How-To: Debian Buster with SysVinit as PID 1

[pcalvert]

Although written in the style of a tutorial, this document is not intended to be an exhaustive tutorial. Instead, the purpose of this document is to explain how I set up a Debian Buster system with SysVinit as PID 1 so that experienced GNU/Linux users can duplicate what I did. In addition, the system created by following this How-to should be considered experimental and not suitable for production use (until proven otherwise).

I started with a standard system (no X) that I installed using CD #1; however, I recommend using a netinst CD instead.

First, some preparatory steps:

Code: Select all

# apt update
# apt upgrade
# apt install aptitude gpm
# aptitude update


And now we begin the conversion.

Install sysvinit-core:

Code: Select all

# aptitude install sysvinit-core
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
Initializing package states...
Writing extended state information...
Building tag database...
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  initscripts{a} insserv{a} psmisc{a} startpar{a} sysv-rc{a} sysvinit-core{b}
0 packages upgraded, 6 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 524 kB of archives. After unpacking 1,476 kB will be used.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 systemd-sysv : Conflicts: sysvinit-core but 2.93-8 is to be installed
 sysvinit-core : Conflicts: systemd-sysv but 241-7~deb10u4 is installed
The following actions will resolve these dependencies:

     Remove the following packages:               
1)     libpam-systemd [241-7~deb10u4 (now, stable)]
2)     systemd-sysv [241-7~deb10u4 (now, stable)] 

     Leave the following dependencies unresolved: 
3)     systemd recommends libpam-systemd           



Accept this solution? [Y/n/q/?] y
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  initscripts{a} insserv{a} psmisc{a} startpar{a} sysv-rc{a} sysvinit-core
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  libpam-systemd{a} systemd-sysv{a}
0 packages upgraded, 6 newly installed, 2 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 524 kB of archives. After unpacking 942 kB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] y


Note: After installing sysvinit-core, the system will become rather slow, and you will likely see some error messages. That's expected and (fortunately) temporary.

Reboot:

Code: Select all

# reboot


Recommended: To speed things up a bit, use the GRUB menu to enter recovery mode after rebooting. By doing this you will avoid most of the severe system slowness that you would otherwise encounter.


Install elogind:

Code: Select all

# aptitude install elogind
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
Reading extended state information...
Initializing package states...
Writing extended state information...
Building tag database...
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  elogind{b} libelogind0{a} libglib2.0-0{a} libglib2.0-data{a} libpam-systemd{a} libpolkit-agent-1-0{a} libpolkit-backend-1-0{a} libpolkit-gobject-1-0{a} policykit-1{a} shared-mime-info{a} systemd-sysv{ab} xdg-user-dirs{a}
0 packages upgraded, 12 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 4,478 kB of archives. After unpacking 21.4 MB will be used.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 elogind : Conflicts: systemd but 241-7~deb10u4 is installed
 systemd-sysv : Conflicts: sysvinit-core but 2.93-8 is installed
 sysvinit-core : Conflicts: systemd-sysv but 241-7~deb10u4 is to be installed
The following actions will resolve these dependencies:

     Remove the following packages:                       
1)     libnss-systemd [241-7~deb10u4 (now, stable)]       
2)     systemd [241-7~deb10u4 (now, stable)]             

     Keep the following packages at their current version:
3)     libpam-systemd [Not Installed]                     
4)     policykit-1 [Not Installed]                       
5)     systemd-sysv [Not Installed]                       

     Leave the following dependencies unresolved:         
6)     elogind recommends policykit-1                     
7)     systemd-sysv recommends libnss-systemd             



Accept this solution? [Y/n/q/?] y
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  elogind libelogind0{a}
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  libnss-systemd{a} systemd{a}
The following packages are RECOMMENDED but will NOT be installed:
  policykit-1
0 packages upgraded, 2 newly installed, 2 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 798 kB of archives. After unpacking 11.8 MB will be freed.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] y


Reboot:

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# reboot


Now we will install a fairly minimal Xfce desktop environment:

