Re: Ensuring network connectivity no Ethernet [WAS Re: Drivers to Debian installer]
On Sun, Nov 21, 2021 at 06:06:53PM +0000, Brian wrote:
> On Sun 21 Nov 2021 at 17:53:57 +0000, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:
>
> > On Sun, Nov 21, 2021 at 05:46:13PM +0000, Brian wrote:
> > > On Sun 21 Nov 2021 at 16:30:06 +0000, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote:
> > >
> > > > On Sun, Nov 21, 2021 at 05:38:56PM +0300, John Berden wrote:
> > > > > Hi all!
> > > > >
> > > > > I have Acer Nitra 5 laptop with the following parameters:
> > > > > Six-core Intel i5-11400H
> > > > > System board chipset Intel Tiger Point HM570, Intel Tiger Lake-H
> > > > > DIMM1: Samsung M471A1K43EB1-CWE
> > > > > DIMM3: Samsung M471A1K43EB1-CWE
> > > > > Integrated video Intel(R) UHD Graphics
> > > > > Discrete video NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU
> > > > >
> > > > > Can I embed Drivers for these devices to Debian installer?
> > >
> > > If you really mean drivers (and not firmware) I think the answer is
> > > "no". At least not easily.
> > >
> > > > > Or at least how can I embed a WiFi driver?
> > > > > I use Firmware-11.1.0-AMD64-DVD-1.Iso
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks in advance!
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Hi John,
> > > >
> > > > Use the firmware .iso you have to install Debian. At the point at which
> > > > you need firmware, the installer should supply it.
> > >
> > > Firmware for network devices only, I believe.
> > >
> > > > If you have an Ethernet port and can used a wired interface to bootstrap
> > > > installation do so.
> > >
> > > I took a quick look at the specs for this machine. It does not appear
> > > to have an ethernet interface.
> > >
> > > > A complication is that this is a gaming laptop with two video displays.
> > > > If you wish to use both, then there are difficulties in doing so.
> > > >
> > > > I would suggest booting from the isntaller and doing an expert install.
> > >
> > > I agee with that.
> > >
> > > > Stop without installing any desktop - so unselect a Debian desktop.
> > >
> > > Normally I would agree with this too, but the lack of ethernet is likely
> > > to lead to an issue with connectivity after first boot. See
> > >
> > > https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=694068
> > >
In this _particular_ instance ideally no DE because of the problem of 2x
video interfaces
> > > > Complete the install as text only if you can.
> > > >
> > > > Decide whether you want to use the proprietary Nvidia drivers or not.
> > > >
> > > > Install the bumblebee utilities as appropriate
> > > >
> > > > If using the Nvidia propriatary drivers, install the nvidia-driver utilities
> > > > as prompted.
> > > >
> > > > Once that's done: reboot.
> > > >
> > > > Only at that point install a desktop using tasksel as root/root equivalent.
> > > >
> > > > Hope this helps, I don't particularly have a gaming laptop to install on.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Brian.
> > >
> >
> > No Ethernet means additional complications :)
>
> The particuler complication I mentioned only arises should a DE not be
> installed. This has been recognised as a Debian hoop to jump through.
>
> > WiFi firmware - the nonfree firmware-iwlwifi probably - will be installed
> > as part of the initial install - so you should have network connectivity
> > for that at least.
>
> Assuming a wireless connection is established by the installer it will
> remain available after first boot, irrespective of whether a DE is
> installed or not.
>
> > I'd install Network Manager and nmtui to set up a minimal wireless interface
> > thereafter. You can do that either by dropping to a shell in the initial
> > install or by using the rescue mode of the installer to chroot to the installed
> > system and go from there.
>
> Installing a DE will probably pull in network-manager.
>
See above: explicitly trying _not_ to install a DE until the video is
configured.
> > This is one of the reasons why I keep around a USB -> Ethernet adapter but
> > I recognise that I'm an oddity here.
>
> Not a bad idea. Should it be necessary, though?
>
No - but for this sort of thing - or where the onboard wifi interface
requires a driver to be built / downloaded - Broadcom and fwcutter, I'm
looking at you - then this is the only way to get it all to work.
[Have done this for Raspberry Pi boards without wifi and Ethernet in order to
get the wifi drivers for a USB dongle to compile]
All best,
Andy Cater
> --
> Brian.
>
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