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author | Frans Pop <elendil@planet.nl> | 2007-10-20 18:56:14 +0000 |
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committer | Frans Pop <elendil@planet.nl> | 2007-10-20 18:56:14 +0000 |
commit | 5871f07e8272e65390f48a5d5c40fb551f99a87e (patch) | |
tree | e99cdf7fb8ab8531b2c0fa4b10cb4b5ee01b2944 /en/using-d-i/modules | |
parent | 98c84623da4dfaab1b9de208176f7f91513514c0 (diff) | |
download | installation-guide-5871f07e8272e65390f48a5d5c40fb551f99a87e.zip |
Extend the documentation of apt-setup, especially the decision whether or
not to use a network mirror. Document selection of services.
Diffstat (limited to 'en/using-d-i/modules')
-rw-r--r-- | en/using-d-i/modules/apt-setup.xml | 121 |
1 files changed, 116 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/en/using-d-i/modules/apt-setup.xml b/en/using-d-i/modules/apt-setup.xml index 76d530223..3116f10de 100644 --- a/en/using-d-i/modules/apt-setup.xml +++ b/en/using-d-i/modules/apt-setup.xml @@ -32,11 +32,122 @@ recommended utility for package management. </para><para> -<command>apt</command> must be configured so that it knows where to retrieve -packages from. The installer largely takes care of this automatically based on -what it knows about your installation medium. The results of this configuration -are written to the file <filename>/etc/apt/sources.list</filename>, and you can -examine and edit it to your liking after the install is complete. +<command>apt</command> must be configured so that it knows from where to +retrieve packages. The results of this configuration are written to the +file <filename>/etc/apt/sources.list</filename>. You can examine and edit +this file to your liking after the installation is complete. + +</para><para> + +If you are installing at default priority, the installer will largely +take care of the configuration automatically, based on the installation +method you are using and possibly using choices made earlier in the +installation. In most cases the installer will automatically add a security +mirror and, if you are installing the stable distribution, a mirror for the +<quote>volatile</quote> update service. + +</para><para> + +If you are installing at a lower priority (e.g. in expert mode), you will +be able to make more decisions yourself. You can choose whether or not to +use the security and/or volatile update services, and you can choose to +add packages from the <quote>contrib</quote> and <quote>non-free</quote> +sections of the archive. + +</para> + + <sect4 id="apt-setup-mirror"> + <title>Using a network mirror</title> + +<para> + +One question that will be asked in most cases is whether or not to use a +network mirror as a source for packages. In most cases the default answer +should be fine, but there are some exceptions. + +</para><para> + +If you are <emphasis>not</emphasis> installing from a full CD or DVD or +using a full CD/DVD image, you really should use a network mirror as +otherwise you will end up with only a very minimal system. However, if you +have a limited Internet connection it is best <emphasis>not</emphasis> +to select the <literal>desktop</literal> task in the next step of the +installation. + +</para><para> + +If you are installing from a full CD or using a CD image (not DVD), using a +network mirror is not required, but is still strongly recommended because a +single CD contains only a fairly limited number of packages. The installer +currently does not support using multiple CD or DVD images during the +installation<footnote> + +Adding that option is planned. + +</footnote>. If you have a limited Internet connection it may still be best +to <emphasis>not</emphasis> select a network mirror here, but to finish the +installation using only what's available on the CD and install additional +packages after the installation (i.e. after you have rebooted into the new +system). + +</para><para> + +If you are installing from a DVD or using a DVD image, the need to use a +network mirror is a lot smaller, but there is still a chance that some +packages that are part of the tasks you select in the next step will not +be included on the first DVD. This is especially true if you are installing +in another language than English: a number of font and localization packages +are known to be on the second DVD. So, if you have a reasonable Internet +connection it is still advisable to use a network mirror. + +</para><para> + +<!-- This should probably be documented a bit more extensively in + post-install instead. --> +To install additional packages after the installation you have two options: + +<orderedlist> +<listitem><para> + +if you have additional CD/DVD images available (from same set as the +installation CD/DVD you are using), you can add those to the +<filename>sources.list</filename> using <command>apt-cdrom</command>; + +</para></listitem> +<listitem><para> + +manually add a mirror to the <filename>sources.list</filename> using an +editor. + +</para></listitem> +</orderedlist> + +You can then use one of the package management front-ends to select and +install additional packages<footnote> + +It is possible to add both additional CDs or DVDs <emphasis>and</emphasis> +a network mirror in <filename>/etc/apt/sources.list</filename>. Also adding +a network mirror has the advantage that it will make updates of packages in +point releases of the distribution available for installation. + +</footnote>. + +</para><para> + +In summary: selecting a network mirror is generally a good idea, except +if you do not have a good Internet connection. If the current version of +a package is available on the CD/DVD, the installer will alway use that. +The amount of data that will be downloaded if you do select a mirror thus +depends on a) the tasks you select in the next step of the installation, b) +which packages are needed for those tasks, and c) which of those packages +are present on the CD/DVD. + +</para><para> + +Note that even if you choose not to use a network mirror, some packages +may still be downloaded from the Internet if there is a security or +volatile update available for them and those services have been configured. </para> +</sect4> </sect3> |