[HOW-TO] Installing XBIAN directly on RASPBIAN IMG

[mk01]

The current degree of XBian code base integration with it's host (debian based linux distributions) will allow you in a few minutes transform existing original untouched Raspbian image into XBian media station at such extend that you mix up your SD card by accident very fast - just to realize that it doesn't matter which way your XBian was created (if from debootrstraped minimal image as online installation hosted on another machine, or by utilizing older installation or even by just installing the same distribution XBian images.

Just to really assure the user::: by installing XBian packages Raspbian will still stay Raspbian, all configuration files will be kept, no configs will get overwritten in an improper way, configuration stays the same. Only to small details, if you configured your Raspbian as fully capable universal pc (for browsing net, writing documents, tracking family agenda with shared collaboration simply anything after XBian reboots you won't feel the difference.

INSTALLATION STEPS ONE BY ONE:

1)

Code:

cd /tmp
sudo -s
wget http://apt.xbian.org/pool/stable/main/x/xbian-package-repo/xbian-package-repo_20150205-6_armhf.deb
dpkg -i xbian-package-repo_*_armhf.deb

This will install our repositories. When that's done hit:

Code:

apt-get clean; apt-get update

As first we install same base files relevant to new user xbian.
2)

Code:

sudo apt-get install xbian-package-xbianhome

this will unpack /home/xbian, register user (by default password "raspberry"), put into relevant system groups and other steps.

3)
On Raspberry Pi 1:

Code:

sudo apt-get install xbian-package-kernel

On Raspberry Pi 2:

Code:

sudo apt-get install linux-image-bcm2836

This will deliver kernel and supporting tools. at this stage we need to reboot. XBian needs to update system partition and adapt some system configs as /etc/fstab. if apt-get process from installing xbian-package-kernel finishes, XBian already updated /boot/cmdline.txt and /boot/config.txt to be able to perform this maintenance tasks upon reboot. so we just run "reboot"

4) after RPI starts booting again, resize & convert will take place. on clean Raspbian image it can take 10-15 minut (but even hours on BIG hard drives with lot of data). after success - /etc/fstab will be adapted automatically again RPI should start rebooting and booting back to Raspbian.

6) as the system boots again (we have our XBian user, XBian's home dir, filesystem is ok…). we just need to install the less interesting packages as XBMC itself and all the tools helping using and configuring things we like.

Code:

apt-get install xbian-update xbian-package-rasp-switching

xbian-update will trigger installation of all XBian packages from base system.

after next (and last) re-boot beside seeing XBIAN splash screen, your system will still be booting as you configured early during Raspbian setup. XBMC can be started with "start XBMC", Raspbian X desktop with "service lightdm start".

if you Raspbian setup used to boot into X with PI user automatically, you can keep this and indeed start / load XBMC quick and easy way - even jumping back and forth between XBMC and you X Desktop. We can click "Logout", put "xbian" as user to log in and XBMC starts. If you quit XBMC, X will come again. No reboots needed.
Both X and XBMC can be managed now from xbian-config tool (from SSH or even XBMC). There is how you RPI will boot if you select what service for autostart:


auto LXDE, auto XBMC => LXDE loads desktop with user PI. logout/login as user xbian delivers XBMC in few seconds. XBMC exit is return to LXDE.

manual LXDE, auto XBMC => XBian like experience. System boot directly into XBMC, you can exit XBMC to console, or reboot or shutdown directly from XBMC menu.

manual LXDE, XBMC => normal TTY terminals asking for password - possibility to start on or the other through xbmc or lightdm jobs respectively.

==========
Just for complete info, this XBian installation path was tested on Raspbian image based on Wheezy 7.2, but also on debootstreped minimal (140mb) image of Jessie (next Debian / Raspbian relese to come).