aptosid Quick Start Guide
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT: aptosid, as a Linux LIVE-ISO, is based on high compression technology, and because of that, special care is needed when burning the ISO image. Only use high quality CD-media [or DVD+RW] and burn in DAO-mode (disk-at-once) and not faster than x8.
aptosid aims to be 100% compatible with Debian sid, however aptosid may provide temporary hot-fixes from time to time. The aptosid apt-repository holds aptosid specific packages which includes the aptosid kernel, scripts, tools and documentation.
Must read files
There are several pages that a 'new to linux', or, a 'new to aptosid' user should read. This file is one of them. The other pages are:
- The Terminal - Describes how to use a terminal and the use of 'su' command and the creation of an alias.
- Partitioning - Describes how to partition your disk.
- Installing aptosid (HD) - Describes how to install to a hard drive.
- Installing aptosid (USB) - Describes how to install to a USB-stick/SD/flash-card.
- Writing aptosid to sticks - Describes how to write aptosid to a stick or SD/flash card instead of a CD/DVD.
- Non free drivers and sources - Describes how to adjust your sources and how to install non-free firmware.
- Internet connecting - Describes how get connected to the internet.
- Apt and dist-upgrading - Describes how to install new software and how to action a dist-upgrade.
Debian sid/unstable stability
sid is a name tag for the unstable repositories of Debian. Debian sid is a frequently updated repository that is quick to stay in sync with latest and greatest upstream versions of software maintained. Because of the frequency of updates, less overall testing on packages is possible from the shortened period of time between upstream and distributed Debian packages.
aptosid kernel
The kernel is aptosid optimised to help offset issues, add new functionality, or configured for faster performance and better stability and tweaked from latest kernel from http://www.kernel.org/. .
The kernel is mirrored here: Upgrading the kernel
Package Management
aptosid is compliant with Debian packaging and uses apt and dpkg for software package management with debian and other repositories identified by the files in /etc/sources.list.d/*
Debian sid has over 30,000 packages, so you should be able to find the one you would like to use with Package searching with apt-cache or with Debian Package Search GUI application.
To install the package apt-get install <package name> Installing a new package
Debian sid's repositories can be updated as much as four times a day so running apt-get update is essential before installing any new packages or before running apt-get dist-upgrade to keep up-to-date with the server's list of packages.
Using other Debian based distributions' repositories, Source and RPMs
Source installs are not supported. If you really need to compile your application, do it as user, and put it under your home directory without installing it to the system. Using checkinstall and converting RPMs with alien, (and others like it), to make a deb, is not supported.
Other well known, (and lesser known), Debian based distributions' which repackage Debians' packages for their own repositories, often use different file locations for various applications which differ from Debian and could cause system instability and some packages won't install due to unresolvable dependencies from different package naming schemes or odd version numbers. For instance a different version of glibc could cause the application to not even run.
Use Debian repositories to install your required software packages, as other repositories will most likely not be able to be supported.
Upgrading the system - dist-upgrade
apt-get dist-upgrade is the supported way of upgrading aptosid. Using any graphical front end to update aptosid is not supported. Please read carefully: Upgrade of an Installed System - dist-upgrade
A dist-upgrade is supported only outside of X. Running init 3 from your window manager (KDE, XFCE, etc) or in a virtual terminal (ctrl+alt+f1, ctrl+alt+f2, etc) will stop X from running and allows you to upgrade safely.
Network Configuration
Ceni is a network configuration tool to quickly configure your network or wireless card with little fuss. The wireless function can scan for networks, use wep and wpa for encryption, and use wireless-tools or wpa_supplicant for wireless configuration. Ethernet is straight forward if using dhcp (automatic ip address assigning) or you can manually set it from netmasks to nameservers.
Ceni is run with the command Ceni or ceni . If not installed, you can install it with the command apt-get install ceni.
Runlevels - init
aptosid run levels are different to debian see: aptosid runlevels - init
Other Window Managers
KDE, XFCE and fluxbox are the aptosid defaults. Gnome is not supported by aptosid to date. Some users in the aptosid forums /wiki and IRC chat may have experience and be willing to help you, otherwise you are on your own.
IRC and Forum help
Don't be afraid to ask for help through IRC or the forum:
- Where to Get Help
- Web IRC enter your nickname and join #aptosid