Error with Refracta Snapshot when making a personal respin of Mint LMDE

[Senpai]

Hi:
I am doing a personal respin of Mint LMDE but it does not give error when creating the ISO, it copies everything needed to the working directory, but it does not get to create the ISO.
As much as I look at the .log I do not see what I'm doing wrong Can you tell me what can be?
Thanks

Code: Select all

+ source /etc/refractasnapshot.conf
++ limit_cpu=no
++ limit=50
++ error_log=/var/log/refractasnapshot.log
++ snapshot_dir=/mnt/baul/snapshot
++ work_dir=/mnt/baul/work
++ efi_work=/mnt/baul/work/efi-files
++ make_efi=no
++ force_efi=no
++ save_work=no
++ rsync_option1=--delete-before
++ rsync_option2=' --delete-excluded'
++ rsync_option3=
++ snapshot_excludes=/usr/lib/refractasnapshot/snapshot_exclude.list
++ kernel_image=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-12-amd64
++ initrd_image=/boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64
++ stamp=datetime
++ snapshot_basename=snapshot
++ volid=liveiso
++ make_sha256sum=yes
++ make_isohybrid=yes
++ mksq_opt='-comp xz -Xbcj x86'
++ pmount_fixed=yes
++ update_mlocate=yes
++ clear_geany=yes
++ ssh_pass=yes
++ edit_boot_menu=no
+++ type -p nano
++ text_editor=/usr/bin/nano
++ other_editor=
++ other_editor_option=
++ iso_dir=/usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso
++ boot_menu=live.cfg
++ grub_template=/usr/lib/refractasnapshot/grub.cfg.template
++ snapshot_help=/usr/share/doc/refractasnapshot-base/readme.refractasnapshot.txt.gz
+ choose_task
+ [[ no = \y\e\s ]]
+ uefi_message='uefi disabled'
++ yad '--title=Refracta Snapshot 10.2.12 (20210629)' --center --borders=10 --height 400 --width 426 '--text=This utility will create a bootable image that you can burn to CD or DVD or copy to USB with dd or cat. The image will be stored in /mnt/baul/snapshot.

Choose the first option to create a snapshot. 

This is free software that comes with no warranty or guarantee of any type, including but not limited to express, implied, merchantability or fitness of purpose.
' --button=OK:0 --button=Help:1 --list --column Num --column 'Choose a task' 01 'Create a snapshot (uefi disabled)' 02 'Re-squash and make iso (no-copy)' 03 'Re-make efi files and iso. (no-copy) (uefi disabled)' 04 'Re-run xorriso only. (make iso, no-copy, no-squash)' 05 'Setup snapshot (edit config file or excludes file)' 06 Exit
+ task='01|Create a snapshot (uefi disabled)|'
+ exit_code=0
+ '[' 0 -ne 0 ']'
+ [[ 01|Create a snapshot (uefi disabled)| =~ 01 ]]
+ please_wait
+ yad --image=gtk-dialog-info '--title=Refracta Snapshot' --center '--text=This may take a moment while the program checks for free space.    ' --no-buttons
++ pgrep yad
+ wait_pid=7961
+ check_copies
+ [[ -d /mnt/baul/snapshot ]]
+ snapshot_count=0
+ snapshot_size='0 bytes'
+ [[ -d /mnt/baul/work/myfs ]]
+ [[ no = \y\e\s ]]
+ save_message='* The temporary copy of the filesystem will be created 
at /mnt/baul/work/myfs and removed when this program finishes.'
+ check_directories
++ echo /mnt/baul/snapshot
++ awk -F / '{ print "/" $2 "/" $3 }'
++ grep /media/
+ snapdir_is_remote=
++ echo /mnt/baul/work
++ awk -F / '{ print "/" $2 "/" $3 }'
++ grep /media/
+ workdir_is_remote=
+ '[' -n '' ']'
+ '[' -n '' ']'
+ '[' -n '' ']'
+ '[' -n '' ']'
+ [[ -d /mnt/baul/snapshot ]]
+ mkdir -p /mnt/baul/snapshot
+ chmod 777 /mnt/baul/snapshot
+ [[ no = \n\o ]]
+ [[ -d /mnt/baul/work ]]
+ mkdir -p /mnt/baul/work/iso
+ mkdir -p /mnt/baul/work/myfs
+ check_space
++ sed 's/Mounted on/Mountpoint/'
++ df -h -x tmpfs -x devtmpfs -x iso9660 -x udf -x aufs -x squashfs
++ awk '{ print  $2 "  \t" $3 "  \t" $4 "  \t" $5 "   \t" $6 "   \t\t\t" $1 }'
+ disk_space='Tamaño  	Usados  	Disp  	Uso%   	Montado   			S.ficheros
16G  	8,1G  	6,9G  	55%   	/   			/dev/vda2
5,5T  	482G  	4,7T  	10%   	/mnt/baul   			compartir'
+ check_initrd
+ echo 'Checking initrd.'
+ grep -q conf.d/cryptroot
+ lsinitramfs /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64
+ grep -q cryptroot/crypttab
+ lsinitramfs /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64
+ remove_cryptroot=yes
+ cryptroot_message='The snapshot initrd will be modified to allow booting the unencrypted snapshot.'
+ lsinitramfs /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64
+ egrep -q 'conf.d/resume|conf.d/zz-resume-auto'
+ remove_resume=yes
+ swap_message='The snapshot initrd will be modified to allow booting without the host'\''s swap partition.'
+ '[' '' = yes ']'
+ kill 7961
+ report_space
++ mktemp /tmp/snapshot-report.XXXX
+ tempfile=/tmp/snapshot-report.SB9S
+ echo '
You will need plenty of free space. It is recommended that free space (Avail) in the partition that 
holds the work directory (probably "/") should be two times the total installed system size (Used).
(Note: You can deduct the space taken up by previous snapshots and any saved copies of the system from the Used amount.)    

