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[SOLVED] Converting/rebranding one distro to another
[SOLVED] Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Alright guys, don't make fun of me, but I'd like to know how to change the name of my linux install. My story: I installed Tanglu GNU/Linux originally when it was based directly on Debian, but about two years ago I switched all my sources to Debian Sid. The problem I am having now is that "Tanglu" occasionally still pops up, specifically in GRUB, and when I run lsb_release ics. Is there a way to change it to Debian instead of Tanglu?
Thanks!
Rod
Thanks!
Rod
Last edited by RWIndiana on 2018-02-08 20:09, edited 1 time in total.
- Ardouos
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Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Install Debian.RWIndiana wrote:Is there a way to change it to Debian instead of Tanglu?
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php? ... 15#p542283
There is only one Debian | Do not break Debian | Stability and Debian | Backports
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- GarryRicketson
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Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
You can edit your /etc/lsb-release file, and also may need to edit /etc/distrib-release file.
has more details.
And you can get even more details using these key words:
Copy paste in to your favourite search engine.
If grub is using things from that when you boot, and you start changing that, it could very easily leave you with a system that won't boot. Hope you have good backups of your important data, if you don't , that should be the first thing to do.
Code: Select all
man lsb_release
And you can get even more details using these key words:
Code: Select all
How to change what lsb_release ics shows as the release
A fresh Debian install would be best, you probably have a mix of various things, and your system is not going to be dependable in this kind of state. I don't know anything about Tanglu, never heard of it.but about two years ago I switched all my sources to Debian Sid. The problem I am having now is that "Tanglu" occasionally still pops up, specifically in GRUB, and when I run lsb_release ics. Is there a way to change it to Debian instead of Tanglu?
If grub is using things from that when you boot, and you start changing that, it could very easily leave you with a system that won't boot. Hope you have good backups of your important data, if you don't , that should be the first thing to do.
"What we expect you have already Done"
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Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
It's probably easier first to check what version of lsb-release you have installed
If it's not Sid's, install that and see if that fixes the issue.
Code: Select all
apt policy lsb-release
MX Linux packager and developer
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Okay thanks for the help thus far.
You guys have been pretty good about it but I've seen over and over where people assume to know what's best for the person they are helping or what their end goal is instead of helping them to do what they want to do, or understand the system they are running.
I know I could just "install Debian," and that would accomplish what others might judge to be my goal, but I would have learned nothing. Some of us learn by tinkering and occasionally asking a stupid question. Many online help forums are not very conducive to actually learning. But thank you to those of you who are willing to help people learn.
I've run Debian Sid for close to 10 years, breaking it and fixing it many times. Through that I've learned enough to keep it up to date and never have breakages (going on nearly 5 years now). Whenever I've asked a question on various forums, it seems many just want to say "you're stupid for running Sid." No, if I had given up and run stable all these years, I'd be stupid.
You guys have been pretty good about it but I've seen over and over where people assume to know what's best for the person they are helping or what their end goal is instead of helping them to do what they want to do, or understand the system they are running.
I know I could just "install Debian," and that would accomplish what others might judge to be my goal, but I would have learned nothing. Some of us learn by tinkering and occasionally asking a stupid question. Many online help forums are not very conducive to actually learning. But thank you to those of you who are willing to help people learn.
I've run Debian Sid for close to 10 years, breaking it and fixing it many times. Through that I've learned enough to keep it up to date and never have breakages (going on nearly 5 years now). Whenever I've asked a question on various forums, it seems many just want to say "you're stupid for running Sid." No, if I had given up and run stable all these years, I'd be stupid.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Rude is after all an opinion.RWIndiana wrote: This thread hasn't been that bad but I've seen over and over where people assume to know what's best for the person they are helping or what their end goal is. Help me to do what I want to do. If you want to ask the reasoning, go ahead, there's no need to be rude.
You've been around here long enough to know that in a public forum, not all posts will be what you want or even on topic. No one is forced to read or respond to any post. Granted, abrasive posts or swearing or name calling sometimes do evoke a reaction, sometimes warranted and sometimes purely emotional.
Learning is the responsibility of the individual not the forum.RWIndiana wrote: I know I could just "install Debian," and that would accomplish what others might judge to be my goal, but I would have learned nothing. Some of us learn by tinkering and occasionally asking a stupid question. Many online help forums are not very conducive to actually learning.
