Network Manager, Mobile Broadband, Net Install. Possible?

0men · 10-09-2011, 02:22 AM

Afternoon ladies, gentlemen
(lets face it, just gentlemen :P )

Problem
I'm installing squeeze on one of my old laptops. Problem being i dont have internet access. However i do have mobile broadband. What i was thinking was doing the debain net install, to get me a basic gui, and then installing network manager onto that. However when i grab the .deb file for network manager and compile it, i get an error saying that my init tool is too old ? Is this me just being lazy and i should track down all the dependencies it's missing, or does anyone have any other way to do this. I just want it connected to the www and then ill be fine.

I was thinking i could somehow install it on virtualbox, download network manager and then take a 'snapshot' of the virtualmachine and burn it to .iso however i dont think thats possible.

If anyone has any experience or guidance, ill love you forever !

Kindest regards.

j1alu · 10-09-2011, 05:15 AM

Quote:

I was thinking i could somehow install it on virtualbox, download network manager and then take a 'snapshot' of the virtualmachine and burn it to .iso however i dont think thats possible.

That is possible, but it takes some time...
as root:

Code:

apt-get install live-build
mkdir Live && cd !$
lh config --bootstrap config --debian-installer live
lh build

wait.
You will need ~three times as much space as the installation is. I would go for 12 Gigs, to be sure.

Quote:

However i do have mobile broadband.

I don't understand that.
If you have broadband, connect to it after installation, do "apt-get install network-manger" and be done with it. No?
I bet there is a much easier and less time-consuming way than what i wrote above. If you tell more about your problems someone should be able to tell you
(the out of date init puzzles me a bit)

0men · 10-09-2011, 05:30 AM

j1alu, i appreciate your help.

Ill be more blunt, when i install the net install for Debian squeeze, it does not come with NetworkManager pre-installed. And being with mobile broadband, i need it.

What i have tried to do was download the networkmanager.deb file and install it from there. However when i try to, i get a whole heap of your init tool is too old ! :S weird. Not sure whats going on ?

I appreciate your time

j1alu · 10-09-2011, 06:33 AM

I can't say i am good with network problems.

I see my fault from above. Sorry, i was confused.

The only thing i can think of why you get an init-error is cause you use the net-install-CD.
In general a "dpkg -i package.deb" should work (if you miss dependencies you need to download them first, sure... bit of a hazzle)
Could you try CD-1 ? That is what i would do...

Do you use a modem or a router? If a modem, wouldn't the package
http://packages.debian.org/squeeze/pppoeconf
You need only one or two dependencies, but i forgot which one.

I am trying to reproduce the error in VirtualBox, if i figure out something i will let you know.
Else someone who knows more about networking will have to help.

good luck

cynwulf · 10-09-2011, 08:41 AM

Forget the netinstall, download CD1 and install from that.

0men · 10-09-2011, 09:40 PM

j1alu,

Dont be sorry, as i said i appreciate your help. Thanks for your input. If i work something out ill let you know.

thanks