Re: Part 2 {Re: Installation and other problems ... [20 questions game]}
> > I'm not sure what protocol would be running over the USB2 interface - maybe > PPTP - equivalent to some of the dial-up protocols. > A small note: PPTP works on top of IP, it is a VPN protocol. It encapsulates PPP protocol (which I believe you were talking about). PPP can run IP over point-to-point connections like VPNs or serial/com ports (connected either directly or with dial up modems). There are alot of serial ports for USB and Linux supports them: https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/usb/usb-serial.html So, it should be possible to run PPP-over-usb with a usb serial converter. There are ethernet adapters for USB, but not of all of them are supported by Linux https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-USB-Ethernet-Network-Adapter/dp/B00M77HLII
Re: Part 2 {Re: Installation and other problems ... [20 questions game]}
On Sat, Mar 06, 2021 at 09:32:11AM -0600, Richard Owlett wrote: > On 03/06/2021 05:46 AM, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote: > > [snip what I responded to in the previous reply] > > > > Let me try and help narrow down some of the scope of what you're asking and > > then see if we can help you on the debian-user list. Maybe you could: > > > > Pick one machine that you're wanting to install Debian on. [Just Debian, > > for the moment]. > > That will be my Dell Latitude E6410 which I use everyday. At the moment I'm > running the i386 flavor of Debian 9.13. It also has the AMD64 flavor of > Debian 10.0 . Both installed from relevant DVD1. > As others have said: you could just use apt-get update / Synaptic to bring the 10.0 up to 10.8. > I do this for two reasons. > First, it proves I can run Debian configured "my way". > Second, it makes all installation logs conveniently available. > > > > > This is a game of twenty questions > > > > What's this machine going to be FOR? > > > > 1. What's the end goal for that machine? What do you want to use it for? > > The immediate goal is diagnosing the problem of netinst.iso not accessing > the web for required packages. The Dell E6410 has Ethernet. It also has Intel WiFi. Installing iwlwifi and using WiFi would solve your problem here, potentially. Using the non-free unofficial firmware CD might also help, as this might contain any other firmware needed. [Using the 4G hotspot in the most usual manner.] I'm not sure what protocol would be running over the USB2 interface - maybe PPTP - equivalent to some of the dial-up protocols. > Next will be fine tuning a preseed.cfg to simplify having the system that > suits my peculiar set of software preferences. Install [using the expert mode which will ask all the questions] a minimal text only system: add software by hand thereafter? > Long term will be collecting questions to be asked by an upgraded Debian > installer. You are essentially creating a system for yourself: do you see that this would be useful to others? > > > > > 2. What desktop environment do you want on it? > > A very lean MATE. > > > > > 3. What other software are you likely to need? > > [If you've some idea of this up front and it's a defined goal - we can break > > it into steps] > > That problem was solved long ago. Its called Synaptic. > Just checked: Synaptic is maintained :) > > > > 4. ** Will it need to dual boot another OS eventually ** > > It will be multiboot from the start. I've been doing that with no problems > since Squeeze. > So it will boot 2x Debian - at different releases? > > > > 5. Give it a friendly name we can refer back to in subsequent exchanges :-) > > "Dell" as it is the only Dell laptop I own. My other machines are ThinkPads > and one custom ordered desktop now collecting dust. > > > > > The physical machine: > > > > 1. What model is it? Any idea how old? Laptop/desktop? > > A used Dell Latitude E6410 laptop purchased as a refurbished machine a few > years ago. > > > > > 2. Is it capable of running 64 bit software? > > Yes > > > > > 3. How much memory does it have [RAM]? > > 4GB > Maybe OK for Mate - slightly low for heavier weight desktops / significant additional dependencies. > > > > 4. How much disk does it have [GB]? How many disks? > > Internally a 150 GB HDD with ~32 GB free. 32G free is fairly small space for a full featured Debian, potentially. Would you be looking to replace either of the Debian copies already installed? > I have a collection of external drives available. > I can dedicate a 64 GB flash drive (still in bubble pack ;) > See elsewhere on debian-user, debian-boot etc. - installing entirely to flash drive may be less than performant especially if anything needs to swap. > > > > 5. What video controller does it have [if known] Intel > > > > 6. What ports or connectors does the machine have externally? > > Two USB ports are available > > > > Installation: > > > > Internet provider > > - > > > > 1. What internet bandwidth do you have available to you to do this? [Claimed > > max speed / real speed you get] > > Unknown. Suspect speed is limited to USB2 bandwidth. What speed do T Mobile claim that you are paying for / that you can download at? (They are probably assuming usage of WiFi here) > > > > > 2. That bandwidth gets to you how? Wired? Satellite? 