Bug#992025: release-notes: Add section on switching init system
Package: release-notes
Severity: normal
Tags: patch
Hi,
Support for alternative init systems in bullseye is better than in
buster, but the process for switching is still a bit involved; I've
drafted a new subsection on the switching process. Could it be
included in the release notes, please?
Thanks,
Matthew
-- System Information:
Debian Release: 9.13
APT prefers oldstable
APT policy: (500, 'oldstable')
Architecture: amd64 (x86_64)
Kernel: Linux 4.9.0-16-amd64 (SMP w/8 CPU cores)
Locale: LANG=en_GB.UTF-8, LC_CTYPE=en_GB.UTF-8 (charmap=UTF-8), LANGUAGE=en_GB:en (charmap=UTF-8)
Shell: /bin/sh linked to /bin/dash
Init: sysvinit (via /sbin/init)
>From 8b723915627d2546d4266d360cc41fbf3f7c6ebf Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Matthew Vernon <matthew@debian.org>
Date: Mon, 9 Aug 2021 11:37:12 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] Add a subsection on changing init system
It's slightly fiddly to switch init system away from systemd, so
include a short note on doing so; and a pointer to the init-diversity
list for help.
---
en/issues.dbk | 44 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
1 file changed, 44 insertions(+)
diff --git a/en/issues.dbk b/en/issues.dbk
index 1fbba7a3..555daed4 100644
--- a/en/issues.dbk
+++ b/en/issues.dbk
@@ -719,6 +719,50 @@ Environment=SYSTEMD_SULOGIN_FORCE=1
<ulink url="&url-bts;/802211">#802211</ulink>.
</para>
</section>
+
+ <section>
+ <title>
+ Switching Init System
+ </title>
+ <para>
+ The default init system in Debian is systemd. In bullseye, a
+ number of alternative init systems are supported (such as
+ System-V-style init and OpenRC). Generally, to switch between
+ init systems, you install the new init system and reboot. The
+ exception is switching away from systemd - systemd's packages
+ will refuse to be removed if systemd is running; so the
+ process is a little more involved.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ In outline, you need to download the new packages you need,
+ switch to single-user mode, install these new packages, and
+ then reboot. The recommended approach is as follows. First,
+ clear out <filename>/var/cache/apt/archives</filename> by
+ running <literal>apt-get clean</literal> (this makes
+ identifying the packages to install later easier). Next, get
+ <literal>apt</literal> to download the new packages you need,
+ e.g.: <literal>apt-get --download-only install sysvinit-core
+ libpam-elogind</literal>; libpam-elogind (and elogind which it
+ Depends upon) provide session management facilities, which you
+ will likely need on any system running a desktop
+ environment. At this point, review apt's proposed actions, and
+ if happy, let it carry on.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Now switch to single-user mode (<literal>systemctl
+ rescue</literal>) and install the packages you downloaded
+ using <literal>dpkg -i</literal>; the packages will be in
+ <filename>/var/cache/apt/archives</filename>. Once dpkg has
+ completed, reboot your system.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ If you encounter any issues specifically associated with using
+ an alternative init system, there is a Debian init system
+ diversity list (<ulink
+ url="debian-init-diversity@chiark.greenend.org.uk">debian-init-diversity@chiark.greenend.org.uk</ulink>)
+ who may be able to help.
+ </para>
+ </section>
</section>
<section id="obsolescense-and-deprecation">
--
2.11.0
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