HOW-TO: Install Debian using debootstrap.

Higgsboson · 01-11-2015, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by replica9000

You could try installing os-prober. It's supposed to detect other OSes so Grub can add them to it's menu.

Yes, the GRUB tutorial refers to using os-prober too. But it also says 'refer to the grub.cfg file, os-prober section'. But it isn't clear where that is. http://dedoimedo.com/computers/grub-...mozTocId835620

The GRUB tutorial is a little bit complicated. It also seems to be saying if you install a new distro, then the previous GRUB bootloader gets overwritten. But then starts talking about the difference between GRUB legacy and GRUB2.

This looks like a GRUB issue, so I'm going to start a new thread about the bootloader.

EDDY1 · 01-11-2015, 01:58 PM

You do need os-prober I just tried to update-grub on my other system which had no os-prober which got no results. After installing it, it saw the other systems.

Higgsboson · 01-11-2015, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDDY1

You do need os-prober I just tried to update-grub on my other system which had no os-prober which got no results. After installing it, it saw the other systems.

Yes, I tried installing os-prober and I got an error message:

Code:

apt-get install os-prober
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
You might want to run 'apt-get -f install' to correct these:
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 fglrx-driver : Depends: libfglrx (= 1:12-6+point-3) but it is not going to be installed
                Recommends: fglrx-modules-dkms (= 1:12-6+point-3) but it is not going to be installed or
                            fglrx-kernel-12-6+point
                Recommends: libgl1-fglrx-glx-i386 but it is not installable
                Recommends: fglrx-glx-ia32 but it is not going to be installed
 libgl1-fglrx-glx : Depends: libfglrx (= 1:12-6+point-3) but it is not going to be installed
E: Unmet dependencies. Try 'apt-get -f install' with no packages (or specify a solution).

So now I've had to start a new thread about sorting out my non-free sound card issue.
I resolved it on my first install. But with this second install I'm getting slightly different error messages.

EDDY1 · 01-11-2015, 04:01 PM

Post your /etc/apt/sources.list

Higgsboson · 01-13-2015, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EDDY1

You do need os-prober I just tried to update-grub on my other system which had no os-prober which got no results. After installing it, it saw the other systems.

Now that I've sorted out the install of a broken package, I've been able install os-prober and it resolved the problem.

I read a tutorial on GRUB but it didn't mention that after a new install, GRUB can't probe for existing installs.
So it seems os-prober is essential for creating multi-boot systems with GRUB.

Did you use debootstrap to create your new install?

patrick295767 · 06-05-2016, 09:31 AM

You may check my thread you have a cool method to install debian using debootstrap :

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ks-4175581486/

stevenatadv · 02-13-2017, 10:09 PM

But you also needs config swap partition.

Xeratul · 09-02-2022, 04:32 AM

One command only is needed:

Code:

 
  apt-get update ; apt-get install -y -f debootstrap ;  debootstrap  --no-check-gpg    --include=debootstrap,wpasupplicant   ascii  .   http://pkgmaster.devuan.org/merged   ; mkdir usr/src

Quote:

Originally Posted by replica9000

Using a live cd or existing Linux install to install Debian GNU/Linux using debootstrap.
Updated: 2015-01-11

debootstrap is used to create a Debian base system from scratch, without requiring the availability of dpkg or apt. It does this by downloading .deb files from a mirror site, and carefully unpacking them into a directory which can eventually be chrooted into.

This guide is intended to be a basic installation for those who wish to run Debian's unstable branch, or run a minimal system. It does not cover partitioning schemes, file system details, or proprietary drivers. For this guide, we will assume the following:

Branch: unstable (codename 'Sid')
Architecture: amd64
Boot Style: BIOS / MBR
Target partition: /dev/sda1
Filesystem: ext4
Network Interface: eth0
Debian Mirror: http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian - (Mirror List: http://www.debian.org/mirror/list)
debootstrap version: 1.0.66
Dependencies: binutils, perl, tar, wget (if not using a Debian based distro)

Installing debootstrap from a Debian based distribution
For Debian based distributions, this will be as simple as:

Code:

root@host# apt-get update
root@host# apt-get install debootstrap

Installing debootstrap from a non-Debian based distribution
If you are installing from a non-Debian based distribution, you distribution may or may not have debootstrap available. To get debootstrap, you can download it directly from a Debian mirror.