Code: Select all

# aptitude install task-xfce-desktop xfce4-goodies menu wicd-gtk xserver-xorg-video-intel -R 2>&1 | tee Xfce-desktop-installation-log.txt
Reading package lists...
Building dependency tree...
Reading state information...
Reading extended state information...
Initializing package states...
Writing extended state information...
Building tag database...
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  adwaita-icon-theme{a} cpp{a} cpp-8{a} dbus-user-session{a} dconf-gsettings-backend{a} dconf-service{a} desktop-base{a} desktop-file-utils{a} exo-utils{a} fontconfig{a} fontconfig-config{a} fonts-dejavu-core{a} fonts-quicksand{a} glib-networking{a} glib-networking-common{a} glib-networking-services{a} gsettings-desktop-schemas{a} gtk-update-icon-cache{a} gtk2-engines-xfce{a} hicolor-icon-theme{a} libasyncns0{a} libatk-bridge2.0-0{a} libatk1.0-0{a} libatk1.0-data{a} libatspi2.0-0{a} libavahi-client3{a} libavahi-common-data{a} libavahi-common3{a} libblas3{a} libburn4{a} libcairo-gobject2{a} libcairo2{a} libcolord2{a} libcroco3{a} libcups2{a} libdatrie1{a} libdbus-glib-1-2{a} libdconf1{a} libdrm-amdgpu1{a} libdrm-common{a} libdrm-intel1{a} libdrm-nouveau2{a} libdrm-radeon1{a} libdrm2{a} libegl-mesa0{a} libegl1{a} libegl1-mesa{a} libepoxy0{a} libevdev2{a} libexif12{a} libexo-1-0{a} libexo-2-0{a} libexo-common{a} libexo-helpers{a} libflac8{a} libfontconfig1{a} libfontenc1{a} libfribidi0{a} libgarcon-1-0{a} libgarcon-common{a} libgbm1{a} libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0{a} libgdk-pixbuf2.0-common{a} libgfortran5{a} libgl1{a} libgl1-mesa-dri{a} libglade2-0{a} libglapi-mesa{a} libglib2.0-0{a} libglu1-mesa{a} libglvnd0{a} libglx-mesa0{a} libglx0{a} libgraphite2-3{a} libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-0{a} libgstreamer1.0-0{a} libgtk-3-0{a} libgtk-3-common{a} libgtk2.0-0{a} libgtk2.0-common{a} libgtksourceview-3.0-1{a} libgtksourceview-3.0-common{a} libgudev-1.0-0{a} libharfbuzz0b{a} libice6{a} libindicator3-7{a} libinput-bin{a} libinput10{a} libisl19{a} libisofs6{a} libiw30{a} libjbig0{a} libjpeg62-turbo{a} libjson-glib-1.0-0{a} libjson-glib-1.0-common{a} libjte1{a} libkeybinder-3.0-0{a} liblapack3{a} liblcms2-2{a} liblightdm-gobject-1-0{a} libllvm7{a} libmpc3{a} libmpfr6{a} libmtdev1{a} libnl-3-200{a} libnl-genl-3-200{a} libnl-route-3-200{a} libnotify4{a} libogg0{a} liborc-0.4-0{a} libpam-systemd{a} libpango-1.0-0{a} libpangocairo-1.0-0{a} libpangoft2-1.0-0{a} libpciaccess0{a} libpcsclite1{a} libpixman-1-0{a} libpolkit-gobject-1-0{a} libproxy1v5{a} libpulse-mainloop-glib0{a} libpulse0{a} libqrencode4{a} libquadmath0{a} librest-0.7-0{a} librsvg2-2{a} librsvg2-common{a} libsensors-config{a} libsensors5{a} libsm6{a} libsndfile1{a} libsoup-gnome2.4-1{a} libsoup2.4-1{a} libstartup-notification0{a} libtag1v5{a} libtag1v5-vanilla{a} libtagc0{a} libthai-data{a} libthai0{a} libthunarx-3-0{a} libtiff5{a} libunique-1.0-0{a} libunwind8{a} libupower-glib3{a} libutempter0{a} libvorbis0a{a} libvorbisenc2{a} libvte-2.91-0{a} libvte-2.91-common{a} libwacom-common{a} libwacom2{a} libwayland-client0{a} libwayland-cursor0{a} libwayland-egl1{a} libwayland-server0{a} libwebp6{a} libwnck-3-0{a} libwnck-3-common{a} libwnck-common{a} libwnck22{a} libwrap0{a} libx11-xcb1{a} libxatracker2{a} libxaw7{a} libxcb-dri2-0{a} libxcb-dri3-0{a} libxcb-glx0{a} libxcb-present0{a} libxcb-render0{a} libxcb-shape0{a} libxcb-shm0{a} libxcb-sync1{a} libxcb-util0{a} libxcb-xfixes0{a} libxcomposite1{a} libxcursor1{a} libxdamage1{a} libxfce4panel-2.0-4{a} libxfce4ui-1-0{a} libxfce4ui-2-0{a} libxfce4ui-common{a} libxfce4ui-utils{a} libxfce4util-common{a} libxfce4util7{a} libxfconf-0-2{a} libxfixes3{a} libxfont2{a} libxft2{a} libxi6{a} libxinerama1{a} libxkbcommon0{a} libxkbfile1{a} libxklavier16{a} libxmu6{a} libxnvctrl0{a} libxpm4{a} libxrandr2{a} libxrender1{a} libxres1{a} libxshmfence1{a} libxss1{a} libxt6{a} libxtst6{a} libxv1{a} libxvmc1{a} libxxf86dga1{a} libxxf86vm1{a} light-locker{a} lightdm{a} lightdm-gtk-greeter{a} menu