This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.
What is DevStation?
DevStation is the name of a pre-configured Linux system primarily used for building ThinStation boot images. DevStation is not required in order to use the ThinStation build system, but it's a nice place to start because it helps establish the work flow for building boot images.
Watch the video.
Where to get it
You can obtain DevStation by downloading the installer disc ISO image at https://www.thinstation.org/TS-7.0.0-Installer-0101.iso.
Installing DevStation
Allthough it is possible to install the DevStation image onto real hardware, most find it considerably faster to develop on a workstation capable of hosting multiple virtual machines (servers, clients and other network appliances).
Watch the video.
Specifications for creating a new virtual machine
| Option | Value |
|---|---|
| Type: | Custom |
| Compatibility: | Default |
| Installer disc: | dowloaded ISO image file (see above) |
| Guest OS: | Linux |
| Version: | Other Linux 2.6.x kernel 64-bit |
| Name: | DevStation |
| Location: | Default |
| Processors: | 1 |
| Cores: | minimal value 2 8vCPU recommended |
| Memory: | minimal value 4 GiB 16 GiB recommended |
| Video Memory: | minimal value 64 MB |
| Network Connection: | Bridged |
| SCSI Controller: | Default |
| Disk: | Default |
| Disk Type: | Default |
| Maximum disk size: | 30 GB for a shallow single branch checkout. Over 60 GB for deep history and branch comparison. |
| Disk File: | Default |
Installation steps
- Power on virtual machine.
- Select “Installer for DevStation” menu option. GRUB will load a little over 100 MB into memory.
- Read all notes shown after startup. Select OK.
- Select Disk to use for installation. Select OK.
- Select native resolution of the display. Select OK.
- Select your time zone. Select OK.
- Select your locale (language, symbols and keyboard layout). Select OK.
- Confirm all warnings. The installer will download a bootable OS image and several GB via Git.
- Read all notes shown after installation. Select OK, to acknowledge each one. Remove the CD when instructed to do so. Click OK to reboot.
Usage
Booting
Upon rebooting the system should automaticly boot the “Standard” image within a 15 second timeout. A “Backup” image is available in the case that a web update is defective or a local build of the DevStation image does not behave as expected.
Building Your First Image
Click Start › DevStation › Build Image. This will build a default image that is bootable in a virtual machine. The image will include:
- XFWM4 (Window manager)
- Chromium (Web browser)
- NetworkManager (Networking stack)
- Gnome media packages and plugins
- Xorg drivers for most vendors (Not the kernel modules though!)
- FreeRDP (Remote access application)
- Open VM Tools (copy & paste)
- Terminal (shell utility)
- Thunar (file manager)
- Samba (SMB client)
- CUPS (printing system)
- All available time zones
- All available locales
What’s next?
Please read on here.