Build Service/KIWI

From openSUSE

openSUSE - KIWI Image System

The openSUSE KIWI Image System provides a complete operating system image solution for Linux supported hardware platforms as well as for virtualization systems like Xen. The KIWI architecture was designed as a two level system. The first stage, based on a valid software package source, creates a so called physical extend according to the provided image description. The second stage creates from a required physical extend an operating system image. The result of the second stage is called a logical extend or short an image.

Documentation

Read more about the system design of KIWI in the KIWI Image System Cookbook

Have a look at the Cooking with KIWI recipes for a smooth start with KIWI

or have a look at other Examples:

• Instructions on how to build a live DVD -> LiveDVD
• Instructions on how to build a Xen image -> Build_Service/KIWI/XEN_Imaging
• Instructions on how to build a Qemu/Vmdk image -> Build_Service/KIWI/QEMU-VMDK_Imaging
• Instructions on how to build a live USB stick -> Live_USB_stick
• Instructions on how to create any kind of image from installed system -> KIWI_Migrate
• Instructions on how to build a SLES 10 SP2 LiveDVD -> Build_Service/KIWI/SLES10SP2

Check out the FAQ for specific questions.

Caveats

• Kiwi and SLE 10 -> Build_Service/KIWI/SLE10_caveats

Around the Blogosphere:

General places where KIWI has been used:

• Beineri: KDE Four Live
• duncanmv: Helping create a test environment for Linux
• dl9pf: openSUSE buildservice VMware image
• Kolab on openSUSE Kolab
• LimeJeos on openSUSE LimeJeos. A linux minimal edition just enough operating system for building software appliances on top of openSUSE.
• cgoncalves: openSUSE 11.0 KDE3 LiveCDs

Getting KIWI

The KIWI tools can be found in the KIWI packages as part of the openSUSE Tools project.

TODO

For a look at the currently planned KIWI developments, head over to Build_Service/KIWI/Todo.

Projects using KIWI

• SUSE Studio uses Kiwi as backend. It provides a web interface for creating custom Linux, fast and easy, in your browser.
• LTSP5 on openSUSE LTSP
• SUSE Linux Point of Service uses Kiwi together with the YaST-based Image Creator frontend to build OS images for Point of Service terminals.

Communicate

• Mailing lists:
  • Developers: kiwi-devel@lists.berlios.de
  • Users: kiwi-users@lists.berlios.de
• IRC: #opensuse-kiwi on irc.freenode.net

Requesting enhancements, reporting bugs, submitting patches

Visit http://bugzilla.novell.com

• Classification: All
• Product: openSUSE.org
• Component: System Imaging
• Summary : "kiwi: summarize your report here"

Convenient URL to file new KIWI bug (with the settings above)

See Also

YaST module providing GUI for kiwi is called Image Creator.