lfs-book/chapter01/how.xml

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<sect1 id="ch-intro-how">
  <?dbhtml filename="how.html"?>

  <title>How to Build an LFS System</title>

  <para>The LFS system will be built by using an already installed
  Linux distribution (such as Debian, OpenMandriva, Fedora, or openSUSE). This
  existing Linux system (the host) will be used as a starting point to
  provide necessary programs, including a compiler, linker, and shell,
  to build the new system. Select the <quote>development</quote> option
  during the distribution installation to be able to access these
  tools.</para>

  <para>As an alternative to installing a separate distribution onto your
  machine, you may wish to use <!-- the Linux From Scratch LiveCD or --> a LiveCD from a
  commercial distribution. <!-- The LFS LiveCD works well as a host system,
  providing all the tools you need to successfully follow the instructions in
  this book. The LiveCD version is behind the current book, but is still useful
  as a host for building the current book.  The <quote>-nosrc</quote> or
  <quote>-min</quote> editions of the LiveCD are the most appropriate for
  building a current LFS system.  For more information about the LFS LiveCD or
  to download a copy, visit <ulink url="&livecd-root;"/>. --></para>

  <!--
  <note>
    <para>The LFS LiveCD might not work on newer hardware configurations,
    failing to boot or failing to detect some devices such as some SATA hard
    drives.</para>
  </note> -->

  <para><xref linkend="chapter-partitioning"/> of this book describes how
  to create a new Linux native partition and file system. This is the place
  where the new LFS system will be compiled and installed. <xref
  linkend="chapter-getting-materials"/> explains which packages and
  patches need to be downloaded to build an LFS system and how to store
  them on the new file system. <xref linkend="chapter-final-preps"/>
  discusses the setup of an appropriate working environment. Please read
  <xref linkend="chapter-final-preps"/> carefully as it explains several
  important issues you need be aware of before beginning to
  work your way through <xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> and beyond.</para>

  <para><xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> explains the installation of
  a number of packages that are needed to resolve circular
  dependencies&mdash;for example, to compile a compiler, you need a compiler.
  or to unpack the tar package, you need tar.</para>

  <para><xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> also shows you how to
  build a C cross-compiling toolchain as a first step, including binutils
  and GCC. Cross-compiling is not absolutely needed since the machine we'll
  run LFS on is the same as the one we build on, but it has the advantage
  of clearly separating the already installed system and the future LFS one.
  The next step is to build Glibc, the C library. Glibc will be compiled by
  the toolchain programs built previously. Then, the missing bits for a
  C++ cross-compiling toolchain will be built. It is then possible to build
  packages that are needed to resolve circular dependencies in such a way
  that the produced executables and libraries are completely independent
  from the installed distribution.</para>

  <para>The remainder of <xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> adds
  the packages necessary to get a complete build environment. This is done
  after running the <command>chroot</command> (change root) program to enter
  a virtual environment and start a new shell whose root directory will be
  set to the LFS partition. This is very similar to rebooting and instructing
  the kernel to mount the LFS partition as the root partition. The system
  does not actually reboot, but instead uses <command>chroot</command>
  because creating a bootable system requires additional work which is not 
  ecessary just yet. The major advantage is that <quote>chrooting</quote>
  allows to isolate the build process from the installed distribution, while
  using the installed kernel.</para>

  <para>This effort to isolate the new system from the host distribution may
  seem excessive. A full technical explanation as to why this is done is
  provided in <xref linkend="ch-tools-toolchaintechnotes"/>.</para>

  <para>In <xref linkend="chapter-building-system"/>, The
  full LFS system is built. Another advantage provided by the chroot
  environment is that it allows you to continue using the host system
  while LFS is being built. While waiting for package compilations to
  complete, you can continue using your computer as normal.</para>

  <para>To finish the installation, the basic system configuration is set up in
  <xref linkend="chapter-config"/>, and the kernel and boot loader are set
  up in <xref linkend="chapter-bootable"/>. <xref linkend="chapter-finalizing"/>
  contains information on continuing the LFS experience beyond this book.
  After the steps in this book have been implemented, the computer will be
  ready to reboot into the new LFS system.</para>

  <para>This is the process in a nutshell. Detailed information on each
  step is discussed in the following chapters and package descriptions.
  Items that may seem complicated will be clarified, and everything will
  fall into place as you embark on the LFS adventure.</para>

</sect1>