jail_build(8) -- a dialog(1)-based utility for building jails from binary distributions

[Devin Teske]

Hey all,

Long-time user, first-time poster (to this list at least).

I'd like to share a script that I wrote for provisioning jails NOT from
the standard `buildworld'/`installworld' mechanism, but rather from
binary distributions. For example, those made available here:

ftp://ftp-archive.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD-Archive/old-releases/i386/
ftp://ftp-archive.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD-Archive/old-releases/amd64/
ftp://ftp-archive.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/releases/i386/
ftp://ftp-archive.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/releases/amd64/

Here's how to use this script to provision a jail from a binary
distribution (either from one of the above links or from the famous
Walnut Creek CD-ROMs/DVDs or the later FreeBSD Mall CD-ROMs/DVDs).

Step 1:

Copy a release to `/usr/repos' or optionally `/usr/repos/somedir'.

The distribution directory must be:
a. Named either "*-RELEASE", "*-STABLE" or "*-CURRENT"
b. Either be in `/usr/repos' or one level deeper (but no deeper than
that). For example, the following are all acceptable:

	/usr/repos/8.0-RELEASE
	/usr/repos/FreeBSD-8.1-i386/8.1-RELEASE
	/usr/repos/FreeBSD-8.1-amd64/8.1-RELEASE
	/usr/repos/FreeBSD-Current-sparc/9.0-CURRENT

Meanwhile, the following are invalid:

	/usr/repos/8.0-RELEASE-i386
		# Doesn't end in -RELEASE/STABLE/CURRENT
	/usr/repos/FreeBSD-8.1/8.1-RELEASE-i386
		# Doesn't end in -RELEASE/STABLE/CURRENT
	/usr/repos/FreeBSD-8.1/8.1-RELEASE-amd64
		# Doesn't end in -RELEASE/STABLE/CURRENT
	/usr/repos/FreeBSD/current/9.0-CURRENT
		# Too many levels deep (maximum is 2)

Step 2:

Download/Run the script.

The script is available here:
http://druidbsd.sf.net/

Direct links:
(GZ)  http://druidbsd.sourceforge.net/download/jail_build.gz
(TXT) http://druidbsd.sourceforge.net/download/jail_build.txt

Usage Statement (produced by passing `-h', as the script does not
require any arguments to run):

Usage: jail_build [OPTIONS]
OPTIONS:
        -h    Print this message to stderr and exit.
        -v    Verbose. Enables verbose output during build.
        -q    Quiet. Disables verbose output.

ENVIRONMENT:
        JAIL_BUILD_REPOS      Location of FreeBSD repository where binary
                              (default: `/usr/repos')
        JAIL_BUILD_DESTDIR    Default directory to build new jails in
                              (default: `/usr/jail')
        JAIL_BUILD_VERBOSE    Verbosity. Must be zero or one (default: `0')
        DIALOG_TMPDIR         Directory to store dialog(1) temporary files
                              (default: `/tmp')




Description of the script:


The script will preen your `/usr/repos' directory (up to two levels
deep) looking for "*-(RELEASE|STABLE|CURRENT)" directories. Then display
a dialog(1)-based menu for you to choose which repository to build your
jail from.

Then the script determines which sub-distributions are to be installed
based on the version of the repository (1.0 through current are all
supported).

Then, you'll be prompted for where you would like to un-pack the binary
distribution(s) to.

Then you'll be given a summary of actions to be performed.

Then you'll be given a final chance to abort (your "Last Chance!"
warning).

And finally, the script will un-pack the binary release into the
specified jail root directory.

ENJOY!

P.S. This is a 1.0 revision. It's a very strong 1.0 offering, but
admittedly, there is more to be done (like providing enough command-line
options to do a jail provision WITHOUT using dialog(1) -- allowing for
automated/scripted builds from binary distribution).

P.P.S. You do NOT need to download the `packages' directory of the
release. This should dramatically reduce the foot-print of the binary
distribution in the `/usr/repos' directory.
-- 
Cheers,
Devin Teske

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