We don't all agree with that. You could join some of the threads on this forum that pertain to the issue, and express your opinion there.RWIndiana wrote:I've run Debian Sid for close to 10 years, breaking it and fixing it many times. Through that I've learned enough to keep it up to date and never have breakages (going on nearly 5 years now). Whenever I've asked a question on various forums, it seems many just want to say "you're stupid for running Sid." No, if I had given up and run stable all these years, I'd be stupid. The online forum culture needs to change.
I find it offensive that you take pot shots here in your thread for help when you actually got pretty good help. And, I didn't see anything I would characterise as "rude". You know how much you already know, but that doesn't mean the rest of us do., you don't spend a lot of time here.
I hope you won't find my post offensive, but I can't help it if you do.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
You are right, I overreacted to one post. My fault. I am sorry. I came in with a defensive attitude in the first place (hence the "don't make fun of me," which encapsulated these feelings I've had over the years). But yes, you're absolutely right. I apologize.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
You have shown yourself to be an intelligent person, Rod and I thank you for understanding me in the spirit I meant it.RWIndiana wrote:I apologize.
A lot of the time, I wish more people would.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
I actually don't have /etc/lsb-release. Should I create one? The version of lsb-release is indeed Sid. Tanglu only had a few add on packages to straight Debian, and those, as far as I know, are long gone.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Very kind of you to say. Thank you!Thorny wrote:You have shown yourself to be an intelligent person, Rod and I thank you for understanding me in the spirit I meant it.RWIndiana wrote:I apologize.
A lot of the time, I wish more people would.
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Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Are you really reading the replies ?stevepusser wrote:It's probably easier first to check what version of lsb-release you have installed
If it's not Sid's, install that and see if that fixes the issue.Code: Select all
apt policy lsb-release
https://packages.debian.org/sid/lsb-release
You need to install it, not just create it.Post by RWIndiana » 2018-02-07 08:51
I actually don't have /etc/lsb-release. Should I create one?
Code: Select all
apt install lsb-release
"What we expect you have already Done"
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For the Birds
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What Does a Parrot Know About PTSD?
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Okay I will check again and confirm when I get home, but I did check that the package was installed (by attempting to install it). And I checked the version with "apt-cache show". But that was yesterday, I haven't had time yet to check with apt policy.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Is /etc/lsb-release provided automatically by the lsb-release package? Or does something need to be configured?
Code: Select all
root@Confluence:~# dir /etc/lsb-release
dir: cannot access '/etc/lsb-release': No such file or directory
root@Confluence:~# apt install lsb-release
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
lsb-release is already the newest version (9.20170808).
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 43 not upgraded.
root@Confluence:~# apt policy lsb-release
lsb-release:
Installed: 9.20170808
Candidate: 9.20170808
Version table:
*** 9.20170808 500
500 http://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main amd64 Packages
500 http://ftp.debian.org/debian unstable/main i386 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
root@Confluence:~# apt install --reinstall lsb-release
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 reinstalled, 0 to remove and 43 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/27.3 kB of archives.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
(Reading database ... 274659 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../lsb-release_9.20170808_all.deb ...
Unpacking lsb-release (9.20170808) over (9.20170808) ...
Setting up lsb-release (9.20170808) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.0-2) ...
root@Confluence:~# ls /etc/lsb-release
ls: cannot access '/etc/lsb-release': No such file or directory
root@Confluence:~# apt remove lsb-release
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
So, apparently the debian-edu-config package provides a /etc/lsb-release file, but it can't be right because in that file it calls the distribution "DebianEdu".
This is the only active line in my sources.list, if relevant: deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free
This is the only active line in my sources.list, if relevant: deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ unstable main contrib non-free
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Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
The Sid lsb-release package does not seem to include any files in /etc, so it seems it's up to the distro builders to create and populate it manually. I sort of remember we had the discussion in MX Linux over a problem with tools like screenfetch and neofetch displaying Debian instead of MX Linux.
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Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Thanks Steve, that clarifies why the OP does not have the directory,..
I have to run, but everyone can disregard some of what I said,..it won't apply,.. if there is no /etc/lsb-release file, then there is nothing to edit.
So what happens if you type :
at a command prompt ? (please post the put put, use code boxes)
There are other options , but for the moment, just to see if the command works, it should , it looks like you did get it installed ok.
