Name
----
-grml-debootstrap - wrapper around debootstrap for installing plain Debian via grml
+grml-debootstrap - wrapper around debootstrap for installing plain Debian
Synopsis
--------
Introduction
------------
-grml-debootstrap is a wrapper suite around debootstrap
-(and cdebootstrap if you want) for installing a plain Debian
-system via grml very fast and easy.
+grml-debootstrap is a wrapper suite around debootstrap (and cdebootstrap if you
+want) for installing a plain Debian system (e.g. via Grml) very fast and easy.
All you have to do is adjust a few variables in configuration file
-/etc/debootstrap/config (or specify some variables via commandline) and invoke
+/etc/debootstrap/config (or specify some variables via command line) and invoke
grml-debootstrap without any further options then.
-A plain and base Debian system will be installed on the given
-device (or directory) then. Customization of this process is
-possible as well.
+A plain and base Debian system will be installed on the given device (or
+directory) then. Customization of this process is possible as well.
-CAUTION: The grml team does not take responsibility for loss of any data!
+CAUTION: The Grml team does not take responsibility for loss of any data!
Options and environment variables
---------------------------------
-*-h*, *--help*::
+*--arch* _architecture_::
+
+ Set target architecture you want to install. Defaults to the architecture
+ you are currently running. If you're running an amd64 kernel and want to
+ deploy an i386 system use this option. Note: deploying amd64 from an i386
+ kernel does *not* work. Example: "_--arch i386_"
+
+*--bootappend* _appendline-for-the-kernel_::
+
+ Specify appendline for the kernel.
+ E.g. "_pci=nomsi_"
+
+*-c*, *--config* _file_::
+
+ Use specified configuration file, defaults to /etc/debootstrap/config.
+
+*--chroot-scripts* _directory_::
+
+ Execute chroot scripts from specified directory. This allows customisation
+ of the chroot setup, the executable script(s) present in the given directory
+ are executed at the end of the chroot procedure.
+ Default directory: /etc/debootstrap/chroot-scripts/
+
+*-d*, *--confdir* _path_::
+
+ Place of configuration files for debootstrap, defaults to /etc/debootstrap.
+
+*--debconf* _file_::
+
+ Use specified file for preseeding Debian packages instead of using
+ the default <confdir>/debconf-selections.
+
+*--debopt* _params_::
+
+ Extra parameters passed to the debootstrap command.
+
+*--filesystem* _filesystem_::
+
+ Filesystem that should be created when installing to a partition.
+ If unset defaults to ext3. Valid values are all filesystems that
+ can be created through mkfs._filesystem_.
+
+*--force*::
+
+ Skip user acknowledgement and do not prompt for user input.
+
+*--grmlrepos*::
+
+ Enable Grml.org's Debian repository (http://deb.grml.org/) via the
+ /etc/apt/sources.list.d/grml.list configuration file. This provides the
+ option to install Debian packages from Grml's repository.
+
+*--grub* _device_::
+
+ Device where grub should be installed to. Note that only the MBR (master
+ boot record) can be used (/dev/sda, /dev/sdb,...). Partitions (like
+ /dev/sda1, /dev/sdb2,...) are NOT supported because grub2 doesn't support
+ installation into the PBR (partition boot record) anymore. Usage example:
+ '--grub /dev/sda'. Note: just do not set this option to avoid installation
+ of grub.
+
+*--help*, *-h*::
+
Show summary of options and exit.
-*-v*, *--version*::
- Show version of program and exit.
+*--hostname* _hostname_::
-*--grub* <_device_>::
- Where do you want to install grub to? Use grub syntax for specifying.
- Do not forget to set groot as well. Leave empty to avoid installation of grub.
+ Use specified hostname instead of the default (being 'grml').
-*--groot* <_device_>::
- Specify root device for usage in grub (corresponds with $TARGET).
- Again, use grub syntax for specifying.
- Corresponding with configuration variable GROOT.
+*-i*, *--iso* _/mntpoint_::
-*--boot_append* <_appendline for the kernel_>::
- Specifiy appendline for the kernel.
- E.g. "_pci=nomsi_"
+ Specify mount point where you have a Debian ISO mounted loopback.
