CentOS - Jan 2011 - how to convert 7 cd iso images into one dvd image?

Hi;

how to convert 7 cd iso images into one dvd image?

I am unable to use bittorrent :-(

Home ISP blocking bittorrent; company now blocks bittorrent.

I want/need an old release (CentOS 5.2) to install as a VirtualBox guest.

I suppose I could install from the cd iso images, but it is a pain to
virtually eject and remount cd iso images during the install :-(

So, is there a technique or an open source tool that will create a dvd
iso given the cd iso images?

Or how does one generate the dvd iso given a list of rpm files?
(Assuming I had a list of all of the needed rpm files).

It would be nice if one had something like "make centos_5.2_dvd_iso"
:-)

Thanks,
Ken Wolcott
kennethwolcott at gmail.com

On 01/14/2011 09:29 PM, Kenneth Wolcott wrote:
> I suppose I could install from the cd iso images, but it is a pain to
> virtually eject and remount cd iso images during the install :-(
There is a trick where you can perform an installation with just the
first CD (and you won't be asked for further CDs) if you do this:

1) do a text-based installation (on the prompt right after booting type:
 linux text <ENTER>)
2) when it comes to package selection, uncheck all groups but then click
on customize packages (to get into package details)..and uncheck all of
them.

The previous steps are from my head (specially #2) but just pay
attention to the software and what I said and you'll be fine.

You'll get an installation of about 600 to 700 MB and then you can use
"yum" to install whatever you need to install.

HTH,
Jorge

On 01/14/11 5:29 PM, Kenneth Wolcott wrote:
> Home ISP blocking bittorrent; company now blocks bittorrent.
>
> I want/need an old release (CentOS 5.2) to install as a VirtualBox guest.
>
> I suppose I could install from the cd iso images, but it is a pain to
> virtually eject and remount cd iso images during the install :-(
>
> So, is there a technique or an open source tool that will create a dvd
> iso given the cd iso images?
I've seen the DVD ISO files on select mirrors.    it can be difficult to 
reliably transfer a > 4GB file over http/ftp

> how to convert 7 cd iso images into one dvd image?
Cat the CD ISOs together (order doesn't matter) into a single big file
with the same name as the corresponding DVD (same version and arch),
then run rsync on it to convert into the actual DVD (using a mirror that
has both rsync and the desired DVD). The same trick works in reverse:
for each CD, make a copy of the DVD with the same name as the CD, then
run rsync on it to convert it into the actual CD. In either direction,
the download necessary shouldn't be more than a few percent of full size.

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> Or how does one generate the dvd iso given a list of rpm files?
> (Assuming I had a list of all of the needed rpm files).
>
> It would be nice if one had something like "make
centos_5.2_dvd_iso" :-)
Check out this link .. it provides all the information on how to do this. 
I've not tried this with anything more recent than RHEL 3 .. and the 
example is with RHEL 4 .. so it may or may not work, but it is headed in 
the right direction.

<http://www.brandonhutchinson.com/Creating_a_RHEL_bootable_DVD_ISO.html>

Barry

On 1/15/11 6:06 AM, Andre Robatino wrote:
>> how to convert 7 cd iso images into one dvd image?
>
> Cat the CD ISOs together (order doesn't matter) into a single big file
> with the same name as the corresponding DVD (same version and arch),
> then run rsync on it to convert into the actual DVD (using a mirror that
> has both rsync and the desired DVD). The same trick works in reverse:
> for each CD, make a copy of the DVD with the same name as the CD, then
> run rsync on it to convert it into the actual CD. In either direction,
> the download necessary shouldn't be more than a few percent of full
size.
If the remote will run rsync, just use that in the first place to get the dvd 
and use the -P option so it will restart if you don't complete on the first
attempt.

Or, if you get the CD isos, just drop them in an NFS-shared directory, burn only
the first one and do an NFS install, pointing the installer at the directory 
containing the iso images.  I haven't done that for a while but I assume it 
still works and it's probably the easiest approach.  With VMware or other 
virtual frameworks that can map an iso file as a boot device you don't even
have
to burn the first image - just connect it as a virtual CD.

-- 
   Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com