Bug#514246: upgrade-reports: Etch and a half to Lenny: some issues, but successful
Hello,
On Thu, Feb 05, 2009 at 11:41:17AM -0500, Mike Devour wrote:
> Package: upgrade-reports
> Severity: normal
>
> Method:
> aptitude update
> aptitude dist-upgrade
> Edit /etc/apt/sources.list: all instances of etch to lenny, delete backports
> Re-boot, Ctrl-Alt-F1 and log in as root
> aptitude update
> script
> aptitude install dpkg aptitude apt
> aptitude safe-upgrade
> aptitude full-upgrade
> exit
>
> Results:
>
> Upgrade ended with the following problems:
> A) Ran out of room on /root partition. Trying to run aptitude resulted in the following
> error message:
[..]
> Resolved by booting a gparted live-CD, increasing the size of the /root partition, and
> re-running dpkg --configure -a.
>
> Yes, the release notes do say something about making sure you have room for the upgrade!
> <sigh>
There are easier methods deocumented in the release-notes:
http://debian.org/releases/lenny/i386/release-notes/ch-upgrading#sufficient-space
> B) X-server wouldn't start, reporting mis-matched versions between 'nvidia' module and
> kernel.
> After much foolishness and frustration and failed attempts to switch to the nv or vesa
> drivers, I realized that due to my dual-boot grub configuration I had NOT actually booted
> using the NEW KERNEL! <grrr!> Modified the grub menu.lst from the other installation and
> "magically" the nvidia driver started working, including 3d acceleration.
I guess point B/ is not a problem on the debian side :)
> C) When I tested virtualbox-ose, it demanded that I install the guest-modules package for
> my kernel version and run 'modprobe vboxdrv' before it would open any of my saved vm's. I
> wonder if this is something that ought to have been upgraded/configured without user
> intervention?
There were no virtualbox packages in Etch:
http://packages.debian.org/search?suite=etch&keywords=virtualbox
I guess these virtualbox packages came from 3rd party repo ?
Anyway, now Lenny provides virtualbox packages, you can get it from
Debien, including the kernl modules so that they will be automatically
upgraded during the next release:
http://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=virtualbox-ose-modules
> D) In order to have Gnome system sounds working esound needs to be installed. However,
> when it is, it interferes with surround sound, as the following command results
> illustrate:
> # speaker-test -t sine -D surround51 -c 6
>
> speaker-test 1.0.16
>
> Playback device is surround51
> Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 6 channels
> Sine wave rate is 440.0000Hz
> Playback open error: -16,Device or resource busy
> Playback open error: -16,Device or resource busy
> Playback open error: -16,Device or resource busy
> ^C
> #
>
> I have not yet found a workaround for this.
Did you encounter the issue before the upgrade ? (with the same
configuration obviously)
Actually, you should not need esound to get sound working in GNOME.
In some cases, esound locks the sound device, that explains why ALSA/OSS
speaking software cannot output sound anymore.
http://wiki.debian.org/ALSA#Sharingacardamongmultipleprocesses
> Conclusions:
>
> This is the first time I've ever done a major version upgrade-in-place rather than a fresh
> install.
>
> The release notes were sufficient (or will be once fully updated for Lenny), but the
> actual steps the user needs to take to do the upgrade tend to get lost in the minutia of
> trying to account for all the possible situations and complications along the way. I can
> hardly imagine how to organize it better than it is, though, which leaves the whole
> process pretty challenging for inexperienced users.
Note that it is already very challenging to get this upgrade smooth for
pure Debian system (i.e. without 3rd party packages or specific config),
but reality shows some users have some such 3rd party packages...
> Overall I am satisfied. The difficulties I had were mostly self-induced. I kept this Etch
> installation around after I installed Lenny a couple of months back just so I could do
> this upgrade and report the results. Now I can wipe, re-partition, and try a fresh install
> via d-i RC2...
>
> Thank you, Debian volunteers, for the amazing work you all do!
Thanks very much for your report Mike !
--
Simon Paillard
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