I understand few of the previous items. However, I have thought that like there is a menu item for create a Flash boot disk, it would be great to have a menu item to "create a flash boot drive like the one that I have".
Having just been through the creation of a fully 64-bits version of Knoppix, including remastering, I am thinking about simple solutions for creating this kind of derivatives. What to do with an upcoming Knoppix 6.6, for example? According to Klaus, it will still be hybrid.
I think working out from the minirt might be a good way. We have the 64-bits kernel, which does not have to be replaced (if it's not for Knoppix-unrelated bugs etc - like with 2.6.37 necessitating 2.6.39). We also have 64-bits busybox from Debian releases - what more do we need to start off?
To me, it seems that it might suffice to put dpkg with support libraries into the minirt bin. Debian live and Kanotix stuffs all sorts of utilities there, I think the Knoppix minimal way is better and more robust.
1. Create a loop-mounted image 5-15GB, just use adaptation of the persistent creating function in minirt.
2. No compressed image in the first version, and minimal system initialization. Use only internal hard disk partitions and USB-mounted media, which are already supported by kernel.
3. Init into a console, where dpkg can be run, to install apt-get, aptitude etc, and continuing from there.
4. Split package lists from to distro-to-copy (e.g. Knopix 6.6) into manageable units, and feed them to aptitude, batch-wise.
5. All the initial setup and testing work is done in qemu-kvm, no rebooting necessary ever.
6. When all actual packages are installed, copy in 64-bits /sbin/init and Knoppix initialization.
7. Create compressed image the ordinary way.
It wouldn't be too hard to have this as an option in standard minirt, I think.
I understand few of the previous items. However, I have thought that like there is a menu item for create a Flash boot disk, it would be great to have a menu item to "create a flash boot drive like the one that I have".
G5T03 Dell Intel DC S3700 Series 800GB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5" SSD 0G5T03 SSDSC2BA800G3E
$55.00
HPGYT DELL 960GB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5in Internal SSD 0HPGYT MTFDDAK960TCB
$59.00
M.2 NVME SATA SSD Enclosure USB 3.2 Gen 2 10Gbps for M-Key or M+B Key SSD to 8TB
$40.86
### MZ-7KE1T0 Samsung 850 Pro Series 1TB 2.5 inch SATA3 SSD ###
$105.00
Patriot P210 128GB 256GB 512GB 1TB 2TB 2.5" SATA 3 6GB/s Internal SSD PC/MAC Lot
$14.99
Netac 1TB 2TB 512GB Internal SSD 2.5'' SATA III 6Gb/s Solid State Drive lot
$13.99
Micron 2300 256GB M.2 GEN 3x4 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive 2280 SSD 00C2G4
$14.99
Fanxiang 4TB 2TB 1TB SSD 550MB/s 2.5'' SATA III Internal Solid State Drive lot
$13.99
Lot of 10 Mixed Brand Model 128GB 2.5" SATA SSD Solid State Drives
$69.99
Fanxiang SSD 512GB 1TB 2TB 4TB 2.5''SATA III Internal Solid State Hard Drive LOT
$188.99