Convert Calculate Linux or Sabayon to 'true' Gentoo ?

javeree · Guru Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 453

I plan on installing Gentoo on a few old PCs. Normally, I would do this using the standard Gentoo handbook, but this time I would like to try an alternative route and install a 'ready to go' Gentoo based distribution that would give immediately a working PC.

Then, as I start to upgrade, I would like to convert the installed binary packages to source based packages according to use flags I set.

I am considering both Calculate Linux or Sabayon. My question is if this is a feasible route. Is it possible / easy to update these distributions in a way that only 'standard portage' packages get installed or updated ?
The idea being that after doing normal update maintenance on these distributions, you would have the same functionality and setup, but in fact are running a standard Gentoo.

fedeliallalinea · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:16 am Post subject:

I don't know Calculate Linux but Sabayon use an alternative package manager Entropy.
Using portage in Sabayon is not recommended
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Fitzcarraldo · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 9:38 am Post subject:

By the time you have removed the Sabayon overlay sabayon-distro (Sabayon Linux has it own versions of several packages, GRUB being one of them), reconfigured and rebuilt the kernel to optimise it for your particular hardware, reconfigured /etc/portage/make.conf (not just the USE flags) for your particular installation, and rebuilt all packages (system and non-system) to match the revised kernel configuration and make.conf, you may as well have installed Gentoo proper.
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NeddySeagoon · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 11:23 am Post subject:

javeree,

If I was going where you are going, I wouldn't start from there ;)

There are several ways to build for old slow systems.

a) share the old slow systems HDD to a more capable system over NFS.
The more capable system does the install.

b) make a chroot on a more capable system that mirrors the target.
Install there but build binary packages as you go.
Install the binary packages on the slow system.

c) Use distcc to have other systems 'help' with builds.
cross distcc works if your helpers are not the same arch.

d) Fit the old slow systems HDD to a more capable system.
Move it back after the install.

Since you say a "few old PCs" I would go for option b) and find a setup that suits all the old PCs, so you only build the binary packages once, then deploy them everywhere.
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Blind_Sniper · Guru Joined: 20 Apr 2018 Posts: 340

What do you want to achieve?

Eventually you will do the same job like you do when installing gentoo from sources. With the useless time waste in the middle of the way