A methodology to configure a minimal, application-specific operating system for distribution and operation
type: CreativeWork
description: NetAPT is a tool that helps enterprise and utility customers validate their network security policy. While the tool gives helpful results, it relies on lots of external programs to help it perform its powerful analysis. These dependencies often take hours or days to correctly install and configure. Users need a solution that helps them run the tool quickly, a distribution in which this deep configuration has already been performed. This thesis details how to create a minimal, application-specific ISO of a Linux operating system that can be booted live, installed to a computer, or virtualized across many different platforms. The author first looked at Linux From Scratch as a way to create a completely minimal and bloat-free system. Once the system had been compiled, it failed to run properly and was not small enough. The author next looked at customizing the Ubuntu installer, which well supported the application and its dependencies. The final distribution produced a small, branded ISO that could be run as a LiveCD or installed as a traditional operating system. This makes it easy for users to download a copy of the tool and use it right away without the need for any configuration.
abstract: NetAPT is a tool that helps enterprise and utility customers validate their network security policy. While the tool gives helpful results, it relies on lots of external programs to help it perform its powerful analysis. These dependencies often take hours or days to correctly install and configure. Users need a solution that helps them run the tool quickly, a distribution in which this deep configuration has already been performed. This thesis details how to create a minimal, application-specific ISO of a Linux operating system that can be booted live, installed to a computer, or virtualized across many different platforms. The author first looked at Linux From Scratch as a way to create a completely minimal and bloat-free system. Once the system had been compiled, it failed to run properly and was not small enough. The author next looked at customizing the Ubuntu installer, which well supported the application and its dependencies. The final distribution produced a small, branded ISO that could be run as a LiveCD or installed as a traditional operating system. This makes it easy for users to download a copy of the tool and use it right away without the need for any configuration.
author: Yordy, Zachary
language: en
keywords: Network Access Policy Tool (NetAPT), Operating System, Application-Specific Operating System (ASOS), Compile, Linux, Distribution
date published: 2013-08-22T16:37:17Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:25:34Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/45344