Setup a new Ubuntu or Debian system on the Utilite

This is a guide to setup a recent Ubuntu system on a Utilite ARM computer, to replace the official Ubuntu 12.04 OS.

Prerequisites

• You need to prepare a [kernel with cgroups](/?p=1073 "Building a new Linux kernel for your Utilite Computer") support.
• An ARM bootable microSD or USB. You can use the official Ubuntu 12.04 [Linux Utilite Image](http://www.compulab.co.il/utilite-computer/wiki/index.php/Utilite_Linux_Image "Linux Utilite Image") on the removable device.
• Backup any data you have on the original system!

Preparations

1. Boot from microSD or USB.

2. Update the system and install debootstrap:

   $ sudo apt-get update
   $ sudo apt-get install debootstrap
   

3. Mount the SATA root filesystem on /mnt:

   $ sudo mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
   

4. Clear the filesystem:
   

   Note
   Make sure you save any data you need, before doing this!.

   $ sudo rm -fr /mnt/*
   

Installation of an Ubuntu or Debian base system

1. Use debootstrap to install the Ubuntu base system:

   $ sudo debootstrap --foreign --arch=armhf trusty /mnt http://ports.ubuntu.com/
   

   You can use vivid instead of trusty if you are feeling adventurous.

   For a Debian system use this command instead:

   $ sudo debootstrap --foreign --arch armhf jessie /mnt http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian
   

   You can use stretch or sid instead of jessie if you are feeling lucky.

2. Chroot into the new system:

   $ sudo mount -o bind /dev /mnt/dev
   $ sudo mount -o bind /dev/pts /mnt/dev/pts
   $ sudo mount -t sysfs /sys /mnt/sys
   $ sudo mount -t proc /proc /mnt/proc
   $ sudo cp /proc/mounts /mnt/etc/mtab
   $ sudo chroot /mnt
   

3. Second stage debootstrap:

   After you enter the chroot jail, we need to complete the second stage of the base setup:

   # /debootstrap/debootstrap --second-stage
   

Installing additional packages

1. Setup the correct timezone:

   # dpkg-reconfigure tzdata
   

2. Add repositories in /etc/apt/sources.list.

• For Ubuntu:

  deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ trusty main restricted universe multiverse
  deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ trusty-security main restricted universe multiverse
  deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ trusty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
  deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ trusty-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  
  deb-src http://ports.ubuntu.com/ trusty main restricted universe multiverse
  deb-src http://ports.ubuntu.com/ trusty-security main restricted universe multiverse
  deb-src http://ports.ubuntu.com/ trusty-updates main restricted universe multiverse
  deb-src http://ports.ubuntu.com/ trusty-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  

• For Debian:

  deb http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian jessie main contrib non-free
  deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ jessie-updates main contrib non-free
  deb http://security.debian.org/ jessie/updates main contrib non-free
  
  deb-src http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian jessie main contrib non-free
  deb-src http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ jessie-updates main contrib non-free
  deb-src http://security.debian.org/ jessie/updates main contrib non-free
  

• Run update after adding the repositories:

  # apt-get update
  

2. Install additional software.

• We need to create a fake /sbin/initctl to prevent apt from breaking:

  # dpkg-divert --local --rename --add /sbin/initctl
  # ln -s /bin/true /sbin/initctl
  

• Install the software you need:

  # apt-get -y install language-pack-en ssh isc-dhcp-client net-tools man lsof less
  

• Remove the fake /sbin/initctl:

  # rm /sbin/initctl
  # dpkg-divert --local --rename --remove /sbin/initctl
  

3. Setup users:

   # passwd root
   # useradd -m -s /bin/bash utilite
   # passwd utilite
   # usermod -a -G adm,cdrom,sudo,dip,plugdev utilite
   

4. Setup a kernel:

   Now you need to deploy the [kernel we prepare earlier](/?p=1073#toc-deploy-the-tarball "Building a new Linux kernel for your Utilite Computer") and reboot.

