CONTAINER-BUILD-DEBCONF(1)

📦
this version · 5 versions
, in debian bookworm, ubuntu noble

✨ CONTAINER-BUILD-DEBCONF ✨

okay bestie, so this is a page from the General Commands Manual for container-build-debconf — the little build script that spins up an advanced Debian-based container using debconf. come sit with me, it's gonna be cute 🎀

🌸 NAME 🌸

container-build-debconf — build an advanced Debian based container with debconf

🦋 SYNOPSIS 🦋

container build -s debconf ['OPTIONS']
cnt b -s debconf ['OPTIONS']

container build -s debian ['OPTIONS']
cnt b -s debian ['OPTIONS']

container build -s progress-linux ['OPTIONS']
cnt b -s progress-linux ['OPTIONS']

💖 DESCRIPTION 💖

The debconf container build script uses debconf(1) to automatically build a Debian based container. no manual clicking, no tears, it just goes. 💅

🧚 Scope

okay so, heads up: this container build script can do a few things more than just automatically debootstrap based on a preseed file. it also lets you:

  • set a root password
  • configure the network
  • install certain packages
  • execute hooks

But — and this is important, bestie — this is not a replacement for a configuration management system (like ansible, puppet, etc.). The intenion of this script is to build the initial container to that extend that a configuration management system can take over. (yes, "intenion" and "extend", the manpage said it, I'm not touching it 🫶)

As an analogy, think of debian-installer: d-i sets up your system to make it ready to boot and connect to the network. Everything after that is out of scope. Same goes for this script.

🌈 Functions

This script performs the following configuration on top of a Debian based system:

  • network
  • root password
  • apt repositories
  • ...

👑 Modes

This container build script can be used under two different names: debian and progress-linux.

Alternative, calling it under the debconf name is equal to the debian mode. so same vibe, different label ✨

🍓 Preseeding

Hierarchy of Preseed Files:

  • The debconf script can be fully preseeded. Such preseed files can include one or more preseed files themselfs (currently, only one layer of includes is supported, no nested or recursive includes).
  • The general rule of 'the later preseed file overwrites the earlier' applies. The debconf script reads the main preseed file (specified either on command line or by debconf selection/input dialog) after any included preseed files in there.
  • That means that debconf values after the include statement in the main preseed file can overwrite any values specified in the included preseed files.
so basically: include first, main file last, last writer wins. the main file is the main character here. 👑

💅 OPTIONS 💅

The following script options are available:

  • -n, --name='NAME' — Specify container name.
  • -p, --preseed-file='FILE' — Specify the preseed file.

⭐ EXAMPLES ⭐

Build a Debian based container:

sudo container build -s debian -n debian.example.net

Build a Progress Linux container:

sudo container build -s progress-linux -n progress.example.net

🎀 FILES 🎀

The following files are used:

  • /etc/compute-tools/config — Container configuration files.
  • /usr/share/compute-tools/build-scripts — Container build scripts.
  • /usr/share/doc/compute-tools — Container documentation.
  • /var/lib/machines — Container directory.
  • /var/cache/container — Container cache directory.
  • /tmp/compute-tools — Container temporary directory.

🔥 SEE ALSO 🔥

compute-tools(7), container(1).

🌈 HOMEPAGE 🌈

More information about compute-tools and the Open Infrastructure project can be found on the homepage (https://open-infrastructure.net).

🫶 CONTACT 🫶

Bug reports, feature requests, help, patches, support and everything else are welcome on the Open Infrastructure Software Mailing List <‐software@lists.open-infrastructure.net>.

Debian specific bugs can also be reported in the Debian Bug Tracking System (https://bugs.debian.org).

💜 AUTHORS 💜

compute-tools were written by Daniel Baumann <‐daniel.baumann@open-infrastructure.net> and others.

and that's the whole page, bestie!! 🥳 this was brought to you by Open Infrastructure and the compute-tools version, straight from the CONTAINER-BUILD-DEBCONF(1) manual page itself — go build something iconic, you've got this 💖✨🦋

📦 where this page comes from