Install `nano` on EdgeOS (2.x)

If you want to edit a (config) file on EdgeOS (2.X.X), you can. EdgeOS comes with vi. Not the easiest editor to get started with, especially if you just want to update a simple setting in eg. a OpenVPN client config file.

To make editing the occasional file a bit easier, you can install the nano package from the Debian repositories. To do that, SSH into your EdgeRouter:

ssh {your-webinterface-username}@{your-router-ip} -p 22

Eg. ssh johndoe@192.168.1.1 -p 22

When logged in, start configuration mode:

configure

Now set the Debian system package, by issuing these commands in the configuration mode:

set system package repository stretch components 'main contrib non-free' 
set system package repository stretch distribution stretch
set system package repository stretch url http://http.us.debian.org/debian

Apply the configuration by committing, save and exit:

commit; save; exit

Now update the system package cache:

sudo apt-get update

Do NOT upgrade system packages, that will break some of the packages your EdgeRouter depends on!

You can now install nano:

sudo apt-get install nano

Now nano is installed, we can remove the apt-cache, and remove the Debian repository again from the config:

sudo rm -R /var/lib/apt/lists
sudo rm -R /var/cache/apt/archives

Enter the configuration mode again, and remove the Debian system package repository:

configure
delete system package repository stretch
commit; save; exit

Enjoy using nano for a quick config file edit :)