mousepad{a} net-tools{a} python-cairo{a} python-dbus{a} python-glade2{a} python-gobject-2{a} python-gtk2{a} python-numpy{a} python-pkg-resources{a} python-wicd{a} ristretto{a} shared-mime-info{a} systemd{a} systemd-sysv{ab} task-desktop{a} task-xfce-desktop thunar{a} thunar-archive-plugin{a} thunar-data{a} thunar-media-tags-plugin{a} wicd-daemon{a} wicd-gtk wireless-tools{a} wpasupplicant{a} x11-apps{a} x11-common{a} x11-session-utils{a} x11-utils{a} x11-xkb-utils{a} x11-xserver-utils{a} xbitmaps{a} xfburn{a} xfce4{a} xfce4-appfinder{a} xfce4-battery-plugin{a} xfce4-clipman{a} xfce4-clipman-plugin{a} xfce4-cpufreq-plugin{a} xfce4-cpugraph-plugin{a} xfce4-datetime-plugin{a} xfce4-dict{a} xfce4-diskperf-plugin{a} xfce4-fsguard-plugin{a} xfce4-genmon-plugin{a} xfce4-goodies xfce4-mailwatch-plugin{a} xfce4-netload-plugin{a} xfce4-notes{a} xfce4-notes-plugin{a} xfce4-notifyd{a} xfce4-panel{a} xfce4-places-plugin{a} xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin{a} xfce4-screenshooter{a} xfce4-sensors-plugin{a} xfce4-session{a} xfce4-settings{a} xfce4-smartbookmark-plugin{a} xfce4-systemload-plugin{a} xfce4-taskmanager{a} xfce4-terminal{a} xfce4-timer-plugin{a} xfce4-verve-plugin{a} xfce4-wavelan-plugin{a} xfce4-weather-plugin{a} xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin{a} xfce4-xkb-plugin{a} xfconf{a} xfdesktop4{a} xfdesktop4-data{a} xfonts-100dpi{a} xfonts-75dpi{a} xfonts-base{a} xfonts-encodings{a} xfonts-scalable{a} xfonts-utils{a} xfwm4{a} xinit{a} xorg{a} xorg-docs-core{a} xserver-common{a} xserver-xorg{a} xserver-xorg-core{a} xserver-xorg-input-all{a} xserver-xorg-input-libinput{a} xserver-xorg-video-all{a} xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu{a} xserver-xorg-video-ati{a} xserver-xorg-video-fbdev{a} xserver-xorg-video-intel xserver-xorg-video-nouveau{a} xserver-xorg-video-radeon{a} xserver-xorg-video-vesa{a} xserver-xorg-video-vmware{a} xterm{a}
The following packages are RECOMMENDED but will NOT be installed:
  alsa-utils anacron ark aspell at-spi2-core atril avahi-daemon dbus-x11 engrampa file-roller firefox-esr gnome-flashback gnome-shell gnome-themes-extra gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gvfs hddtemp hunspell-en-us hyphen-en-us ispell iw libgail-common libgdk-pixbuf2.0-bin libglib2.0-data libgtk-3-bin libgtk2.0-bin libnotify-bin libnss-mdns libnss-systemd libreoffice libreoffice-gtk2 libreoffice-help-en-us libu2f-udev libwacom-bin libxfce4util-bin lm-sensors lxpolkit lxqt-policykit mate-polkit mythes-en-us network-manager-gnome orca parole pavucontrol plymouth-label policykit-1 policykit-1-gnome polkit-kde-agent-1 pulseaudio python-gi python-notify quodlibet rfkill sudo sudo-ldap synaptic system-config-printer systemd-cron tango-icon-theme thunar-volman tumbler udisks2 upower xarchiver xdg-user-dirs xdg-utils xfce4-power-manager xsane xserver-xorg-input-wacom xserver-xorg-legacy xserver-xorg-video-qxl
0 packages upgraded, 305 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 139 MB of archives. After unpacking 580 MB will be used.
The following packages have unmet dependencies:
 elogind : Conflicts: systemd but 241-7~deb10u4 is to be installed
 systemd-sysv : Conflicts: sysvinit-core but 2.93-8 is installed
 sysvinit-core : Conflicts: systemd-sysv but 241-7~deb10u4 is to be installed
The following actions will resolve these dependencies:

