Refracta Development, Scripts, etc.
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ukbrian

- ukbrian
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:22 am
- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Sun Dec 25, 2011 10:50 am

Hi folks, merry xmas
I downloaded the latest refracta and was very impressed with it and many congratulations on the release notes (manual) I can't make any sense of manuals and I'm to old (69) to change now but I think you write very clearly about very techy things, I read it all, very unusual but I understood most.
I found the .deb files in /home/github/refracta so I did a fresh un-updated install of LMDE Xfce and installed refracta installer and snapshot without any problems and completed a snapshot and install to a different partition so refracta works on LMDE XFCE.
I also installed and used refracta successfully on SalineOS which is based on Squeeze.
I then bumped into this thread on the mint forum about qt4-fsarchiver which is a gui for fsarchiver for backing up partitions, it is being developed I think by a German guy.
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=197&t=89189
Anyway there was a need for a live restore CD so I thought I'd try my hand using refracta and I really enjoyed myself.
When I done the Refracta install the previous day I had installed some apps and other things and a snapshot came in at 1GB so I decided to start again but then experienced a problem.
When I went to "System>Install Software" and selected "update"
and was asked "Install update-manager-gnome now?" so I answerd yes and the terminal window starts filling up and then crashes/disappears.
It happens to quickly for me to catch the writing, is there a command line I can use?
End result I couldn't install Synaptic or gdebi
This happenend on both my machines and I tried multiple times.
I expect it's me being cackhanded.
I shrank the working 1 GB refracta install down far enough to get on a CD
Having both Refracta and Salines rewritten remastersys on the same system it was interesting to compare them, Refracta had about 10% increased compression giving a smaller file size.
An unusual thing I notice with Refracta is when you install a snapshot any changes you make when running the live dvd before installing get used/transfered when you do the install.
Enough of me twittering on
Merry Xmas
PS
Can I put my name down for a sub-forum when you expand
I think it's a great idea, forums haven't developed for years but you need good easy to maintain forum software.
You must be able to export a users sub-forum so they can reinstall it elsewhere if they wish or must leave.
fsmithred

- fsmithred
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- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:13 pm

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Sun Dec 25, 2011 12:43 pm

Merry Christmas! Thanks for the report, Brian. Glad you like it. If anyone wants to hire me as a technical writer, I've got some free time.
The package installer I wrote is far from perfect, and I probably should label it "Experimental". You're better off doing the update on the command line, because installing Update Manager and/or Synaptic will pull in a lot of other packages, making your final image even bigger. Just do it the normal debian way(s):

Code:
  `aptitude update
  aptitude full-upgrade
  or
  apt-get update
  apt-get dist-upgrade`

then skip the update in the gui package installer. I don't know why it crashed for you. Last time I tried it was quite awhile ago, and it seemed to be working then.

> An unusual thing I notice with Refracta is when you install a snapshot any changes you make when running the live dvd before installing get used/transfered when you do the install.

That is by design, and it's been that way since before I was on this project.
ukbrian

- ukbrian
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:22 am
- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Sun Dec 25, 2011 3:53 pm

Thank you, all up and running with a size of 596.00 MB
I originally tried "sudo apt-get install synaptic" and got rejected before I found the software installer.
This time no problem with installing Synaptic & gdebi from the terminal, I've had a very long session but that put a huge smile on my face,
I love that thunar custom action "how big?" it's part of my toolkit now.

> An unusual thing I notice with Refracta is when you install a snapshot any changes you make when running the live dvd before installing get used/transfered when you do the install.

> > That is by design, and it's been that way since before I was on this project.