I am going to do a search, using key words :
But it may take me a while to get back, because I have some chores to do,
also I do not have a Debian system booted and running at the moment,..
You should also now have the manual pages, for 'lsb-release',since you installed it, try,
If lsb-release was installed, the manual should be there, again, I can't look at the specific parts that mention the directory, etc,.. until after I get my debian machine booted.
Something to keep in mind, the 'lsb_release' command, is not going to change what release or distributions you have installed , and editing the file, to make it say it is all Debian, will not change the fact that you have packages and another release mixed in IE: Tanglu .
RE:
"tanglu" is still involved, since you are saying this is in grub, changing the release name, may very well effect your boot, and render it non-bootable.
Can you show us real out put, or exactly where in grub it says "tanglu" ?
========= edit =================
some Search results:
https://www.hiroom2.com/2017/02/21/linu ... b-release/
=========================
https://manpages.debian.org/stretch/lsb ... .1.en.html
From another result:
https://askubuntu.com/questions/91297/h ... thing-else
back up their home directory, and any other important data, and start fresh with a current debian sid install, and no more mixing in other releases, etc.https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian
Do you have packages that depend on the Tanglu release, ? If the same packages are not available in Debian repos, there are ways to build them for Debian.
I have to run, but everyone can disregard some of what I said,..it won't apply,.. if there is no /etc/lsb-release file, then there is nothing to edit.
So what happens if you type :
Code: Select all
lsb_release -a
at a command prompt ? (please post the put put, use code boxes)
There are other options , but for the moment, just to see if the command works, it should , it looks like you did get it installed ok.
I am going to do a search, using key words :
Code: Select all
How to change what lsb_release ics shows as the release on Debian
also I do not have a Debian system booted and running at the moment,..
You should also now have the manual pages, for 'lsb-release',since you installed it, try,
Code: Select all
man lsb_release
If lsb-release was installed, the manual should be there, again, I can't look at the specific parts that mention the directory, etc,.. until after I get my debian machine booted.
Something to keep in mind, the 'lsb_release' command, is not going to change what release or distributions you have installed , and editing the file, to make it say it is all Debian, will not change the fact that you have packages and another release mixed in IE: Tanglu .
RE:
What I mean is, even if you modify various files, so that they show Debian, as the release name, will not change the fact that some whereThe problem I am having now is that "Tanglu" occasionally still pops up, specifically in GRUB, and when I run lsb_release ics. Is there a way to change it to Debian instead of Tanglu?
"tanglu" is still involved, since you are saying this is in grub, changing the release name, may very well effect your boot, and render it non-bootable.
Can you show us real out put, or exactly where in grub it says "tanglu" ?
========= edit =================
some Search results:
https://www.hiroom2.com/2017/02/21/linu ... b-release/
=========================
https://manpages.debian.org/stretch/lsb ... .1.en.html
From another result:
https://askubuntu.com/questions/91297/h ... thing-else
The OP may not like it, but honestly, I think the best thing they can do is
You really should not change the content of the /etc/lsb-release file.
As you have seen yourself, you will experience problems in applications like Software Center, as these programs need the correct release description. If you simply change this bit of information, the programs are unable to find the proper software repositories, because they are looking for something, which does not exist.
Reedit the file to the old values and Software Center will work again.
back up their home directory, and any other important data, and start fresh with a current debian sid install, and no more mixing in other releases, etc.https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian
Do you have packages that depend on the Tanglu release, ? If the same packages are not available in Debian repos, there are ways to build them for Debian.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Hi Rod,
I don't think you need lsb-release unless you have some third party software that needs to find it and I think you've said that your system is now pure sid.
I feel confident that you are wise enough to have a current, backup and know how to use it.
I'm going to mention that the Jessie system I'm running at this moment does not have such a file, and running lsb_release returns, No LSB modules are available.
Maybe all you need to do is not issue that command lsb_release in order to not see what you don't want to see.
Do you have /etc/os-release as a link? Maybe all you need to do is read that to see the name Debian.
Now GRUB might be a different story but you haven't actually told us what you see regarding grub.
[edit] You are using a stock Debian kernel, aren't you?
Might it be something in /boot/grub/grub.cfg that names Tanglu?
or
Something in /etc/default/grub that adds something?
