source: introduction/common/how.xml@ cc07a72

Last change on this file since cc07a72 was bf8c11f, checked in by Jim Gifford <clfs@…>, 19 years ago

r627@server (orig r625): jim | 2005-10-31 12:59:34 -0800
Import of Cross-LFS Book

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1<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
2<!DOCTYPE sect1 PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.4//EN"
3 "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.4/docbookx.dtd" [
4 <!ENTITY % general-entities SYSTEM "../../general.ent">
5 %general-entities;
6]>
7
8<sect1 id="ch-intro-how">
9 <?dbhtml filename="how.html"?>
10
11 <title>How to Build an LFS System</title>
12
13 <para>The LFS system will be built by using a previously installed
14 Linux distribution (such as Debian, Mandrake, Red Hat, or SuSE). This
15 existing Linux system (the host) will be used as a starting point to
16 provide necessary programs, including a compiler, linker, and shell,
17 to build the new system. Select the <quote>development</quote> option
18 during the distribution installation to be able to access these
19 tools.</para>
20
21 <para>As an alternative to installing an entire separate distribution
22 onto your machine, and if your host machine is x86 based, you may wish to
23 use the Linux From Scratch LiveCD. The CD works well as a host system,
24 providing all the tools you need to successfully follow the instructions
25 in this book. Additionally, it contains all the source packages, patches
26 and a copy of this book. So once you have the CD, no network connection
27 or additional downloads are necessary. For more information about the
28 LFS LiveCD or to download a copy, visit <ulink url="&livecd-root;"/></para>
29
30 <!-- -->
31 <para>THE TEXT BELOW NEED TO BE REWRITTEN</para>
32
33 <para><xref linkend="chapter-partitioning"/> of this book describes how
34 to create a new Linux native partition and file system, the place
35 where the new LFS system will be compiled and installed. <xref
36 linkend="chapter-getting-materials"/> explains which packages and
37 patches need to be downloaded to build an LFS system and how to store
38 them on the new file system. <xref linkend="chapter-final-preps"/>
39 discusses the setup for an appropriate working environment. Please read
40 <xref linkend="chapter-final-preps"/> carefully as it explains several
41 important issues the developer should be aware of before beginning to
42 work through <xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> and
43 beyond.</para>
44
45 <para><xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> explains the
46 installation of a number of packages that will form the basic
47 development suite (or toolchain) which is used to build the actual
48 system in <xref linkend="chapter-building-system"/>. Some of these
49 packages are needed to resolve circular dependencies&mdash;for example,
50 to compile a compiler, you need a compiler.</para>
51
52 <para><xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> also shows the user
53 how to build a first pass of the toolchain, including Binutils and GCC
54 (first pass basically means these two core packages will be re-installed
55 a second time). The next step is to build Glibc, the C library. Glibc
56 will be compiled by the toolchain programs built in the first pass. Then,
57 a second pass of the toolchain will be built. This time, the toolchain
58 will be dynamically linked against the newly built Glibc. The remaining
59 <xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/> packages are built using this
60 second pass toolchain. When this is done, the LFS installation process
61 will no longer depend on the host distribution, with the exception of the
62 running kernel. </para>
63
64 <para>This effort to isolate the new system from the host distribution
65 may seem excessive, but a full technical explanation is provided at the
66 beginning of <xref linkend="chapter-temporary-tools"/>.</para>
67
68 <para>In <xref linkend="chapter-building-system"/>, the full LFS system is
69 built. The <command>chroot</command> (change root) program is used to enter
70 a virtual environment and start a new shell whose root directory will be set
71 to the LFS partition. This is very similar to rebooting and instructing the
72 kernel to mount the LFS partition as the root partition. The system does not
73 actually reboot, but instead <command>chroot</command>'s because creating a
74 bootable system requires additional work which is not necessary just yet.
75 The major advantage is that <quote>chrooting</quote> allows the builder to
76 continue using the host while LFS is being built. While waiting for package
77 compilation to complete, a user can switch to a different virtual console
78 (VC) or X desktop and continue using the computer as normal.</para>
79
80 <para>To finish the installation, the LFS-Bootscripts are set up in <xref
81 linkend="chapter-bootscripts"/>, and the kernel and boot loader are set
82 up in <xref linkend="chapter-bootable"/>. <xref
83 linkend="chapter-finalizing"/> contains information on furthering the
84 LFS experience beyond this book. After the steps in this book have
85 been implemented, the computer will be ready to reboot into the new
86 LFS system.</para>
87 <!-- -->
88
89 <para>This is the process in a nutshell. Detailed information on each
90 step is discussed in the following chapters and package descriptions.
91 Items that may seem complicated will be clarified, and everything will
92 fall into place as the reader embarks on the LFS adventure.</para>
93
94</sect1>
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