     Install the following packages:                     
1)     dbus-x11 [1.12.16-1 (stable)]                     
2)     libpam-elogind [239.3+20190131-1+debian1 (stable)]

     Keep the following packages at their current version:
3)     dbus-user-session [Not Installed]                 
4)     libpam-systemd [Not Installed]                     
5)     systemd [Not Installed]                           
6)     systemd-sysv [Not Installed]                       



Accept this solution? [Y/n/q/?] y
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  adwaita-icon-theme{a} cpp{a} cpp-8{a} dbus-x11{a} dconf-gsettings-backend{a} dconf-service{a} desktop-base{a} desktop-file-utils{a} exo-utils{a} fontconfig{a} fontconfig-config{a} fonts-dejavu-core{a} fonts-quicksand{a} glib-networking{a} glib-networking-common{a} glib-networking-services{a} gsettings-desktop-schemas{a} gtk-update-icon-cache{a} gtk2-engines-xfce{a} hicolor-icon-theme{a} libasyncns0{a} libatk-bridge2.0-0{a} libatk1.0-0{a} libatk1.0-data{a} libatspi2.0-0{a} libavahi-client3{a} libavahi-common-data{a} libavahi-common3{a} libblas3{a} libburn4{a} libcairo-gobject2{a} libcairo2{a} libcolord2{a} libcroco3{a} libcups2{a} libdatrie1{a} libdbus-glib-1-2{a} libdconf1{a} libdrm-amdgpu1{a} libdrm-common{a} libdrm-intel1{a} libdrm-nouveau2{a} libdrm-radeon1{a} libdrm2{a} libegl-mesa0{a} libegl1{a} libegl1-mesa{a} libepoxy0{a} libevdev2{a} libexif12{a} libexo-1-0{a} libexo-2-0{a} libexo-common{a} libexo-helpers{a} libflac8{a} libfontconfig1{a} libfontenc1{a} libfribidi0{a} libgarcon-1-0{a} libgarcon-common{a} libgbm1{a} libgdk-pixbuf2.0-0{a} libgdk-pixbuf2.0-common{a} libgfortran5{a} libgl1{a} libgl1-mesa-dri{a} libglade2-0{a} libglapi-mesa{a} libglib2.0-0{a} libglu1-mesa{a} libglvnd0{a} libglx-mesa0{a} libglx0{a} libgraphite2-3{a} libgstreamer-plugins-base1.0-0{a} libgstreamer1.0-0{a} libgtk-3-0{a} libgtk-3-common{a} libgtk2.0-0{a} libgtk2.0-common{a} libgtksourceview-3.0-1{a} libgtksourceview-3.0-common{a} libgudev-1.0-0{a} libharfbuzz0b{a} libice6{a} libindicator3-7{a} libinput-bin{a} libinput10{a} libisl19{a} libisofs6{a} libiw30{a} libjbig0{a} libjpeg62-turbo{a} libjson-glib-1.0-0{a} libjson-glib-1.0-common{a} libjte1{a} libkeybinder-3.0-0{a} liblapack3{a} liblcms2-2{a} liblightdm-gobject-1-0{a} libllvm7{a} libmpc3{a} libmpfr6{a} libmtdev1{a} libnl-3-200{a} libnl-genl-3-200{a} libnl-route-3-200{a} libnotify4{a} libogg0{a} liborc-0.4-0{a} libpam-elogind{a} libpango-1.0-0{a} libpangocairo-1.0-0{a} libpangoft2-1.0-0{a} libpciaccess0{a} libpcsclite1{a} libpixman-1-0{a} libpolkit-gobject-1-0{a} libproxy1v5{a} libpulse-mainloop-glib0{a} libpulse0{a} libqrencode4{a} libquadmath0{a} librest-0.7-0{a} librsvg2-2{a} librsvg2-common{a} libsensors-config{a} libsensors5{a} libsm6{a} libsndfile1{a} libsoup-gnome2.4-1{a} libsoup2.4-1{a} libstartup-notification0{a} libtag1v5{a} libtag1v5-vanilla{a} libtagc0{a} libthai-data{a} libthai0{a} libthunarx-3-0{a} libtiff5{a} libunique-1.0-0{a} libunwind8{a} libupower-glib3{a} libutempter0{a} libvorbis0a{a} libvorbisenc2{a} libvte-2.91-0{a} libvte-2.91-common{a} libwacom-common{a} libwacom2{a} libwayland-client0{a} libwayland-cursor0{a} libwayland-egl1{a} libwayland-server0{a} libwebp6{a} libwnck-3-0{a} libwnck-3-common{a} libwnck-common{a} libwnck22{a} libwrap0{a} libx11-xcb1{a} libxatracker2{a} libxaw7{a} libxcb-dri2-0{a} libxcb-dri3-0{a} libxcb-glx0{a} libxcb-present0{a} libxcb-render0{a} libxcb-shape0{a} libxcb-shm0{a} libxcb-sync1{a} libxcb-util0{a} libxcb-xfixes0{a} libxcomposite