Re: Package "usr-is-merged" is reported as missing in Debian Live ISO 12.5 (debian-live-12.5.0-amd64-lxqt.iso) during installation with live-installer/enable=false

[Cyril Brulebois]

Hello,

And thanks for the report.

Cc += debian-live@

Computer Enthusiastic  (2024-05-01):
> The "Normal" [0] Debian Installer included in Debian Live ISO 12.5
> (debian-live-12.5.0-amd64-lxqt.iso) fails the installation of the base
> system  when started with the following preseed parameters:
> 
>   live-installer/enable=false firmware=never
> 
> The Debian installer stops deboostrap with the following error
> 
>   Could not find these debs: usr-is-merged
> 
> The installation of the base system is not completed even if the
> base-install step is repeated.
> 
> The syslog contains:
> 
> [..]
> May  1 17:17:12 main-menu[440]: INFO: Menu item 'bootstrap-base' selected
> May  1 17:17:13 debootstrap: /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main
> --debian-installer --resolve-deps --no-check-gpg bookworm /target
> file:///cdrom/
> May  1 17:18:26 base-installer: error: exiting on error
> base-installer/debootstrap-failed
> May  1 17:19:22 main-menu[440]: WARNING **: Configuring 'bootstrap-base'
> failed with error code 1
> May  1 17:19:22 main-menu[440]: WARNING **: Menu item 'bootstrap-base'
> failed.
> [..]
> 
> The package "usr-is-merged"
> (https://packages.debian.org/bookworm/usr-is-merged) is missing in
> /cdrom/pool/main/u :
> 
> ls -l /cdrom/pool/main/u/
> dr-xr-xr-x1 root root  2048 Feb 10 11:07 ucf
> dr-xr-xr-x1 root root  2048 Feb 10 11:07 usrmerge
> 
> Which package should I report to the bug tracking system ?
> 
> Let me know if I can help.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> --
> [0] 
> https://live-team.pages.debian.net/live-manual/html/live-manual/customizing-installer.en.html
> 

Cheers,
-- 
Cyril Brulebois (k...@debian.org)
D-I release manager -- Release team member -- Freelance Consultant


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Package "usr-is-merged" is reported as missing in Debian Live ISO 12.5 (debian-live-12.5.0-amd64-lxqt.iso) during installation with live-installer/enable=false

[Computer Enthusiastic]

Hello,

The "Normal" [0] Debian Installer included in Debian Live ISO 12.5 
(debian-live-12.5.0-amd64-lxqt.iso) fails the installation of the base 
system  when started with the following preseed parameters:


live-installer/enable=false firmware=never

The Debian installer stops deboostrap with the following error

Could not find these debs: usr-is-merged

The installation of the base system is not completed even if the 
base-install step is repeated.


The syslog contains:

[..]
May  1 17:17:12 main-menu[440]: INFO: Menu item 'bootstrap-base' selected
May  1 17:17:13 debootstrap: /usr/sbin/debootstrap --components=main 
--debian-installer --resolve-deps --no-check-gpg bookworm /target 
file:///cdrom/
May  1 17:18:26 base-installer: error: exiting on error 
base-installer/debootstrap-failed
May  1 17:19:22 main-menu[440]: WARNING **: Configuring 'bootstrap-base' 
failed with error code 1
May  1 17:19:22 main-menu[440]: WARNING **: Menu item 'bootstrap-base' 
failed.

[..]

The package "usr-is-merged" 
(https://packages.debian.org/bookworm/usr-is-merged) is missing in 
/cdrom/pool/main/u :


ls -l /cdrom/pool/main/u/
dr-xr-xr-x1 root root  2048 Feb 10 11:07 ucf
dr-xr-xr-x1 root root  2048 Feb 10 11:07 usrmerge

Which package should I report to the bug tracking system ?

Let me know if I can help.

Thanks.

--
[0] 
https://live-team.pages.debian.net/live-manual/html/live-manual/customizing-installer.en.html

Debian DVD Installer bug/issue that has arisen with Bookworm

[Reid]

I'm a 10+ year Debian user and Free Software supporter.
The release notes for Bookworm are currently telling users 
that they can use "firmware=never" to continue installing Debian 
without non-free-firmware, as was possible with Bullseye and earlier
releases. And when installing from non-live DVD images, those 
"firmware=never" instructions do successfully block 
non-free-firmware. 

However, that method also blocks the usual FREE firmware 
that would have been installed with Bullseye and previous releases. 
Therefore, when using this method on Bookworm, my Wifi adapter 
didn't work after installation, whereas it always worked after 
installing Bullseye and earlier releases. 

This has essentially made Bookworm much less friendly for 
Free Software supporters than Bullseye and earlier releases.

Suggestions: 

1) Best: 
The best solution IMO would be to add a step to all CD/DVD 
installers to opt-in or opt-out of non-free-firmware. 

2) Second best: 
There could be something like a "nonfreefirmware=never" 
option added. However, that method alone would be less user 
friendly than having something integrated into the 
graphical installer. 

3) Third best/bad: 
Re-word the Debian.org web pages that promote Debian as 
Free Software ("Why Debian", "Our Philosophy", and "Who We Are") 
so as to not mislead users about what they're getting with certain 
installers. I'd be disappointed with this option, but at 
least it would inform rather than mislead users about 
what they'll get with certain installers. 

Worst option: 
The worst option IMO would be to not make any change, as the 
way things currently are is very misleading as to what's being 
installed. These "bugs" (issues that have arisen with Bookworm) 
really either need to be fixed (#1 or #2), or the truth about what 
certain installers are doing needs to be disclosed on those Debian 
promo pages and download pages (suggestion #3).

Debian 12.5