Beryllium netinstall script is ready

johnraff · 2022-08-07 08:39:38

The netinstall script has been updated and should now be usable as an alternative way of installing BL Beryllium:
https://github.com/BunsenLabs/bunsen-netinstall

The README gives instructions, but the start is the same as when using the metapackage, ie :

Download a Debian Bullseye "netinst" 64 bit .iso file from here:
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unof … etinst.iso
or 32 bit file here:
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unof … etinst.iso
and use it to install a basic cli system. (See DEBIAN INSTALL NOTES below.)

Then log in and run these commands as a normal user:

wget https://github.com/bunsenlabs/bunsen-netinstall/archive/beryllium.tar.gz
tar -xpf beryllium.tar.gz
cd bunsen-netinstall-beryllium
./install

Just follow instructions, but it's pretty much automatic.

The main advantage of this method over the metapackage is that you can use a text editor to adjust the files in ~/bunsen-netinstall-beryllium before running ./install. For example, you can tweak the package lists however you like, or for example, some people (@Bearded_Blunder?) might be interested in making a non-systemd installer out of it. It might be possible.

NB
Because the official BL repositories are not yet fully up to date were not up to date at that time, the experimental "kelaino" repository is also enabled for now. Later it will not be needed, but will do no harm if left.
The experimental repository has now been removed from the apt sources.

DEBIAN INSTALL NOTES
Two points to watch if you want to use
the netinstall script afterwards:

1) At the "Set up users and passwords" screen,
DO NOT enter a password for root.
Type nothing and press "continue".
Do this again at "Re-enter password to verify".
Enter your own name and password as normal.
You will then be given 'sudo' permissions,
which will be needed in the script.

2) At the "software selection" stage DESELECT EVERYTHING
except "standard system utilities".
You will have a core system only, on which
the netinstall installer will add what is needed.
(Some software items will be marked with an asterisk, indicating that
they have been preselected.
Use the up/down arrows to move, and the spacebar to toggle selection.)

Last edited by johnraff (2023-01-09 04:57:53)

NightOwl · 2023-01-08 20:32:48

Figured I might give a reply, I used this script to install Beryllium on my laptop & it worked just fine following the instructions

johnraff · 2023-01-09 05:01:34

^Feedback is always appreciated - many thanks!

jimjamz · 2023-11-11 23:23:36

I know that there are now Boron beta ISOs available, and an upgrade guide from Beryllium to Boron, but would it still be relevant to follow a guide such as this for a Debian netinst to the latest Boron in the bunsen-meta packages?
I want to refresh my knowledge of installing it this way, as I will be deploying Bunsenlabs to a variation of devices including laptops, Pis and tablets.

rbh · 2023-11-13 18:45:19

jimjamz wrote:

would it still be relevant to follow a guide such as this for a Debian netinst to the latest Boron in the bunsen-meta packages?
I want to refresh my knowledge of installing it this way, as I will be deploying Bunsenlabs to a variation of devices including laptops, Pis and tablets.

Yes. I sometimes install to Debian cli with grml-debootstrap and then run the netinstall script. Works ok.

Btw, what is "Pis"? Typing error or...?

Last edited by rbh (2023-11-13 18:45:52)

hhh · 2023-11-13 19:01:10

rbh wrote:

Btw, what is "Pis"? Typing error or...?

Most likely short for Raspberry Pi, plural.

johnraff · 2023-11-14 04:35:34

jimjamz wrote:

...would it still be relevant to follow a guide such as this for a Debian netinst to the latest Boron in the bunsen-meta packages?

The Boron version of the netinstall script is almost ready for use, but needs a final checking-over. This will happen after the official Boron release, hopefully not too long after.

But the metapackage provides a route which gives pretty much the same result. Install a basic command-line Debian system (no desktop environment like GNOME), add the BunsenLabs Boron repositories and install bunsen-meta-all or bunsen-meta-lite. Here is a detailed guide: https://forums.bunsenlabs.org/viewtopic.php?id=8437

The main advantage of the netinstall script is that it allows more customization.

rbh · 2023-11-20 21:21:05

jimjamz wrote:

I want to refresh my knowledge of installing it this way,

By all means, test the skript. I dont think you will encounter any bugs. but if so, nice for us.
It was recently brought to our attention that I had forgot to update bunsen-netinstall
/gen_sources. It checks sources.list. I newer run the netinstall script with missing sources and never caught the bug...

