Hi Tillman,
Chris Tillman wrote:
> This section explains how to install Debian GNU/Linux from an existing
> Unix or Linux system.
>
Thanks for writing that up.
>This has been requested by users switching to
> the "best" Linux system from Redhat, Mandrake, or SUSE.
>
Please leave these plugs like "best" out.
(heavily cutted:)
>Installing debootstrap
>Running debootstrap (Using basedebs.tar)
>Configuring The Base System
> OK. You've got a few things to configure that would ordinarily be
> handled by the Debian installer:
> * keyboard
> * language
> * time zone
> * partition mounting
> * networking
> * apt sources
>
> You need to create /etc/fstab.
>
> $ editor /etc/network/interfaces
> $ editor /etc/resolv.conf -- your nameserver(s) and search directives
>
Sorry for my lacking knowledge about debootstrap. debootstrap doesn't
run that ncurses-based, menu-driven installer tool that comes up when
you boot using the Debian boot disks?
Then, this was the reason why I ditched debootstrap as option to
install. Back then, I found it too cumbersome to edit all the files by
hand. While it might be interesting for power users (so your write-up is
useful), I think the existing, more comfortable tools should be used, if
possible.
That's what I described [1]. Although not exactly being easy, these
steps start the dbootstrap (without e) UI tool on the boot disks
directly from the harddisk. That's why I would suggest to use the steps
on my webpage (maybe made a bit easier for newbies) for this section of
the Debian manual.
I think that your text would be useful as *additional* path, for people
who want to control things more or want to know how it works under the
hood, e.g. to change an existing system.
IMO, we would ideally have
* a tarball with a complete, runnable Debian base system
(so one wget, cfdisk, mkfs, tar xzf and GRUB command suffices to
end up in Debian)
* a tool which helps to configure the system and which can be run
from an existing installation.
This would help with both the cross-install and later
modifications to an existing system (e.g. a changed network name)
without having to edit a ton of config files.
Ben
[1] <http://www.bucksch.org/1/projects/debian/crossinst>
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