Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
John, I only provided a temporary workaround (a hack, that ugly, but will work) in case somebody really wants to try it quickly. In no way it was supposed to be 'official' or 'correct'. Obviously compiling it into installer kernel or udeb is the only option forward, and this is what I said in 'or fix the iso build scripts to include it too.'. By 'include', I meant, installer kernel compiled to include it in initrd.gz, not copy it from other package or other hack. Also, thanks for the new ISO images and your work on this! On Tue, 21 Apr 2020 at 18:04, John Paul Adrian Glaubitz wrote: > > On 4/21/20 7:59 PM, Witold Baryluk wrote: > >>> It should be relatively easy to put it there manually (unpack, > >>> repack), or fix the iso build scripts to include it too. > >> debian-installer does not use a kernel package, it boots the bare kernel > >> image > >> and loads additional modules either from the initial ramdisk or module > >> udebs > >> such as "ata-modules-5.5.0-2-alpha". > >> > >> Compiling the module into the kernel is surely the easiest approach. > > > > Yes, I know. I am just saying where one can get compatible module in > > case somebody wants to get the floppy.ko manually and use it. I did > > say it is not in the initrd or in the udeb, so obviously it is not > > working now. We all know that. > > You talked about unpacking and repacking the kernel package and also modifying > the ISO build scripts to include the floppy module which what I was answering > to. > > There is one official way of getting a module into debian-installer and those > are udebs, whether you are creating a netboot image or an installation CD > does not make a difference as both the netboot and the CD images for > debian-installer > just differ in their initrds. The former has more network drivers udebs > included > in the initrd while the CD installer initrd has more storage driver udebs > included. > > Adrian > > -- > .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz > : :' : Debian Developer - glaub...@debian.org > `. `' Freie Universitaet Berlin - glaub...@physik.fu-berlin.de > `-GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
On 4/21/20 7:59 PM, Witold Baryluk wrote: >>> It should be relatively easy to put it there manually (unpack, >>> repack), or fix the iso build scripts to include it too. >> debian-installer does not use a kernel package, it boots the bare kernel >> image >> and loads additional modules either from the initial ramdisk or module udebs >> such as "ata-modules-5.5.0-2-alpha". >> >> Compiling the module into the kernel is surely the easiest approach. > > Yes, I know. I am just saying where one can get compatible module in > case somebody wants to get the floppy.ko manually and use it. I did > say it is not in the initrd or in the udeb, so obviously it is not > working now. We all know that. You talked about unpacking and repacking the kernel package and also modifying the ISO build scripts to include the floppy module which what I was answering to. There is one official way of getting a module into debian-installer and those are udebs, whether you are creating a netboot image or an installation CD does not make a difference as both the netboot and the CD images for debian-installer just differ in their initrds. The former has more network drivers udebs included in the initrd while the CD installer initrd has more storage driver udebs included. Adrian -- .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz : :' : Debian Developer - glaub...@debian.org `. `' Freie Universitaet Berlin - glaub...@physik.fu-berlin.de `-GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
On Tue, 21 Apr 2020 at 17:57, John Paul Adrian Glaubitz wrote: > > On 4/21/20 7:53 PM, Witold Baryluk wrote: > > floppy.ko for alpha is in the kernel image deb file, > > > > debian-10.0-alpha-NETINST-1.iso/iso9660://pool-alpha/main/l/linux/linux-image-5.5.0-1-alpha-smp_5.5.13-2_alpha.deb/deb://CONTENTS/lib/modules/5.5.0-1-alpha-smp/kernel/drivers/block > > > > but it is not present in any udeb file, or in the > > debian-10.0-alpha-NETINST-1.iso/iso9660://boot/initrd.gz/gunzip://ucpio://lib/modules/5.5.0-1-alpha-generic/kernel/drivers/block > > > > It should be relatively easy to put it there manually (unpack, > > repack), or fix the iso build scripts to include it too. > debian-installer does not use a kernel package, it boots the bare kernel image > and loads additional modules either from the initial ramdisk or module udebs > such as "ata-modules-5.5.0-2-alpha". > > Compiling the module into the kernel is surely the easiest approach. Yes, I know. I am just saying where one can get compatible module in case somebody wants to get the floppy.ko manually and use it. I did say it is not in the initrd or in the udeb, so obviously it is not working now. We all know that.
