Bug#235717: Installation report (i386 - Beta 2)
Package: installation-reports
INSTALL REPORT
I have been a Debian user since about 5 years.
I currently have a home network consisting of 3 i386 boxes (2 servers, 1 desktop)
and used the desktop for the installation test. Because I got confused the first
few times and was not satisfied with the result, I did the installation 3 times.
Debian-installer-version: Beta 2 (i386 100MB CD image)
uname -a: Linux sauron 2.4.22-1-386 #9 Sat Oct 4 14:30:39 EST 2003 i686 GNU/Linux
Date: Feb 29 15:30
Method: Boot from Debian Installer CD (in hdc); additional packages from internet (http)
Machine: NEC Direction
Processor: Pentium III (Coppermine)
Memory: 256 MB
Root Device: I installed spare IDE disk as hdb and used that for install
Root Size/partition table:
hda: QUANTUM FIREBALLlct10 20 (unused for this install)
hdb: Maxtor 90430D3
hdc: Hewlett-Packard CD-Writer Plus 8100
hdd: PIONEER DVD-ROM DVD-114
Disk /dev/hdb: 4311 MB, 4311982080 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 524 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System Mounted as
/dev/hdb1 1 135 1084356 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hdb2 136 524 3124642+ 5 Extended
/dev/hdb5 136 176 329301 6 FAT16
/dev/hdb6 177 480 2441848+ 83 Linux /
/dev/hdb7 481 500 160618+ 83 Linux /home
/dev/hdb8 501 524 192748+ 82 Linux swap swap
Output of lspci:
00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C693A/694x [Apollo PRO133x] (rev c4)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C598/694x [Apollo MVP3/Pro133x AGP]
00:07.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super South] (rev 22)
00:07.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT8233/A/C/VT8235 PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 10)
00:07.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 10)
00:07.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. USB (rev 10)
00:07.4 SMBus: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev 30)
00:0e.0 Network controller: Eicon Technology Corporation Diva 2.01 S/T PCI (rev 01)
00:0f.0 Ethernet controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT6102 [Rhine-II] (rev 43)
00:11.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 07)
00:11.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! MIDI/Game Port (rev 07)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Rage 128 RF/SG AGP
Base System Installation Checklist:
Initial boot worked: [O]
Configure network HW: [O]
Config network: [O]
Detect CD: [O]
Load installer modules: [O]
Detect hard drives: [O]
Partition hard drives: [O]
Create file systems: [O]
Mount partitions: [O]
Install base system: [O]
Install boot loader: [O]
Reboot: [O]
[O] = OK, [E] = Error (please elaborate below), [ ] = didn't try it
Comments/Problems:
Installation in general went fine; important hardware was all
recognized and working after install.
*** Network configuration and DHCP ***
- I think static network configuration should _always_ be an option even if
DHCP is available (eg. for servers).
- Dynamic DNS is currently not supported when DHCP is used; I had to manually add
'send hostname "<hostname>";' to dhclient.conf in order to get the box recognized
by my DNS-servers.
*** CD/DVD recognition ***
There is somthing funny with how the two CD drives are handled.
- System was booted of hdc. Installation also ran from hdc.
- In post-install when adding apt-sources I had to switch the installation CD from
hdc to hdd when apt-cdrom scans to add the CD.
- When installing packages I had to switch the installation CD back to hdc.
It looks like discover sometimes switches hdc and hdd between /dev/cdrom0
and /dev/cdrom1. I confirmed this by checking /dev/cd* after installation
and after later reboots.
After installation I had _3_ directories created in / (cdrom, cdrom0, cdrom1),
but there was no default entry for /dev/hdd (to /cdrom1?) in /etc/fstab.
Both my HP CD-RW and Pioneer DVD were installed as ide-cd; the HP CD-RW should
be ide-scsi to support CD-writing. Should the installer handle this?
I changed the CD-RW manually (using /etc/modutils/) and now have:
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 11 Mar 1 22:47 /dev/cdrom -> /dev/cdrom0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 8 Mar 1 22:47 /dev/cdrom0 -> /dev/hdd
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Mar 1 22:47 /dev/cdrom1 -> /dev/scd0
Maybe it would be better to have /dev/cdrom0 and /dev/cdrom1 in fstab instead of
/dev/hdc etc. This would also support an ide-scsi drive like above.
*** Usability ***
- I liked installing using the menu better then the 'fully automated' way.
During the first two installations I got 'lost' several times; it is not
always obvious how to skip a step (eg. partitioning).
- In the dialog for 'Partition a hard drive' there should be a text 'or choose
Finish to use existing partitions'.
- The /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target0/lun0 notation is very confusing for less
experienced users. Where possible (e.g. selecting a disc for partitioning
and lilo configuration) the notation used during 'Configure and mount
partitions' should be used(IDE x Master/Slave Disc/Partition x).
- During lilo configuration there should be a selection list instead of having to
manually edit (I wanted /dev/ide/host0/bus0/target1/lun0/part6 which I chainload
from lilo on hda; I got really stuck here the first time).
- Maybe there should be an option during installation to add the 'normal user' to
selected groups (like audio, cdrom).
- There should be an indication during Configure and mount partitions which
partition has been selected and will be mounted as swap.
- There is no progress information when the installer configures and mount
partitions.
- Selection of apt sources should have a 'finish' option; now you can get stuck.
*** General remarks ***
I missed the following questions during post-install (questions I remember from
the installation procedure for Woody):
- Is system clock UTC or local?
- System does not have PCMCIA, should packages be removed?
Thanks for the good work!
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