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Debian - Basics and common info

Tasks for new installs

This includes following steps:

  • Install vim including my preferred config and theme
  • Install ble.sh - a fancy bash style including nice features
  • Install net-tools, mc, git, bind9-dnsutils, ripgrep, fzf, curl, htop, bat, ranger
Install & Configuration of common packages including a fancy bash
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wget -O - https://download.al1al7.de/vim/mydebian.sh | bash -s

Configure polkit for group netdev

This configuration is to allow shutdown, reboot and network configuration in KDE for RDP sessions

Create polkit rule for netdev group
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cat <<EOF > /etc/polkit-1/rules.d/50-netdev.rules
polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) {
        if (action.id.indexOf("org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.") == 0 && subject.isInGroup("netdev")) {
                return polkit.Result.YES;
        }
});

polkit.addRule(function(action, subject) {
        if ( subject.isInGroup("netdev") && ((action.id == "org.freedesktop.login1.reboot" ||
             action.id == "org.freedesktop.login1.reboot-multiple-sessions" ||
             action.id == "org.freedesktop.login1.power-off" ||
             action.id == "org.freedesktop.login1.power-off-multiple-sessions")) ) {
                return polkit.Result.YES;
        }
});
EOF

Upgrade Debian bookworm (12) to trixie (13)

Hints

This update needs conversion of dovecot configuration scheme, otherwise dovecot will not start

  • Debian trixie will be shipped with Plasma 6 (6.3.6) and KDE 6.13
  • Folder /tmp will be a RAM-based tmpfs file system (see info in upgrade section)
  • APT sources list format will be changed to deb822, a structured format for APT sources that improves readability and flexibility.
  • OpenSSH no longer supports DSA keys
  • Kernel 6.12.x

This update can cause renaming of network interfaces - be sure to have access to the machine when interface is renamed.

Upgrade workflow

Update to latest bookworm release
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apt update
apt upgrade

Reboot system after last upgrade

Cleanup
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apt autoremove
apt clean

Check mariadb state after stop mariadb service

Shutdown of mariadb must be clean - recovery after a major release upgrade of mariadb is not possible

Stop mariadb [optional]
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systemctl stop mariadb
# check log
journalctl -n 100 -f
Switch to trixie sources
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sed -i 's/bookworm/trixie/g' /etc/apt/sources.list
apt update

Check folder /etc/apt/sources.list.d for manually installed sources

Minimal upgrade
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apt upgrade --without-new-pkgs
Full upgrade
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apt full-upgrade

Reboot after upgrade

Cleanup auto installed packages
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apt autoremove
Cleanup orphaned and local installed packages
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apt list '~o'
# check before purge the packages
apt purge '~o'
Modernize apt sources - convert to deb822 format
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apt modernize-sources

/tmp folder is now a RAM-based tmpfs - after upgrade old files must be cleaned

Bind mount to make old /tmp files visible
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mount --bind / /mnt
# delete old files
rm -rf /mnt/tmp/{*,.*}
umount /mnt