Debian SID unstable

[horatiub]

I just installed SID yesterday thru the testing netinst CD, and I'm having a problem installing the desktop environment. It gives me an error that I need the evolution package, and when I go ahead and try to install this one,it tells me that I'm missing libsoup2.2-7, but which is not avaialable for install.
Any ideas what should I do? I know they came out with a new ISO today, but I'm not sure if that will include that specific library, or I should just wait till they upgrade something?

 

[horatiub]

anybody?

 

[kamper]

Contact the package maintainers to let them know there is a problem. Or maybe move to testing or stable.

 

[horatiub]

Current issues

* [16 Sept 05] the "desktop" task is broken for etch (testing)

that's what the debian.org page says. But since then, they came out with 2 newer netinst images. Is it likely that those will have that feature back? Or..

 

[drag]

Get your system installed. If you aborted the install and want to start over don't bother with tasksel stuff right now

You need to make sure that your /etc/apt/sources.list is correctly pointing at 'unstable' sources.

Then you need to do a apt-get update and apt-get dist-upgrade. Then run tasksel.

See if that helps.

Etch is the next stable version for Debian and is currently the testing version. If something is broken in Etch it doesn't mean that there is any problem in Sid.

Generally the standard way to install Debian unstable is to do a minimal install off of the stable net install cdrom. At boot up time for the install cd it will prompt you to select a kernel version. Generally people just hit 'enter' and it selects the default 'linux' install. You want to type: linux26 so that it selects a 2.6 series kernel by default. Then install and don't select any tasks. After install edit the /etc/apt/sources.list and change the sources from stable sources to unstable sources. They'll have a list of mirrors aviable on Debian's website... use a text based browser like lynx or links to find these or write them down beforehand. Then do a apt-get update then apt-get dist-upgrade. This will get you up to date to unstable then you if you want you can manually install all the desktop enviroment stuff and X windows or run tasksel and pick 'desktop'.

 

[horatiub]

ok, got it. Just another question: Should I stick with Etch for a while and then in the future go to unstable?

P.S what's the difference between the stable CD when you choose linux26 and using the Testing Netinst CD?

 

[drag]

Originally posted by: horatiub
ok, got it. Just another question: Should I stick with Etch for a while and then in the future go to unstable?

You can try it, I've never used it personally and have always stuck with unstable.

P.S what's the difference between the stable CD when you choose linux26 and using the Testing Netinst CD?

Not sure. It's just been always been recommended in the past that you install using stable and then upgrade manually to unstable or testing. The testing install cdroms may have numerious problems and bugs or maybe missing functionality. Not sure.

If you have already have a booting etch version installed on your system it would probably just be easiest to make sure the sources.lists are correct and do a update and dist-upgrade to get it to unstable. Either way it should work. Then if you want you can run tasksel and select 'desktop' task. Right if your having problems you can run tasksel and deselect desktop, I beleive.

Personally I've never messed with etch and am not sure of the changes since stable.

 

[Nothinman]

It gives me an error that I need the evolution package, and when I go ahead and try to install this one,it tells me that I'm missing libsoup2.2-7, but which is not avaialable for install.

This is why it's called unstable, packages can be broken without anyone caring too much. Eventually (actually I think I saw it come in today) libsoup will be built by the autobuilders and uploaded and evolution will become installable again. If you're going to run unstable you should apt-listbugs and verify that each open bug doesn't affect you before upgradeing and possibly watch some of the Debian mailing lists.