[gentoo-dev] CD suggestion

[Bernard Karmilowicz]

Dear Gentoo Developers:

Thank you for creating a fine Linux distribution, and for considering
offering CDs other than boot CDs.

For users with slow connections (and/or multiple Linux boxes) who are
interested in transitioning to the Gentoo distribution, getting up and
running "live" by using a Gentoo rsync mirror is not a workable option.
A solution for these users (myself included) would be in the form of a
Gentoo Linux CD (or CD set) - which would include a Stage 1 boot image,
a snapshot of the Portage tree associated with the boot image, and all
source files associated with the Portage tree snapshot.

For example, a CD could contain:

    /gentoo/releases/build/1.2/stage1-ix86-1.2.tbz2    08-May-2002
    /gentoo/snapshots/portage-20020511.tar.bz2         12-May-2002
    /gentoo/gentoo-sources/*                           12-May-2002

which includes all the files needed to install Gentoo Linux from a CD
_at_any_time_, as if the installation occurred on 12-May-2002 using a
Gentoo rsync mirror. Following the CD installation, users could use the
mirrors to maintain their distribution, thereby reducing demand on the
mirrors.

Given the fine distribution you have developed, it is certain demand for
the Gentoo rsync mirrors will grow exponentially. I see from the Gentoo
News web page the demand has already caused a problem.

I hope to see the two companies currently offering Gentoo boot CDs
(CheapBytes and Edmund's Enterprises) partnering with Gentoo to produce
a CD (or CD set) such as described above. I am looking forward to
installing Gentoo Linux on several systems, and contributing to your
efforts.

Sincerely,

- Bernard Karmilowicz
  President, IntEn Corporation

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  IntEn Corporation
    Integrated Engineering Services
      http://www.intencorp.com
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