Please CLOSE any running applications NOW.
Turn off NUM LOCK for some laptops.




* You have 0 snapshots taking up 0 bytes of disk space.

* The temporary copy of the filesystem will be created 
at /mnt/baul/work/myfs and removed when this program finishes.
* The snapshot directory is currently set to /mnt/baul/snapshot


You can change these and other settings by editing 
/etc/refractasnapshot.conf.


The snapshot initrd will be modified to allow booting the unencrypted snapshot.
The snapshot initrd will be modified to allow booting without the host'\''s swap partition.

Current disk usage:
(For complete listing, exit and run '\''df -h'\'')

Tamaño  	Usados  	Disp  	Uso%   	Montado   			S.ficheros
16G  	8,1G  	6,9G  	55%   	/   			/dev/vda2
5,5T  	482G  	4,7T  	10%   	/mnt/baul   			compartir'
+ yad --text-info '--title=Status Report' --center --height 400 --width 700 --button=OK:0 --button=Exit:1
+ exit_code=0
+ '[' 0 -ne 0 ']'
+ rm -f /tmp/snapshot-report.SB9S
+ set_distro_name
+ [[ /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso = \/\u\s\r\/\l\i\b\/\r\e\f\r\a\c\t\a\s\n\a\p\s\h\o\t\/\i\s\o ]]
+ [[ live.cfg = \l\i\v\e\.\c\f\g ]]
++ lsb_release -i -s
+ DISTRO=Linuxmint
++ grep -q Refracta /etc/issue
++ yad --entry '--title=Linux Distribution' --center '--text=This is the distribution name that will appear in the boot menu 
for the live image. If it'\''s blank, the menu entries will just say 
"GNU/Linux (kernel-version)" ' --entry-text=Linuxmint --width=500 --button=OK:0
+ DISTRO=Linuxmint
+ [[ -z Linuxmint ]]
+ housekeeping
+ [[ '' = \y\e\s ]]
+ [[ -n '' ]]
++ awk -F: '/1000:1000/ { print $1 }' /etc/passwd
+ username=lmde
+ [[ lmde != user ]]
+ username_opt=username=lmde
+ [[ no = \y\e\s ]]
+ [[ -e /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-12-amd64 ]]
+ [[ -e /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64 ]]
+ [[ -n '' ]]
+ [[ -n '' ]]
+ [[ yes = \y\e\s ]]
+ updatedb
+ tee /dev/fd/63
++ yad '--title=Running updatedb...' --center --progress --pulsate --auto-close --width 300
+ [[ '' = \y\e\s ]]
+ cd /mnt/baul/work

