MX21 how to switch from sysvinit to runit

[papahippo]

After convincing myself that 'runit' is - if not the best thing since sliced bread - certainly more in keeping with my philosophy, I decided to give it a try .
I did a clean install of MX21 on an old system, then installed the 'runit' package together with the service 'mini-httpd'. I don't intend to use httpd but wanted to install a working example as a basis for my own stuff.
This seemed to work partially: directory/etc/runit/runsvdir/current/mini-htppd is created, but one of the files - supervise - is a broken link.
Perhaps the 'runit' stuff is installed but dormant?
I suspect that either I need to install more packages related to runit or perhaps I need to run some system command relating to run levels (I came across some such recommendation but can't find it now!)

This info is sketchy because I I am using another system for reporting. The 'problem' system isn't yet configured for comfortable internet use.

Can someone point me in the direction of a solution?

Thanks for your attention,

Larry Myerscough

[Huckleberry Finn]

viewtopic.php?p=545096#p545096

[figueroa]

@papahippo
Why don't you just copy what antiX does with runit? However, I suggest that if you are not already well qualified to do this, it's not going to go well for you long term. Over time, MX is likely to make changes and do updates that will make your life miserable.

[papahippo]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've now reduced my ambition somewhat: I'd like to let systemd start the runit supervisor, so I can used runit for 'my' stuff but let systemd handle the standard stuff.
I'm also toying with the idea of running my 'mainly server' system under antix... but feel I might miss the luxury and polish of mx too much!

[anticapitalista]

Why does a server need 'polish'?

[manyroads]

FWIW... I think desktops need 'polish'.... servers need to be 'headless'.

[towwire]

FWIW... I think desktops need 'polish'.... servers need to be 'headless'.

So true.

His other option and that would be 'Devuan'. There would be no systemD but you can choose, sysvint, openrc or runit. Read here.

https://www.devuan.org/os/documentation ... all-devuan

[manyroads]

FWIW... I think desktops need 'polish'.... servers need to be 'headless'.

[...]

His other option and that would be 'Devuan'. There would be no systemD but you can choose, sysvint, openrc or runit. Read here.

https://www.devuan.org/os/documentation ... all-devuan

I agree. Devuan is a good choice, especially for servers.

[figueroa]

FWIW... I think desktops need 'polish'.... servers need to be 'headless'.

It's a huge convenience when a local server can have it's own monitor and keyboard. In other words, I don't buy the "NEED to be headless." At times, headless will be a PITA.

[papahippo]

I just made a long answer, saved it to draft... now I can't find it... so here's the short answer:

I've installed antix 21 on an old Dell D630 (rescued from the garbage by a friend). Partly because I want to see 'runit' in action and partly because its current distro (xubuntu) wasn't as lightweight as I had expected when i installed it last year. In the past, I had only installed Antix on even more resource challenged systems. I'm really impressed. For example: when I read that it used 'connman' for wifi connections, this filled me with trepidation; I had used connman from the command line before and never really got comfortable with it. But Antix's GUI for connman is intuitive,clear and great!

This leaves me with some questions, some just for me, some for another post, another time!

Thanks for all the feedback. If it seems like I'm ignoring most or all the advice... don't take offence; that's just my way of listening.