Frans Pop wrote:
> Hmm. I think it is on the same level as offering static network
> configuration over DHCP or, maybe better, (not) loading some modules
> during hardware detection.
>
> The main advantage of the patch as I see it is its flexibility: it allows
> both us and derivatives to set things up as they like with only minor
> changes:
> - per arch defaults
> - option of offering alternative generators
> - option to ask the user which generator to use
> - option to preseed
> It also makes the installer independent of the default dependency set in
> kernel-image packages.
I'm not sure if this last is really an advantage. I'd rather leave the
decision of which is default up to the kernel people, and we want d-i to
behave the same as a later kernel upgrde.
> I agree the question should be avoided if possible, certainly for default
> installs. Whether to ask the question during medium priority installs is
> debatable, but, as long as both tools have issues, IMO a good thing.
As long as it's only asked at medium, I don't care that the question
exists, but here is a way to avoid it anyway. It also makes recovering
from a generator that doesn't work much more pleasant than having to
follow the current advice in the question and re-install.
- Modify the kernel packages to generate initramfses using each of the
suitable tools they find, rather than just one. Name the initramfses
consistently, and make a kernel image symlink that matches their
name. Ie:
/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.14-2-386.yaird -> /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.14-2-386
/boot/initrd.img-2.6.14-2-386.yaird
/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.14-2-386.initramfs-tools -> /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.14-2-386
/boot/initrd.img-2.6.14-2-386.initramfs-tools
- Modify d-i to install all possibly suitable generators.
- Modify the boot loader installers to add separate menu entries for
the different initramfses so generated. With the symlinks set up as
above some like grub should need no modification to display both in
the menu. For for some boot loaders it will be harder and perhaps for
some a user would have to manually enter the initramfs name at the
command line to override the default.
Then if one fails to boot, you just use the other one.
Personally, d-i aside, I would prefer to have this capability available
in all my systems currently.
--
see shy jo
Attachment:
signature.asc
Description: Digital signature