To view the packages available, use a web browser, or use this command:

Code:

root@host# wget --no-remove-listing -O /tmp/deboot.html -q http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/d/debootstrap && grep 'all.deb' /tmp/deboot.html | awk -F 'href' '{print $2}' | cut -d '"' -f2

Look for the latest version listed, and download:

Code:

root@host# wget -P /tmp/debootstrap http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/pool/main/d/debootstrap/debootstrap_1.0.66_all.deb

Unpacking the .deb file:

Code:

root@host# cd /tmp/debootstrap
root@host# ar vx debootstrap_1.0.66_all.deb
root@host# tar -xf data.tar.gz

Temporary setup:

Code:

root@host# ln -s /tmp/debootstrap/usr/sbin/debootstrap /usr/sbin/debootstrap
root@host# ln -s /tmp/debootstrap/usr/share/debootstrap /usr/share/debootstrap

Setup the target partition for install
Create your filesystem, your mount point, and mount your partition:

Code:

root@host# mkfs.ext4 -L Debian /dev/sda1
root@host# mkdir /mnt/deboot
root@host# mount -t ext4 /dev/sda1 /mnt/deboot

Installing the base system with network access
Here, debootstrap will download, extract and install the base system packages to our target partition. debootstrap only fetches the base system without a kernel or bootloader, so we'll use the --include option to fetch those too. If you need packages not found in the main repository, you can include packages from contrib and non-free with this option --components main,contrib,non-free

Usage: debootstrap --include <additional_packages,comma-separated> --arch <architecture> <release> <target> <mirror>

Code:

root@host# debootstrap --include linux-image-amd64,grub-pc,locales --arch amd64 unstable /mnt/deboot http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian

debootstrap can also be used to install Ubuntu (ex. Raring Ringtail):

Code:

root@host# debootstrap --arch amd64 raring /mnt/deboot http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu

Installing the base system without network access, or to a different architecture
If you do not have network or Internet access, you can use the --foreign option to start installation on a machine with network access, and finish on the machine that does not. This is also useful if your target machine is a different architecture than your host machine. Since your target won't have network access, make sure to use the --include option to have debootstrap fetch your kernel, bootloader, and any other packages you will want installed.

Create a temporary directory, and use debootstrap to fetch the packages for the first stage of the install.

Code:

root@host# mkdir /home/<user-name>/deboot
root@host# debootstrap --foreign --include linux-image-amd64,grub-pc,locales --arch amd64 unstable /home/<user-name>/deboot http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian

If we were installing to a PowerPC...

Code:

root@host# debootstrap --foreign --include linux-image-powerpc,yaboot,locales --arch powerpc unstable /home/<user-name>/deboot http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian

Next we'll change to our temporary directory and create a tarball for use on the target machine.

Code:

root@host# cd /home/<user-name>/deboot
root@host# tar czf ../debian-stage2.tgz .

Copy the debian-stage2.tgz file to the target machine. Assuming your target partition is ready, change to the target directory and extract the tarball.

Code:

root@host# cd /mnt/deboot
root@host# tar xzf /path/to/debian-stage2.tgz

Next we'll enter the chroot environment for a moment to complete the second stage of the install.

Code:

root@host# chroot /mnt/deboot /bin/bash
root@chroot# /debootstrap/debootstrap --second-stage
root@chroot# exit

Preparing the chroot environment
Copy the mounted file systems table. It keeps the df command happy. (Will be overwritten upon boot.)

Code:

root@host# cp /etc/mtab /mnt/deboot/etc/mtab

Binding the virtual filesystems. Until your new install is booting on it's own, we'll borrow these from the host.

Code:

root@host# mount -o bind /dev /mnt/deboot/dev
root@host# mount -o bind /proc /mnt/deboot/proc
root@host# mount -o bind /sys /mnt/deboot/sys

Continuing the installation within chroot
Entering the chroot environment:

Code:

root@host# chroot /mnt/deboot /bin/bash

Since we used the --include option to get grub, it was installed, but not configured.

Code:

root@chroot# grub-install /dev/sda
root@chroot# update-grub

Setting up /etc/fstab for the root filesystem. Use the blkid command to get the UUID of /dev/sda1.

Code:

root@chroot# blkid /dev/sda1

Then add this entry to /etc/fstab using the UUID output from the command above:

Code:

UUID=79168060-9d9c-4cf6-8ee9-bb846aee589b / ext4 defaults,errors=remount-ro 0 1

Give your new install a name. If not, your new install won't have a name, or inherit the name of the host you are installing from.

Code:

root@chroot# echo "<name-your-host>" > /etc/hostname

Configure your locale:

Code:

root@chroot# dpkg-reconfigure locales

Create a password for root:

Code:

root@chroot# passwd

Create a normal user:

Code:

root@chroot# adduser <your-user-name>

Setting up the network (eth0):

Some basic tools are already included to manage your network, but nothing is configured for you yet. If you plan on installing a desktop environment, that may bring in tools such as network-manager or wicd to automatically configure your network.

You can bring up your network manually each boot with the tools dhclient or ifconfig.

For a dynamic IP (DHCP):

Code:

root@host# dhclient -v eth0

For a static IP:

Code:

root@host# ifconfig -v eth0 192.0.2.7 netmask 255.255.255.0 up

You can have this automatically done for you when the system boots by editing the file below.

For DHCP, the /etc/network/interfaces file should look like this:

Code:

# This file describes the network interfaces available on your system
# and how to activate them. For more information, see interfaces(5).

# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

# The primary network interface
allow-hotplug eth0
iface eth0 inet dhcp

For a static IP, the /etc/network/interfaces file should look like this:

Code:

# This file describes the network interfaces available on your system
# and how to activate them. For more information, see interfaces(5).

# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback

# The primary network interface
auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
   address 192.0.2.7
   netmask 255.255.255.0
   gateway 192.0.2.254

Install a display manager and a window manager
Unless you're using this for a headless server, might be nice to have some sort of desktop to play with.
Don't forget to update the package manager if you wish to install new packages:

Code:

root@chroot# apt-get update

Here are some examples of installing a desktop:

Code:

root@chroot# apt-get install xserver-xorg wdm fluxbox xterm
- or -
root@chroot# apt-get install xserver-xorg lightdm xfce4
- or -
root@chroot# apt-get install gdm3 gnome
- or -
root@chroot# apt-get install kdm kde-standard

You can use also use tasksel to install a desktop for you. To see the available options:

Code:

root@chroot# tasksel --new-install

Finishing the install
Clean the package cache:

Code:

root@chroot# apt-get clean

Update the ramdisk:

Code:

root@chroot# update-initramfs -u -k all

Exit the chroot environment:

Code:

root@chroot# exit

-- Enjoy your fresh install of Debian! --

Additional Info
Approx space used after base install: 491 MiB
Approx bandwidth used: 94 MiB

Approx space used after Fluxbox / wdm install: 714 MiB
Approx bandwidth used including base: 152 MiB

Approx space used after XFCE4 / lightdm install: 1077 MiB
Approx bandwidth used including base: 266 MiB

Approx space used after KDE 4 Standard install: 2036 MiB
Approx bandwidth used including base: 597 MiB

Approx space used after Gnome3 full install: 3329 MiB
Approx bandwidth used including base: 994 MiB

Troubleshooting

Code:

W: Failure trying to run: chroot /mnt/deboot dpkg --force-depends --install /var/cache/apt/archives.....
W: See /mnt/deboot/debootstrap/debootstrap.log

Check that :/sbin is in your PATH, if not:

Code:

root@host# export PATH=$PATH:/sbin
root@host# echo $PATH
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin:/sbin:/bin

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Code:

E: No pkgdetails available; either install perl, or pkgdetails.c from the base-installer source package

Perl probably isn't installed. Please install Perl.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Debian doesn't boot!

Code:

fsck exited with status code 0
sulogin: cannot open password database!
Segmentation fault

Chances are, your root filesystem isn't configured properly in /etc/fstab. Fix the root entry, then run:

Code:

root@chroot# update-initramfs -u -k all

gatopeich · 12-21-2023, 07:54 AM

Kudos for this guide which is simple but hard to find online.

Many many thanks.

I am using it to install Mint on a USB drive, from a Mint Vanessa system.

This is now easier than it was but it still not widely known so here is my recipe:

On host system:

Code:

$ sudo apt update
$ sudo apt install debootstrap

# Format fresh ext4 filesystem on sdc2, and fat32 on sdc1
$ mkdir NewMint && sudo mount /dev/sdc2 NewMint
$ debootstrap jammy NewMint
... takes about 5 minutes to run

$ sudo cp /etc/mtab NewMint/etc/mtab  # Not sure if this was required!
$ sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list NewMint/etc/apt/sources.list.d/

$ sudo mount --rbind /dev NewMint/dev
$ sudo mount --rbind /proc NewMint/proc
$ sudo mount --rbind /sys NewMint/sys

# Mount Fat32 partition /dev/sdc1 for EFI boot:
$ sudo mkdir -p NewMint/boot/efi
$ sudo mount --rbind /dev/sdc1 NewMint/boot/efi

$ sudo chroot NewMint bash

We are inside target system now, run the following:

Code:

root@target# apt update && apt install tasksel grub2
...
root@target# apt install grub2
...
root@target# grub-install /dev/sdc  # The USB drive device
Installing for i386-pc platform.
...
root@target# tasksel --new-install
Software selection
------------------

At the moment, only the core of the system is installed. To tune the system to your needs, you can choose to
install one or more of the following predefined collections of software.

  1. Debian desktop environment  4. ... GNOME Flashback  7. ... MATE  10. web server
  2. ... GNOME                   5. ... KDE Plasma       8. ... LXDE  11. SSH server
  3. ... Xfce                    6. ... Cinnamon         9. ... LXQt  12. standard system utilities

(I choose 3 here, it takes a while to install it but less than downloading the 3GB ISO!)

# Make it bootable:
root@target# grub-install /dev/sdc
...
root@target# update-grub
...
done

Outside again, unmount everything before extracting the drive:
[CODE]
$ sudo umount USB-Mint/boot/efi
$ sudo umount USB-Mint/dev
$ sudo umount USB-Mint/proc
$ sudo umount USB-Mint/sys
$ sudo umount USB-Mint
[CODE]

Now try to boot that from USB!