Date: Tue, 26 Aug 2003 13:42:58 -0700 (PDT) From: Julian Elischer <julian@elischer.org> To: Tyler Kellen <tyler@statuo.com> Cc: kientzle@acm.org Subject: RE: Minimalist FreeBSD 4.8 Message-ID: <Pine.BSF.4.21.0308261338190.33736-100000@InterJet.elischer.org> In-Reply-To: <001a01c36bff$cff9e840$a700000a@TYBOX>
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here is a possibilty.. as soon as the system has it's disks mounted, you could do: compile a kernel with option KTRACE ( cd /big-partition; ktrace -d -i -p 1 -tn) put it in /etc/rc just after the mount of the big partition. then boot do what you want to do... when you are likely to have done everything you want to do, then: ktrace -C cd /big-partition; kdump should give you a list of every file that has been accessed since you rebooted.. delete everything not referenced :-) On Tue, 26 Aug 2003, Tyler Kellen wrote: > Tim, > > I've been pointed in the direction of the delete-and-reboot method a few > times before. I'd really like some pointers for trimming down quickly > that doesn't involve hours of trial and error. > > I don't need all of the functionality that base system offers. When and > if I do, I'd like to put it on the system myself. > > Just so you have a little background, I am a seasoned C & C++ > programmer. I'm currently doing some web-based application development > utilizing asp/mssql. In the past I've worked with php/postgresql. > > I'm not a novice by a long shot when it comes to this sort of tinkering. > Even so this process has proved itself pretty daunting. > > I find it much easier to learn when everything on my system was put > there by me (within reason). I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I feel > like I can't get there with FreeBSD. It bugs me to the point of turning > back to Linux. > > I'm doing a make buildworld as we speak, hopefully going through this > process will help a bit. > > What I'd really like to know is how to strip down a working system. If > This hasn't been done, I guess I'm looking for someone with the > knowledge and the time/generosity to help me figure it out. Once I get > there, I intend to post it on my website for other converts who may feel > the same way. > > This forum is most likely going to be my last resort, as I have looked > pretty much everywhere I can think to look. Is there anything else you > can offer to get me moving in the desired direction? > > -T > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org > [mailto:owner-freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org] On Behalf Of Tim Kientzle > Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 12:42 PM > To: Tyler Kellen > Cc: freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org > Subject: Re: Minimalist FreeBSD 4.8 > > Tyler Kellen wrote: > > I've got a 4.8 minimal install on an extra machine. As an LFS user > > I find the FreeBSD 4.8 minimal install to be pretty far from minimal. > > You've found one of the major differences between FreeBSD and Linux. > In short, FreeBSD is a complete system. It's designed, developed, > and maintained as a single coherent project. (There are a few > components that are imported from outside sources, but the key approach > is still the same: the source code from those outside projects is > integrated into FreeBSD's source code and then maintained as a > part of the integrated FreeBSD project.) > > In contrast, Linux distributions are assembled from the results > of a number of independently-managed projects. > > As a result, it is quite natural to remove (or not install) > components of a Linux distribution. This is a less natural > thing to do with FreeBSD. It is possible, and minimal FreeBSD > systems are being used in a lot of embedded systems (such as > routers, email appliances, and the like), but it does require > a bit of expertise to get there. > > > I've checked > > out the PicoBSD project, the MiniBSD project and the FreeBSD From > > Scratch projects extensively. I'm not famillar enough with FreeBSD to > > get any of them up and running the way I want. > > Those projects are intended more for people knowledgable about FreeBSD > who want to customize FreeBSD for specialized applications. > They really aren't designed for people just getting started. > > > I'm looking for a way to strip down my 4.8 box to nothing but gcc and > > vi. Unfortunately I don't quite know how to get there. > > > I'm hoping to end up with an empty system that I can fool > > around with and learn from the bottom up. > > My advice: start deleting things and see what happens. > You can always re-install from the CDROM and start over if > necessary. > > In the case of FreeBSD, though, a better way to start learning the > system is probably to install a basic system, then learn how to compile > and update the system from source code, and then start playing with > the various customization options there (read "man make.conf" carefully, > experiment with kernel configuration, etc.). That will help you get > a feel for how the various pieces interact and which ones are > important for what uses. You may want to set yourself a goal > of building your own customized release CDs (e.g. "make release"). > By the time you get there, you'll have a pretty good feel for > the FreeBSD system as a whole. If you have programming skills, > you can then start digging into the source code and seeing how > it all works internally. If not, you can still get a lot out > of browsing through the source tree to see what's there and > how it all fits together. > > And, of course, read the mailing lists and ask questions. > You've already got that part. > > FreeBSD is a great system. Welcome to the club! > > Tim Kientzle > > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hackers > To unsubscribe, send any mail to > "freebsd-hackers-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" > > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-hackers > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-hackers-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" >
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