+ Using this option instead of the mirror option gives you the possibility
+ to install the base-system without network access. Make sure you
+ mounted the according Debian-ISO to the given _/mntpoint_. See section
+ 'Usage examples' for a demonstration.
+
+*--insecure*::
+
+ Do not download and check signatures for retrieved Release files.
-*-m*, *--mirror* <_URL_>::
- Specify mirror which should be used for apt-get/aptitude. Notice that
- specifying the mirror also sets the chrootmirror to the given value.
- Corresponding with configuration variables MIRROR and CHROOTMIRROR.
+*--keep_src_list*::
-*-p*, *--mntpoint* <_/mntpoint_>::
- Specify mountpoint that should be used for mounting the target system.
+ Do not overwrite user provided /etc/apt/sources.list.
+
+*-m*, *--mirror* _URL_::
+
+ Specify mirror which should be used for apt-get/aptitude.
+ Corresponding with configuration variable MIRROR.
+
+*--nodebootstrap*::
+
+ Skip debootstrap, only do configuration to the target.
+
+*--nopackages*::
+
+ Skip installation of packages defined in /etc/debootstrap/packages.
+
+*--nopassword*::
+
+ Do not prompt for the root password. Note: Use the '--password' option if
+ you want to set the root password during an automatic installation but don't
+ want to use the interactive dialog.
+
+*-p*, *--mntpoint* _/mntpoint_::
+
+ Specify mount point that should be used for mounting the target system.
Corresponding with configuration variable MNTPOINT.
+ Note: this option has no effect if option -t is given and represents a
+ directory.
+
+*--packages* _file_::
+
+ Use specified file as list for packages that should be installed instead of
+ the default package list file <confdir>/packages.
+
+*--password* _password_::
-*--password* <_password_>::
Use specified password as password for user root. Use with caution, as your
- commandline might be visible in the process list and the shell history.
+ command line might be visible in the process list and the shell history.
It's meant for automatic installation only.
-*-r*, *--release* <_releasename_>::
- Specify release of new Debian system. Supported relases: sarge, etch, lenny and sid.
+*-r*, *--release* _releasename_::
+
+ Specify release of new Debian system. Supported releases names: lenny,
+ squeeze, wheezy (note: requires current version of debootstrap) and sid.
Corresponding with configuration variable RELEASE.
-*-t*, *--target* <_target_>::
+*--pre-scripts* _directory_::
+
+ Execute scripts from specified directory before executing the chroot
+ script. This allows customisation of the system before the chroot has
+ been set up. The environment variable $MNTPOINT is available inside the
+ scripts for direct access of the chroot.
+ Default directory: /etc/debootstrap/pre-scripts/
+
+*--scripts* _directory_::
+
+ Execute scripts from specified directory. This allows customisation of
+ the system after the chroot has been set up. The environment variable
+ $MNTPOINT is available inside the scripts for direct access of the chroot.
+ Default directory: /etc/debootstrap/scripts/
+
+*-t*, *--target* _target_::
Target partition (/dev/...) or directory (anything else without /dev at the
- beginning).
+ beginning). To install grub using *--grub* make sure to use a _device_
+ instead of a directory as _target_ (installation of grub as bootloader when
+ using directories is NOT supported).
+
+*-v*, *--verbose*::
+ Increase verbosity.
+
+*--vmfile*::
+ Set up a Virtual Machine instead of installing to a partition or directory.
+ This allows deployment of a Virtual Machine. The options needs to be
+ combined with the --target option.
+ Usage example: --vmfile --target /mnt/sda1/qemu.img
+
+*--vmsize* _size_::
+ Use specified size for size of Virtual Machine disk file. If not specified it
+ defaults to 2G (being 2GB). Syntax as supported by qemu-img (see manpage
+ qemu-img(1) for details.
+ Usage example: --vmsize 3G
+
+*-V*, *--version*::
+ Show version of program and exit.
-WARNING: the commandline parsing of grml-debootstrap does not validate the provided
-arguments for the commandline options. Please be careful and check docs and
+WARNING: the command line parsing of grml-debootstrap does not validate the provided
+arguments for the command line options. Please be careful and check docs and
/etc/debootstrap/config for further information.
