Installing GNU/Debian Sid in Ubuntu Hardy using debootstrap and chroot

This article explains how to install GNU/Debian Sid in a previously installed Ubuntu Hardy System. We will use debootstrap and chroot tools to accomplish that. This how-to is not focused on security, it does not tell how to create a restricted chroot environment to improve security.

Ubuntu is a GNU/Debian based distro. Every six months they take GNU/Debian Unstable packages and make a new Ubuntu distribution.
Debian Sid provides more and newer packages. Ubuntu is configured for easiness. Debian has less preconfiguration instead.

chroot runs a command with a special root directory.
chroot comes as part of coreutils package.
$ sudo aptitude install coreutils

debootstrap command bootstraps a basic Debian system (it can also bootstrap other systems).
$ sudo aptitude install debootstrap

$ ls /usr/share/debootstrap/scripts/ #shows which distros and versions you can install with debootstrap:

breezy  edgy  etch-m68k  gutsy  hoary  lenny  sarge  sarge.fakechroot  warty  woody 
dapper  etch  feisty  hardy  hoary.buildd  potato  sarge.buildd  sid warty.buildd  woody.buildd

INSTALLATION BEGINNING

First of all we create the directory where Debian Sid will be installed.
$ mkdir DebianSid


CREATING A LOOPBACK IMAGE TO STORE DEBIAN SID

This step is only necessary if you plan to boot your system from your Debian Sid chroot environment.

$ sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=DebianSidFile bs=1048576 count=10000 #We create DebianSidFile with 10 gigabyte capacity.

$ sudo mkfs.ext3 -b 4096 -L DSid DebianSidFile #Ext3 filesystem creation.

$ sudo mount DebianSidFile DebianSid -t ext3 -o loop #mounting it on DebianSid directory.


INSTALLING A MINIMAL SYSTEM

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