4G connectivity? Ultimately via 4G connectivity - mediated via USB2 > > > > 3.Is that bandwidth shared between lots of devices - can you spare > > bandwidth/time for installation for this new machine? > > Used only by this machine. After bug report is created I will continue to > use purchased point releases. It is inescapably more convenient. > > > > > 4. Do you have an all inclusive plan for data/phone? > > I have never owned a so-called smart phone. Screens too small to be legible. > > > > > 5. Do you have a data cap? [Or a practical limit where you can only download > > X MB of data in
Part 2 {Re: Installation and other problems ... [20 questions game]}
On 03/06/2021 05:46 AM, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote: [snip what I responded to in the previous reply] Let me try and help narrow down some of the scope of what you're asking and then see if we can help you on the debian-user list. Maybe you could: Pick one machine that you're wanting to install Debian on. [Just Debian, for the moment]. That will be my Dell Latitude E6410 which I use everyday. At the moment I'm running the i386 flavor of Debian 9.13. It also has the AMD64 flavor of Debian 10.0 . Both installed from relevant DVD1. I do this for two reasons. First, it proves I can run Debian configured "my way". Second, it makes all installation logs conveniently available. This is a game of twenty questions What's this machine going to be FOR? 1. What's the end goal for that machine? What do you want to use it for? The immediate goal is diagnosing the problem of netinst.iso not accessing the web for required packages. Next will be fine tuning a preseed.cfg to simplify having the system that suits my peculiar set of software preferences. Long term will be collecting questions to be asked by an upgraded Debian installer. 2. What desktop environment do you want on it? A very lean MATE. 3. What other software are you likely to need? [If you've some idea of this up front and it's a defined goal - we can break it into steps] That problem was solved long ago. Its called Synaptic. 4. ** Will it need to dual boot another OS eventually ** It will be multiboot from the start. I've been doing that with no problems since Squeeze. 5. Give it a friendly name we can refer back to in subsequent exchanges :-) "Dell" as it is the only Dell laptop I own. My other machines are ThinkPads and one custom ordered desktop now collecting dust. The physical machine: 1. What model is it? Any idea how old? Laptop/desktop? A used Dell Latitude E6410 laptop purchased as a refurbished machine a few years ago. 2. Is it capable of running 64 bit software? Yes 3. How much memory does it have [RAM]? 4GB 4. How much disk does it have [GB]? How many disks? Internally a 150 GB HDD with ~32 GB free. I have a collection of external drives available. I can dedicate a 64 GB flash drive (still in bubble pack ;) 5. What video controller does it have [if known] 6. What ports or connectors does the machine have externally? Two USB ports are available Installation: Internet provider - 1. What internet bandwidth do you have available to you to do this? [Claimed max speed / real speed you get] Unknown. Suspect speed is limited to USB2 bandwidth. 2. That bandwidth gets to you how? Wired? Satellite? 4G connectivity? 3.Is that bandwidth shared between lots of devices - can you spare bandwidth/time for installation for this new machine? Used only by this machine. After bug report is created I will continue to use purchased point releases. It is inescapably more convenient. 4. Do you have an all inclusive plan for data/phone? I have never owned a so-called smart phone. Screens too small to be legible. 5. Do you have a data cap? [Or a practical limit where you can only download X MB of data in six hours or so so large downloads are impractical]. Speed is acceptable. I have enough data cap space for an install using netinst.iso . Connecting to the ISP supplied device - the Alcatel? Yes 1. What interface is provided by the device that the ISP has given you? *SOLD* I own it outright. The connection is USB. 2. How do you control the ISP device to change settings / check connectivity? There is an app for that ;} 3. Do you have a second device which you can use to connect to the ISP's device to check My service is tied exclusively to that device. Given that we can't actually sit by your side Part of the reason I multiboot this operation. It makes error logs trivial to pass on. One thing that explains why narrowly focus my question is that I have decades in field support - some as field service some as engineering tech support. At times the distinction has been rather fuzzy. to do this: answers to some of these in order may help us figure out exactly how to go from here. TIA
