Bug#862216: release-notes: [Stretch] improve text about iproute2 and net-tools
Package: release-notes
Severity: normal
Hello,
I recently ran across the stretch release notes draft and particularly
"5.3.9. iproute2 will replace net-tools".
See https://www.debian.org/releases/stretch/amd64/release-notes/ch-information.en.html#iproute2
This might be nitpicking but I find the text slightly misleading, so
I thought I'd share some thoughts.
"[...], while iproute2 has been upgraded to important."
This happened almost a decade ago (in 2008) and has been part of new
debian installations since Debian 5.0 Lenny.
The net-tools package is still available as well so for those still
wanting to use it still can, they just need to explicitly install it.
I'm not sure I should write these texts but here's an attempt at providing
an alternative description.
------------------8<-------8<------8<------8<-------------------------------
5.3.9 Users are adviced to use iproute2 instead of net-tools
The net-tools package is no longer part of new installations by default, since it's priority has been lowered from important to optional. Users are instead advised to use the modern iproute2 toolset (which has been part of new installs for several releases already and continues to be).
If you still prefer to continue using the net-tools programs you can simply install it via 'apt install net-tools'.
Here is a summary of the net-tools commands, together with their iproute2 equivalent:
[...]
------------------8<-------8<------8<------8<-------------------------------
Please note that the 'iw' command (as suggested for iwconfig
replacement) is not from the iproute2 toolset, but rather from it's own
package 'iw'!
Similar for the ifrename command, which I wonder if it shouldn't be
considered a legacy command instead of a replacement for anything.
Modern interface naming tools more high level than 'ip link' would
likely be systemd-networkd these days.
(Original suggestion seems to have been in http://bugs.debian.org/851229 )
Hope this helps. Feel free to close this without action if you feel
the current text serves the purpose of release notes well enough
already. Also feel free to reach out to iproute2@packages.debian.org
for any advice related to the package and its usage.
Regards,
Andreas Henriksson
-- System Information:
Debian Release: 9.0
APT prefers unstable-debug
APT policy: (500, 'unstable-debug'), (500, 'testing-debug'), (500, 'unstable'), (1, 'experimental-debug'), (1, 'experimental')
Architecture: amd64
(x86_64)
Kernel: Linux 4.9.0-3-amd64 (SMP w/4 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=en_US.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_US.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash
Init: systemd (via /run/systemd/system)
Reply to: