Introduction

The following steps are used to create my preferred Debian basic installation for a i386/amd64 machine. I use this procedure as the foundation for my other Debian installs. Nothing tricky here, just some basic steps to get a minimal Debian image on a machine. Using this approach, you'll most likely have to install any tool/application you're looking to run. But, you'll not be unnecessarily cluttering your system with extra packages.

These steps were written based on Debian Squeeze.

Installing the Base OS

This section provides instructions for deploying a minimal Debian image.

Installation Media

Debian provides a variety of install media formats.  If you have the time, downloading at least DVD #1 is a good idea.  You can also use the smaller Net Install image which will rely on the Internet for some packages.  Reference the "Getting Debian" website for more information: http://www.debian.org/distrib/.

Choose an 'i386' install image for 32bit machines and an 'amd64' image for 64-bit machines.

Installation Notes

Here I'll be using the "Expert" mode of the installer to put on the minimum number of packages and provide the greatest amount of control.  There are other options available  for the less advanced user.

In some cases, "Non-Free" firmware may be required to perform the installation (see http://wiki.debian.org/Firmware).  This is hardware dependent and has nothing to do with money.  In this context, free means it complies with Debian's definition  of free software.  This can be a big pain in the ass...but it's also what makes Debian cool.  They have standards and stick to them. Luckily Debian provides an "unofficial NetInstall CD" which contains the non-free firmware to make the job easier:  http://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/.

Installation Steps

Choose the following options, in the following order.  Of course, change any steps as required to accommodate your situation (e.g., language, etc)
  1. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Choose Language
  2. Select A Language: Select English
  3. Select Your Location: Select United States
  4. Configure Locales: Select United States
  5. Configure Locales (2): Check nothing and select Continue
  6. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Select a keyboard layout
  7. Select a Keyboard Layout: Select American English
  8. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Detect and Mount CD-ROM
  9. Detect and Mount CD-ROM:  De-check usb-storage (USB-storage) and select Continue
  10. Detect and Mount CD-ROM (2): Type nothing and select Continue
  11. Detect and Mount CD-ROM (2): The install CD should have been detected. Select Continue
  12. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Load Installer Components from CD
  13. Load Installer Componets from CD:  Check nothing and select Continue  ... unless

    network-console: will let you continue the install remotely after a certian step you setting up a SSH server and providing a login/password

    ntfs-modules: will allow you to access NTFS (windows) formatted drives
  14. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Detect Network Hardware
  15. Detect and Mount CD-ROM:  De-check usb-storage (USB-storage) and select Continue
  16. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Configure Network Hardware
  17. Configure the Network:  Select Yes  ... unless you want to configure the network manually
  18. Configure the Network (2):  Enter a hostname and select  Continue
  19. Configure the Network (3):  Enter a domain name and select  Continue
  20. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Set Up Users and Passwords
  21. Set Up Users and Passwords (Enable Shadow Passwords):  Select Yes  
  22. Set Up Users and Passwords (Allow login as root):  Select Yes ... unless you like improved security and non-repudiation (via logging)
  23. Set Up Users and Passwords (Root Password): Enter password then select Continue
  24. Set Up Users and Passwords (Re-enter Root Password): Enter password then select Continue
  25. Set Up Users and Passwords (Allow login as root):  Select No  ... unless you want to, then do
  26. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Configure the Clock
  27. Configure the Clock (Set the clock using NTP):  Select Yes
  28. Configure the Clock (NTP Server to Use):  Enter NTP Server address or use default then select  Continue
  29. Configure the Clock (Select your time zone):  Select Eastern
  30. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Detect Disks
  31. Detect Disks:  De-check usb-storage (USB-storage) and select Continue
  32. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Partition Disks
  33. Partition Disks (Partitioning Method): Select Guided - use entire disk
  34. Partition Disks (Select disk to partition): Select Your desired disk
  35. Partition Disks (Partitioning scheme): Select All files in one partition
  36. Partition Disks: Select Finish partitioning and write changes to disk  ... Or

    Partitioning style is a personal choice..do what you think is best!  I like to switch to the Ext4 file system for example.

  37. Partition Disks (Write Changes to Disk):  Select Yes
  38. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Install Base System
  39. Install Base System (Kernel to Install):  Select linux-image-2.6-686  (for 32-bit systems)
  40. Install Base System (Drivers to include in the initrd):  Select targeted
  41. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Configure the package manger
  42. Configure the package manger (Scan anouther CD or DVD):  Select No   ...unless you have some
  43. Configure the package manger (Use a network mirror):  Select yes  ...unless you have the DVDs
  44. Configure the package manger (Protocol for file downloads): Select http
  45. Configure the package manger (Debian archive mirror country): Select United States
  46. Configure the package manger (Debian archive mirror): Select ftp.us.debian.org
  47. Configure the package manger (HTTP Proxy information): Leave blank and select Continue
  48. Configure the package manger (Use non-free software):  Select Yes
  49. Configure the package manger (Service to use):  Select Continue
  50. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Select and Install Software
  51. Configuring popularity-contest: Select Yes
  52. Configuring man-db:  Select No
  53. Software selection: Check SSH Server, Standard system utilities and Select Continue
  54. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Install the GRUB bool loader on a hard disk
  55. Configuring grub-pc:  Select Yes
  56. Debian Installer Main Menu: Select Finish the Installation
  57. Finish the Installation (Is system clock set to UTC): Select Yes
  58. Your done!
Remove the disk an reboot and you've got a basic Debian install on your system now!!

Next Step:


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