Some people prefer Devuan over Debian, Ubuntu or other .deb based distribubtions.
The following procedure is what i use to convert Debian or Ubuntu to Devuan. The procedure is slightly modified from the standard Devuan conversion.
WARNING: This might make your existing installation unbootable! Backup your OS installation first if there is anything in it that you need to preserve.
I performed this on several computers including the VIM3 EMMC running the VIMx.Debian.9.stretch.server.kernel-5.5.X.mainline.emmc.kresq image.
Boot to your Debian/Ubuntu image.
If you are using GNOME, you should install a fallback window manager for the migration. For example:
- root@debian:~# apt-get install xfce4 slim
Set the session manager to startxfce4 so that the new desktop can be used later.
- root@debian:~# update-alternatives --config x-session-manager
You should use Ethernet for a reliable migration. You can apt-get install wicd later to manage wifi connections without network-manager.
- root@debian:~# update-rc.d -f network-manager remove
- root@debian:~# /etc/init.d/network-manager stop
Enable your ethernet if not done already. If your network has no DHCP you can ifconfig eth0 www.xxx.yyy.zzz and route add default gw [your gateway address].
- root@debian:~# ifup eth0
Devuan uses sysvinit by default so we will install this now.
- root@debian:~# apt-get install sysvinit-core
A reboot is required to switch sysvinit to pid1 so we can remove systemd.
- root@debian:~# reboot
We can now remove systemd without any complaints.
- root@debian:~# apt-get purge systemd
Edit the sources.list file so that we can switch to the Devuan repositories. [vim/joe/nano editor]
- root@debian:~# vim /etc/apt/sources.list
I use the Devuan mirrors with the ceres branch name. Comment out any other lines.
deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged ceres main contrib non-free
#deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ceres main contrib non-free
Alternatively you can use ASCII relase, which matches Debian release Stretch
deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged ascii main
deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged ascii-updates main
deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged ascii-security main
deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged ascii-backports main
Update the package indexes so we can install the Devuan archive keyring.
- root@debian:~# apt-get update
Install the Devuan keyring so packages can be authenticated from this point onwards. [I think there are more secure ways to do this to ensure a verified keyring]
- root@debian:~# apt-get install devuan-keyring --allow-unauthenticated
Update the package indexes again so that they are authenticated with the keyring.
- root@debian:~# apt-get update
Upgrade packages to Devuan.
- root@debian:~# apt-get dist-upgrade
Systemd components should now be removed from the system.
- root@devuan:~# apt-get purge systemd-shim
If you want to run a more minimal system you can optionally remove some more
- apt purge libsystemd0.
- apt purge dbus-x11
- apt purge pulseaudio
Also consider purging Xfce and installing OpenBox instead.
I have found performance and stability regressions with recent Xfce.
After I have a basic running image, i use the wonderful Khadas rescue tool to backup my installation before adding much extra software.