I realized it was a design feature and what an excellent feature, good thinking by your man.
I'm going to relax for a few days before I start on this rescue iso but when it's done would you have any interest in a link to the final product? Also I would not let it out in the wild unless your both happy.
I was thinking about removing the panel as I think you only need some desktop shortcuts to restore archives.
I will do some more installs and I'll try to replicate the problems I had with the software installer.
You may have interest in this grub-doctor script that Anthony the Saline dev wrote http://lin.me.uk/saline/scripts/grub-doctor.zip you pick the boot partition and then the drive to write the MBR to, very simple to use from a live CD.
I do like the "keyboard Layouts" control in the top panel, that will be very handy with this restore iso.
Thank you kindly for your time and patience, I do know the sort of skill levels you all have.
A very happy Xmas to you all and thank you again.
Edit by fsr: fixed your link - s/htpp/http/
fsmithred

- fsmithred
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- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:13 pm

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Mon Dec 26, 2011 1:00 pm

> When I went to "System>Install Software" and selected "update"
> and was asked "Install update-manager-gnome now?" so I answerd yes and the terminal window starts filling up and then crashes/disappears.

Duh! Chicken, meet egg. I wrote that script before I changed the snapshot script to exclude the package cache. You can't install anything until you run an update to recreate the cache. I guess that qualifies as a serious bug, and the package installer should update without installing update-manager-gnome, which would make me very happy. Thanks for finding and reporting the bug.
Yes, I'd take a look at your rescue iso, probably after the holidays, when I have more free time.
And thanks for the link to grub-doctor. I hadn't thought about making an option in the installer to just install the boot loader, but that's probably a good idea for a future version.
fsmithred

- fsmithred
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- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:13 pm

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:27 pm

Fixed chicken/egg problem in repsit (Refracta Extra Package Selection and Installation Tool) aka the installer. It no longer forces you to install update-manager-gnome to update the package cache, and update manager gets installed optionally, along with synaptic and gdebi.
To update your existing refracta installation, open a terminal and issue these commands:

Code:
  `cd /home/github/refracta
  git pull origin master
  sudo cp repsit /usr/local/bin/repsit
  (and maybe)
  sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/repsit`

ukbrian

- ukbrian
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:22 am
- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:11 pm

I just did a snapshot install of an up to date Xubuntu
The first snapshot didn't get created correctly but I thought there was some interaction with shutter which i had running, when I took the snapshot.
Took another snapshot from a reboot with nothing else running and this one did a refracta install no problem. many congratulations to the team. (Pat-on -back)
When I first booted in I got the dropbox window with the "Create new account", Existing Account" radio controls which was odd as i always turn dropbox off in Session and Startup>Application Autostart.
I'll do another install with the snapshot to another machine later.

> install update-manager-gnome to update the package cache, and update manager gets installed optionally, along with synaptic and gdebi.

That was quick, was it a clash ubuntu app installer?
I'll do the refracta updating later on and then make a fresh snapshot to work with, i'm a bit thoughtful at the moment.
If you select auto/simple install can you still pick the drive to install to?
I'm loath to try it with a multi drive machine
ukbrian

- ukbrian
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:22 am
- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Mon Dec 26, 2011 8:24 pm

Be handy for a user if the installer created the /home/github/refracta dir and put the snapshot/install debs in there and add a Update Refracta option in the menu.
just a thought
ukbrian

- ukbrian
- Posts: 109
- Joined: Mon Jul 25, 2011 8:22 am
- Location: Cheltenham, UK

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Tue Dec 27, 2011 12:08 am

I just got this PM on the mint forum from a guy who installed refracta on a Debian Sid install after i PM'ed him the a link to the .debs.
He's gerd50 on this thread http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=197&t=89189

