Bug#1037186: debian-installer: bookworm d-i graphics are not shown on Raptor system

[Hector Oron <zumbi@debian.org>]

Hello,

  To be honest, I only updated ppc64el netboot image with the following patch:

--- a/build/pkg-lists/netboot/ppc64el.cfg
+++ b/build/pkg-lists/netboot/ppc64el.cfg
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 input-modules-${kernel:Version}
 nic-modules-${kernel:Version}
+fb-modules-${kernel:Version} ?
 usb-modules-${kernel:Version}
 virtio-modules-${kernel:Version} ?

I built the installer posted at:
https://people.debian.org/~zumbi/netboot_ppc64el/

and Timonthy was able to test that. I could expand the change to ppc64
(be) and cdrom targets and test that.

Note, the ppc64el installer images are unusable with that change, at
least on the Raptor systems, and since the change only affects power
package lists, I'd consider it as low impact/risk. I know we are close
to a release, and it is very bad timing, however if it can be merged,
it'd be great, otherwise we'll have to wait until the first point
release.

Thanks for your support.

On Wed, 7 Jun 2023 at 12:29, Cyril Brulebois <kibi@debian.org> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Hector Oron Martinez <zumbi@debian.org> (2023-06-07):
> > We found latest installer for bookworm is missing ast DRM kernel
> > module, causing graphical failure on ppc64el Raptor machines. Could
> > you please consider the following change or similar for the
> > debian-installer bookworm release.
> >
> >   https://salsa.debian.org/installer-team/debian-installer/-/merge_requests/34
>
> Thanks for the patch, but this is too late. We can consider that for
> unstable, and later on via a point release.
>
> I know for a fact we have fbdev in ppc64el builds, as we've suffered a
> regression there (#1033058, for which someone still needs to find a real
> fix on the kernel side, hint hint wink wink); isn't that generic driver
> sufficient to get some basic output?
>
> Also, I don't understand what's going on with the build/Makefile part:
>  1. This is a temporary workaround for 3 architectures that run into
>     issues under UEFI/SB, which isn't quite relevant for ppc64el. (The
>     idea was to avoid having to re-upload linux and linux-signed-* for
>     just a few additions to the fb-modules udeb.)
>  2. If you look at the following commit, I suppose you'll get the very
>     same impression as I have: this merge request is very likely to
>     trigger a direct FTBFS on ppc64el.
>       https://salsa.debian.org/installer-team/debian-installer/-/commit/32e4d58c263fc5454067a7217ee7103cfb12bc1b
>
>
> Cheers,
> --
> Cyril Brulebois (kibi@debian.org)            <https://debamax.com/>
> D-I release manager -- Release team member -- Freelance Consultant



-- 
 Héctor Orón  -.. . -... .. .- -.   -.. . ...- . .-.. --- .--. . .-.