[indiana-discuss] Definitions for "image" and more

[Lynne Thompson]

Iain MacDonnell wrote:

>
>
> Lynne Thompson wrote on 10/ 5/07 05:21 PM:
>
>> Iain MacDonnell wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Dave Miner wrote on 10/ 5/07 04:02 PM:
>>>
>>>> Lynne Thompson wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> The Indiana design documents introduce new terms or terms that might
>>>>> not be familiar to many. I'll be collecting terms and definitions
>>>>> into a glossary. Below are several definitions for terms that relate
>>>>> to "image." The distribution constructor will be outputting images.
>>>>> Describing how these images are different will be helpful to users.
>>>>> Any changes necessary for the following definitions?
>>>>>
>>>>> image: A collection of software that comprises an entire operating
>>>>> system.
>>>>
>>> I'd say it's not just a collection of software, but a packaging of that
>>> collection and installation tools in a form suitable for installation. 
>>
>>
>> Then the definition of image would change to:
>> A collection of software in a package that comprises an entire operating
>> system. The package is suitable for installation.
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>> ISO image: A collection of software that comprises an entire
>>>>> operating system in a single file.  The ISO image can be made
>>>>> available for distribution from the Internet.  The ISO image can be
>>>>> burned to a CD or DVD for future installation.  The ISO image cannot
>>>>> be installed on a system without first being burned to media.
>>>>>
>>>> The last sentence is true for now, but eventually won't be.
>>>
>>>
>>> It's not even completely true today, if you have either something
>>> like VMware or something like the virtual CDROM drive our newer x64
>>> servers (e.g. X4200) provide via the iLOM, both of which can allow
>>> the use of an ISO image instead of a physical CD/DVD.
>>>
>>> ISO is actually short for ISO9660 - a filesystem standard designed for
>>> CDROM. Nowadays, we use extensions to ISO9660 to allow things like long
>>> filenames, but the point is that those images contain filesystems
>>> suitable for creating a (bootable) CD or DVD. 
>>
>>
>> Is this an improved definition?
>>
>> ISO image
>> An ISO image is a standard designed for CD-ROM. This image is a 
>> collection of software that comprises an entire operating system in a 
>> single file.  The ISO image can be made available for distribution 
>> from the Internet. An ISO image contains file systems suitable for 
>> creating a bootable CD or DVD. The ISO image is bootable and is 
>> usable for installation and other purposes.
>
>
> In the case of CDROMs, I think we're up to about six for the entire
> Solaris distribution, so it's one file *per CD*. Only the first CD needs
> to be bootable, but that's probably too much detail. AFAIK, we still fit
> everything on one DVD. Also, "An ISO image contains *a* filesystem..."
> (one filesystem per ISO).
>
> Otherwise, sounds better to me... 


OK - I've just changed added the "a" before file systems then.

ISO image
An ISO image is a standard designed for CD-ROM. This image is a 
collection of software that comprises an entire operating system in a 
single file.  The ISO image can be made available for distribution from 
the Internet. An ISO image contains a file system suitable for creating 
a bootable CD or DVD. The ISO image is bootable and is usable for 
installation and other purposes.

Lynne

>
>
>     ~Iain
>
>
>
>
>
>>>> Both this and the USB image are in fact bootable images, though, 
>>>> which isn't captured in the text, and they're usable for purposes 
>>>> other than installation.
>>>>
>>>>> network installation image: A collection of software that comprises
>>>>> the entire operating system. The image can be installed over a local
>>>>> area network (LAN).
>>>>>
>>>>> USB image: An ISO image that can be burned to a USB flash drive for
>>>>> future installation.
>>>>>
>>>> The USB image is not in ISO format, so that should be removed and 
>>>> see the comment above about uses other than installation.
>>>
>>
>>
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>