Re: Cross-install howto

[Ben Bucksch <linux.news@bucksch.org>]

 Hi Tillman,

Chris Tillman wrote:

>   This section explains how to install Debian GNU/Linux from an existing
>   Unix or Linux system.
Thanks for writing that up.

> This has been requested by users switching to 
>   the "best" Linux system from Redhat, Mandrake, or SUSE.
Please leave these plugs like "best" out.

(heavily cutted:)

> Installing debootstrap
> Running debootstrap (Using basedebs.tar)
> Configuring The Base System
>   OK. You've got a few things to configure that would ordinarily be
>   handled by the Debian installer:
>     * keyboard
>     * language
>     * time zone
>     * partition mounting
>     * networking
>     * apt sources
>
>   You need to create /etc/fstab.
>
>    $ editor /etc/network/interfaces 
>    $ editor /etc/resolv.conf -- your nameserver(s) and search directives     
Sorry for my lacking knowledge about debootstrap. debootstrap doesn't 
run that ncurses-based, menu-driven installer tool that comes up when 
you boot using the Debian boot disks?

Then, this was the reason why I ditched debootstrap as option to 
install. Back then, I found it too cumbersome to edit all the files by 
hand. While it might be interesting for power users (so your write-up is 
useful), I think the existing, more comfortable tools should be used, if 
possible.

That's what I described [1]. Although not exactly being easy, these 
steps start the dbootstrap (without e) UI tool on the boot disks 
directly from the harddisk. That's why I would suggest to use the steps 
on my webpage (maybe made a bit easier for newbies) for this section of 
the Debian manual.

I think that your text would be useful as *additional* path, for people 
who want to control things more or want to know how it works under the 
hood, e.g. to change an existing system.

IMO, we would ideally have

   * a tarball with a complete, runnable Debian base system
     (so one wget, cfdisk, mkfs, tar xzf and GRUB command suffices to
     end up in Debian)
   * a tool which helps to configure the system and which can be run
     from an existing installation.
     This would help with both the cross-install and later
     modifications to an existing system (e.g. a changed network name)
     without having to edit a ton of config files.


Ben

[1] <http://www.bucksch.org/1/projects/debian/crossinst>


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