(yad:9146): GLib-CRITICAL **: 12:05:36.507: g_source_remove: assertion 'tag > 0' failed
+ copy_isolinux
+ [[ -f /usr/lib/ISOLINUX/isolinux.bin ]]
+ isolinuxbin=/usr/lib/ISOLINUX/isolinux.bin
+ [[ -f /usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/vesamenu.c32 ]]
+ vesamenu=/usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/vesamenu.c32
+ rsync -a /usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/chain.c32 /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso/isolinux/
+ rsync -a /usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/ldlinux.c32 /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso/isolinux/
+ rsync -a /usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/libcom32.c32 /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso/isolinux/
+ rsync -a /usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/libutil.c32 /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso/isolinux/
+ rsync -a /usr/lib/ISOLINUX/isolinux.bin /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso/isolinux/
+ rsync -a /usr/lib/syslinux/modules/bios/vesamenu.c32 /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso/isolinux/
+ [[ '' = \y\e\s ]]
+ copy_kernel
+ rsync -a /usr/lib/refractasnapshot/iso/ /mnt/baul/work/iso/
+ cp /boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-12-amd64 /mnt/baul/work/iso/live/
+ cp /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64 /mnt/baul/work/iso/live/
+ copy_filesystem
+ [[ no = \y\e\s ]]
+ rsync -av / myfs/ --delete-before --delete-excluded --exclude=/mnt/baul/work --exclude=/mnt/baul/snapshot --exclude=/mnt/baul/work/efi-files --exclude-from=/usr/lib/refractasnapshot/snapshot_exclude.list
+ tee /dev/fd/63
++ yad '--title=Copying filesystem...' --center --progress --pulsate --auto-close --width 300
+ [[ -n '' ]]
+ '[' yes = yes ']'
+ clean_initrd
+ extract_initrd
+ mkdir /tmp/extracted
+ pushd /tmp/extracted
++ egrep -o 'gzip compressed|XZ compressed|cpio archive'
++ file -L /boot/initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64
+ COMPRESSION='cpio archive'
+ '[' 'cpio archive' = 'gzip compressed' ']'
+ '[' 'cpio archive' = 'XZ compressed' ']'
+ '[' 'cpio archive' = 'cpio archive' ']'
+ echo 'Archive is cpio archive...'
+ cpio -i
107 bloques
+ zcat
+ cpio -i

gzip: stdin: not in gzip format
cpio: fin prematuro del archivo
+ exit_code=2
+ '[' 2 -ne 0 ']'
+ cpio -i
cpio: kernel/x86/microcode/AuthenticAMD.bin no se ha creado: existe una versión con fecha igual o posterior
107 bloques
+ xzcat
+ cpio -i
xzcat: (stdin): No se reconoce el formato del fichero
cpio: fin prematuro del archivo
+ exit_code=2
+ '[' 2 -ne 0 ']'
+ echo 'Decompression error'
+ exit 1

[rickNS]

Welcome to Mint forums.

First not many details, of what you did exactly, and as always post your system info, read the how to get help esp. item #5

I am no expert with this software.
I did get it to work pretty much without any trouble, I did not read, (had no need) to read the log file.
But looking through yours I see this

(yad:9146): GLib-CRITICAL **: 12:05:36.507: g_source_remove: assertion 'tag > 0' failed

and

+ echo 'Decompression error'

One thing I will ask is;

Did you have the required amount of space before trying to make the iso ? You need about double the amount show in free space to create it.

You will probably get a better answer at the refracts forum ( Devuan ) here,
https://dev1galaxy.org/index.php

Or another option as I mention at the end of that tutorial is to use Systemback.
I will not post how to just yet as many new members do not bother to come back to answer their own threads. No offense that is just a fact.

[Senpai]

Hi:
Thanks for replying, the error

Code: Select all

(yad:9146): GLib-CRITICAL **: 12:05:36.507: g_source_remove: assertion 'tag > 0' failed

I don't understand what it is or what bug it indicates?
And in

Code: Select all

+ echo 'Decompression error

I have installed all the compression/decompression formats, so I don't know why it happens...
I will ask in the Refracta forum, but it is a pity that a distribution like Linux Mint does not have a current tool to be able to make this kind of live copies to take on USB...
Something like Antix's "iso-snapshot" or MX's "MX-Snapshot" would be a great option... Too bad they don't work with Mint.
Regards

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[Senpai]

Sorry for not answering this:
The workspace and ISO creation space, is in the path of an empty partition with plenty of space.
And I have followed the same steps as in your post, so I do not understand what happens?