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
On 4/21/20 7:53 PM, Witold Baryluk wrote: > floppy.ko for alpha is in the kernel image deb file, > > debian-10.0-alpha-NETINST-1.iso/iso9660://pool-alpha/main/l/linux/linux-image-5.5.0-1-alpha-smp_5.5.13-2_alpha.deb/deb://CONTENTS/lib/modules/5.5.0-1-alpha-smp/kernel/drivers/block > > but it is not present in any udeb file, or in the > debian-10.0-alpha-NETINST-1.iso/iso9660://boot/initrd.gz/gunzip://ucpio://lib/modules/5.5.0-1-alpha-generic/kernel/drivers/block > > It should be relatively easy to put it there manually (unpack, > repack), or fix the iso build scripts to include it too. debian-installer does not use a kernel package, it boots the bare kernel image and loads additional modules either from the initial ramdisk or module udebs such as "ata-modules-5.5.0-2-alpha". Compiling the module into the kernel is surely the easiest approach. Adrian -- .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz : :' : Debian Developer - glaub...@debian.org `. `' Freie Universitaet Berlin - glaub...@physik.fu-berlin.de `-GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
floppy.ko for alpha is in the kernel image deb file, debian-10.0-alpha-NETINST-1.iso/iso9660://pool-alpha/main/l/linux/linux-image-5.5.0-1-alpha-smp_5.5.13-2_alpha.deb/deb://CONTENTS/lib/modules/5.5.0-1-alpha-smp/kernel/drivers/block but it is not present in any udeb file, or in the debian-10.0-alpha-NETINST-1.iso/iso9660://boot/initrd.gz/gunzip://ucpio://lib/modules/5.5.0-1-alpha-generic/kernel/drivers/block It should be relatively easy to put it there manually (unpack, repack), or fix the iso build scripts to include it too. On Tue, 21 Apr 2020 at 13:30, Darren Goossens wrote: > > For reference, the recipe at: > > The recipe at https://lists.debian.org/debian-alpha/2019/11/msg00033.html > > for adding firmware to the install disk did indeed work. > > I booted with the modified install disk in the SCSI CD drive and the original > in a second IDE CDROM drive that runs on a PCI card. While the installer > could not see the SCSI CDROM drive with the install disk in it once control > was handed over from the initial boot (step where it looks for install media > initially failed), it could see the IDE CDROM and then switched to that for > the rest of the install. > > Worked well. > >
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
For reference, the recipe at: The recipe at https://lists.debian.org/debian-alpha/2019/11/msg00033.html for adding firmware to the install disk did indeed work. I booted with the modified install disk in the SCSI CD drive and the original in a second IDE CDROM drive that runs on a PCI card. While the installer could not see the SCSI CDROM drive with the install disk in it once control was handed over from the initial boot (step where it looks for install media initially failed), it could see the IDE CDROM and then switched to that for the rest of the install. Worked well.
