Introduction

D. E. Evans' Core Linux Distribution is a minimal distribution of the GNU/Linux operating system designed to be the basis for a complete system constructed by the end user. A fresh installation of Core will boot into a console and provide the user with the tools needed to download, compile and install other applications. Ideally, Core contains nothing beyond what is required to perform these tasks.

Core is primarily designed for experienced Linux users, though it has found an audience with those looking to learn about the internals and operation of a Linux system. Core requires the user to manually configure, compile and install applications and expects the user to consult man pages and other documentation.

This project is the outgrowth of my use of the Core Linux Distribution, as well as Core 2 and Prime. This is Core 3, publicly begun in 2010, though I've been using Core since 2003. It targets AMD64/Intel64.

Installation

These instructions are incomplete, but should be sufficient:

Download, burn, and boot the ISO
Partition, format, and mount the hard drive
Run 'install_core [mount point]'
Optional packages in /pkgs/optional/ can be installed with corepkg(8)
Copy the kernel source from /pkgs/kernel/ to /usr/src/ of the hard drive
- compile and install the Linux kernel
- otherwise install the /pkgs/kernel/linux-6-1+2.cpk package
Run 'chroot [mount point] bash -l' to chroot into the new system
- Run grub-install [sda]
- Review and modify the files under /etc/ (e.g. fstab)
- Review the GRUB configuration (see an example in /boot/6.1/)
exit the chroot, then reboot and start constructing the new system.

Kernel firmware note

Kernel firmware is not provided with this ISO. Some chips, especially video, have issues that cause a problem during boot because of a requirement for this firmware. With my AMD (Evergreen) desktop, blacklisting the radeon module on boot is a temporary work around: modprobe.blacklist=radeon. Another more aggressive work around is nomodeset.

For further information visit:

Download

D. E. Evans Core IUR [install upgrade repair] ISO (Linux 6.1 AMD64)
- SHA384: 348b5514182494de5e800ffee9a8c61c993bd006917e51bb4e3e5319e39b5dea88c832d0af4da4014595cdbdc546f048

CorePKG is now hosted by the GNU Project: nongnu.org/corepkg

Past package builds are found in the graveyard: graveyard/.

Though Core and Core 2 are no longer available, the Prime beta is still available, supporting 32-bit Intel with kernel 2.6.25.4. For a complete GNU/Linux system, both 32-bit and 64-bit, Slackware is similar in design.