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  1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
  2. <!DOCTYPE sect1 PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.5//EN"
  3. "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.5/docbookx.dtd" [
  4. <!ENTITY % general-entities SYSTEM "../general.ent">
  5. %general-entities;
  6. ]>
  7. <sect1 id="ch-intro-how">
  8. <?dbhtml filename="how.html"?>
  9. <title>How to Build an LFS System</title>
  10. <para>The LFS system will be built by using an already installed
  11. Linux distribution (such as Debian, Mandriva, Red Hat, or SUSE). This
  12. existing Linux system (the host) will be used as a starting point to
  13. provide necessary programs, including a compiler, linker, and shell,
  14. to build the new system. Select the <quote>development</quote> option
  15. during the distribution installation to be able to access these
  16. tools.</para>
  17. <para>As an alternative to installing a separate distribution onto your
  18. machine, you may wish to use <!-- the Linux From Scratch LiveCD or --> a LiveCD from a
  19. commercial distribution. <!-- The LFS LiveCD works well as a host system,
  20. providing all the tools you need to successfully follow the instructions in
  21. this book. The LiveCD version is behind the current book, but is still useful
  22. as a host for building the current book. The <quote>-nosrc</quote> or
  23. <quote>-min</quote> editions of the LiveCD are the most appropriate for
  24. building a current LFS system. For more information about the LFS LiveCD or
  25. to download a copy, visit <ulink url="&livecd-root;"/>. --></para>
  26. <!--
  27. <note>
  28. <para>The LFS LiveCD might not work on newer hardware configurations,
  29. failing to boot or failing to detect some devices such as some SATA hard
  30. drives.</para>
  31. </note> -->
  32. <para><xref linkend="chapter-partitioning"/> of this book describes how
  33. to create a new Linux native partition and file system. This is the place
  34. where the new LFS system will be compiled and installed. <xref
  35. linkend="chapter-getting-materials"/> explains which packages and
  36. patches need to be downloaded to build an LFS system and how to store
  37. them on the new file system. <xref linkend="chapter-final-preps"/>
  38. discusses the setup of an appropriate working environment. Please read
  39. <xref linkend="chapter-final-preps"/> carefully as it explains several
  40. important issues you need be aware of before beginning to
  41. work your way through <xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> and beyond.</para>
  42. <para><xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> explains the
  43. installation of a number of packages that will form the basic
  44. development suite (or toolchain) which is used to build the actual
  45. system in <xref linkend="chapter-building-system"/>. Some of these
  46. packages are needed to resolve circular dependencies&mdash;for example,
  47. to compile a compiler, you need a compiler.</para>
  48. <para><xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> also shows you how to
  49. build a first pass of the toolchain, including Binutils and GCC (first pass
  50. basically means these two core packages will be reinstalled).
  51. The next step is to build Glibc, the C library. Glibc will be compiled by
  52. the toolchain programs built in the first pass. Then, a second pass of the
  53. toolchain will be built. This time, the toolchain will be dynamically linked
  54. against the newly built Glibc. The remaining <xref
  55. linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> packages are built using this second
  56. pass toolchain. When this is done, the LFS installation process will no
  57. longer depend on the host distribution, with the exception of the running
  58. kernel. </para>
  59. <para>This effort to isolate the new system from the host distribution may
  60. seem excessive. A full technical explanation as to why this is done is provided in
  61. <xref linkend="ch-tools-toolchaintechnotes"/>.</para>
  62. <para>In <xref linkend="chapter-building-system"/>, the full LFS system is
  63. built. The <command>chroot</command> (change root) program is used to enter
  64. a virtual environment and start a new shell whose root directory will be
  65. set to the LFS partition. This is very similar to rebooting and instructing
  66. the kernel to mount the LFS partition as the root partition. The system
  67. does not actually reboot, but instead <command>chroot</command>'s because
  68. creating a bootable system requires additional work which is not necessary
  69. just yet. The major advantage is that <quote>chrooting</quote> allows you
  70. to continue using the host system while LFS is being built. While waiting
  71. for package compilations to complete, you can continue using your computer as
  72. normal.</para>
  73. <para>To finish the installation, the LFS-Bootscripts are set up in
  74. <xref linkend="chapter-bootscripts"/>, and the kernel and boot loader are set
  75. up in <xref linkend="chapter-bootable"/>. <xref linkend="chapter-finalizing"/>
  76. contains information on continuing the LFS experience beyond this book.
  77. After the steps in this book have been implemented, the computer will be
  78. ready to reboot into the new LFS system.</para>
  79. <para>This is the process in a nutshell. Detailed information on each
  80. step is discussed in the following chapters and package descriptions.
  81. Items that may seem complicated will be clarified, and everything will
  82. fall into place as you embark on the LFS adventure.</para>
  83. </sect1>