[Bug 1772556] Re: d-i netinstall fails due to missing apt-transport-https package

[Matthew Ruffell]

The VM on the left is using the current 18.04.4 LTS mini.iso provided
from http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/bionic-updates/main
/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/ with a date of 2020-01-30.

The VM on the right is using the mini.iso I created that contains the
test debootstrap package, from
https://people.canonical.com/~mruffell/sf289200/

On both, I selected [Advanced Options] and then [Command Line Expert
Install]. From there I answered the usual questions. When I was asked to
configure the mirror, I selected "https" and then entered in a local
mirror in my country, mirror.fsmg.org.nz.

The VM on the left fails with the error message that apt-transport-https can't be found, and stops.
The VM on the right installs the base system fine, and successfully installs the system.

The test packages work. I will ask for my patches to be sponsored and
hopefully we can get debootstrap fixed before the 18.04.5 LTS deadline.

** Attachment added: "Comparison of old mini.iso and test mini.iso"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/debootstrap/+bug/1772556/+attachment/5395065/+files/Screenshot%20from%202020-07-23%2015-35-17.png

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1772556

Title:
  d-i netinstall fails due to missing apt-transport-https package

Status in debootstrap package in Ubuntu:
  Confirmed
Status in debootstrap source package in Bionic:
  In Progress
Status in debootstrap source package in Eoan:
  Won't Fix
Status in debootstrap source package in Focal:
  In Progress
Status in debootstrap package in Debian:
  Fix Released

Bug description:
  [Impact]

  When installing over the network using a netinstall image with pxe
  boot and with an https apt mirror, the installer fails with the error:

    Debootstrap error

    couldn't find these debs: apt-transport-https

    Check /var/log/syslog or see virtual console 4 for the details

  This happens due to apt-transport-https moving to universe from bionic
  onward, but still being required by debootstrap when it sees a https
  apt mirror, even though support for https mirrors is built into apt.

  [Testcase]

  Use the 18.04.4 LTS netinstall ISO to PXE boot with a preseed that
  uses a custom https apt mirror. Something like:

  ```
  d-i mirror/country string manual
  d-i mirror/protocol string https
  d-i mirror/https/hostname string mirrors.ptisp.pt
  d-i mirror/https/directory string /ubuntu/
  d-i mirror/https/proxy string
  ```

  The installer will fail with the error in the impact section.

  There are test packages for debootstrap available in the following
  PPA, for both bionic and focal:

  https://launchpad.net/~mruffell/+archive/ubuntu/sf289200-test

  I have also built a test netinstall ISO with the test debootstrap
  packages, and is available here:

  https://people.canonical.com/~mruffell/sf289200/

  You probably want to use mini.iso for PXE boot, but vmlinuz and
  initrd.gz are provided as well.

  [Regression Potential]

  The fix adds checks for specific distribution releases, so if someone
  is trying to debootstrap a previous release where apt-transport-https
  is still required, it will still function.

  For users of newer releases, it simply omits the package. apt-
  transport-https will still be available in universe if anyone still
  needs it.

  If a regression did occur, users may not be able to access https apt
  mirrors when using debootstrap. In this case, users can use a plain
  http mirror until things are fixed.

  Due to apt-transport-https not being needed in bionic onward, due to
  being built into apt directly, I believe this change won't introduce
  any regressions.

  [Other info]

  The fix landed in upstream debootstrap in the following commit:

  commit 66cbaae642953beba8aec393f3eca076abd89a7d
  From: Hideki Yamane <henrich at debian.org>
  Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:10:25 +0900
  Subject: select codename for apt-transport-https (Closes: #920255, #879755)
  Link: https://salsa.debian.org/installer-team/debootstrap/-/commit/66cbaae642953beba8aec393f3eca076abd89a7d

  It adds a check for distro release name, and if they fall within Zesty
  and prior, then it requires apt-transport-https, and if Artful and
  later, then it is omitted.

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