[rickNS]

Hi:
Thanks for replying,...cut/

I will ask in the Refracta forum, but it is a pity that a distribution like Linux Mint does not have a current tool to be able to make this kind of live copies to take on USB...
Something like Antix's "iso-snapshot" or MX's "MX-Snapshot" would be a great option... Too bad they don't work with Mint.

You are right, about the Antix/MX snapshot tools. Believe me I tried very hard one day to get MX-snapshot to install on Mint, I went down dependency hell road, for a long, long way, till I eventually hit a dead end...it simply does not work on Mint, as I found "somewhere" it depends on Antix/MX code.

Anyway since you did reply I can give you some help with Systemback which is MUCH easier to deal with if you like ? Just say so.
Rick

[Senpai]

Hi:
Thanks for replying,...cut/

I will ask in the Refracta forum, but it is a pity that a distribution like Linux Mint does not have a current tool to be able to make this kind of live copies to take on USB...
Something like Antix's "iso-snapshot" or MX's "MX-Snapshot" would be a great option... Too bad they don't work with Mint.

You are right, about the Antix/MX snapshot tools. Believe me I tried very hard one day to get MX-snapshot to install on Mint, I went down dependency hell road, for a long, long way, till I eventually hit a dead end...it simply does not work on Mint, as I found "somewhere" it depends on Antix/MX code.

Anyway since you did reply I can give you some help with Systemback which is MUCH easier to deal with if you like ? Just say so.
Rick

Hi:
I would appreciate it, I haven't tried SystemBack because I read that it has been outdated/abandoned for years, do you have any reliable download link?
Well, I remember I tried to test it but the PPA is outdated and doesn't work?

[rickNS]

Hi:
I would appreciate it, I haven't tried SystemBack because I read that it has been outdated/abandoned for years, do you have any reliable download link?
Well, I remember I tried to test it but the PPA is outdated and doesn't work?

Not true there have been updates, and new forks of it. (besides it is just a system tool, as long as it works I would not care if it is old, not like a web browser that should be reasonably up-to-date)

Anyway, the newest version as far as I know is this one, dated 2022 12 15,
https://github.com/MaranBr/Systemback

But frankly this one is just fine, and a tad simpler to get installed, dated 2020 06 08
https://github.com/BluewhaleRobot/systemback

INSTALL;

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sudo sh -c 'echo "deb [arch=amd64] http://mirrors.bwbot.org/ stable main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/systemback.list'
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver 'hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80' --recv-key 50B2C005A67B264F
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install systemback

Run those one at a time.

I have a pretty much tutorial on here somewhere, but the program is quite straight forward.

Launch it from the Menu.
Click "Live system create"
Put a check in front of "include the user data files" (that is all your .hidden configs if you want them, which frankly is the whole point of a "custom iso")

When it finishes you will have a .sblive file in your /home, it wi;ll be root owned, you can chown it or just copy it to another location, the copy will be yours (maybe not even necessary)

You can convert to .iso, but also not necessary the .sblive is bootable.

Now you can boot the file in a Virtual machine to test it, or burn to a USB

One bug, When booting I always get an error "no support for aufs...something cow...just press Ctrl + D and you continue.

That's it, easy.

[Senpai]

Hi:
First apologies to the moderator, I did not notice that I had created a thread from a tutorial, thanks for moving the post.

Thanks @rickNS, for your help with SystemBack I was able to do the Respin easily.
At the end I found a site a little more updated than the one in your message, or so it seems, https://sourceforge.net/projects/systemback-2021/files/

I followed the installation steps indicated on the web it installed without problems, we go to the folder where we have downloaded the ".deb" and open there a terminal and run the command

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sudo dpkg -i *.deb

, if it tells us that we have unfulfilled dependencies we run

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sudo apt --fix-broken install

, and run the previous command again.
Create my respin of Mint LMDE6 beta2 "only with Mate", if anyone wants to try it is in my web Respin at https://sourceforge.net/projects/mx-lin ... ins/files/, and the explanation of how I did it in my Blog at https://sourceforge.net/p/mx-linux-senp ... ktop-mate/.

