debian-live-config
A Debian GNU/Linux live system/installer, preconfigured for generic personal computers/workstations.
To build your own Debian-based "distribution", you can edit the default configuration
Features
- Live system mode from USB/DVD (no installation required)
- Install a ready-to-use desktop system to the hard drive in less than ~10 minutes, without Internet access
- Preinstalled software for most office, multimedia, internet and configuration tasks (Xfce desktop environment)
- Sensible default configuration for personal computers
- Good compatibility with recent hardware
- Good performance/low resource usage low-end hardware, old/recycled machines, low power consumption
- Fits on a 2GB USB drive
- Based on Debian stable + backports, reliable, low maintenance
- 100% Free and Open-Source Software (with the exception of hardware drivers/firmware)
- Includes only official Debian software
Hardware Requirements
Computer with x86_64 CPU
Memory: min 1024MB, recommended 2GB+
Recommended storage: 15GB+ hard drive or SSD (operating system and programs), 10-∞GB (user data)
2GB+ USB drive or DVD-R for the installation media
Table of contents
- Download and verification
- Writing the bootable media
- Running the live system
- Installing the system
- Usage
- Maintenance
- Issues
- Changelog
- License
Download and verification
Download the latest ISO image
It is optional, but is strongly recommended to verify the ISO image to ensure downloaded files are valid and authentic. Download dlc-release.key, SHA512SUMS.sign and SHA512SUMS from the releases page, to the same directory as the iso file.
- Import the GPG key:
gpg --import dlc-release.key - Verify the authenticity of the checksums file:
gpg --verify SHA512SUMS.sign - Verify the integrity of the ISO image:
sha512sum -c SHA512SUMS
The key used to sign releases has the key ID 16C50725859EBE2DD1B22100BCC63E85387671B9.
Writing the bootable media
To USB - From Linux
- Insert a 2GB+ USB drive
- Right-click the ISO image file, and click
Open with ... > Disk image writer(requires gnome-disks) Caution, all data on the USB drive will be erased - Or, using the command line: Identify your USB drive device name (eg.
/dev/sdc) using thelsblkcommand; Write the ISO image to the drive usingsudo dd /path/to/live-image.iso /dev/sdXXX.
To USB - From Windows
- Insert a blank 2GB+ USB drive
- Download win32diskimager, extract it in a directory, then run the program.
Image file: select your ISO image.Device: Select your USB drive's drive letter.- Press
Write. Caution, all data on the USB drive will be erased
To DVD
- Select "burn a disk image" in your disk burning utility (Windows: InfraRecorder)
Virtualization
You can also run the system in a virtual machine on top of your existing system. In that case writing a bootable drive is not needed and you can simply load the .iso file in the virtual machine's CD drive. Free and open-source virtualization software includes virt-manager (Linux) or VirtualBox (Linux/MacOS/Windows).
Turn your computer off. Insert the bootable USB/DVD, and turn it back on. The computer should boot to the main menu where you are given the choice to start the Live system, or to install it permanently to your hard drive.
The boot menu will be displayed, allowing you to install the operating system or run it in Live mode.
| 💥 | If your computer does not boot to the DVD/USB, check that the computer BIOS/EFI boot configuration utility is configured to boot from CD/DVD or USB. |
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| 💥 | On some computers you need to disable secure boot before installing a Linux distribution. |
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Running the live system
A live system runs entirely in memory and allows you to use the operating system without installing it to your machine.
No changes to the Live filesystem are kept after reboot, (eg. files in user directories), the system will reset to it's original state when the computer is powered off/rebooted. Changes to files/directory on other drives (external/USB drive, existing fixed disk...) attached to the computer will be kept - save your work there if you need to keep your changes.
The screen will lock after 5 minutes of inactivity during the live session. The passord to unlock it is live.
Installing the system
Select Graphical install from the boot menu to install a permanent copy a of the system to your hard drive. Follow instructions from the installer.
| 💥 | Installation in UEFI boot mode is curently broken. Disable secure boot and enable legacy BIOS boot mode before running the installer. |
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| 💥 | The default drive partitioning configuration overwrites any previously installed operating system/data on the selected installation disk. To preserve your data, use manual partitioning in the installer, install to an empty disk, or backup your data to an external drive if needed. |
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Usage
Head to the Debian wiki for information on how to use your Debian/GNU Linux system.
Maintenance
- Apply software upgrades as soon as possible.
- Only install software from your package manager, do not run or install software or commands for untrusted sources.
- Backup your data periodically to an external storage using the Back In Time backup utility
- Only enter your administrator password to perform necessary system administration tasks.
- Use strong (long) passwords/phrases, do not reuse passwords for different services (use the a password manager).
- Use encrypted network communication protocols (HTTPS, SSH/SFTP, OTR, GPG...), use disk encryption.
- Minimize installed/running software.
- Keep your hardware in good condition.