Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide June 9, 2018 Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide Copyright © 2004 – 2017 the Debian Installer team 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 Appendix F. i Contents 1 Welcome to Debian 1 1.1 What is Debian? . 1 1.2 What is GNU/Linux? . 1 1.3 What is Debian GNU/Linux? . 2 1.4 Getting Debian . 3 1.5 Getting the Newest Version of This Document . 3 1.6 Organization of This Document . 3 1.7 About Copyrights and Software Licenses . 4 2 System Requirements 5 2.1 Supported Hardware . 5 2.1.1 Supported Architectures . 5 2.1.2 Platforms supported by the Debian mipsel port . 6 2.1.2.1 CPU . 6 2.1.3 Platforms no longer supported by the Debian mipsel port . 6 2.1.4 Multiple Processors . 6 2.1.5 Graphics Hardware Support . 6 2.1.6 Network Connectivity Hardware . 7 2.1.7 Peripherals and Other Hardware . 7 2.2 Devices Requiring Firmware . 7 2.3 Purchasing Hardware Specifically for GNU/Linux . 7 2.3.1 Avoid Proprietary or Closed Hardware . 7 2.4 Installation Media . 8 2.4.1 CD-ROM/DVD-ROM/BD-ROM . 8 2.4.2 Network . 8 2.4.3 Hard Disk . 8 2.4.4 Un*x or GNU system . 8 2.4.5 Supported Storage Systems . 9 2.5 Memory and Disk Space Requirements . 9 3 Before Installing Debian GNU/Linux 10 3.1 Overview of the Installation Process . 10 3.2 Back Up Your Existing Data! . 11 3.3 Information You Will Need . 11 3.3.1 Documentation . 11 3.3.1.1 Installation Manual . 11 3.3.1.2 Hardware documentation . 11 3.3.2 Finding Sources of Hardware Information . 11 3.3.3 Hardware Compatibility . 12 3.3.3.1 Testing hardware compatibility with a Live-System . 12 3.3.4 Network Settings . 13 3.4 Meeting Minimum Hardware Requirements . 13 3.5 Pre-Partitioning for Multi-Boot Systems . 14 3.6 Pre-Installation Hardware and Operating System Setup . 14 4 Obtaining System Installation Media 15 4.1 Official Debian GNU/Linux CD/DVD-ROM Sets . 15 4.2 Downloading Files from Debian Mirrors . 15 4.2.1 Where to Find Installation Images . 15 4.3 Preparing Files for TFTP Net Booting . 15 4.3.1 Setting up a DHCP server . 16 4.3.2 Setting up a BOOTP server . 16 4.3.3 Enabling the TFTP Server . 17 4.3.4 Move TFTP Images Into Place . 17 ii CONTENTS 4.4 Automatic Installation . 17 4.4.1 Automatic Installation Using the Debian Installer . 17 5 Booting the Installation System 18 5.1 Booting the Installer on 32-bit MIPS (little-endian) . 18 5.1.1 Booting with TFTP . 18 5.2 Accessibility.............................................. 18 5.2.1 Installer front-end . 18 5.2.2 Board Devices . 18 5.2.3 High-Contrast Theme . 18 5.2.4 Zoom . 18 5.2.5 Expert install, rescue mode, automated install . 18 5.2.6 Accessibility of the installed system . 19 5.3 Boot Parameters . 19 5.3.1 Boot console . 19 5.3.2 Debian Installer Parameters . 19 5.3.3 Using boot parameters to answer questions . 21 5.3.4 Passing parameters to kernel modules . 22 5.3.5 Blacklisting kernel modules . 22 5.4 Troubleshooting the Installation Process . 22 5.4.1 CD-ROM Reliability . 22 5.4.1.1 Common issues . 22 5.4.1.2 How to investigate and maybe solve issues . 23 5.4.2 Boot Configuration . 24 5.4.3 Interpreting the Kernel Startup Messages . 24 5.4.4 Reporting Installation Problems . 24 5.4.5 Submitting Installation Reports . 24 6 Using the Debian Installer 26 6.1 How the Installer Works . 26 6.1.1 Using the graphical installer . 26 6.2 Components Introduction . 27 6.3 Using Individual Components . 28 6.3.1 Setting up Debian Installer and Hardware Configuration . 28 6.3.1.1 Check available memory / low memory mode . 28 6.3.1.2 Selecting Localization Options . 29 6.3.1.3 Choosing a Keyboard . 30 6.3.1.4 Looking for the Debian Installer ISO Image . 30 6.3.1.5 Configuring the Network . 30 6.3.1.5.1 Automatic network configuration . 30 6.3.1.5.2 Manual network configuration . 30 6.3.1.5.3 IPv4 and IPv6 . 31 6.3.1.6 Configuring the Clock and Time Zone . 31 6.3.2 Setting Up Users And Passwords . 31 6.3.2.1 Set the Root Password . 31 6.3.2.2 Create an Ordinary User . 31 6.3.3 Partitioning and Mount Point Selection . 32 6.3.3.1 Supported partitioning options . 32 6.3.3.2 Guided Partitioning . 32 6.3.3.3 Manual Partitioning . 34 6.3.3.4.