=1
#:  
#:  gpgcheck=1
#:  
#:  [centos5-updates-released]
#:  
#:  name=CentOS 5 - <ARCH> - Released Updates
#:  
#:  baseurl=http://mirror.centos.org/centos/5/updates/<ARCH>/
#:  
#:  enabled=1
#:  
#:  gpgcheck=1
# Copy '''/etc/vz/dists/centos-4.conf''' to '''/etc/vz/dists/centos-5.conf'''.
# Copy '''/vz/template/centos/4/i386/config/minimal.list''' to ''' /vz/template/centos/5/i386/config/minimal.list'''. 
# Change to the '''/vz/private/50''' folder and then run the command '''gunzip –dc /vz/template/cache/centos-5-<ARCH>-<DISTRO>-image.tar.gz | tar –xvf –'''  to unpack the base image to the folder.
# Make sure you are in the '''/vz/private/50''' folder.
# Edit '''etc/shadow''' and remove the replace the '''root''' password with !! instead of the hashed value.
# Edit the '''etc/inittab''' file and comment out the lines that respawn '''/sbin/mingetty''' on '''tty1''' through '''tty6'''. Just put a # at the beginning of the line.
# Remove the '''etc/mtab''' file and then create a symbolic link by typing '''ln -s /proc/mounts etc/mtab'''.
# Remove all of the lines from '''etc/fstab''' except for the line that mounts '''/dev/pts'''.
# Edit '''etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit''' and comment out the line that starts '''/sbin/start_udev''' by placing a # at the beginning of the line.
# Now create device nodes by typing:
#:  mknod dev/ptmx c 5 2
#:  mkdir dev/pts
#:  /sbin/MAKEDEV –d/vz/private/50/dev ttyp ptyp
#:  mknod dev/null c 1 3
#:  mknod -m 644 dev/random c 1 8 
#:  mknod dev/urandom c 1 9
# Create the '''var/lock/rpm''' folder.
# If you wish to disable IPv6, do the following:
## Edit '''etc/sysconfig/network''' and set '''NETWORKING_IPV6''' to '''no'''.
## Add the following lines to '''etc/modprobe.d/blacklist''':
#:  blacklist ipv6
#:  blacklist net-pf-10
# Disable any physical NICs by modifying the '''etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-ethX''' files (where '''X''' is the interface number starting from '''0''') and setting '''ONBOOT''' to '''no'''.
# Check etc/sysconfig/init to see if PROMPT=yes, and then change to no. Otherwise when startup init script rc will enter interactive mode and wait there forever

# Now you’re ready to start the template. Type '''vzctl start 50''' and wait for it to start.
# You can install additional packages into the container by typing '''vzyum 50 install <package>''' at the prompt where <'''package'''> represents the name of the software package you wish to install.
# Finally, you should turn off unnecessary services.
## Enter the container by typing '''vzctl enter 50'''.
## View the services that are set to run at startup by typing '''chkconfig --list | grep 5:on'''.
## Disable any unwanted service by typing '''chkconfig --levels 2345 <service>''' off where <'''service'''> represents the service to disable.
#: Services that you can (and should) turn off without harm are acpid, apmd, kudzu, and  microcode_ctl.
# Exit the container by typing '''exit''' at the prompt.
# Stop the container by typing '''vzctl stop 50'''.
# Make sure you are in the '''/vz/private/50''' folder.
# Finally, package up the new template by typing '''tar –czvf /vz/template/cache/centos-5-<ARCH>-<DISTRO>.tar.gz ./'''.
# The template is ready for use.