Usage examples
---------------
- grml-debootstrap --target /dev/hda1 --grub hd0 --groot hd0,0
+ grml-debootstrap --target /dev/sda1 --grub /dev/sda
-Install default Debian release (stable/etch) on /dev/hda1 and install bootmanager
-Grub in MBR (master boot record) of /dev/hda and use /dev/hda1 as system partition.
+Install default Debian release (stable/squeeze) on /dev/sda1 and install bootmanager
+Grub in MBR (master boot record) of /dev/sda and use /dev/sda1 as system partition.
- grml-debootstrap --target /dev/hda6 --grub hd0 --groot hd0,5 --release sid
+ grml-debootstrap --target /dev/sda6 --grub /dev/sda --release sid
-Install Debian unstable/sid on /dev/hda6, install bootmanager
-Grub in MBR (master boot record) of /dev/hda and use /dev/hda6 as system partition.
+Install Debian unstable/sid on /dev/sda6, install bootmanager Grub in MBR
+(master boot record) of /dev/sda and use /dev/sda6 as system partition.
+ mount /dev/sda1 /data/chroot
grml-debootstrap --target /data/chroot
-Install default Debian release (stable/etch) in directory /data/chroot (without
+Install default Debian release (stable/squeeze) in directory /data/chroot (without
any bootloader).
- grml-debootstrap --target /dev/sda3 --grub hd0 --groot hd0,2 --mirror ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian
+ grml-debootstrap --target /dev/sda3 --grub /dev/sda --mirror ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian
+
+Install default debian release (stable/squeeze) in a Virtual Machine file with
+3GB disk size (including Grub as bootmanager in MBR of the virtual disk file):
+
+ mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/sda1
+ grml-debootstrap --vmfile --vmsize 3G --target /mnt/sda1/qemu.img
-Install default Debian release (stable/etch) on /dev/sda3 and install bootmanager
+Install default Debian release (stable/squeeze) on /dev/sda3 and install bootmanager
Grub in MBR (master boot record) of /dev/sda and use /dev/sda3 as system partition.
-Use specifed mirror instead of the default (ftp://ftp.debian.de/debian) one.
+Use specified mirror instead of the default (ftp://ftp.debian.de/debian) one.
+
+ mount -o loop /mnt/sda6/debian-40r0-i386-CD-1.iso /mnt/iso
+ grml-debootstrap --target /dev/sda1 --grub /dev/sda --iso file:/mnt/iso/debian/
+
+Install Debian stable/squeeze on /dev/sda1 using the loopback mounted Debian-ISO
+for the base-system and install bootmanager Grub in MBR (master boot record) of
+/dev/sda and use /dev/sda1 as system partition. Please notice, that the chroot
+system requires network access for all packages which are not part of the
+ISO.
Files
-----
/etc/debootstrap/config
Main configuration file. You have to adjust it according to your needs
-before you are able to run grml-debootstrap.
+if you want to execute grml-debootstrap in the non-interactive mode without
+any special command line arguments.
/etc/debootstrap/chroot-script
Defines the software packages which should be installed in the new
Debian system by default.
- /etc/debootstrap/extrapackages
+ /etc/debootstrap/extrapackages/
-Debian Packages dropped here will be installed into the new Debian system by
-default (Controlvariable: EXTRAPACKAGES)
+Debian Packages dropped in this directory will be installed into the new Debian
+system by default (Control variable: EXTRAPACKAGES)
/etc/debootstrap/stages/
into a file named as the function itself if it has been executed successfully.
You can adjust the location of the directory via configuration variable STAGES
via /etc/debootstrap/config. Please notice that you have to remove the stages
-directory on your own if you want to re-execute grml-deboostrap after running it
+directory on your own if you want to re-execute grml-debootstrap after running it
successfully once. This should avoid recurrent execution by error of
grml-debootstrap (which might delete present data).