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
On 4/21/20 4:16 AM, Michael Cree wrote: > So is the floppy module included in the install ISO, and, if so, > can you run insmod on it to enable the floppy drive while > installing? That's an easy fix. I assume there used to be a floppy-modules package that was removed. We can re-add that. Or just include the floppy module in the installer's initrd. Adrian -- .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz : :' : Debian Developer - glaub...@debian.org `. `' Freie Universitaet Berlin - glaub...@physik.fu-berlin.de `-GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
> > Interesting. I've just checked on my running XP1000 and I see there > is no /dev/fd0 either. I'm running a self-compiled 5.6.3 kernel and > the floppy module is built. Modprobing it loaded it and then I have > a /dev/fd0 device node. What's more it works --- I managed to list > the directory of an old floppy disk! Woah. Haven't done that for > very many years. > > Checking the debian built kernel install (5.5.0-1-alpha-generic), > the floppy driver is indeed built. > > So is the floppy module included in the install ISO, and, if so, > can you run insmod on it to enable the floppy drive while > installing? > > Cheers, > Michael. That was a great suggestion! I looked for all the .ko files, and there is no floppy.ko on the CD, and nothing that looks like it might be the same under a different name. So the floppy module would be a great addition to the install image. Thanks Darren
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
On Tue, Apr 21, 2020 at 11:37:14AM +1000, Darren Goossens wrote: > My experience with the April 2020 Alpha iso > > Booted fine, asked for me to load qlogic/1040.bin on removable media. > I downloaded the deb file for buster, exploded it and copied all the > bin files onto both a floppy and a USB stick. The AlphaServer 1200 has > a USB card in a PCI slot. > Put both the USB and the floppy into the Alpha > Said yes, look for files on removable media. > It did not seem to poll either the USB or the floppy (eg floppy light > never came on; USB LED was on but never flashed) > Then I got the same screen about loading firmware from removable media. > Exited to shell. > > # find /dev -iname "*usb*" > /dev/bus/usb > # find /dev -iname "*fd*" > /dev/fd > > There is no device (fd0) for the floppy in /dev. Interesting. I've just checked on my running XP1000 and I see there is no /dev/fd0 either. I'm running a self-compiled 5.6.3 kernel and the floppy module is built. Modprobing it loaded it and then I have a /dev/fd0 device node. What's more it works --- I managed to list the directory of an old floppy disk! Woah. Haven't done that for very many years. Checking the debian built kernel install (5.5.0-1-alpha-generic), the floppy driver is indeed built. So is the floppy module included in the install ISO, and, if so, can you run insmod on it to enable the floppy drive while installing? Cheers, Michael.
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
My experience with the April 2020 Alpha iso Booted fine, asked for me to load qlogic/1040.bin on removable media. I downloaded the deb file for buster, exploded it and copied all the bin files onto both a floppy and a USB stick. The AlphaServer 1200 has a USB card in a PCI slot. Put both the USB and the floppy into the Alpha Said yes, look for files on removable media. It did not seem to poll either the USB or the floppy (eg floppy light never came on; USB LED was on but never flashed) Then I got the same screen about loading firmware from removable media. Exited to shell. # find /dev -iname "*usb*" /dev/bus/usb # find /dev -iname "*fd*" /dev/fd There is no device (fd0) for the floppy in /dev. # mountmedia fails, complaining that /dev/fd0 does not exist dmesg showed that Debian has noticed the USB PCI card and the memory stick and read off the vendor and product IDs, but the volume was not mounted anywhere. lsusb is missing from busybox, but lspci shows the USB controller no worries. # blkid -c /dev/null shows no output at all /dev/disk contains only by-path/ and the entry in here corresponds to the CDROM drive the install disk is in, there are no other devices listed. I am happy to hear suggestions on how to get the firmware into the installer. The lack of media makes it hard to capture the installer output, dmesg output or anything like that. I can try if that is likely to help. Cheerio
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
Hi Darren! On 4/20/20 11:49 AM, Darren Goossens wrote: > The floppy disk controller did not work either, I recall clearly. I > tried a PCI USB card, IDE CD, SCSI CD and putting the files on a > second HDD. None of the storage was visible to the Debian installer. > > If this might have changed, I will happily try again with the new image. > > I spent quite a lot of time trying things. I cannot recall whether I > dropped to a prompt, mounted the FDD by hand and then went back into > the installer. Perhaps I'll try that. If you run into such problems, please report them to the list. I cannot cover each and every configuration with my own tests, so I need input from testers. Whether your installation was successful or not, I'm interested in the results as these help me to find bugs and fix them. > Anyway, I don't wan to clutter up the list with that, I'll just go and try it. You're not cluttering up the list. Please feel free to always post issues and questions when installing Debian on your Alpha machines. Adrian -- .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz : :' : Debian Developer - glaub...@debian.org `. `' Freie Universitaet Berlin - glaub...@physik.fu-berlin.de `-GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
