Let’s install Debian on AArch64

Today I took a small break and decided to install Debian on APM Mustang. How it went? Read on.

Requirements: - kernel and initramfs from Debian daily d-i builds - USB stick with GRUB from Fedora (one from my second Fedora installation - APM Mustang with UEFI - serial cable connected to Mustang and other computer - Ethernet cable to get network on Mustang

Why did I used GRUB from Fedora? Debian one had issues with finding own modules (or something like that).

Ok, so let’s boot into GRUB. Once there load kernel and initramfs:

linux /debian/vmlinux console=ttyS0,115220
initrd /debian/initrd.gz
boot

Installation went smooth. To the point when installer tried to install GRUB :(

Rebooted, loaded freshly installed kernel/initramfs from Fedora boot loader but still failed:

Begin: Loading essential drivers ... done.
Begin: Running /scripts/init-premount ... done.
Begin: Mounting root file system ... Begin: Running /scripts/local-top ... done.
Begin: Waiting for root file system ... done.
Gave up waiting for root device.  Common problems:
 - Boot args (cat /proc/cmdline)
   - Check rootdelay= (did the system wait long enough?)
   - Check root= (did the system wait for the right device?)
 - Missing modules (cat /proc/modules; ls /dev)

So will not check how Debian works on APM Mustang. But bug will be reported.

aarch64 debian mustang