Re: Doing multiple independent install w/o internet
On Thu 06 Dec 2018 at 08:18:29 -0600, David Wright wrote:
> On Thu 06 Dec 2018 at 13:53:38 (+0000), Brian wrote:
> > On Thu 06 Dec 2018 at 07:00:43 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote:
> >
> > > I'm setting up a machine dedicated to *experimenting* with Debian installs
> > > using the content of purchased sets of DVDs.
> > >
> > > The project's goals include creating:
> > > 1. a preseed.cfg implementing *my* idea of a "minimal" install
> >
> > Should be no problem; you have done this in the past.
> > .
> > > 2. suitable meta-packages(ww?) for above.
> >
> > Sorry, I don't know what you mean here. What is ww?
> >
> > > The project's constraints/assumptions include:
> > > 1. doing repeated scratch installs w/o internet.
> >
> > Again - no problem with achieving this.
> >
> > > 2. the DVDs' content will be decompressed and stored on a
> > > dedicated partition
> >
> > Does the content have to be on a hard disk or could it go on the flash
> > drive?
> >
> > > My tentative procedure will be:
> > > 1. copy DVD1 to a flash drive with dd.
> > > 2. copy custom preseed.cfg to that flash drive.
> >
> > You'll need a partition to put it on. The dd process might create a
> > suitable one.
> >
> > > 3. use that flash drive for each trial install.
> >
> > Booting into DVD1 will be no problem. How will the preseed file get to
> > be read?
> >
> > > 4. create a script to install packages not on DVD1.
> >
> > Not sure about how easy getting a workable script is.
> >
> > > *MY QUESTIONS*
> > >
> > > 1. Any problems with above?
> >
> > Multiple, probably. There always are when trailblazing.
> >
> > > 2. Content of the Nth DVD of DVD set Q will be stored at
> > > /media/richard/DVDsets/setQ/dvdN .
> >
> > Does the content of the other DVDs have to be on a hard disk or could it
> > go on the flash drive?
> >
> > > Is this the correct content for sources.list ?>
> > > > deb file:/media/richard/DVDsets/setQ/dvd1 stable main contrib deb
> > > > file:/media/richard/DVDsets/setQ/dvd2 stable main contrib
> > > > .
> > > > .
> > > > . deb file:/media/richard/DVDsets/setQ/dvdN stable main contrib
> >
> > Pass.
>
> I could have sworn this had all moved from the todo list to the
> list of accomplishments. In fact, I thought the copying step had
> been achieved back in 2015 when I wrote
>
> https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2017/03/msg00680.html
>
> and that the preseed.cfg was done and dusted as reported in
>
> https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2017/01/msg00994.html
>
> so it might be helpful to know a little more about all the items
> listed above before even looking at something as vague as
>
> Question 1. Any problems with above?
>
> let alone actually answering it
The central issue (which is why the question was asked twice) is where
all the packages are to kept. Split between two sources (flash drive and
hard disk) or on one medium (flash drive, for example)? Apart from the
inefficiency of a two source solution, it introduces different problems
from a single source approach. Until this is sorted it doesn't make
answering Question 1 a frutful task.
Actually, the central issue is how a package archive is to be created,
If there is an insistence on having two sources, then
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/Modify/CD
is likely to have a cool reception.
--
Brian.
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