Re: graphical installer for debian could be used to replace the BDI

[Ray Henry <rehenry-at-up.net>]

Rob

Most of what you said is way over my head (I've gravitated toward the brain 
dead of late) but obviously you have done a great deal of development and 
study here so I'd say, "lets go for it."  I am a great believer in the notion 
that the widest possible range of choices will over time produce very useful 
solutions.

I have heard some very positive comments regarding the Debian approach and 
its distributions.

If I can help with testing, I'm in.

Ray



On Saturday 22 June 2002 04:51, you wrote:
> PGI is a multi-architecture graphical installer creation system for Debian
> GNU/Linux originally developed by Progeny Linux Systems, Inc., for our
> Debian-based "Progeny Debian" operating system. Our distribution is
> defunct, but our code is not, and we have been contributing it -- freely
> licensed -- back to the Debian Project.
>
>
> The PGI Debian package enables the user to create ISO images containing a
> bootable installer (PGI) which guides the user through the steps of
> installation. The installer supports text and graphical installation modes.
> PGI runs debootstrap to install a minimal Debian system to the target
> filesystem(s), sets up a boot loader (if the installing user requests), and
> uses the pivot_root() system call to "boot" into the installed system. ISO
> images may be generated with complete or partial Debian package archives,
> or with the the installer only (useful for network-only installs, which PGI
> supports.)
>
>
> PGI is extensible and customizable. Two example extensions are provided
> with this package; one uses the base-config package, while the other
> configures the installed system using the X-based Configlet system, also
> developed by Progeny.
>
>
> Two manuals are provided. "Creating Debian Installers with PGI" documents
> the setup and configuration of a PGI-based installer ISO in detail. "Using
> the PGI Debian Installer" is an example of a PGI user's manual. Those
> creating custom installers with PGI will want to update the user's manual
> for their target audience.
>
>
> PGI is licensed under the GNU General Public License.
>
> You can get this from here http://hackers.progeny.com/pgi/
>
> One of the disadvantages of the BDI is the large iso flie to down load and
> maintaining the installation can be a bear because it is redhat and rpm
> based.
> In contrast debian offers apt-get which can download,install and upgrade
> all with automatic dependancy resolution and like EMC debian is community
> driven unlike redhat.
> Just imagine being able to issue apt-get install EMC and all files will be
> downloaded and installed for a working EMC setup.
> according to the documentation. The installer can be very small and self
> booting.
> So the process of installing EMC would be
> 1 download the PGI installer and burn to cdrom
> 2 run the installer from bootable cdrom
> 3 let the installer download of take off cdrom the debian system
> 4 apt-get install EMC downloads all EMC files to a standard debian system
> 5 start playing :)
>
> principal advantages
> 1 eliminates downloading the entire supporting distibution since the user
> can get cheap cd copies of debian or download these also
> 2 Uses a central location for all EMC related files
> 3 Automatic upgrading of the entire system including EMC to current or
> newest release.
> 4 Renowned debian stability and flexibility
>
> Obviously all this convenience requires some work by those in the know.
> 1 creation and maintenance of the basic PGI installer script
> 2 uploading custom installer and emc packages to debians or others servers
> ready for download.
>
> I think this approach has great potential for reducing downloads and
> improving system mintenance issues
>
>
> Alternatively similar functioanality could be had for a redhat based
> installation using apt4rpm. from http:apt4rpm.sourceforge.net/
> but as the BDI is based on an obsolete version of redhat support for this
> is almost certainly not available.
>
> So what do you think ? comments / issues ?
>
> Rob