> If I'm reading you correctly you managed to successfully install a refracta backup of Sid possibly LMDE?
> No, what i wanted to say was, i can't call up the installer gui from the menu entry.
> I can call up the installer script in the cli. But because the snapshot i created (tried it several
> times) is incomplete, i have nothing to reinstall.
> Possibly i could install your qt4 xfce snapshot. But the script wants to install Grub and that is
> something i don't want.
> Code: Select all
> [email protected]
> :~$ sudo refractainstaller
> [sudo] password for gerd50:
> You need to have a partition ready for the installation. If you
> haven't already done that, you can run the partition editor now.
> If you want a separate /home partition, you should create it at
> this time, this script will ask you later if you've done that.
> Choices (enter number):
> 1. GParted
> 2. cfdisk
> 3. No thanks, I already have a partition prepared. Continue.
> 4. I'd like to exit the script now.
> 3
> Would you like fdisk to show you what drives and partitions
> are available? (yes or no): yes
> Disk /dev/sda: 82.0 GB, 81963220480 bytes
> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9964 cylinders, total 160084415 sectors
> Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> Disk identifier: 0x00020650
> Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
> /dev/sda1 * 2048 3905535 1951744 82 Linux swap / Solaris
> /dev/sda2 3907582 109973503 53032961 5 Extended
> /dev/sda3 109975552 160083967 25054208 83 Linux
> /dev/sda5 3907584 23437311 9764864 83 Linux
> /dev/sda6 23439360 42969087 9764864 83 Linux
> /dev/sda7 42971136 62500863 9764864 83 Linux
> /dev/sda8 62502912 109973503 23735296 83 Linux
> Disk /dev/sdb: 160.0 GB, 160040803840 bytes
> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312579695 sectors
> Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
> Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
> Disk identifier: 0xe84bf520
> Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
> /dev/sdb1 * 63 312576704 156288321 83 Linux
> Where would you like the GRUB bootloader to be installed?
> (probably a drive, like /dev/sda): exit
> exit does not exist!
> [email protected]
> :~$
> I think at this point the installer first should ask - do you want to install Grub (yes or no):
> and if the answer is yes, then ask where to install Grub.
> My LMDE Sid Xfce is completely freed from mint stuff and was installed as LMDE Gnome long time ago.

edit
I just done an xubuntu snapshot install into a different machine from where the snapshot was made and it installed flawlessly but dropbox gave me it's create a new dropbox account screen again upon first boot of the new system.
This has happened on both installs i have done with the xubuntu snapshot but it only happens with xubuntu not with refracta, saline or lmde.
not a problem to me but it might make sense to you, the Ultimate Developer Gods that allow the creation of mere admins
I need a version of linux to use the OpenShot video editor, I am hesitating/deciding between AVLinux and Xubuntu both do the job and now both have a snapshot facility but avlinux uses remastersys and the bugger installs grub to the primary sata drive sda which is a nuisance.
I'm about to install http://siduction.org/index.php?module=news&lang=en and this might be another candidate. I'll try to install the refracta debs and try refracta out while I'm there.
fsmithred

- fsmithred
- Posts: 2101
- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:13 pm

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:04 am

Uploaded snapshot-20111226_2305.iso
Changes:
Added a space at the end of the kernel lines in the boot menu.
Added instructions for using 107-refracta-configs.
Fixed chicken/egg problem in repsit for updates/update-manager-gnome.
Removed "$3" from line 89 of 107-refracta-configs to allow an additional
choice in keyboard-layout applet in panel.
fsmithred

- fsmithred
- Posts: 2101
- Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:13 pm

## Re: Uploaded daily (weekly?) build

Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:38 pm

> ukbrian wrote:Be handy for a user if the installer created the /home/github/refracta dir and put the snapshot/install debs in there and add a Update Refracta option in the menu.
> just a thought

I like the idea of a menu item to update the refracta scripts. That would require code to update the github folder and then replace any files that have changed. It's not something that I could whip up in a few minutes. The idea of creating the github folder might be useful for someone running another distro. Use of the installer and snapshot tools is still in the early experimental stages, and I haven't thought through the potential problems. We should have a separate thread, maybe a sticky thread, for discussion of refracta tools in other distros. Um, maybe we do have one started. I'll have to look around.
The fix to repsit was pretty easy, and now that I think about it, it's just temporary. Old way was to check if update-manager was installed, run it if it's there and offer to install it if it's not there, then run it. New way is to run "aptitude update" which gives you a package cache, so you can install stuff. That'll work ok for a little while, since the system is pretty much up-to-date. As time goes by and more packages get upgrades, the chance increases for a failure when trying to install a package. There needs to be a way to do full-upgrade/dist-upgrade.
If you don't want to install a boot loader when using the cli installer script, just leave it blank when it asks for the drive. It should ask if you're sure you don't want a boot loader and then continue. If it's not behaving that way, I need to fix it. I don't know why the gui installer didn't start for your friend. The other way to start it is with the command, `/usr/bin/refractainstaller-gui`. Check the error log if it doesn't run. (/var/log/refractainstaller_errors or something like that.)
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