Re: Testing netinstall, but use stable release?

[Rory Campbell-Lange <rory@campbell-lange.net>]

Hi David

On 08/05/19, David Christensen (dpchrist@holgerdanske.com) wrote:
> On 5/8/19 10:32 AM, Rory Campbell-Lange wrote:
> > I'm setting up some servers with A2SDi-8C-HLN4F motherboards with Intel
> > x553 cards that require the ixgbe kernel module.
> > 
> > The latest stable netinstall image allows one to load the ixgbe module
> > but the network interfaces aren't seen. However, the latest testing
> > netinstall sees the network interfaces fine.
> > 
> > Is there a clever way of downgrading the installation to stable while
> > keeping the testing kernel and associated ixgbe module?
> 
> It looks like Buster uses kernel 4.19.0:
> 
> https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=kernel&searchon=all&suite=testing&section=all
> 
> 
> It looks like this kernel is available as a backport for Stretch:
> 
> https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=kernel&searchon=all&section=all&suite=stretch-backports
> 
> 
> Assuming the ixgbe driver is bundled with kernel packages, I would try doing
> a Stretch install and then installing the backported kernel.

Thanks very much for that information. The links with search parameters
are particularly helpful. I can confirm that the Buster kernel (at
least, in the latest testing netinstall images) has a working ixgbe
module.

I have something of a chicken-and-egg situation installing a back-ported
kernel as I can't get the machine (which is in a remote data centre)
onto the network under the stable netinstall.

Is it theoretically possible to add another kernel and dependencies to a
stable netinstall iso image? I've already constructed a custom ISO for
console redirection.

Many thanks for your advice
Rory