Installing 
3.0This is a simplified guide to installing Debian GNU/Linux 3.0
on an UK i386-based machine. Due to different hardware configurations some of
the steps
I have outlined may not appear. There is no mouse during the configuration use
the cursor keys to navigate and Tab to change fields. I chose Debian as
they take great pride in the stability and security of their distribution. They
don't rush and when you have installed it you end up with a very nice and if
you
wish feature packed and usable OS. I prefer to use this more as a Server OS
but due to the excellent apt-get and dselect you can easily set-up a nice desktop.
First of all if you haven't got it you can get it here: http://www.linuxiso.org/distro.php?distro=4 or here http://www.debian.org/CD/http-ftp/
3. Partitioning
4. Installation
5. Configuring your Installation
6. Installing and configuring packages
1. Ensure the BIOS is set to the following boot sequence:
· Floppy
· CD-ROM
· HDD-0
2. Insert the CD labeled“i386 Binary 1”
3. Reboot or power on the machine.
You will be faced with a screen that has:
“Welcome to Debian GNU/Linux 3.0!”
4. At the boot:prompt type "bf24" and press <ENTER>
The installation files will then decompress and you will be asked to choose the installation language
5. Choose the 7th option:
“en – Choose this and press Enter to proceed in English!”
6. Choose English (United Kingdom)
Some information about the installation will then be displayed, this may be interesting to some people but can be skipped.
7. Press <ENTER> to continue.
7a. Choose your type of Keyboard (qwerty/uk)
8. You can then proceed to partition the hard drive.
9. Setup is based on a 10GB installation space.
· Linux swap – 300MB
· Linux ext3 - / (root) – 3GB
· Linux ext3 - /var – 3GB
· Linux ext3 - /usr – Remaining
10. Firstly move down the “Partition Hard-Drive” option, it will prompt you to choose your desired drive (/dev/hda).
11. Press <Continue> when greeted with the LILO information.
ONLY DO THIS IF YOU ARE NOT DUAL-BOOTING WITH WINDOWS.
12. Delete any partitions that show up until you are left with just:
Pri/Log Free Space 10000
13. If you wish to dual-boot simple make the new partitions in the free space you have allocated for your Debian install.
14. Then select [New] – Primary – 300MB – Beginning
15. Then choose [Type] – 82 (Linux Swap)
16. Then select the remaining free space and [New] again.
Primary – 5000 – Beginning.
It should set itself to FS Type – Linux if not choose it using [Type] as before.
17. Repeat the same for the remaining free space.
18. Set the first “Linux” partition to bootable. (hda2)
19. Then select [Write] and type yes – then Enter.
20. The installer will then write the partition tables to the disk.
21. The select [Quit].
22. Choose “Initialize and Activate a Swap Partition”, choose the partition you created as swap space (/dev/hda1).
You can scan for bad blocks; this is optional but is recommended on a new drive and new installation.
23. Next choose “Initialize a Linux Partition” choose /dev/hda2: Linux native.
Again if you wish you can scan for bad blocks you may.
24. Mount this partition as your root (/) file system.
25. Then select “Alternate: Initialize a Linux Partition” - /dev/hda3
27. Select /usr for this partition.
28. Then “Install Kernel and Driver Modules”
29. Next the installation will tell you it found a Debian CD-Rom, select <Yes> and press enter to continue.
30. Next “Configure Device Driver Modules” and “Exit – Finished. Return to previous menu.”
31. Next “Configure the Network” Choose the host name for your new Debian PC. (Debian1 or Linux1 or something).
32. Ensure your network cable is plugged in and plugged into it’s source (switch/wall socket) Select <Yes> on Automatic Network Configuration IT will then tell you if it was successful, press <ENTER> to continue. (only works if there is an available DHCP server).
33. If this fails (No DHCP server) you can manually configure the network card. Choose an IP address within your private range (10.x.x.x or 192.168.x.x), your subnet mask (255.0.0.0 or 255.255.0.0) and your Internet gateway (normally the first machine on the network 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1). If you have a domain you can add the name of the domain and then add the name servers in order (usually just the IP of your gateway).
34. Next, “Install the Base System”. Choose CD-ROM as the installation medium.
35. Insert the first CD and press enter to build the library, press <ENTER> when it asks you to select the Archive Path.
The installation manager will then proceed to install the base packages.
