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Step-by-step install of a "runit"-based vserver
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(1)
[On the host]

Create the vserver

# vserver phony build -m debootstrap \
   --hostname phony.harfang.homelinux.org \
   --netdev dummy0 --interface 192.168.83.100/24 \
   --context 100 --initstyle plain -- -d sarge -- --include=less,ssh

Start and enter the vserver

# vserver phony start
# vserver phony enter

(2)
[Inside "phony"]

Start the ssh daemon and set the root password

# /etc/init.d/ssh start
# passwd

(3)
In "/etc/inittab", comment out the lines invoking "getty":
# nano /etc/inittab

(4)
# exit

(5)
[On the host]

Update "/etc/hosts"
  192.168.83.100  phony.harfang.homelinux.org     phony

Copy "/etc/apt/sources.list" over to the vserver directory
# cp /etc/apt/sources.list /var/lib/vservers/phony/etc/apt

(6)
# ssh root@phony

[Inside "phony"]

(7)
Update the packages list and remove useless packages

# apt-get update
# REMOVE_PACKAGES="
    pciutils fdutils
    makedev base-config klogd sysklogd
    logrotate cron at
    ppp pppconfig pppoe pppoeconf
    console-common console-data console-tools
    telnet netkit-inetd netbase tcpd ifupdown wget ipchains dhcp-client
    exim4 exim4-base exim4-config exim4-daemon-light
    cpio nvi
  "
# apt-get --purge remove $REMOVE_PACKAGES

(8)
Install runit and set up ssh as a supervised service

# apt-get install runit

Setting up ssh:

 1. File "/etc/runit/sshd/run"
  #!/bin/sh

  exec 2>&1
  exec sshd -D -e

 2. File "/etc/runit/sshd/log/run":
  #!/bin/sh

  exec svlogd /var/log/service/sshd

 3. Logging directory:
# mkdir /var/log/service/sshd

 4. Start the service
# ln -s /etc/runit/sshd /var/service

 5. Stop the daemon started through SysV scheme:
# /etc/init.d/ssh stop

Replace "/sbin/init"
# apt-get install runit-run

Notes:
1. Executable bit (+x) not set for stages "1", "2" and "3".
   # chmod a+x /etc/runit/[123]
2. Hardware-related one-time system tasks (in stage "1") should be disabled.
   Comment out the line "/etc/init.d/rcS"
3. "getty" services shouldn't be enabled
   # rm /var/service/getty*
4. Hardware-related shutdown tasks (in stage "3") should be disabled.
   Comment out the line "/etc/init.d/rc $LAST"