2.2. Installing live-helper

You can install live-helper in a number of different ways:

  1. From the Debian repository

  2. From source

  3. From snapshots

  4. From backports.org

If you are using lenny or sid the recommended way is to install live-helper via the Debian repository.

2.2.1. From the Debian repository

Simply install live-helper like any other package:

# apt-get install live-helper

or

# aptitude install live-helper

2.2.2. From source

live-helper is developed using the Git version control system. On Debian systems, this is provided by the git-core package. To check out the latest code, execute:

$ git clone git://live.debian.net/git/live-helper.git

You can build and install your own Debian package by executing:

 $ cd live-helper
 $ dpkg-buildpackage -rfakeroot -b -uc -us
 $ cd ..
 # dpkg -i live-helper*.deb

You can also use a local version of live-helper without installation:

# live-helper/helpers/lh_local

Subsequent calls to lh_-prefixed helpers in that shell environment will then use the version located in the directory you executed lh_local from.

You can also install live-helper directly to your system by executing:

# make install

2.2.3. From 'snapshots'

If you do not wish to build or install live-helper from source, you can use snapshots. These are built automatically from the latest version in Git and are available on http://live.debian.net/debian.

2.2.4. From Backports.org

Whilst live-helper and friends were not a part of the Debian etch release, they will work on etch as well. You will need the following programs:

  1. An etch backport of either debootstrap or cdebootstrap from backports.org

  2. The lenny or sid version of live-helper

2.2.4.1. Installing debootstrap or cdebootstrap from backports.org

  1. Put this in your /etc/apt/sources.list:

    deb http://www.backports.org/debian etch-backports main
  2. Update the package indices

    apt-get update
  3. Either install debootstrap:

    apt-get install -t etch-backports debootstrap

    or install cdebootstrap:

    apt-get install -t etch-backports cdebootstrap

2.2.4.2. Installing live-helper on etch

It is not recommended that you use live-helper from backports.org as it is likely to be out of date. The live-helper package from lenny or sid can be installed on Etch (without upgrading other packages, such as libc6; it's just shell scripts).

  1. Install debootstrap or cdebootstrap from backports.org (as indicated above).

  2. Install live-helper from testing or unstable

    # apt-get install -t unstable live-helper

Of course you need the testing or unstable sources in /etc/apt/sources.list for this.