Control: tags -1 patch
On 08/04/2025 at 08:37, BW wrote:
Let's say we have 1000 random Debian users performing a new server
installation.
Why only server and not also workstation or laptop ?
999 of these will not use optical media (CD-ROM/DVD) and will have a broken
package-configuration (out-of-the-box) and will need to take special steps
to get it working (modifying the sources file).
Only those using "big" images (DVD, BD, 16G) will experience what you
describe. Those who using "small" images (netinst, netboot, live), and I
assume that most do nowadays, will get a working out-of-the-box apt
sources configuration.
But as a user I agree that the installer should disable sources.list
entries which will not work without further configuration. This includes
cdrom entries generated from media other than a real optical disc
because currently APT cannot use them.
Please design Debian to target the vast majority, by fare, of
installations scenarios by NOT putting CD-ROM as the 1st priority package
source in the sources.
I am not convinced this is be the best course of action. IMO cdrom
sources are useful after installation only when no network mirror can be
used or network is slow or expensive, not as a fallback for network
failures. I would rather have the installer automatically disable them
if they would not work in the installed system, and ask the user otherwise.
In order to move forward I prepared a patch implementing the following
logic:
if installation media is not a real CD/DVD/BD
automatically disable cdrom entries
else if sources.list has network entries
if installation media is netinst, live or single desktop
automatically disable cdrom entries
else
ask user whether to disable cdrom entries
<https://salsa.debian.org/pham/apt-setup/-/tree/pham/disable_cdrom>
Comments welcome. If it receives positive feedback I will open a MR.