1{a} libxcursor1{a} libxdamage1{a} libxfce4panel-2.0-4{a} libxfce4ui-1-0{a} libxfce4ui-2-0{a} libxfce4ui-common{a} libxfce4ui-utils{a} libxfce4util-common{a} libxfce4util7{a} libxfconf-0-2{a} libxfixes3{a} libxfont2{a} libxft2{a} libxi6{a} libxinerama1{a} libxkbcommon0{a} libxkbfile1{a} libxklavier16{a} libxmu6{a} libxnvctrl0{a} libxpm4{a} libxrandr2{a} libxrender1{a} libxres1{a} libxshmfence1{a} libxss1{a} libxt6{a} libxtst6{a} libxv1{a} libxvmc1{a} libxxf86dga1{a} libxxf86vm1{a} light-locker{a} lightdm{a} lightdm-gtk-greeter{a} menu mousepad{a} net-tools{a} python-cairo{a} python-dbus{a} python-glade2{a} python-gobject-2{a} python-gtk2{a} python-numpy{a} python-pkg-resources{a} python-wicd{a} ristretto{a} shared-mime-info{a} task-desktop{a} task-xfce-desktop thunar{a} thunar-archive-plugin{a} thunar-data{a} thunar-media-tags-plugin{a} wicd-daemon{a} wicd-gtk wireless-tools{a} wpasupplicant{a} x11-apps{a} x11-common{a} x11-session-utils{a} x11-utils{a} x11-xkb-utils{a} x11-xserver-utils{a} xbitmaps{a} xfburn{a} xfce4{a} xfce4-appfinder{a} xfce4-battery-plugin{a} xfce4-clipman{a} xfce4-clipman-plugin{a} xfce4-cpufreq-plugin{a} xfce4-cpugraph-plugin{a} xfce4-datetime-plugin{a} xfce4-dict{a} xfce4-diskperf-plugin{a} xfce4-fsguard-plugin{a} xfce4-genmon-plugin{a} xfce4-goodies xfce4-mailwatch-plugin{a} xfce4-netload-plugin{a} xfce4-notes{a} xfce4-notes-plugin{a} xfce4-notifyd{a} xfce4-panel{a} xfce4-places-plugin{a} xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin{a} xfce4-screenshooter{a} xfce4-sensors-plugin{a} xfce4-session{a} xfce4-settings{a} xfce4-smartbookmark-plugin{a} xfce4-systemload-plugin{a} xfce4-taskmanager{a} xfce4-terminal{a} xfce4-timer-plugin{a} xfce4-verve-plugin{a} xfce4-wavelan-plugin{a} xfce4-weather-plugin{a} xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin{a} xfce4-xkb-plugin{a} xfconf{a} xfdesktop4{a} xfdesktop4-data{a} xfonts-100dpi{a} xfonts-75dpi{a} xfonts-base{a} xfonts-encodings{a} xfonts-scalable{a} xfonts-utils{a} xfwm4{a} xinit{a} xorg{a} xorg-docs-core{a} xserver-common{a} xserver-xorg{a} xserver-xorg-core{a} xserver-xorg-input-all{a} xserver-xorg-input-libinput{a} xserver-xorg-video-all{a} xserver-xorg-video-amdgpu{a} xserver-xorg-video-ati{a} xserver-xorg-video-fbdev{a} xserver-xorg-video-intel xserver-xorg-video-nouveau{a} xserver-xorg-video-radeon{a} xserver-xorg-video-vesa{a} xserver-xorg-video-vmware{a} xterm{a}
The following packages are RECOMMENDED but will NOT be installed:
  alsa-utils anacron ark aspell at-spi2-core atril avahi-daemon engrampa file-roller firefox-esr gnome-flashback gnome-shell gnome-themes-extra gstreamer1.0-plugins-base gvfs hddtemp hunspell-en-us hyphen-en-us ispell iw libgail-common libgdk-pixbuf2.0-bin libglib2.0-data libgtk-3-bin libgtk2.0-bin libnotify-bin libnss-mdns libpam-systemd libreoffice libreoffice-gtk2 libreoffice-help-en-us libu2f-udev libwacom-bin libxfce4util-bin lm-sensors lxpolkit lxqt-policykit mate-polkit mythes-en-us network-manager-gnome orca parole pavucontrol plymouth-label policykit-1 policykit-1-gnome polkit-kde-agent-1 pulseaudio python-gi python-notify quodlibet rfkill sudo sudo-ldap synaptic system-config-printer systemd-cron systemd-sysv tango-icon-theme thunar-volman tumbler udisks2 upower xarchiver xdg-user-dirs xdg-utils xfce4-power-manager xsane xserver-xorg-input-wacom xserver-xorg-legacy xserver-xorg-video-qxl
0 packages upgraded, 303 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
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Reboot:

