Ubuntu – Latest security updates with debootstrap

I would suggest using grml-debootstrap. This is a wrapper script around debootstrap and comes from the grml live cd. This script has a file /etc/debootstrap/locale.gen where you can put your locales and they are generated at the right time. grml-debootstrap also has lots of more advantages and its worth to look at.

In my system that happens with every Ubuntu/Backbox I have tried. It seems that the CD cannot be used as a repository (see here), which makes sense: debootstrap should need a path to a repository (some local/remote folder with a predefined structure, and .deb archives) and the Ubuntu/Backbox comes with a squashfs (basically a image with a base system in it).

As Backbox seems to be just Ubuntu 12.04 (it uses as source of packages http://archive.ubuntu.com) and some additional repositories, I think you have two options here:

1. Create a basic Ubuntu chroot and then install all the needed software: you can provide debootstrap with a script to add the PPA's, install the software, etc.

2. Extract the squashfs: you will need to mount the ISO, then mount the squashfs in it and finally copy the root filesystem:

   sudo mount /path/to/backbox.iso <bb_mount_point>
   sudo mount -t squashfs <bb_mount_point>/casper/filesystem.squashfs <squash_mount_point>
   sudo cp -rxv <squash_mount_point> <chroot_destination>
   

I have not tried any of those so I can't assure you any will work. Also a valid way to achieve this would be install BB on a virtual machine (you can use QEMU/KVM/etc) and then copy the root filesystem to whenever you need it.

Good luck.