Perhaps all you need do is re-install the GRUB package from Sid. (but don't quote me on that, ha, ha.)
With a good backup, how much does it matter, live dangerously.
Or maybe tell us more about what you see about GRUB and Tanglu.
I don't think you need lsb-release unless you have some third party software that needs to find it and I think you've said that your system is now pure sid.
I feel confident that you are wise enough to have a current, backup and know how to use it.
I'm going to mention that the Jessie system I'm running at this moment does not have such a file, and running lsb_release returns, No LSB modules are available.
Maybe all you need to do is not issue that command lsb_release in order to not see what you don't want to see.
Do you have /etc/os-release as a link? Maybe all you need to do is read that to see the name Debian.
Now GRUB might be a different story but you haven't actually told us what you see regarding grub.
[edit] You are using a stock Debian kernel, aren't you?
Might it be something in /boot/grub/grub.cfg that names Tanglu?
or
Something in /etc/default/grub that adds something?
Perhaps all you need do is re-install the GRUB package from Sid. (but don't quote me on that, ha, ha.)
With a good backup, how much does it matter, live dangerously.
Or maybe tell us more about what you see about GRUB and Tanglu.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Thanks for the tips and the links, guys.The Sid lsb-release package does not seem to include any files in /etc, so it seems it's up to the distro builders to create and populate it manually. I sort of remember we had the discussion in MX Linux over a problem with tools like screenfetch and neofetch displaying Debian instead of MX Linux.
Okay, I just did this:
Code: Select all
DISTRIB_ID=Debian
DISTRIB_RELEASE=Sid
DISTRIB_CODENAME=sid
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Debian Sid"
Yes, I do have a full backup on a flash drive (bootable), I have learned the hard way never to be without that.
As far as I know, there are no Tanglu packages left in the system at all. Someday soon I will probably do a fresh install of Sid, changing the name and branding was just something I wanted to learn how to accomplish first. I always feel like I've failed somehow when I have to reinstall to fix something like this. I like to know exactly what's broken and how it could be fixed. I guess I'm a little weird (OCD?) that way.Do you have packages that depend on the Tanglu release, ? If the same packages are not available in Debian repos, there are ways to build them for Debian.
Right now, since creating lsb-release it my grub.cfg saysCan you show us real out put, or exactly where in grub it says "tanglu" ?
Code: Select all
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux'
Haha, I get it - "see no evil!"Hi Rod,
I don't think you need lsb-release unless you have some third party software that needs to find it and I think you've said that your system is now pure sid.
I feel confident that you are wise enough to have a current, backup and know how to use it.
I'm going to mention that the Jessie system I'm running at this moment does not have such a file, and running lsb_release returns, No LSB modules are available.
Maybe all you need to do is not issue that command lsb_release in order to not see what you don't want to see.
Do you have /etc/os-release as a link? Maybe all you need to do is read that to see the name Debian.
Now GRUB might be a different story but you haven't actually told us what you see regarding grub.
[edit] You are using a stock Debian kernel, aren't you?
Might it be something in /boot/grub/grub.cfg that names Tanglu?
or
Something in /etc/default/grub that adds something?
Perhaps all you need do is re-install the GRUB package from Sid. (but don't quote me on that, ha, ha.)
With a good backup, how much does it matter, live dangerously.
Or maybe tell us more about what you see about GRUB and Tanglu.
Yes my os-release file shows Debian all the way. I guess next on the agenda is to check my grub files.
Okay this is what /etc/default/grub says:
Code: Select all
GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT=0
GRUB_HIDDEN_TIMEOUT_QUIET=true
GRUB_TIMEOUT=10
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
Well, lsb-release back in place. Now to see if my system crashes and burns when I try to reboot.
Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
Well, here I am again. Reboot apparently successful. It even showed the Debian blue splash screen in grub! Sweet! Unfortunately, I still can't rest until I figure out where "Tanglu" is coming from when lsb-release is deleted.
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Re: Converting/rebranding one distro to another
From what I remember, there were at least a couple other files in /etc that could be hiding Tanglu. You could look for a file with version in the name in that directory, or start doing a recursive grep in that folder for the "tanglu" string. Rpl in the repos is a cool terminal command that goes through any numbers of text files and replaces strings with one of your choice, so maybe you can turn that loose on your whole root directory and replace the string with "Debian".
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