[64studio-devel] How to install with no DVD player over a network

[Daniel James]

Hi Tim,

> Now I could do a net-install, but I don't want to hammer the mirrors.
> I am looking into creating a partial mirror on one of the local
> machines and net-installing using that.

If you mirror the whole 64 Studio apt server instead of a partial Debian
mirror, it'll be easier, because you won't have to tinker with the 
anonftpsync script.

You can mirror the stable branch with:

rsync://64studio.com/apt

> Actually, I just realised that the path of least resistance would 
> probably be to do a minimal Debian etch install and upgrade from
> there.

How about using the Etch netinst image, then when it asks you to choose 
a mirror, select your local 64 Studio mirror? If that worked, then it 
would be very handy for people who have limited bandwidth or no DVD drive.

> Would it work (roughly speaking) to extract the ISO into the
> /var/www/ of the intranet server to create a local mirror?

That should be possible, but I've never tried it. The dists and pool 
directories are on the ISO - the only thing is that each ISO only 
supports 64-bit or 32-bit installs, where as the apt server has amd64, 
i386 and source packages. It would also be easier to manage updates to 
your mirror with rsync than to rebuild your mirror from a new ISO each time.

Cheers!

Daniel