The Basic install
15 April 2006I downloaded the Debian install DVDs from Debian.org. See my other post for details on how to download the DVDs. Before starting the install process, I made two new partitions - one Linux and one Linux swap. I use BootItNG so I was able to make the partitions before starting the install. If you don’t use a partition manager, most Linux installation media include one.
I booted using the Debian install DVD and a “normal’ install stared. First, some regional options appeared, then hardward detection started. That was followed by an attempt to set up a network connection. It tried to find an IP address using DHCP, which I don’t use and then offered the option to input manually an IP address, a network mask and a default gateway. Then it asks for a hostname and a domain name. I input a hostname, but ignored the domain name.
Now comes the partition options, which can be tricky. The install offers to find the largest amount of disk space and install there. I’d be carefull with that one. It also provides the option to erase existing disks and install there. Another option to watch out for. The last, and in my estimation best, option is to manually edit the partition table. Since I’d already created the necessary partitions, I didn’t need to do any more partitioning. But, I still had to select the partition and format it. Maybe that was because I had a previous version of Linux installed on that partition. After telling it to re-format, I selected the option to make changes and the partitioner finished and the Debian base system install started.
The install chugs along for several minutes and then you’re given the option to select a specific kernel. I selected the offered kernel - image-2.4-686. That is the last step in the initial install. You can now remove the install DVD and reboot the system from the hard drive.
After rebooting from the Hard Drive, there is another series of questions for setup - time, geographic region. Next, Debian wants to know where to get its package info. You can select from download sites on the internet or the install DVDs. If you’ve got a complete set of install DVDs or CDs, it’s probably best to use these in the beginning. Later, you can also do updates from the internet.
The next step in the configuration setup is to select which packages you want to install. The list includes: Desktop environment, Web server, Print server, DNS server, File server, Mail server, SQL database and manual package selection. I selected manual package selection, which takes you to the APT screen, which can very confusing for the first time Linux user.  From previous attempts at loading Linux, I knew that I only wanted to load the KDE package and the windows-system-core package. My goal is to load packages as I need them and to not get a lot of extra stuff installed without knowing what it is for. Even though I had some basic experience with APT (or Aptitude), it still took me several attempts to get everything installed correctly.
When installing these two packages, the first step is load all of the files that are going to be installed. You’ll be asked to insert the install DVD/CD and then there will be a long wait while all of the files are read and stored on the hard drive. Once this step is completed, all of the files are processed. Because the Desktop Environment installs the X-server, which manages the graphics part of Linux, you will be asked some configuration questions about your monitor, video card and mouse. Then, all of the newly installed files are processed. Again, there will be a long wait and you should hear a lot of disk access going on. The final message is important because it says if you want to run the base config again to run the base-config program.
After that, you’re given the option to quit the base install and when you say OK, you will see a Linux prompt, much like a DOS prompt. Again, after some research, I discovered that I needed to start one of the windows managers before any graphics would appear. You can usually start the graphics by typing KDM or XDM at the prompt. These are two programs that manage the graphics packages. During the install, you should have picked one of them to be the default, but either will work. If they don’t work, you can also try xstart, but that didn’t work for me.
The first couple of times that I tried to run KDM and XDM, neither worked. See my other post for details. Once I got past that, however, everything was finally up and running and I was able to log into Linux and see a desktop that was somewhat familiar to a Windows desktop. I’ll stop here with this posts. In future, posts I’ll talk about continuing to configure Linux to be able to do the “normal” types of tasks that we all do with our computers.
One Response to “The Basic install”
April 18th, 2006 at 10:46 pm
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