Can SpiralLinux be upgraded to Debian Trixie as per debian release docs ?

[sprabhdeep]

This link gives directions for Upgrade to Debian 13, can this be used to upgrade Spiral Linux? I'm using Spiral Linux with Budgie desktop based on Debian bookworm.

Thanks

[geckolinux]

Hi there, yes, those directions will work, but I recommend following these instructions:
https://github.com/SpiralLinux/SpiralLinux-project/wiki#upgrading-to-a-major-new-debian-stable-release

You will find a bit of oddity in the repository manager of Synaptic in Debian Trixie, I'll try to post some instructions about that when time permits.

[sprabhdeep]

Thanks, This seems well documented and easy way.

Another question while upgrading comes is to Keep or Replace configuration file '/etc/default/zramswap'?
Synaptic shows the difference between new and old file as

--- /etc/default/zramswap	2023-11-20 05:47:06.000000000 +0530
+++ /etc/default/zramswap.dpkg-new	2025-01-07 20:00:36.000000000 +0530
@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 # Compression algorithm selection
-# speed: lz4 > zstd > lzo
-# compression: zstd > lzo > lz4
+# speed: lz4 > zstd 
+# compression: zstd > lz4
 # This is not inclusive of all that is available in latest kernels
 # See /sys/block/zram0/comp_algorithm (when zram module is loaded) to see
 # what is currently set and available for your kernel[1]
-# [1]  https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/Documentation/blockdev/zram.txt#L86
-ALGO=zstd
+# [1]  https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/admin-guide/blockdev/zram.html#select-compression-algorithm
+ALGO=lz4
 
 # Specifies the amount of RAM that should be used for zram
 # based on a percentage the total amount of available memory
 # This takes precedence and overrides SIZE below
-PERCENT=95
+PERCENT=50
 
 # Specifies a static amount of RAM that should be used for
 # the ZRAM devices, this is in MiB
-#SIZE=256
+SIZE=512
 
 # Specifies the priority for the swap devices, see swapon(2)
 # for more details. Higher number = higher priority
 # This should probably be higher than hdd/ssd swaps.
-#PRIORITY=100
+PRIORITY=100

I hope it would not matter as of now if I choose to keep or replace ? Kindly suggest for non-expert users.

[geckolinux]

I would recommend keeping all of the SpiralLinux original configuration files. You can copy/paste the original version of /etc/default/zramswap if you already changed it:

# Compression algorithm selection
# speed: lz4 > zstd > lzo
# compression: zstd > lzo > lz4
# This is not inclusive of all that is available in latest kernels
# See /sys/block/zram0/comp_algorithm (when zram module is loaded) to see
# what is currently set and available for your kernel[1]
# [1]  https://github.com/torvalds/linux/blob/master/Documentation/blockdev/zram.txt#L86
ALGO=zstd

# Specifies the amount of RAM that should be used for zram
# based on a percentage the total amount of available memory
# This takes precedence and overrides SIZE below
PERCENT=95

# Specifies a static amount of RAM that should be used for
# the ZRAM devices, this is in MiB
#SIZE=256

# Specifies the priority for the swap devices, see swapon(2)
# for more details. Higher number = higher priority
# This should probably be higher than hdd/ssd swaps.
#PRIORITY=100

[sprabhdeep]

kept same

[sprabhdeep]

Upgraded successfully.

╰─❯ cat /etc/debian_version
13.0

However, kernel being used is the one from debian bookwork backports.

╰─❯ uname -srv
Linux 6.11.10+bpo-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.11.10-1~bpo12+1 (2024-12-19)

As you suggested, Synaptic shows some oddity and would not launch repositories window.

I have manually moved third party repos to a temporary ~/temp folder from /etc/apt/sources.list.d for now.
Also, created debian.sources file as per new debian format ( https://wiki.debian.org/SourcesList ) including trixie-update and trixie-security repos.
sudo apt update runs good without any errors.

Thanks

[geckolinux]

Hi there @sprabhdeep ,

kernel being used is the one from debian bookwork backports

Make sure that the Debian 13 kernel version 6.12.x is installed, and then you can use Synaptic to uninstall all older kernel versions.

As you suggested, Synaptic shows some oddity and would not launch repositories window.

I updated the Wiki with these instructions:
https://github.com/SpiralLinux/SpiralLinux-project/wiki#after-upgrading-to-debian-13-trixie

Notice: Users that have updated to the new APT sources list format will not be able to use the Synaptic GUI for repositories. However, at least for now the old format still works.