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I would like to know how can I customize the Ubuntu installer NOT customize Ubuntu, I just want to modify the installer.

We have a large environment here with lots of developers and since we don't use Windows, I want to customize the installer to automatically set the timezone to NYC, the keyboard layout to English USA, put the company logo in the installer etc...

Elder Geek
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aki
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3 Answers3

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I installed ubiquity:

sudo apt-get install ubiquity ubiquity-casper ubiquity-slideshow-ubuntu ubiquity-frontend-gtk

and I made some modification to it. Since it is all HTML files it is very easy to customize.

Seth
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aki
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4

For most of it you don't need to modify the installer, debian-installer provides facilities to automate installation by passing a few configurations to it; this is called preseeding:

You can do this via network installs or a custom boot USB or whatever.

Jorge Castro
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  • added a link to update your excellent answer. – Elder Geek Jun 19 '14 at 01:27
  • @Jorge Castro Links not working ! – ankit7540 Dec 20 '16 at 06:14
  • The link is dead, in part because I think Ubuntu's installer is no longer based `debian-installer` which supports presiding. The docs can still be found on the Debian wiki but don't apply to Ubuntu: https://www.debian.org/releases/stretch/amd64/apb.html.en – rgov May 17 '23 at 23:04
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Ubuntu Customization Kit (UCK) -- http://uck.sourceforge.net/ (It is available in software center as well) is the easiest way I've come across. Try it you can use it in a day. Just follow the steps and you have customized installation :)

Remastersys -- http://remastersys.sourceforge.net/ is another way of doing things (but mostly used for backups than installation) You basically install system and extra packages, change configurations. Then use Remastersys to create installer disk from that installation -- Be warned though installation disk can grow significantly in size.

And if you are feeling very adventures look at Linux from scratch (LFS) -- http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/

wisemonkey
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  • these customize the installer? or ubuntu? – aki Nov 29 '11 at 20:05
  • they all customize installer, for customizing Ubuntu itself there are way more sources to list here. LFS customize pretty much any linux distro but will take way too much time just to understand it. I would say try UCK its available in software center as well, very easy to create own installation CDs :) – wisemonkey Nov 29 '11 at 20:09
  • with uck you can change the installer, customize screen, add logo etc..? – aki Nov 29 '11 at 20:34
  • I've added wallpaper and custom login screen. I'm pretty sure u can find way to change logo (I didn't try it though) – wisemonkey Nov 29 '11 at 20:37
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    i tried UCK but I couldn't find anywhere i can change the installer , is there a script i need to create? - i need to change text in the installer to put my intranet link with my company logo – aki Nov 30 '11 at 15:47
  • @aki: Sorry I think u need to experiment urself as I never tried this particular scenario myself – wisemonkey Dec 11 '11 at 06:05