Installing Debian Sid, the cutting-edge unstable branch, offers access to the latest software packages but comes with the understanding of potential instability. For users seeking a minimalist installation with maximum control, the mini.iso net installer is an excellent choice. This step-by-step guide outlines the process for a direct installation of Debian Sid using the minimal ISO.
First, you’ll need to obtain the mini.iso image for your architecture (usually amd64) from the Debian mirrors and create a bootable medium, such as a USB drive. Ensure you have a stable internet connection, as almost everything will be downloaded during the installation.
Boot your computer from the created media. You’ll be presented with a simple text-based installer interface. The initial steps involve selecting your language, country, and keyboard layout. These choices help the installer configure locale settings and connect to appropriate mirrors.
Next, the installer will attempt to configure your network. This typically involves DHCP to automatically get an IP address. If you need a static IP, you can configure it manually here. A successful network setup is critical as the installer will download the entire system from the internet.
You will then be asked to choose a Debian archive mirror. Selecting a mirror geographically close to you can speed up downloads. This is a vital step before partitioning and installing the base system.
Disk partitioning is one of the most crucial steps. You can choose guided partitioning (which offers options like using the entire disk, setting up LVM, or encrypted partitions) or manual partitioning for complete control. For a typical setup, you’ll need at least a root partition (/) and often a swap partition. Carefully review your partition scheme before proceeding, as this step will erase data on the selected partitions.
After partitioning, the installer will format the chosen partitions and begin installing the base system. This process downloads and installs the fundamental components required for a minimal Debian environment.
Following the base system installation, you will configure users. This involves setting the root password (use a strong password) and creating a regular user account. It’s generally recommended to use the regular user account for daily tasks and use sudo for administrative privileges rather than logging in as root directly.
The installer proceeds to the software selection phase. Here, you can choose package groups to install, such as a desktop environment (like GNOME, KDE, Xfce), a web server, an SSH server, etc. For a minimal Sid installation, you might choose to deselect everything initially and install only what you need manually after the first boot.
Finally, you need to install the GRUB boot loader onto your primary drive (usually /dev/sda for traditional BIOS systems or the appropriate EFI partition). This allows your computer to boot into your newly installed Debian Sid system.
After the boot loader installation completes, the installer will finalize some settings. You can then finish the installation and reboot your computer. Remember to remove the installation media.
Upon booting into your new system, log in with the user account you created. The very first step should be to open a terminal and update the package list using sudo apt update. Then, perform a full system upgrade with sudo apt full-upgrade. Be prepared for many packages to be downloaded and installed, and carefully read any prompts or warnings during the upgrade process, as Sid is a rapidly changing distribution. You can then proceed to install any additional software or a desktop environment if you skipped that step during the initial installation using sudo apt install [package-name].
Installing Debian Sid via mini.iso provides a lean, mean, and flexible base system, allowing you to build your desired environment from the ground up with the very latest software. It requires careful attention to each step but rewards the user with a tailored, bleeding-edge operating system.
Source: https://linuxblog.io/direct-install-debian-sid-rolling-release-using-mini-iso-w-screenshots/