> > You can add the firmware files manually during installation with a > floppy disk. The installer asks during installation if you want > to provide additional firmware using removable media. > Thanks for that The floppy disk controller did not work either, I recall clearly. I tried a PCI USB card, IDE CD, SCSI CD and putting the files on a second HDD. None of the storage was visible to the Debian installer. If this might have changed, I will happily try again with the new image. I spent quite a lot of time trying things. I cannot recall whether I dropped to a prompt, mounted the FDD by hand and then went back into the installer. Perhaps I'll try that. Anyway, I don't wan to clutter up the list with that, I'll just go and try it. Best wishes D./
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
Hi Darren! On 4/20/20 10:53 AM, Darren Goossens wrote: > I understand your comment about help being appreciated. I'm afraid I > am an amateur, and my day job is nothing to do with software. I am > happy to test things and see how they work and report back, but I am > not a developer -- not even a programmer, I just have an AlphaServer > like the ones I used to use and I try to keep going. It works great on > Debian 5, the last official Alpha port, but that's getting pretty old. > Please understand that I am in no way pushing or expressing > disappointment. I guessed from the file list that the files were not > in there, but I did want to check. I recognise that there is much to > do and little time, and you must be very busy with other things that > will affect far more users, and that priorities have to be given to > some things ahead of others. Please try to stay on the list if discussing such issues. You can add the firmware files manually during installation with a floppy disk. The installer asks during installation if you want to provide additional firmware using removable media. Adrian -- .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz : :' : Debian Developer - glaub...@debian.org `. `' Freie Universitaet Berlin - glaub...@physik.fu-berlin.de `-GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
On 4/20/20 10:28 AM, Darren Goossens wrote: > That's great! Thanks again for all your troubles. A question: When I > last tried an install on an Alpha, qlogic firmware for the storage was > missing (eg SCSI disks, CD etc). Does the Alpha image have any new > firmware compared to the previous iteration? I have not been able yet to sync the contrib and non-free archives to the Debian Ports archives which would be necessary to be able to include firmware as most of the firmware packages are in non-free. It's on my TODO list though to get this sorted out, help is always appreciated. Thanks, Adrian -- .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz : :' : Debian Developer - glaub...@debian.org `. `' Freie Universitaet Berlin - glaub...@physik.fu-berlin.de `-GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
Re: Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
On Mon, Apr 20, 2020 at 4:30 AM John Paul Adrian Glaubitz wrote: > > Hi! > > I just uploaded updated installation images 2020-04-19 for the > following Debian Ports architectures [1]: > > * alpha > * hppa > * ia64 > * m68k > * powerpc > * ppc64 > * sparc64 > > These images should finally fix the installation process on Apple > PowerMacs and PowerBooks compatible with GRUB, so basically every > Macintosh using the New World ROM [2]. > That's great! Thanks again for all your troubles. A question: When I last tried an install on an Alpha, qlogic firmware for the storage was missing (eg SCSI disks, CD etc). Does the Alpha image have any new firmware compared to the previous iteration? Best wishes Darren
Updated installation images for Debian Ports 2020-04-19
Hi! I just uploaded updated installation images 2020-04-19 for the following Debian Ports architectures [1]: * alpha * hppa * ia64 * m68k * powerpc * ppc64 * sparc64 These images should finally fix the installation process on Apple PowerMacs and PowerBooks compatible with GRUB, so basically every Macintosh using the New World ROM [2]. One user already reported a successful installation on his PowerMac G5 and I expect installations to work fine on 32-bit machines, i.e. G3 and G4 as well. But I'm looking forward to more feedback. Another important improvement to debian-installer is that the mirror setup now allows to select the preferred mirror from a list instead having to enter that information manually. Unfortunately, there are only a few mirrors, namely in Germany and South Korea which can be chosen from. So don't be surprised that the list is short. Otherwise, the images contain the usual improvements like a new kernel and a fresh base system. Thanks, Adrian > [1] https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/ports/2020-04-19/ > [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_World_ROM -- .''`. John Paul Adrian Glaubitz : :' : Debian Developer - glaub...@debian.org `. `' Freie Universitaet Berlin - glaub...@physik.fu-berlin.de `-GPG: 62FF 8A75 84E0 2956 9546 0006 7426 3B37 F5B5 F913
