I need to install ETCH over the internet. How?

Raffles666 · 02-17-2010, 09:53 AM

Hi Guys (and Ladies

)

I need to install Etch (not Lenny

) over the internet - but all my mirrors won't even entertain me.

Is there a way to still install Etch over the 'net - as opposed to Lenny?

JFYI - I need Etch because of some specific software I am running - and I have to PXE boot (I've used the Etch netboot.tar.gz files).

Thanks again.

HasC · 02-17-2010, 10:26 AM

Why couldn't you install etch? just download and "oldstable" cd/dvd, and later point your sources.list to "oldstable"

Dutch Master · 02-17-2010, 10:54 AM

I wouldn't do that, as at one time Lenny is superseeded by Squeeze and therefor becomes 'oldstable'. Better stick to the names instead...

@OP: if your sources fail you, find another mirror. Start here: http://www.debian.org/mirror/ and locate the primary mirror in your country. Add that to your sources.list. You may want to set up a (partial) mirror on your local machine (for personal use) with the debmirror package to decrease the load on your internet connection.

Raffles666 · 02-17-2010, 01:49 PM

I don't have any CD, DVD or Floppy drives on this unit. Hence the PXE boot.

I can get to the 'install' screen and drop to a shell - but that's where I run in to problems. Apt hasn't been instead yet of course.

How/where do I tell the installer to use an 'etch' directory as opposed to 'stable'?

I did manage to change from http to ftp - and put in ftp.debian.org - but now it's looking in the wrong directories (it is appending it's own directories - but these don't exist on the remote server).

Help

Dutch Master · 02-17-2010, 02:41 PM

In that case, change the entries in the files the PXE-boot downloads. That means unpacking, altering and re-packing these.

Raffles666 · 02-19-2010, 12:41 AM

I've thought of one thing. How about if I set up an ftp server on my PXE machine and simply copy everything I need there?

I'll give it a go and report back.

Cheers

Raffles666 · 03-05-2010, 02:38 AM

Sorry for double post - but I got this to work (using my own FTP server didn't work).

I simply used the netboot.tar.gz from the etch dist - but with one exception. I used the pxelinux.0 from lenny.

It seems that the etch 'image' was the key.

If anyone wants a detailed explanation - then drop me a pm/mail.

Thanks to all who tried to help