Code: Select all

# reboot


Some software, like gvfs, policykit-1, and udisks2 (as well as many others), cannot be installed due to dependencies on systemd. This creates problems for us, some of which we can work around.

To reboot, use the command line:

Code: Select all

# reboot


To shut down, use the command line:

Code: Select all

# shutdown -h now


For easy mounting and unmounting of removable media, we need to install some additional software:

Code: Select all

# aptitude install pmount spacefm udevil -R


Note: pmount is optional.

For more information on udevil, see:
https://ignorantguru.github.io/udevil/


For fixed disks, I've found this software to be very useful:

Code: Select all

# aptitude install disk-manager -R


Tip: Open the file Xfce-desktop-installation-log.txt and examine the list of recommended packages that were NOT installed. You may want (or need) to install some of those packages.


Optional: To prevent systemd-sysv from being inadvertently reinstalled, create a file called keep-sysvinit.

Path: /etc/apt/preferences.d/keep-sysvinit

Contents:

Code: Select all

Package: systemd-sysv
Pin: release o=Debian
Pin-Priority: -1


By the way, I also performed test installations of GNOME, KDE, LXDE, LXQT, and MATE. Due to systemd dependencies, none of those desktop environments could be installed. However, I may have discovered a workaround that allows some (maybe even all) of them to be installed. More on that later.

[pcalvert]

Here I will post findings, tips, workarounds, etc., that are relevant to this topic, but not really suitable for including in the main tutorial itself.

[sunrat]

Is this similar to how MX does it? I think they use lightdm rather than gdm but otherwise similar afaik.

[pcalvert]

Is this similar to how MX does it?

I'm not sure. According to what I read, they use systemd-shim as well as a custom systemd. I didn't use any packages other than those found in Debian Buster's main repository.

