Even though Calculate Linux is a rolling-release distribution, you can also update from an ISO image, that is, install from within the current system onto another partition. We’ve been using this technique for several years now in Calculate, but here are some more tips and explanations on it, that apply to CL 13.
# CL comes in 7 flavours for both 32bit and 64bit systems each. If needed, you can [[interactive_system_build|change the software set]] before you install on the hard disk. This comes in handy when you make an installation for someone else who may have quite other software preferences.
# The CL installer will [[disk_partioning|suggest]] that you put user(s)’ home directorie(s) on a separate partition as well as provide a reserve system partition, so that you can switch between the two when you update. A secure way to try a new system without risking personal data or settings.
# Whether you should install from a LiveCD or from within your current system is not architecture-dependent: you can choose either way. All you’ve got to do if you prefer the second option is put the new ISO in the /var/calculate/linux
directory (or, alternatively, in /var/calculate/remote/linux
).
# All current settings such as video, user accounts, locale, timezone, etc. will be used by default to configure the updated system on the other partition.
# All settings configured with Calculate [[calculate_utilities_templates|templates]] will be applied automatically. If you are using custom clt templates, those will be moved from to the new system /etc
.
# If you update from an ISO, the path to the previous partition is stored in /etc/calculate/calculate.env
(variable os_install_dev_from
). Therefore, all you have to do to update is run cl-install
without arguments.
To learn more about the advantages of this method, read [[disk_partitioning|this]]. Moreover, it’s good if you want try different CL versions. To make installation even faster (less than a minute in fact), you can use the --build
option.
And let me remind you that Portage allows you to create your own binaries! Just use options [[emerge|-bk]], and you’ll be able to deploy all necessary packages on the new system.