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====== Install Debian on a LaCie NAS (Kirkwood based) using the Debian installer ======

===== Introduction =====

This page details step by step how to install a Debian system on a LaCie NAS (Kirkwood based), using the [[http://wiki.debian.org/debian-installer/|Debian installer]]. The [[http://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/NetworkConsole|network-console]] images allows to perform a completely remote full installation. This means that there is no needs to open the case nor to plug a serial wire.

Note that this howto is only relevant for the LaCie boards supported by the Debian kernel. To check if your board is well supported, please refer this [[start#devices|device array]]. All the Linux mainlined boards are also supported by the Debian kernel.

===== Configure U-Boot =====

For more informations about U-Boot on LaCie NASes, please see [[uboot|this page]].

==== Update U-Boot to mainline ====

As a requirement, you must be able to modify the U-Boot environment. With some of the LaCie stock versions (the oldest), some supposed critical variables (as 'bootcmd') are protected. At boot time, the LaCie U-Boot overrides the environment values with some hard-coded ones. To check that, simply try to set and save the 'bootcmd' variable. After a reset, you must be able to retrieve your changes.

If you are not allowed to configure the environment, you must update U-Boot to the mainline version. Please, refer to this [[uboot#install_from_a_lacie_stock_u-boot|howto]].

==== Setup the U-Boot environment ====

To run a Debian system, U-Boot must be able to load the files **uImage** and **uInitrd** from the /boot partition. Some U-Boot environment variables must be modified. For example, if you intend to store the /boot files into the first partition (default behaviour for the Debian installer), you could run the following commands:

<code>
ns2> set diskload "ide reset && ext2load ide 0:1 0x800000 uImage && ext2load ide 0:1 0x1200000 uInitrd"
ns2> set bootcmd "dhcp && run netconsole; if run usbload || run diskload; then bootm 0x800000 0x1200000; fi"
ns2> print diskload bootcmd
diskload=ide reset && ext2load ide 0:1 0x800000 uImage && ext2load ide 0:1 0x1200000 uInitrd
bootcmd=dhcp && run netconsole; if run usbload || run diskload; then bootm 0x800000 0x1200000; fi
ns2> saveenv
Saving Environment to SPI Flash...
Erasing SPI flash...Writing to SPI flash...done
</code>

===== Run the network-console Debian installer =====

==== Prepare network-console files ====

First you must download the network-console files from this [[http://ftp.nl.debian.org/debian/dists/testing/main/installer-armel/current/images/kirkwood/network-console/lacie/|Debian FTP repository]]. Note that that the **uInitrd** image doesn't include any **preseed.cfg** file. In our case, preseeding is needed to configure network and SSH server without any human action. For more informations about preseeding, please refer to this [[http://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/Preseed|wiki page]].

To add the **preseed.cfg** file to the the **uInitrd** image, you can try the following shell commands:

  $ wget http://ftp.nl.debian.org/debian/dists/testing/main/installer-armel/current/images/kirkwood/network-console/lacie/uInitrd
  $ dd if=uInitrd of=initrd.gz bs=64 skip=1
  $ mkdir initrd; cd initrd
  $ gzip -d < ../initrd.gz | cpio --extract --verbose --make-directories --no-absolute-filenames
  $ wget ftp://lacie-nas.org/debian-installer/network-installer/preseed.cfg
  $ find . | cpio -H newc --create --verbose | gzip -9 > ../initrd.gz
  $ cd ..
  $ mkimage -A arm -O linux -T ramdisk -C gzip -a "0x0" -e "0x0" -n "ramdisk with preseed.cfg" -d initrd.gz uInitrd
  $ rm -rf initrd.gz initrd

==== Load network-console images ====

At your convenience, you could load the network-console image over network or from an USB disk. Both methods are described here.

=== From an USB disk ===

  * Prepare an USB disk or stick: put the network-console files into the first partition (VFAT formatted).
  * Plug the USB disk at the front.
  * [[uboot#connect_to_u-boot_via_netconsole|Connect to the U-Boot netconsole]] and load network-console files with the following commands:

<code>
ns2> usb reset
ns2> fatload usb 0:1 0x800000 uImage
ns2> fatload usb 0:1 0x1200000 uInitrd
</code>

=== From network via a TFTP server ===

  * On a you development machine, setup a TFTP server and put the network-console files into the exported directory.
  * [[uboot#connect_to_u-boot_via_netconsole|Connect to the U-Boot netconsole]] and load network-console files with the following commands (replace $TFTP_SERVER_IP with your TFTP server IP address):

<code>
ns2> set serverip $TFTP_SERVER_IP
ns2> tftp 0x800000 debian-installer/kirkwood/network-console/lacie/uImage
Using egiga0 device
TFTP from server 192.168.0.16; our IP address is 192.168.0.15
Filename 'debian-installer/kirkwood/network-console/lacie/uImage'.
Load address: 0x800000
Loading: #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         ################################################
done
Bytes transferred = 1574768 (180770 hex)
ns2> tftp 0x1200000 debian-installer/kirkwood/network-console/lacie/uInitrd
Using egiga0 device
TFTP from server 192.168.0.16; our IP address is 192.168.0.15
Filename 'debian-installer/kirkwood/network-console/lacie/uInitrd'.
Load address: 0x1200000
Loading: #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         #################################################################
         ###############################################################
done
Bytes transferred = 4976913 (4bf111 hex)
</code>

