Debian GNU / Linux on (I) Hello again.
Yes, contrary to what most of you ever come around here you might think, continue with life and activity. And this time there will be any difference in my article, with previous ones.
Because I have always previously expressed opinions, impressions, ideas, experiences ... This time we realize something. Because they say that the movement louder than words. And I always talk about the virtues of free software and GNU / Linux philosophy ... had to do something concrete about it.
So that, in this article, I will explain how to install and configure a Debian distribution, which in my humble opinion, after having tried many different distros, is the best thing in this world. Many users avoid having a complex, others see it has a somewhat outdated programs. If you are someone who only see the disadvantage of difficulty, and you have a computer over a year, I will explain some simple steps through which you can have a fully functional Debian. And notice I say it, because that's how you will stay.
First, get the CD. I recommend you get the CD directly from your page, http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/5.0.4/i386/iso-cd/
Here is that many CDs to choose from. I recommend only the first CD. And we will download, in addition, the standard architecture for i386. I do not recommend the AMD64 architecture in general, deemed adequate for 64-bit computers, such as Core2Duo and AMDs. It is not just a home user appreciable performance improvement, and there are some limitations on compatibility (remember that most programs are programmed for 32-bit, and then you have to adapt to 64), plus it almost doubles the memory consumption.
also recommend getting the Live CD version 5.0.2 of Debian with the Gnome desktop. This CD will allow us to boot from your computer itself, and see, without changing anything on your hard drive, how such a system might work on your machine. This, of course, always a rough impression, once installed, the performance improves very significantly, we Castilianized (Live in English) as well as other drivers may be obtained for some devices and many other programs. This CD can be found in:
http://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/5.0.2-live/i386/iso-cd/ If you are running on a windows (well, and any other ), please note that you download is a disk image, and as such will have to record it, it's a mistake to save it as data CD. Looking specifically the option to "burn disc image." We must create a bootable disk.
Now we have to do what we want is our Debian on your computer. We can choose to be the only system, or live with others (eg, windows), so that the boot would choose the system that we operate in that session. In the first case, it is all very simple, in the second, we must ensure that there is an unpartitioned space on your disk, or a full partition we can get. To do this, we must use partitions programs out there: partition magic, gparted (I recommend this one, which also work well, is free. Of course, as always, download it from its original site and also make a disk image as we do with Debian). We found here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/gparted/files/gparted-live-stable/Oldfiles/0.4.6-1/ Of course, a warning for users of Windows Vista. This "great" system is primarily distrustful and it checks the status of your partitions to shut down, and when you reboot, make sure to stay well, because if not, will not start. It is very important to take this into account. In this case, we can only achieve that by reducing free space partition from within the view (of course, the space that frees us is minimal). Unless, of course, may know an external tool that can circumvent this control. Otherwise, refrain from using this external partitioned windows vista. And another warning: right now know how this issue in the just out Windows 7. It is very probable that the situation is the same as for hearing, and remember that the precautionary principle is central to these tasks.
More warnings and recommendations: if you intend to "start from scratch" to Windows and GNU / Linux and maybe then remove GNU / Linux a while, keep in mind the following. Always install windows first, because when you install Windows deletes the previous boot loaders are. If we put first our GNU / Linux and then Windows, Windows will remove the boot GNU / Linux and we can not access it. And it's not easy to restore the boot, theoretically yes it is, but there are always problems.
And if you want without deleting the GNU / Linux and return to windows for whatever reason, remember before deleting anything, go into windows and recover its own bootloader. This is critical because the Grub multiboot manager for GNU / Linux installs us. Is multiboot, but "managed" from GNU / Linux, and if none is found, it will not work and will not start anything. Is simple: here, for example, tells us how:
http://www.principiantes.info/winxp/recuperar_sector_arranque.php At this moment we have the desired space, either through our external partitioner, or through the tool to resize partitions in Windows Vista via CDLive decided to try what may be our future Debian system. Pluck the computer then from the Live CD that we have also downloaded and built. Surely you can do it smoothly. But you may have to change the boot order in bios. As you know, in the system bios (which is accessed as systems, f1, f2, f10, f11, f12 right when you turn on your computer) can define the order of devices you have to check the computer to boot . We can tell you, first check the CD or floppy disk instead of drive. In some models, simply f10, f11 or f12 is stopped and select boot drive to boot. We will ensure, in any way, you try to boot first from our Debian Live CD.
