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ThinStation edited this page Oct 30, 2024 · 7 revisions

What is DevStation?

DevStation is the name of a pre-configured Linux system primarily used for building ThinStation boot images. DevStation is not required in order to use the ThinStation build system, but it's a nice place to start because it helps establish the work flow for building boot images.
Watch the video.

Where to get it

You can obtain DevStation by downloading the installer disc ISO image at http://sourceforge.net/projects/thinstation/files/latest/download.

Installing DevStation

Allthough it is possible to install the DevStation image onto real hardware, most find it considerably faster to develop on a workstation capable of hosting multiple virtual machines (servers, clients and other network appliances).
Watch the video.

Specifications for creating a new virtual machine

Option Value
Type: Custom
Compatibility: Default
Installer disc: dowloaded ISO image file (see above)
Guest OS: Linux
Version: Other Linux 2.6.x kernel 64-bit
Name: DevStation
Location: Default
Processors: 1
Cores: minimal value 2 8vCPU recommended
Memory: minimal value 4 GiB 16 GiB recommended
Video Memory: minimal value 64 MB
Network Connection: Bridged
SCSI Controller: Default
Disk: Default
Disk Type: Default
Maximum disk size: 30 GB for a shallow single branch checkout. Over 60 GB for deep history and branch comparison.
Disk File: Default

Installation steps

  1. Power on virtual machine.
  2. Select “Installer for DevStation” menu option. GRUB will load a little over 100 MB into memory.
  3. Read all notes shown after startup. Select OK.
  4. Select Disk to use for installation. Select OK.
  5. Select native resolution of the display. Select OK.
  6. Select your time zone. Select OK.
  7. Select your locale (language, symbols and keyboard layout). Select OK.
  8. Confirm all warnings. The installer will download a bootable OS image and several GB via Git.
  9. Read all notes shown after installation. Select OK, to acknowledge each one. Remove the CD when instructed to do so. Click OK to reboot.

Usage

Booting

Upon rebooting the system should automaticly boot the “Standard” image within a 15 second timeout. A “Backup” image is available in the case that a web update is defective or a local build of the DevStation image does not behave as expected.

Building Your First Image

Click Start › DevStation › Build Image. This will build a default image that is bootable in a virtual machine. The image will include:

  • XFWM4 (Window manager)
  • Chromium (Web browser)
  • NetworkManager (Networking stack)
  • Gnome media packages and plugins
  • Xorg drivers for most vendors (Not the kernel modules though!)
  • FreeRDP (Remote access application)
  • Open VM Tools (copy & paste)
  • Terminal (shell utility)
  • Thunar (file manager)
  • Samba (SMB client)
  • CUPS (printing system)
  • All available time zones
  • All available locales

What’s next?

Please read on here.

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