PXE Installing Debian from an Aptly Mirror

[bi...@billyjbryant.com]

I am attempting to PXE Boot install Debian, using an aptly controlled mirror as the install media source.

I am running into an issue during the install with downloading a file from the mirror. It gives a non-descript error that it was unable to download a file. The F4 terminal displays the following:

<code>Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> GET mirror/http/directory
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 /debian
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> GET mirror/udeb/suite
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 wheezy
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> GET mirror/http/proxy
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> GET debian-installer/allow_unauthenticated
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 true
Jul 16 21:11:06 net-retriever: Not verifying Release signature: unauthenticated mode enabled
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> CAPB
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 multiselect backup progresscancel align escape plugin-terminal
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> GET mirror/protocol
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 http
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> GET mirror/http/hostname
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> GET mirror/http/directory
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 /debian
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> SET retriever/net/error Retry
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 value set
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: --> INPUT critical retriever/net/error
Jul 16 21:11:06 debconf: <-- 0 question will be asked
</code>

Does anyone have an idea as to what may be going on?

[mi...@lofstrand.net]

On Wednesday, July 16, 2014 11:28:33 PM UTC+2, bi...@billyjbryant.com wrote:
> I am attempting to PXE Boot install Debian, using an aptly controlled mirror as the install media source.
>
> I am running into an issue during the install with downloading a file from the mirror. It gives a non-descript error that it was unable to download a file. The F4 terminal displays the following:
>

<snip>

>
> Does anyone have an idea as to what may be going on?

According to the Aptly features section of http://aptly.info there isn't (yet) support for udebs.

"aptly doesn't yet support debian-installer packages (udebs) and translations"

That might be your problem, since the debian installer needs those udebs.

[Andrey Smirnov]

Yes, I believe udeb support is required for PXE boot. If installing from mini-CD image, regular packages should be enough.

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Andrey Smirnov,
+79261724320

[carl....@mytux.fr]

On Friday, July 18, 2014 1:38:10 PM UTC+2, Andrey Smirnov wrote:
> Yes, I believe udeb support is required for PXE boot. If installing from mini-CD image, regular packages should be enough.

Hi Andrey,

Are there some plans to support udebs in aptly ? If so, any milestone? Just to know if it is worth waiting or if I need to think about alternative solutions.

Regards,
Carl Chenet

[Andrey Smirnov]

Hi Carl!

I haven't planned for .udeb inclusion yet, but that only depends on your feedback. I believe it seems to be pretty frequent request.

Would .udeb work for you if published repository is custom-signed (like now with aptly, with your gpg signature)? I mean that aptly doesn't support yet mirroring with preserving Debian original signature.

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Andrey Smirnov,
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[mi...@lofstrand.net]

Hello,

I believe you have to change the initrd of the installer to include a modified keyring to get that to work[1]. With that said I would love to try.

Micke

[1] http://blog.loftninjas.org/2008/02/21/signing-your-local-debian-repository/

[carl....@mytux.fr]

Hi Andrey,

Sorry for the delay, holidays :) I'm now back to work with aptly.

> I haven't planned for .udeb inclusion yet, but that only depends on your feedback. I believe it seems to be pretty frequent request.

I guess it is really important for lots of people to be able to install via PXE from their Debian repository. So it seems to me like an important feature.

> Would .udeb work for you if published repository is custom-signed (like now with aptly, with your gpg signature)? I mean that aptly doesn't support yet mirroring with preserving Debian original signature.

I'm not sure about this, but on the aptly website in upcoming features it is indicated "Mirror repositories as-is", without resigning, so if this option and the udeb support are available, it becomes possible to use PXE install with a aptly repository, am I wrong?

Regards,
Carl Chenet

[Andrey Smirnov]

I've created issue to track progress on .udeb support: https://github.com/smira/aptly/issues/108

I think 0.8 wouldn't have the support for mirroring "as-is" (it's a big feature on its own).

Regards,
Carl Chenet

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Andrey Smirnov,
+79261724320

[Andrey Smirnov]

aptly 0.8 has been just released, it supports .udeb packages (but doesn't yet support mirroring as-is, so published repositories are signed by your keys).

On Monday, September 22, 2014 7:32:19 PM UTC+4, Andrey Smirnov wrote:

I've created issue to track progress on .udeb support: https://github.com/smira/aptly/issues/108

I think 0.8 wouldn't have the support for mirroring "as-is" (it's a big feature on its own).

2014-09-15 13:56 GMT+04:00 :

Hi Andrey,

Sorry for the delay, holidays :) I'm now back to work with aptly.

> I haven't planned for .udeb inclusion yet, but that only depends on your feedback. I believe it seems to be pretty frequent request.

I guess it is really important for lots of people to be able to install via PXE from their Debian repository. So it seems to me like an important feature.

> Would .udeb work for you if published repository is custom-signed (like now with aptly, with your gpg signature)? I mean that aptly doesn't support yet mirroring with preserving Debian original signature.

I'm not sure about this, but on the aptly website in upcoming features it is indicated "Mirror repositories as-is", without resigning, so if this option and the udeb support are available, it becomes possible to use PXE install with a aptly repository, am I wrong?

Regards,
Carl Chenet

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Andrey Smirnov,
+79261724320

[zzeb...@gmail.com]

Sorry to bump this really old thread but any idea on the mirror as-is feature.
Would be great to know how long I will have to run the install with the
"d-i debian-installer/allow_unauthenticated string true"
option or to go with another option to mirror the official repos.