Bug#992025: release-notes: Add section on switching init system
Matthew Vernon wrote:
> + <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
(We don't seem to be consistent about our em dashes.)
> + 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,
If you mean the whole package/dependency management system and not the
/usr/bin/apt executable then I'd recommend calling it APT. On the
other hand all of these commands do seem to work equally well with apt
rather than apt-get, including the "apt clean" above.
> + 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.
With some extra markup, not all of which makes any actual difference,
and with s/apt-get/apt/g:
clear out <filename>/var/cache/apt/archives</filename> by
running <command>apt clean</command> (this makes identifying
the packages to install later easier). Next, get
<literal>apt</literal> to download the new packages you need,
e.g.: <command>apt --download-only install sysvinit-core
libpam-elogind</command>; <systemitem
role="package">libpam-elogind</systemitem> (and <systemitem
role="package">elogind</systemitem> which it Depends upon)
provide session management facilities, which you will likely
need on any system running a desktop environment. At this
point, review <literal>apt</literal>'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>
(You could make this "apt install /var/cache/apt/archives/*deb"!)
> + <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>
I wouldn't call a mailinglist a "who", and I wouldn't introduce a
publicly archived list with just the To-address - perhaps make this
an alternative init system, help may be available from the <ulink
url="https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/debian-init-diversity/";>Debian
init system diversity list</ulink>.
--
JBR with qualifications in linguistics, experience as a Debian
sysadmin, and probably no clue about this particular package
Reply to: