Talk:OSE Linux
Since providing tech support is important keeping to a LTS version of Ubuntu as a standard package may be desirable. IT support can test new versions of OS and apps and upgrade the ISO and recommend planned upgrades for existing users to maintain software consistency across the OSE users.
Different methods of distribution are possible and it may be desirable for users to help provide some with P2P bit torrent sync distribution. If the installer/Live USB becomes larger than ideal certain media libraries could be separately distributed using cloud services or an app like Bit Torrent Sync for large folders like libraries of 3D CAD or video documentation editing.
Also since the installer or live USB device includes at least some libraries and OSE documents how big is it currently? Running from a Live USB stick may have speed limitations that reduce user productivity so encouraging or offering a Virtual Box Disk may be useful if some users are unable to install directly. If there are no impediments to running the apps in a VM it could offer a further layer of standardization by shifting some compatibility issues to the VM software layer, but may also add tech support complexity if it fails.
After having issues with a VM install the pure Live boot from USB looks better. Some of my issues were due to testing installing the VM to a large fast USB stick since I did not have a fast extra SSD/HD to use immediately. While NAND Flash storage is known for good latency most recent (2017 and prior) USB sticks are optimized more for fast sequential reads for copying files and not file system I/O. So users should be aware performance may not be optimal on some older devices. In my test case I realized the host OS was probably doing paging/caching to the USB while the VM was RAM starving the system so maybe I/O was so heavy the guest was timing out (solution don't use windows). So I expect using the UEFI/BIOS to boot a clean device will perform ok and with newer hardware with SSD like USB sticks performance should not impede user productivity.
There are various guides with different methods and software to create Linux Live USB devices.
https://www.howtogeek.com/109736/how-to-create-a-custom-ubuntu-live-cd-or-usb/
https://www.pendrivelinux.com/create-your-own-live-linux-cd-or-usb-distribution/
Many of these Linux live tools, guides and ubuntu pages appear outdated and discontinued (like Ubuntu Customization Kit) relative to 16.04 LTS and many only target users switching from windows like LiLi. Even LiLi https://www.linuxliveusb.com/ currently only lists support for 15.04.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tools_to_create_Live_USB_systems
Lists a few Linux tools to try like Remastersys/LinuxRespin, which is 10 months old and unmaintained, but the .deb for ubuntu may be worth a try. https://github.com/ch1x0r/LinuxRespin
The current ISO still needs updating with the list of apps and files so I'm testing package manager scripts from synaptic et cetera. As far as just adding data files I think most compression/archive tools can edit ISO's so I'm testing with 7zip and ubuntu archive manager. Looking for command line methods worth a try as well.
https://etcher.io/ converts and copies data, which is what dd already does good using the command line.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_USB Lists a variety of compatibility considerations. More modern UEFI boot systems use GRUB.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/FromUSBStick Dated, but has general info about USB booting and some links to lists of speed tests for USB2/3 devices.
Also, further testing of UNetbootin because if it can be made to work it is a semi-current cross-platform tool and has easy GUI with support for controlling persistence, which looks important for many USB users looking for portability.