RFC: combined i386/amd64 install images
Hi,
I have proposed this before but only now that amd64 has been added to
Debian can this realy be done (soon):
It would be great if the Debian Installer for i386 could also install
amd64.
Here is how it should work and what needs patching:
1) Grub detects a 64bit cpu and loads a 64bit kernel and a ramdisk
with 64bit modules as default (if it finds one).
2) The ramdisk (apart from 64bit modules) is the same for 32bit and
64bit kernels. All userland is 32bit.
3) If a 64bit kernel is running the architecture is set to amd64,
otherwise i386. This could also be a question, probably in
choose-mirror, but with low priority. Should that be in archdetect?
cpudetect?
4) choose-mirror filters the mirror.Masterlist for i386 or amd64 and
sets -ai386 or -aamd64 for debootstrap.
5) Kernel selection picks and lists kernels from i386 or amd64.
The size increase for the install images would be an extra kernel and
initrd on all images and a full set of base debs for the netinst/full
CD.
Comments?
Extra idea: Instead of a 32bit ramdisk and 64bit ramdisk could we make
a modules32.initramfs, modules64.initramfs and installer.initramfs and
have grub load one of the modules and the installer initramfs?
MfG
Goswin
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