It is important to see that work as basic issues such as sound, graphics acceptable resolution, and network connection via cable (later we can get drivers for the wifi, if we need it). If this does not succeed, you better not go ahead with the process, unless we are prepared to fight whatever it takes, because we can play a tough battle against the machine.
sound Just remember that there are times that apparently does not work, but acting in the audio controls can get enabled.
Once we have tested the live and convinces us the option to install, and have the desired space, I recommend they be at least 20 GB (lo que es el sistema en sí puede ocuparnos unas 5 GB) para hacer un uso normal del futuro sistema, y hemos probado el CD Live satisfactoriamente, Hacemos esta vez que arranque el sistema desde el CD de instalación. Volvemos a tener en cuenta las cuestiones anteriormente citadas para arrancar desde un CD.
Y comenzamos el proceso de instalación propiamente dicho. En primer lugar, seleccionaremos la opción de instalación más estándar (podemos elegir, si así lo deseamos, la instalación gráfica; pero no va a aportarnos ninguna ventaja práctica). Nos hará, entonces, elegir pequeñas opciones como lenguaje, país, teclado... aquí elegimos las opciones estándar: Español, Spain, English (unless you have a special keyboard that you know what, you can always try and change it later.) We continue with the machine name that we like. Domain, generally do not have to put anything except to talk about a network system and / or servers will not be the case of those who follow this guide. The time zone will be ours. But beware, because when we talk of UTC, in our case the answer is "no."
continue with the final partitioning. Here we define the actual end of our partitions. Note that, while you are defining it, it will not write anything until I confirm it. Therefore, we can prove again back, redo everything, etc. until the final moment when we write changes to disk. Normally it is recommended the proposal for partition guided split for / home. This is very interesting because they are going to do our data user on a different partition of the system.
If the space for our Debian system is very small (about 10 or 15 GB) is reasonable that we all on the same partition, only the addition of the swap partition.
sometimes occurs, especially on machines with much RAM, the swap partition that generates is huge. This does not interest us, since the swap is just a kind of auxiliary memory in the computer hard disk used in case of not having enough RAM. Traditionally it is considered reasonable that the swap would double the RAM, and is likely to Debian, automatically try to award them this amount of swap. But in terms of, for example, 3 GB of RAM, 6 GB of swap is a waste, 6 GB are probably not used before. If you still do not care, because we have a huge drive, then perfect. But if we change that we have to make manual changes to those pre-defined partitions.
Once we already have this in mind, we send you will proceed and there and everything changed. Always remember that a partition that is susceptible to modify data loss, which should Always make a backup before their content. To this end, the best thing is to always have an external hard drive large capacity which can dump the information.
At this point, we are asked to set up users and passwords. Usually define the root password or system administrator, and then an ordinary user with its corresponding key. This is because the user root or administrator will use it only for administrative tasks where necessary. It is convenient to use as usual. Using the "common user" avoid problems of accidental deletion or alteration of configuration files and other important for the proper functioning system, because the user lacks permissions to perform such tasks.
Now we have to select a network mirror. From it we "fed", ie, programs will install our system. If we are in Spain, it is not recommended, contrary to what might appear, the server of Spain, as it usually gives multiple errors. I usually always choose a server in France (his first choice), although it is interesting that in Germany and Finland (also in their first choices). I do not know what might be of interest to those you are in the Americas.
Normally, as in the case of the domain, someone who do not use this guide a proxy, so leave this field blank. And after this, we and the selection of programs.
here depends on what you want. For a desktop, I recommend leaving it as is, which is often selected "desktop system" and "standard system". If you have a laptop, it is interesting to also select the option referred to laptops. And here is where will the bulk of the installation of the system and will take their time in making it.
And we finalized the basic installation process. After this, we asked if we want to put grub in the master boot sector. We say yes, generally. If barajásemos option is to create a boot diskette to boot Linux only when we fire the corresponding computer diskette in, we would say not, and to ask ourselves where we want to start, I would say that in "/ dev/fd0 "(We explained, however, we read in the options). That will create a boot disk (obviously, we will have then a diskette into the floppy usable, it will create it at the time).
Once you create the grub in one place or another, we will have completed the installation as such. The grub (if you've put in the master boot sector) will create a menu that makes it possible to choose between different operating systems you have identified is in the machine. We say that going to restart, and remember to remove the CD so that no longer boot from it because otherwise try to repeat the whole process that we have done!
At this point, we have a usable Debian system. In future editions, we will go becoming fully functional. Congratulations to the intrepid courage you have tried this process.
Greetings and see you in the next installment. Good