36. Next “Make system Bootable”, select “Install LILO in the MBR”.
37. Select “Include: Put all into the menu” then <Continue>
20. Then follow instructions to make a Boot Floppy
21. Remove CD & Reboot system.
22. In the LILO boot menu select Linux (hda2). (This is option will only appear if you are dual-booting with windows).
The system will now tell you have successfully installed Debian, Press <Ok>.
23. “Configuring Console-data” Press <Ok>
24. Go to “Select Keymap from Arch List”, choose “QWERTY” then “British” then “Standard”
25. Select Time Zone info <Yes> then “Europe”, then “London”
26. If this is to be a stand-alone system enable Md5 passwords, if you are planning on connecting to a MS network select No.
27. Please ensure you ENABLE shadow passwords.
28. Enter a password for the root (super-user/administrator) account. Try and make this as complex as you can remember.
29. Following this you will be able to make an additional account to use for everyday activities (root should *ONLY* be used for administration purposes).
30. If you are connecting to a Windows network it’s easier if you make the login/password the same as your Windows Domain login/password.
31. If you are not installing on a Laptop, remove the PCMCIA
module from the Kernel.
32. If you are going to use some form of PPP/dial-up connection install PPP and follow relevant instructions. If not select <No>.
33. Chose CD-ROM for “Apt Configuration”.
34. Enter all CD’s you have available one after the other, following on-screen instructions to make the best possible Apt database (when it asks to “Scan another CD” select yes and put the next CD in the collection in). The full distribution is 7 CD’s.
35. Do not add any more Apt sources. If you have a direct Internet connection at this point then enable the security updates. (If you are within a LAN and your PC doesn't ‘face’ the net then it’s not so important).
36. Run Tasksel to install some required packages.
Installing and configuring packages
37. Use the space-bar and the cursor keys to select the following packages (if you know what you want then feel free to select/deselect these yourself, this is just a basic install). If you are using this for a server, such as SAMBA or e-mail only select C+ and C++, and Web Server.
End-user
-----------
[*] X window system
[*] Desktop environment
Servers
-----------
[*] File server
[*] Print server
[*] Web server
Development
-----------
[*] C and C++
Then use the TAB key to select Finish.
38. If you are an advanced user you may also wish to run dselect, this is quite a daunting application with the full 7 CD set scanned you can choose from over 8000 applications.
I would recommend not running dselect and using Debian Package Manager in Xwindows to tailor your install.
Depending on what you select it will ask you to insert various CD’s as it requires them.
39. Add a default mime handler for /*
40. Select the following locals in “Configuring Locales”
[*] en_GB ISO-8859-1
[*] en_GB.UTF-8 UTF-8
41. Which locale should be default? Choose “Leave alone”
42. Allow SSH protocol 2 only - <Yes> unless you are sure you need legacy SSH1 support.
43. For the next 2 SSH options select <Yes>
44. For the printer options select <Yes> then <Yes> and a4
45. Select “kdm” as the default display manager.
46. Select <Yes> for using FreeType2 support on Mozilla.
47. Choose “auto” for the dsp wrapper.
48. Click <Yes> and <Yes> for the wrapper config options.
49. Assuming you know your graphics chipset select the type/manufacturer from the list, if not leave it as “vesa”.
50. Select <Yes> for framebuffer.
51. Press <ENTER> then select your keyboard type (103, 104, 105 etc.), then uk for the keyboard layout then enter twice (leave them both blank).
52. Choose /dev/psaux for a PS/2 mouse. Then choose your type of mouse (just PS/2 for a standard no scroll mouse).
53. Select <No> on the next page unless you are using a laptop or LCD.
54. Choose medium on the next page and then choose your optimum video mode (1024x768 @ 70hz is a good all round option unless you have a large monitor).
55. Make sure the following are selected:
[*] 1600x1200
[*] 1280x1024
[*] 1024x768
[*] 800x600
[*] 640x480
56. Select 16 Bit-colour depth.
The installer will then proceed to unpack and configure all packages, configure any packages you have selected at install as desired.
You will be asked for such things as which to use as default for Ispell, US or British.
Ignore any errors that dpkg reports. They are normal due to 2 applications trying to listen on the same port, if you find anything is not working correctly afterwards you can fix it then.
You can then login at the login prompt and type “startx” to load Xwindows if it doesn’t start automagically.
All done!
Version 1.4 - Copyleft ShaolinTiger 2002 ©