GSEC Linux

Golden Image · Custom Packages

Add Your Own RPMs

Include your own home-built RPM packages in a Golden Image build, alongside the standard package selection, using Add your RPMs on the Golden Image page.

Before you start

Format your USB drive as FAT32. NTFS-formatted drives are not supported by the installer — the mount step below will fail with unknown filesystem type 'ntfs'. Copy your .rpm files onto the drive once it's formatted.

At a glance

Tested & confirmed working
Format USB as FAT32 on Windows, copy RPMs on
↓
VM menu → Removable Devices → USB → Connect to virtual machine
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Disable Intel Graphics hotkeys on the Windows host (one-time)
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Click inside the VM console, Ctrl+Alt+F2 → tty2 root shell
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lsblk (find e.g. sda1)
mkdir -p /mnt/usb
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usb
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Ctrl+Alt+F1 or Ctrl+Alt+F6 back to the GUI → Add your RPMs → Other Locations → Computer → /mnt/usb
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RPMs visible, select & Add

Which key brings the GUI back? The installer's graphical screen doesn't always sit on the same console number. Try Ctrl+Alt+F1 first; if nothing happens, try Ctrl+Alt+F6 instead.

1

Connect your USB drive

Plug the USB drive into your server before opening the Golden Image page.

Installing in a virtual machine? Connect the USB to the virtual machine, not the host. In VMware Workstation: VM → Removable Devices → your USB device → Connect to a virtual machine.
2

Open "Add your RPMs"

On the Installation Summary screen, select Make Golden Image ISO under Golden Image, then click Add your RPMs.

3

Locate your USB drive

The installer's file browser doesn't list external drives automatically. Make it visible first:

  1. a. Click once inside the installer screen, then press Ctrl+Alt+F2 to switch to a root console.
  2. b. Identify your drive:
    lsblk

    Look for a removable disk (RM = 1) matching your drive's size — for example sda1.

    tty2 console showing lsblk output with the removable USB drive listed
  3. c. Mount it:
    mkdir -p /mnt/usb
mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/usb
    tty2 console after mkdir and mount complete with no error
  4. d. Return to the installer with Ctrl+Alt+F1 (or Ctrl+Alt+F6 if the screen doesn't change).
    Which key brings the GUI back? The installer's graphical screen doesn't always sit on the same console number. Try Ctrl+Alt+F1 first; if nothing happens, try Ctrl+Alt+F6 instead.
4

Add your RPMs

In the file browser, navigate to your mounted drive:

+ Other Locations→Computer→mnt→usb

Your RPM files are now listed. Select the ones you want and click Add.

Screenshot coming soon

Troubleshooting

unknown filesystem type 'ntfs'Your drive is NTFS. Reformat it as FAT32 on Windows, macOS, or Linux, then copy your RPM files again.
Ctrl+Alt+F2 does nothingOn a Windows host with Intel graphics, the driver can intercept the keystroke before it reaches the VM. Disable it: right-click the desktop → Graphics Options → Hot Keys → Disable, then try again.
Enter does nothing on the consoleClick once inside the VM or server console window first to give it keyboard focus, then retry.