Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide
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Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide

Bruce Perens

Sven Rudolph

Igor Grobman

James Treacy

Adam Di Carlo

Copyright © 1996 © Bruce Perens

Copyright © 1996, 1997 © Sven Rudolph

Copyright © 1998 © Igor Grobman, James Treacy

Copyright © 1998-2002 © Adam Di Carlo

Copyright © 2003 © Chris Tillman

This manual is free software; you may redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License. Please refer to the license in Section B.4, “GNU General Public License”.

Abstract

This document contains installation instructions for the Debian GNU/Linux 3.0+δ system, for the Intel x86 (“i386”) architecture. It also contains pointers to more information and information on how to make the most of your new Debian system.

Table of Contents

Installing Debian GNU/Linux 3.0+δ For i386

1. Welcome to Debian

1.1. What is Debian?
1.2. What is GNU/Linux?
1.3. What is Debian GNU/Linux?
1.4. What is Debian GNU/Hurd?
1.5. Getting Debian
1.6. Getting the Newest Version of This Document
1.7. Organization of This Document
1.8. Your Documentation Help is Welcome
1.9. About Copyrights and Software Licenses

2. System Requirements

2.1. Supported Hardware

2.1.1. Supported Architectures
2.1.2. CPU, Main Boards, and Video Support
2.1.3. Graphics Card
2.1.4. Laptops
2.1.5. Multiple Processors

2.2. Installation Media

2.2.1. Floppies
2.2.2. CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
2.2.3. Hard Disk
2.2.4. USB Memory Stick
2.2.5. Network
2.2.6. Un*x or GNU system
2.2.7. Supported Storage Systems

2.3. Peripherals and Other Hardware

2.4. Purchasing Hardware Specifically for GNU/Linux

2.4.1. Avoid Proprietary or Closed Hardware
2.4.2. Windows-specific Hardware
2.4.3. Fake or Virtual Parity RAM

2.5. Memory and Disk Space Requirements

2.6. Network Connectivity Hardware

3. Before Installing Debian GNU/Linux

3.1. Overview of the Installation Process

3.2. Back Up Your Existing Data!

3.3. Information You Will Need

3.3.1. Documentation
3.3.2. Finding Sources of Hardware Information
3.3.3. Hardware Compatibility
3.3.4. Network Settings

3.4. Meeting Minimum Hardware Requirements

3.5. Pre-Partitioning for Multi-Boot Systems

3.5.1. Partitioning From DOS or Windows

3.6. Pre-Installation Hardware and Operating System Setup

3.6.1. Invoking the BIOS Set-Up Menu
3.6.2. Boot Device Selection
3.6.3. Miscellaneous BIOS Settings
3.6.4. Hardware Issues to Watch Out For

4. Obtaining System Installation Media

4.1. Official Debian GNU/Linux CD-ROM Sets

4.2. Downloading Files from Debian Mirrors

4.2.1. Installation Options
4.2.2. Choosing the Right Installation Set
4.2.3. Where to Find Installation Files

4.3. Creating Floppies from Disk Images

4.3.1. Writing Disk Images From a Linux or Unix System
4.3.2. Writing Disk Images From DOS, Windows, or OS/2
4.3.3. Modifying the Rescue Floppy to Support National Language

4.4. Preparing Files for USB Memory Stick Booting

4.4.1. Copying the files - the easy way
4.4.2. Copying the files - the flexible way

4.5. Preparing Files for Hard Disk Booting

4.5.1. Hard disk installer booting using LILO or GRUB

4.6. Preparing Files for TFTP Net Booting

4.6.1. Setting up RARP server
4.6.2. Setting up BOOTP server
4.6.3. Setting up a DHCP server
4.6.4. Enabling the TFTP Server
4.6.5. Move TFTP Images Into Place
4.6.6. TFTP Installation for Low-Memory Systems
4.6.7. Installing with TFTP and NFS Root

4.7. Automatic Installation

4.7.1. debian-installer

5. Booting the Installation System

5.1. Booting the Installer on Intel x86

5.1.1. Booting from a CD-ROM
5.1.2. Booting from a DOS partition
5.1.3. Booting from linux using LILO or GRUB
5.1.4. Booting from USB memory stick
5.1.5. Booting from Floppies
5.1.6. Booting with TFTP
5.1.7. i386 Boot Parameters
5.1.8. System freeze during the PCMCIA configuration phase
5.1.9. System freeze while loading the USB modules

5.2. Boot Parameters

5.2.1. Debian Installer Arguments

5.3. Troubleshooting the Install Process

5.3.1. Floppy Disk Reliability
5.3.2. Boot Configuration
5.3.3. Interpreting the Kernel Startup Messages
5.3.4. Bug Reporter
5.3.5. Submitting Bug Reports

6. Using the Debian Installer

6.1. How the Installer Works

6.2. Components Introduction

6.3. Using Individual Components

6.3.1. Language Chooser
6.3.2. Country Chooser
6.3.3. Choosing a Keyboard
6.3.4. Configuring Network
6.3.5. Looking for the Debian Installer ISO Image
6.3.6. Partitioning Your Disks
6.3.7. Base System Installation
6.3.8. Selecting Kernel
6.3.9. Running base-config From Within debian-installer
6.3.10. Using the Shell and Viewing the Logs

7. Booting Into Your New Debian System

7.1. Make System Bootable

7.1.1. Intel x86 Boot Loaders
7.1.2. Diskless Workstations

7.2. The Moment of Truth

7.3. Debian Post-Boot (Base) Configuration

7.3.1. Configuring Your Time Zone
7.3.2. Setting Up Users And Passwords
7.3.3. Setting Up PPP
7.3.4. Configuring APT
7.3.5. Package Installation: Simple or Advanced
7.3.6. Prompts During Software Installation
7.3.7. Configuring Your Mail Transport Agent

7.4. Log In

8. Next Steps and Where to Go From Here

8.1. If You Are New to Unix

8.2. Orienting Yourself to Debian

8.2.1. Debian Packaging System
8.2.2. Application Version Management
8.2.3. Cron Job Management

8.3. Reactivating DOS and Windows

8.4. Further Reading and Information

8.5. Compiling a New Kernel

8.5.1. Kernel Image Management

A. Partitioning for Debian

A.1. Deciding on Debian Partitions and Sizes

A.2. The Directory Tree

A.3. Recommended Partitioning Scheme

A.4. Device Names in Linux

A.5. Debian Partitioning Programs

A.5.1. Partitioning for Intel x86

B. Random Bits

B.1. Linux Devices

B.1.1. Setting Up Your Mouse

B.2. Disk Space Needed for Tasks

B.3. Installing Debian GNU/Linux from a Unix/Linux System

B.3.1. Getting Started
B.3.2. Install debootstrap
B.3.3. Run debootstrap (Network-connected)
B.3.4. Run debootstrap (Using basedebs.tar)
B.3.5. Configure The Base System
B.3.6. Install a Kernel
B.3.7. Set up the Boot Loader

B.4. GNU General Public License

B.4.1. Preamble
B.4.2. GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
B.4.3. How to Apply These Terms to Your New Programs

C. Administrivia

C.1. About This Document
C.2. Contributing to This Document
C.3. Acknowledgements and Thanks
C.4. Major Contributions
C.5. Trademark Acknowledgement

List of Tables

3.1. Hardware Information Needed for an Install
3.2. Recommended Minimum System Requirements
C.1. Debian-installer Documentation
C.2. Boot-floppies Documentation
C.3. Progeny Documentation
C.4. Translators

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