Choose a role for your system

1. After you reboot you may find that networking is not working. If you are in a dhcp enabled network run dhclient to get an IP address:

   # dhclient
   

2. Upgrade the system to the latest upgrades:

   # apt-get update
   # apt-get -y dist-upgrade
   

3. Check the available roles

• On Ubuntu you may want to install tasksel (already installed on Debian):

  # apt-get install tasksel

• See the available roles on Ubuntu:

  # tasksel --list-tasks
i server Basic Ubuntu server
i openssh-server OpenSSH server
u dns-server DNS server
u lamp-server LAMP server
u mail-server Mail server
u postgresql-server PostgreSQL database
u print-server Print server
u samba-server Samba file server
u tomcat-server Tomcat Java server
u cloud-image Ubuntu Cloud Image (instance)
u virt-host Virtual Machine host
u ubuntustudio-graphics 2D/3D creation and editing suite
u ubuntustudio-audio Audio recording and editing suite
u edubuntu-desktop-gnome Edubuntu desktop
u kubuntu-active Kubuntu Active
u kubuntu-desktop Kubuntu desktop
u kubuntu-full Kubuntu full
u ubuntustudio-font-meta Large selection of font packages
u lubuntu-desktop Lubuntu Desktop
u lubuntu-core Lubuntu minimal installation
u mythbuntu-frontend Mythbuntu frontend
u mythbuntu-backend-master Mythbuntu master backend
u mythbuntu-backend-slave Mythbuntu slave backend
u ubuntustudio-photography Photograph touchup and editing suite
u ubuntustudio-publishing Publishing applications
u ubuntu-gnome-desktop Ubuntu GNOME desktop
u ubuntu-desktop Ubuntu desktop
u ubuntu-usb Ubuntu desktop USB
u ubuntustudio-video Video creation and editing suite
u xubuntu-desktop Xubuntu desktop
u edubuntu-dvd-live Edubuntu live DVD
u kubuntu-active-live Kubuntu Active Remix live CD
u kubuntu-live Kubuntu live CD
u kubuntu-dvd-live Kubuntu live DVD
u lubuntu-live Lubuntu live CD
u ubuntu-gnome-live Ubuntu GNOME live CD
u ubuntustudio-dvd-live Ubuntu Studio live DVD
u ubuntu-live Ubuntu live CD
u ubuntu-usb-live Ubuntu live USB
u xubuntu-live Xubuntu live CD
u manual Manual package selection

• See the available roles on debian:

  $ tasksel --list-tasks
  i desktop   Debian desktop environment
  u gnome-desktop GNOME
  u xfce-desktop  Xfce
  u kde-desktop   KDE
  u cinnamon-desktop  Cinnamon
  u mate-desktop  MATE
  i lxde-desktop  LXDE
  u web-server    web server
  u print-server  print server
  u ssh-server    SSH server
  u laptop    laptop
  

4. Choose a role.

   If you would like a Desktop system, I suggest you choose something light like lubuntu-desktop or lxde-desktop.

• Installing Lubuntu (Ubuntu):

  # tasksel --task-packages lubuntu-desktop | xargs apt-get -y install
  

  I prefer this method rather than the [TUI](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Text-based_user_interface "Text-based User Interface") of tasksel, so as to have better overview and control of the process. Keep an eye on it every now and then, because it will ask you about keyboard-configuration and other questions. Select the default settings if you are unsure.

• Installing LXDE Desktop (Debian):

  # apt-get install task-lxde-desktop network-manager
  

  For Desktop systems it may be a good idea to install network-manager as well.

• Add the vivante GPU module on startup:

  # echo vivante >> /etc/modules
  

After you finish you can reboot your system and start playing.

References

• https://github.com/umiddelb/armhf/wiki/Installing-Ubuntu-14.04-on-the-utilite-computer-from-scratch
• https://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebianOn/CompuLab/PC-Utilite/wheezy