==== Boot the Debian network installer ====
When both images are loaded, the network installer can be booted with 'bootm 0x800000 0x1200000'.
<code>
ns2> bootm 0x800000 0x1200000
## Booting kernel from Legacy Image at 00800000 ...
   Image Name:   Debian kernel
   Image Type:   ARM Linux Kernel Image (uncompressed)
   Data Size:    1574704 Bytes = 1.5 MiB
   Load Address: 00008000
   Entry Point:  00008000
   Verifying Checksum ... OK
## Loading init Ramdisk from Legacy Image at 01200000 ...
   Image Name:   debian-installer ramdisk
   Image Type:   ARM Linux RAMDisk Image (gzip compressed)
   Data Size:    4976849 Bytes = 4.7 MiB
   Load Address: 00000000
   Entry Point:  00000000
   Verifying Checksum ... OK
   Loading Kernel Image ... OK
OK

Starting kernel ...
</code>

==== Log into the Debian installer ====

To log into the Debian installer, you need to guess the NAS IP. This IP should be the same as the one given by the DHCP server to the U-Boot system. To confirm, you can use an utility like **dhcpdump**:

<code>
$ sudo dhcpdump -i eth0
...
OPTION:  50 (  4) Request IP address        192.168.0.15
...
</code>

Once the NAS front LED turns red, you should be able to log into the Debian installer. The password is **lacie**.

<code>
$ ssh installer@192.168.0.15
The authenticity of host '192.168.0.15 (192.168.0.15)' can't be established.
RSA key fingerprint is 96:4c:b3:d7:b9:26:5d:da:fa:52:d3:74:69:50:e1:2b.
Are you sure you want to continue connecting (yes/no)? yes
Warning: Permanently added '192.168.0.15' (RSA) to the list of known hosts.
installer@192.168.0.15's password:
</code>

At this point, you should see this screen:

{{:di_00.png?537x360|network-console first screen}}

==== Complete the installation ====

Simply, follow the Debian installer path... IThe installer could fail to make the system bootable, how to solve this is described at the section troubleshooting.

===== Run the Debian system =====

  * Log into the Debian system via SSH:

<code>
~$ ssh root@$NAS_IP
root@192.168.0.15's password: 
Linux unassigned-hostname 3.2.0-2-kirkwood #1 Mon Apr 16 12:58:57 UTC 2012 armv5tel

The programs included with the Debian GNU/Linux system are free software;
the exact distribution terms for each program are described in the
individual files in /usr/share/doc/*/copyright.

Debian GNU/Linux comes with ABSOLUTELY NO WARRANTY, to the extent
permitted by applicable law.
Last login: Mon May  7 01:32:59 2012
</code>

  * For the preseeding purpose, the hostname has been set to 'unassigned-domain'. You may want to change this default hostname. As root, run the following command:

<code>
root@unassigned-hostname:~# echo $MY_NAS_NAME > /etc/hostname
</code>

===== Troubleshooting =====

==== The system is not bootable ====

The Debian installer may fail to make the system bootable:

{{:di_01.png?537x360|system not bootable screen}}

It is because the flash-kernel package is not up to date. You must update this package with the lacie-nas.org version. First, you must exit out of the Debian installer. In the 'Debian installer main menu', select 'Execute a shell'.

  * From the installer shell, chroot into the target system:

<code>
~ # mount -t proc proc /target/proc/
~ # mount -t sysfs sysfs /target/sys/
~ # chroot /target /bin/bash
</code>

  * Add the lacie-nas.org Debian repository to the apt source list:

<code>
root@unassigned-hostname:/# cat >> /etc/apt/sources.list <<EOF
> 
> deb ftp://lacie-nas.org/debian/ sid main
> deb-src ftp://lacie-nas.org/debian/ sid main
> EOF
</code>

  * Import lacie-nas.org GPK key:

<code>
gpg --keyserver pgpkeys.mit.edu --recv-key 0E3D4C9F7C71B58C
gpg -a --export 0E3D4C9F7C71B58C | apt-key add -
</code>

  * Reinstall the flash-kernel package:

<code>
root@unassigned-hostname:/# apt-get update
root@unassigned-hostname:/# apt-get install flash-kernel
Reading package lists... Done
</code>

  * Install the u-boot-tools package:

<code>
root@unassigned-hostname:/# apt-get install u-boot-tools
</code>

<note important>The u-boot-tools package installation should have been triggered by the flash-kernel package postinstall scripts. For an unknown reason, it is not the case. To be investigate...</note>

  * And finally, reinstall the linux-image package:

<code>
root@unassigned-hostname:/# apt-get install --reinstall linux-image-3.2.0-2-kirkwood
...
flash-kernel: installing version 3.2.0-2-kirkwood
Generating kernel u-boot image... done.
Installing new uImage.
Generating initramfs u-boot image... done.
Installing new uInitrd.
</code>

  * Exit the shell and restart the Debian installer:

<code>
root@unassigned-hostname:/# exit
~ # umount /target/sys/
~ # umount /target/proc/
~ # exit
</code>

  * From the 'Debian installer main menu', select 'Make the system bootable'. Now, this step should succeed.
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