You can control execution of grml-debootstrap via adjusting
/etc/debootstrap/config for some main stuff or via setting some selected
-variables via commandline. The packages which should be installed in the new
+variables via command line. The packages which should be installed in the new
Debian system can be defined via the file /etc/debootstrap/packages. If you
want to put existing files to the new Debian system you can place them into the
(by default non-existing) directories boot, etc, share, usr and var in
/etc/debootstrap/. Every existing directory will be copied to the new Debian
system then. If you want to install additional packages that are not available
-via the grml or debian mirror drop them into /etc/debootstrap/extrapackages and
-take sure that EXTRAPACKAGES is set to "yes".
+via the Grml or Debian mirror drop them into /etc/debootstrap/extrapackages and
+make sure that EXTRAPACKAGES is set to "yes".
Automatic installation
----------------------
If environment variable AUTOINSTALL is set grml-debootstrap can be executed in a
full automatic mode. While this mode isn't really useful for interactive
execution (just configure /etc/debootstrap/configure or specify the relevant
-variables on the commandline instead) it is meant for use via bootoption
-debian2hd. The bootoption debian2hd (more precise: the kernelname on bootprompt)
-supports the following bootoptions (they correspond with the commandline options
+variables on the command line instead) it is meant for use via boot option
+debian2hd. The boot option debian2hd (more precise: the kernelname on bootprompt)
+supports the following boot options (they correspond with the command line options
mentioned above):
target=...
The target partition/directory of the new Debian system. Usage example:
-target=/dev/hda1
+target=/dev/sda1
grub=...
-Where do you want to install grub to? Use grub syntax for specifying.
-Usage example: grub=hd0
-
- groot=...
-
-Specify root device for usage in grub (corresponds with $TARGET).
-Again, use grub syntax for specifying. Usage example: groot=hd0,0
+Where do you want to install grub to? Usage example: grub=/dev/sda
release=...
-Specify release of new Debian system. Defaults to Debian stable.
-Supported relases: sarge, etch, lenny and sid. Usage example: release=sid
+Specify release of new Debian system. Defaults to Debian squeeze. Supported
+relases: lenny, squeeze, wheezy and sid. Usage example: release=sid
mirror=...
password=...
-Set passwort of user root without prompting for it but set it to the given
+Set password of user root without prompting for it but set it to the given
argument. Usage example: password=AiTh5ahn
Usage example for automatic installation:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- debian2hd target=/dev/hda1 grub=hd0 groot=hd0,0 mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian password=foobar
+ debian2hd target=/dev/sda1 grub=/dev/sda mirror=ftp://ftp.tugraz.at/mirror/debian password=foobar
-You have to enter this commandline at the bootprompt of grml. Please make sure
-that /dev/hda1 is the partition where you really want to install your new Debian
-system.
+You have to enter this command line at the bootprompt of the Grml live system.
+Please make sure that /dev/sda1 is the partition where you really want to
+install your new Debian system.
[NOTE]
Automatic installation within booting process is done in grml-autoconfig via
setting environment variable AUTOINSTALL and creation of
/usr/bin/grml-debootstrap_noninteractive with the available and relevant
-bootoptions for grml-debootstrap.
+boot options for grml-debootstrap.
Supported Releases
------------------
include::releasetable.txt[]
[NOTE]
-.Sarge-Release
-=====================================================================
-[1] Please notice that Sarge is the current old-stable within Debian.
-grml-debootstrap can handle the release but you really should not
-use Sarge anymore unless you really know what you are doing. Choose
-Etch instead.
-=====================================================================
+.lenny release
+================================================================================
+[1] Please notice that lenny is the current old-stable release within Debian.
+grml-debootstrap can handle the release but you really should not use lenny
+anymore unless you really know what you are doing. Choose stable (squeeze)
+instead.
+
+When installing lenny to a new mdraid, grml-debootstrap will use md metadata
+format version 0.90. This limits the device to a maximum size of 2TB, but has
+the advantage of grub-legacy actually being able to boot from it.
+================================================================================
+
+[NOTE]
+.sid release
+================================================================================
+[2] Please notice that sid is Debian/unstable and due to its nature might not be
+always installable. What _might_ work instead is deploying stable (squeeze) or
+testing (wheezy) and upgrade it after installation finished.
+================================================================================
Bugs
----