Install with kernel backport

[deegixl]

Hi,
I am trying to install Bullseye on my brand new laptop.
I have a very new wifi card and the driver is only available in kernel version > 5.14 .
So I want to use a backport to install that kernel (Bullseye standard is 5.10).

But how can I do? It is the chicken or the egg:
I have no network so I cannot download the backport.
I have no backport so I cannot have network...

Note that I have no rj45 connector.
Are there any iso install with the backport included?
Or maybe a way to copy the repositories locally and access them??

[arochester]

One of my laptops does not have an ethernet connection, I use a cheap USB Ethernet adapter, which works with Linux, from Ebay.

The same laptop has built in Broadcom which I don't like, Again I use a cheap Wi-Fi adapter from Ebay,

What is the make and model of your laptop? How much RAM do you have?

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Use an Arch live ISO image to boot to a console screen then run 'iwctl' to connect wirelessly (see the ArchWiki for more on this) and follow https://www.debian.org/releases/bullsey ... 03.en.html to install Debian from the Arch live environment.

And yes, debootstrap is available from the Arch repsositories:

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# pacman -Sy debootstrap

(Warning: *never* use -Sy in an installed Arch system, always use -Syu)

[sunrat]

What are the hardware details of the laptop? For a brand new one you may need more than just a kernel such as graphics stack, firmware, and microcode.
You must have downloaded the installer from somewhere. If you can install that you might be able to boot to a console login, then download the kernel and headers from that same somewhere to a USB drive and install manually.
But it won't be easy. You may be better off using MX Linux AHS version which will have a recent kernel and firmware. Or install Debian Unstable and learn how to deal with eternal upgrades and possible breakages.

[deegixl]

The laptop is a dell xps 9720 with Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX211 card (Linux firmware existing for kernel >= 5.14)

I have also problem with:
The touchpad which doesn't work
The integrated keyboard: Ctfl/alf/F2 doesn't switch to terminal (works for other purposes, maybe a problem with fn keys?). It works with an external usb keyboard

[Head_on_a_Stick]

Or install Arch and enjoy an operating system that is actually intended to be a rolling release.

[stevepusser]

The laptop is a dell xps 9720 with Intel® Wi-Fi 6 AX211 card (Linux firmware existing for kernel >= 5.14)

I have also problem with:
The touchpad which doesn't work
The integrated keyboard: Ctfl/alf/F2 doesn't switch to terminal (works for other purposes, maybe a problem with fn keys?). It works with an external usb keyboard

Yeah, probably needs more than just a kernel. We'd know much more more if you ran any cutting edge distro's live session that does work with its hardware, installed inxi if it's not already there, ran in a terminal:

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inxi -Fxxz

and copypasted the output here, enclosed in the </> code tags formatting.

[stevepusser]

I'm also concerned about the latest Debian firmware packages being stuck at the 08-august-2021 snapshot...

[deegixl]

You must have downloaded the installer from somewhere. If you can install that you might be able to boot to a console login, then download the kernel and headers from that same somewhere to a USB drive and install manually.
But it won't be easy. You may be better off using MX Linux AHS version which will have a recent kernel and firmware. Or install Debian Unstable and learn how to deal with eternal upgrades and possible breakages.

I am on that:

I did prepare a mirror copy of the bulseye-backports repo with another computer (26G!!)
I have problems transfering it to an USB key. So i use an ArchLinux live iso on my laptop from which I can connect to the network (Yeah, it is possible!!)
I am now using it to transfer the mirror copy to the laptop drive.
When transfered I will try to install the new kernel version from the mirror... I will let you know.

[sunrat]

I did prepare a mirror copy of the bulseye-backports repo with another computer (26G!!)

That sounds like massive overkill when you only needed the kernel and likely kernel-header packages. Should work if you do it correctly though. I never tried to mirror a whole repo!
As mentioned earlier, you may still need firmware, microcode, and some graphics packages, some of which will be in the non-free repo.

[Head_on_a_Stick]

I'm also concerned about the latest Debian firmware packages being stuck at the 08-august-2021 snapshot...

The OP can remove all firmware packages and use this method instead:

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# apt install git
# rm -r /lib/firmware/*
# cd /lib/
# git clone https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git
# mv linux-firmware firmware

Then use this to update the firmware:

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# cd /lib/firmware
# git pull

We don't need no stinkin' package manager...

[deegixl]

As mentioned earlier, you may still need firmware, microcode, and some graphics packages, some of which will be in the non-free repo.

That's why I did this way, I have all the files.

It is easy with the apt-mirror tool
But non I have the following problem when trying to update the kernel:

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apt install linux-image-amd64 -t bullseye-backports

Message:

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E: La valeur  « bullseye-backports » n'est pas valable  pour APT:Default-Release car cette version ne fait pas partie des sources disponibles
Traduction: The value « bullseye-backports » is not valid for APT:Default-Release because this version doesn't belong to the available sources

[Head_on_a_Stick]

I've never actually used apt-mirror so I don't know how it works but did you remember to

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# apt update

after adding the source(s)?

[deegixl]

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# apt update

after adding the source(s)?

Done of course! I don't know why it is not working.

I did another way: I did a chroot from the live Archlinux (which provides the network) to the Debian root and downloaded the packages the standadr way from the online repository...
I had some troubles because I did forget to mount the /boot directory but it is ok now !!!
Thanks all

[stevepusser]

Some of the latest Intel intel or amd graphics may only be supported by a newer mesa stack, which backports doesn't do. You can run that inxi command from an Arch live session--that way we have some information on your hardware instead of having to use my crystal ball.

[stevepusser]

I'm also concerned about the latest Debian firmware packages being stuck at the 08-august-2021 snapshot...

The OP can remove all firmware packages and use this method instead:

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# apt install git
# rm -r /lib/firmware/*
# cd /lib/
# git clone https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/firmware/linux-firmware.git
# mv linux-firmware firmware

Then use this to update the firmware:

Code: Select all

# cd /lib/firmware
# git pull

We don't need no stinkin' package manager...

Hopefully the user can manage some sort of net connection to install git and get the firmware!
If you can install "make", you can also just run

# make install

because you get a Makefile in that git pull.

I'm seriously thinking of again porting over the newer monolithic Ubuntu "linux-firmware" package to MX AHS to support new hardware there out of the box if Debian doesn't refresh theirs, even though it's a fugly kludge.