Bearded_Blunder · 2024-05-31 21:53:06

I might have a look at the Boron one when it's out, at this late stage looking at the Beryllium one seems a little silly, I have a sneaking suspicion it'll be a case of install the base system, switch init, pin systemd, & just go though, the question will be what's broken post install.

Getting it to do the init switch could be tougher, since that involves a reboot & then picking up again afterward.

Before my protacted absence I'd had some success when setting up Bunsen with alternative inits using a preseed, since you can pull off the init switch during the initial netinstall without a reboot. Unfortunately the machine I was using to serve it from, & on which it was stored decided to elect a non-christian pope & let out blue smoke instead of white, the data (preseed file) is still there, I just don't currently have access to it.

How successful varied according to the init chosen, I recall a considerably broken systems unless you chose sysvinit (with or without openrc as service manager), but that's mostly my skill lacking configuring with more obscure inits.

johnraff · 2024-06-03 07:30:51

In fact there's been a Boron netinstall script for a couple of months now. There was no dedicated thread announcement, just a couple of posts in the Boron iso topic.

If you post up a list of instructions in your Without Systemd thread I'm willing to have a look at how hard they'd be to incorporate as a variant of the netinstall script. As you say, a necessary reboot would likely make it more complicated.

Even a sysvinit-only version might appeal to some people, without worrying about the more obscure alternatives.

---
Another point to think about wrt that script is what would be the best way to offer various install alternatives - base/light/full package list, X11 or Wayland and now systemd or sysvinit. All alternatives in a single script or different code branches...

Bearded_Blunder · 2024-06-03 11:26:26

johnraff wrote:

In fact there's been a Boron netinstall script for a couple of months now. There was no dedicated thread announcement, just a couple of posts in the Boron iso topic.

I've since found it, had a quick look.

If you post up a list of instructions in your Without Systemd thread I'm willing to have a look at how hard they'd be to incorporate as a variant of the netinstall script. As you say, a necessary reboot would likely make it more complicated.

I'm still refining them for Bookworm / Boron

Even a sysvinit-only version might appeal to some people, without worrying about the more obscure alternatives.

I'm not worrying about them, anyone who can get them running properly probably doesn't need any guide from me, sysvinit is all I've had the time to get working acceptably anyhow, the only choice to be made at that point is do you want to manage services the traditional way, or use openrc to replace sysv-rc & some of its depends.

Another point to think about wrt that script is what would be the best way to offer various install alternatives - base/light/full package list, X11 or Wayland and now systemd or sysvinit. All alternatives in a single script or different code branches...

Currently I've only looked at what needs to be done by way of changes in terms of the script being run on an already switched base system, & they're truly minimal at first blush, literally omit one package, & substitute one other, which doesn't need to be in the list to begin with if the person running the script followed instructions doing the base install so "standard system utilities" are actually there, since those install that package anyway, & if they're not because the user unchecked everything including, I suspect they're in for deeper trouble, since they won't have wget to download the script with (amongst other needed things) either.

johnraff · 2024-06-04 03:53:19

Bearded_Blunder wrote:

johnraff wrote:
Another point to think about wrt that script is what would be the best way to offer various install alternatives - base/light/full package list, X11 or Wayland and now systemd or sysvinit. All alternatives in a single script or different code branches...
...if the person running the script followed instructions doing the base install so "standard system utilities" are actually there, since those install that package anyway, & if they're not because the user unchecked everything including, I suspect they're in for deeper trouble, since they won't have wget to download the script with (amongst other needed things) either.

I think we can reasonably restrict support to those who have actually followed the instructions.

#1 2022-08-07 08:39:38

Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#2 2023-01-08 20:32:48

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#3 2023-01-09 05:01:34

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#4 2023-11-11 23:23:36

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#5 2023-11-13 18:45:19

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#6 2023-11-13 19:01:10

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#7 2023-11-14 04:35:34

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#8 2023-11-20 21:21:05

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#9 2024-05-31 21:53:06

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#10 2024-06-03 07:30:51

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#11 2024-06-03 11:26:26

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

#12 2024-06-04 03:53:19

Re: Beryllium netinstall script is ready

Board footer