Phil

[Bulkley]

pcalvert, thanks for that. Experiments like this are important. I'm going to try it.

[Bulkley]

It works. I have it up and running. Some comments and questions.

pcalvert, thank you for your comment, "After installing sysvinit-core, the system will become rather slow . . . " On my machine it is painfully slow to the point I have to get up and walk away. This explains why I have had so many failures in the past as, after seeing the "fatal" warning and the apparent lockup I have assumed permanent damage. Apparently it is worth a long wait.

What is gpm for? It is supposed to allow a mouse to work in console but it didn't.

Why Aptitude? Is this just choice or does it do something specific that Apt or Apt-get don't? Just curious.

The reboots in your procedure are necessary. I tried installing elogind without previous reboot and it does not take.

Instead of Xfce, I installed Openbox which is working normally.

[None1975]

And as an option, it is best to install Devuan Beowulf 3.0.0 stable release.

https://devuan.org/os/announce/beowulf- ... nce-060120

[pcalvert]

What is gpm for? It is supposed to allow a mouse to work in console but it didn't.

Its purpose is what you stated. It works for me. Maybe you were expecting it to do too much? Next time, try selecting some text with the mouse and then press the middle mouse button (the scroll wheel on many mice). It should paste the text you selected onto the command line.

Why Aptitude? Is this just choice or does it do something specific that Apt or Apt-get don't? Just curious.

I used aptitude because of its very good ability to resolve dependency conflicts. It does sometimes require the user to do some thinking, though.

Phil

[Yada]

I recently heard about finit as an alternative to systemd and tried it out on a VirtualBox Devuan guest. Though finit is currently under development and not considered stable yet, it was fairly easy to install and setup. But I didn't try on a Debian yet.

https://github.com/troglobit/finit

[Bulkley]

Solution to the problem of extreme slowness (or hangup) after installing sysvinit-core and before installing elogind: After installing sysvinit-core reboot and choose the older kernel and safe boot. Enter root password when prompted. This is happens at normal speed. It does not work with the newer kernel. I think this is because the older kernel is the one that came with the net install and was used at the start of this conversion. After elogind is installed either kernel will work as expected.

[pcalvert]

Solution to the problem of extreme slowness (or hangup) after installing sysvinit-core and before installing elogind: After installing sysvinit-core reboot and choose the older kernel and safe boot.

Thanks for the tip. I don't have that option, but I did some more testing and found an improvement that makes a noticeable difference -- after installing sysvinit-core, reboot and then use the GRUB menu to enter recovery mode. I've modified the tutorial to include a recommendation to install elogind while in recovery mode.

Phil

[Bulkley]

Phil, I think we are talking about the same thing. I just get my terms a bit off. It comes with the grey hair. Recovery mode it is.

[lizzias]

ok so i have followed this and for expediency installed xfce as op did, forgoing openbox for another day. as it is it seems to work except for pulseaudio has no sound. pulseaudio autostarts through xfce's session and autostart stuffs and i can see i am connected to pulse audio and as usual with my system because i am running an apu and a graphics card i have to turn off the hdmi output for the apu's hdmi so i can get sound through the hdmi connected at the graphics card. i do belong to the audio group also. however when i look at the selection for my graphics card hdmi, they are all reporting as unplugged even though my grpahics card is connect to hdmi2 on my 43 in 1080p tv which btw works quite well on arch. Something is a wee bit wonky here and i'm not sure where to begin. Someone has a good idea? I'm guessing because kernel 4.19 is not compatible with my graphics card and my sound system. I'm willing to bet i need something fancy like the liquorix kernel 5.10 or some such thing. amiright? to that end i have the following add-liquorix-kernel.sh file in my home directory

deb http://liquorix.net/debian main
deb-src http://liquorix.net/debian main

these are not valid?

sudo apt-get update
E: Malformed entry 1 in list file /etc/apt/sources.list.d/liquorix.list (Component)
E: The list of sources could not be read.

deb http://liquorix.net/debian buster main
deb-src http://liquorix.net/debian buster main

apt-get install linux-image-liquorix-amd64 linux-headers-liquorix-amd64
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package linux-image-liquorix-amd64
E: Unable to locate package linux-headers-liquorix-amd64

REBOOT! ok now it will install

SUCCESS!!!!!!!!