Best regards

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[rickNS]

Thanks @rickNS, for your help with SystemBack I was able to do the Respin easily.

You welcome, said it was easy.

I have told a few people how to do this, some get it, some do not.

In case I have not said before, this is my preferred backup , recovery, cloning method BAR NONE!

No other software comes close, most would at least require being booted from a USB , and would certainly not work while the OS was in use !

[odie]

I got the same problem when creating an ISO from Linux Mint Cinnamon 21.3 including kernel [5.15.0-94-generic], with Refracta Snapshot 10.2.12.
This is the end of my [/var/log/refractasnapshot.log] where it goes wrong:

Code: Select all

++ file -L /boot/initrd.img-5.15.0-94-generic
++ egrep -o 'gzip compressed|XZ compressed|cpio archive'
+ COMPRESSION='cpio archive'
+ '[' 'cpio archive' = 'gzip compressed' ']'
+ '[' 'cpio archive' = 'XZ compressed' ']'
+ '[' 'cpio archive' = 'cpio archive' ']'
+ echo 'Archive is cpio archive...'
+ cpio -i
151 blocks
+ zcat
+ cpio -i

gzip: stdin: not in gzip format
cpio: premature end of archive
+ exit_code=2
+ '[' 2 -ne 0 ']'
+ cpio -i
cpio: kernel/x86/microcode/AuthenticAMD.bin not created: newer or same age version exists
151 blocks
+ xzcat
+ cpio -i
xzcat: (stdin): File format not recognized
cpio: premature end of archive
+ exit_code=2
+ '[' 2 -ne 0 ']'
+ echo 'Decompression error'
+ exit 1

- Probable cause: cpio archive [initrd.img-5.15.0-94-generic] is not well build (error "premature end of archive")
- Investigation: I can´t find anything wrong with [initrd.img-5.15.0-94-generic]
- Solution: use previous kernel 5.15.0-92 instead of 5.15.0-94

Actions:
1. [/lib/refractasnapshot/iso/isolinux/live.cfg] > replace string "5.15.0-94" with "5.15.0-92"
f.i.: old entries: "kernel /live/vmlinuz-5.15.0-94-generic" and "append initrd=/live/initrd.img-5.15.0-94-generic"
f.i.: new entries: "kernel /live/vmlinuz-5.15.0-92-generic" and "append initrd=/live/initrd.img-5.15.0-92-generic"

2. [/etc/refractasnapshot.conf] > replace string "5.15.0-94" with "5.15.0-92"
f.i.: old entries: {kernel_image="/boot/vmlinuz-5.15.0-94-generic"} and {initrd_image="/boot/initrd.img-5.15.0-94-generic"}
f.i.: new entries: {kernel_image="/boot/vmlinuz-5.15.0-92-generic"} and {initrd_image="/boot/initrd.img-5.15.0-92-generic"}

In your case: replace f.i. string "initrd.img-5.15.0-94-generic" (faulty) with "initrd.img-6.1.0-12-amd64" (faulty),
and "5.15.0-92" (OK) with {previousVersionThatWorked}.

If you want to restore the previous kernel in your running (installed) version of Linux Mint, follow these directions:

1. Restart PC > hold Shift Key > Grub Menu > the top Kernel "6.1.0-12" is the one installed.
2. Go to Advanced Options > select Kernel {previousVersionThatWorked} (without the remark "recovery mode") > Enter > computer will boot to the Desktop > kernel {previousVersionThatWorked} is installed
3. Go to [lm-menu\administration\System Reports\system information\system] > Check installed kernel version
4. Go to [lm-menu\administration\Update manager\View\Linux Kernels\Continue] > you’ll see the old {previousVersionThatWorked} and new "6.1.0-12" kernel
5. Klik "6.1.0-12" > Remove > reboot > computer will boot to the old Kernel {previousVersionThatWorked}

Perhaps the location of the applets mentioned is different in LMDE. I haven't used LMDE6 for some time.

Something else: Do you know how to edit the Refracta-ISO? All files are packed in a SqashFS-file-span [/live/filesystem.squashfs] (splitted, for ISO9660 doesn't support files larger than 4 GB). Both files of the span are in the same folder, and have the same name (what?). IsoMaster can't cope with that, and how to merge the two files with unsquashfs, I don´t know. When typing [unsquashfs --help] in Terminal, I got dazzled.