Debian is a Linux distribution distinguished by its stability, security, and modularity. It allows you to build your operating system to your liking, choosing the applications you need, without unnecessary extras. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explain how to install Debian 11 step by step, starting with a minimal version and configuring it to your needs. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, you'll find all the information you need to successfully install Debian 11 here.
Here's an easy-to-follow video tutorial for installing Debian 11 !
How do I download Debian 11?
To install Debian 11, you need an ISO file, which is a system image to be burned onto removable media (CD, DVD, or USB drive). You can download this ISO file from the official Debian website or from a mirror. There are several types of ISO images:
- A minimal image (netinst): This contains only the basic utilities needed to start the installation. It requires an internet connection to download additional packages during installation. It is recommended if you want to customize your system as much as possible.
- A full image (DVD): This contains more packages and allows you to install the system without an internet connection. It is recommended if you want a ready-to-use system with common applications.
- A live image: this allows you to test Debian without installing it on your hard drive. It contains a desktop environment and a few applications. It also allows you to launch the installer from the live system.
You can choose the ISO image that corresponds to your hardware architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) and your connection type (Ethernet or Wi-Fi). You can also choose between several desktop environments (GNOME, KDE, Xfce, LXDE, etc.) if you opt for a full or live image.
Once you have downloaded the ISO image, you must verify its integrity using the SHA-256 hash of the original file. This ensures that the file is not corrupted or altered. You can use software such as 7-Zip or HashTab on Windows, or the `sha256sum` command on Linux.
How do I install Debian 11?
To install Debian 11, you need to burn the ISO image to removable media (CD, DVD, or USB drive) and boot your computer from that media. You can use software like Rufus or Etcher on Windows, or the dd command on Linux.
Once you have booted from the installation media, you must follow these steps:
- Choose the language, country, and keyboard you wish to use.
- Give your computer a name and choose a password for the root account, which is the system administrator.
Create a user account with a name and password.
- Partition your hard drive as needed. You can choose from several options: use the entire disk, use the disk with LVM (Logical Volume Manager), use the disk with encrypted LVM, or partition manually. If you're unsure, choose the first option.
- Configure your package manager (apt) by choosing a download source (a Debian mirror or a CD/DVD) and indicating whether you want to participate in the package popularity survey.
- Select the software you want to install. You can choose from several categories: desktop environment, web server, print server, file server, mail server, SSH server, and common utilities. If you chose a minimal image, you can leave everything blank and install the software later.
- Install the boot loader (GRUB) in the hard drive's boot sector. This will allow you to boot Debian on the next reboot.
- Complete the installation and restart your computer.
Congratulations, you have installed Debian 11! You can now enjoy your new operating system.
How to configure Debian 11?
After installing Debian 11, you can configure it according to your preferences and needs. Here are a few steps we recommend you follow:
- Check that your internet connection is stable and that you are not experiencing any network issues. If you encounter the error “Configuration incomplete due to limited connection”, consult this article to resolve it .
- Modify the sources.list file (/etc/apt/sources.list) to point to the Debian 11 repositories. You can also add the contrib and non-free repositories if you want access to packages that don't fully adhere to free software principles. Here's an example of a sources.list file:
deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bullseye main contrib non-free deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bullseye main contrib non-free deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bullseye-security main contrib non-free deb-src http://security.debian.org/debian-security bullseye-security main contrib non-free deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bullseye-updates main contrib non-free deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian bullseye-updates main contrib non-free
- Update the system using the following commands:
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade sudo apt full-upgrade
- Install the packages you need using the following command:
sudo apt install package-name
You can use the apt search command to search for a package by its name or description.
- Install a desktop environment if you don't already have one. You can choose from several options: GNOME, KDE, Xfce, LXDE, Cinnamon, MATE… For example, to install GNOME, use the command:
sudo apt install task-gnome-desktop
- Install sudo if you want to be able to run commands as root without having to enter the password each time. To do this, use the command:
su -c 'apt install sudo'
Then add your username to the sudo group with the command:
su -c 'adduser your-username sudo'
Log out and log back in for the changes to take effect.
- Install the proprietary drivers for your NVIDIA graphics card if you have one. To do this, use the following commands:
sudo apt install nvidia-driver sudo reboot
- Install Microsoft fonts if you want better compatibility with documents created in Windows. To do this, use the following command:
sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about Debian 11:
What is Debian?
Debian is a free operating system based on the Linux kernel. It has existed since 1993 and is developed by a community of volunteers. Debian aims to be a universal system, capable of running on various types of machines, from PCs and servers to smartphones and connected devices. Debian is characterized by its social contract philosophy, which guarantees adherence to free software principles, system quality, and transparent decision-making.
Debian offers three different versions:
- Stable: the production version of Debian, which prioritizes security and stability. It contains tested and proven packages, but they are often older. This is the recommended version for professional or critical use.
- Testing: This is the intermediate version of Debian, containing packages that have not yet been accepted into the stable version but are awaiting acceptance. It offers more recent versions of software but may contain bugs or incompatibilities. This version prepares the release of the next stable version.
- Unstable: the continuously evolving version of Debian, which receives the latest software updates. It is intended for advanced users who want to test new features or contribute to the project. It can be unstable or broken at any time.
How do I change the version of Debian (stable, testing or unstable)?
To change your Debian version, you need to edit the sources.list file (/etc/apt/sources.list) and replace the codename of the current version (bullseye) with the codename of the desired version (buster for stable, bookworm for testing, or sid for unstable). Then you need to update the system with the following commands:
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade sudo apt full-upgrade
Warning: This operation is irreversible. You cannot revert to a previous version without reinstalling the system.
How do I install software that is not in the official Debian repositories?
To install software that is not in the official Debian repositories, you have several options:
- Add third-party repositories to your sources.list file (/etc/apt/sources.list) if the software you want to install is available in a Debian-compatible repository. For example, to install Google Chrome, you can add the following repository:
deb [arch=amd64] http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
Then you need to import the repository key using the command:
wget -q -O - https://dl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -
Then you can install the software with the command:
sudo apt update sudo apt install google-chrome-stable
- Download the .deb file of the software you want to install from the developer's official website or from a third-party site. For example, to install Skype, you can download the .deb file from https://www.skype.com/fr/get-skype/. Then you can install the software with the command:
sudo dpkg -i filename.deb
- Compile the software from source code if the developer provides it. To do this, you must download the source code archive from the developer's official website or a third-party site. For example, to install GIMP, you can download the source code archive from https://www.gimp.org/downloads/. Then you must extract the archive using the command:
tar xvf archive-name.tar.gz
Then you need to enter the extracted folder using the command:
cd folder-name
Then you must follow the instructions in the README or INSTALL file to compile and install the software. Generally, you need to run the following commands:
./configure make sudo make install
How do I update Debian 11?
To update Debian 11, you need to run the following commands:
sudo apt update sudo apt upgrade sudo apt full-upgrade
The first command updates the list of packages available in the repositories. The second command updates installed packages that have a new version available. The third command updates installed packages that have a new version available and require the installation or removal of other packages.
How do I uninstall Debian 11?
To uninstall Debian 11, you have several options:
- Reinstalling another operating system on your hard drive, overwriting Debian 11. To do this, you must boot from an installation medium of the operating system you wish to install and follow the instructions.
- Format your hard drive by deleting all partitions. To do this, you can use software such as GParted or fdisk under Linux, or Diskpart under Windows.
- Keep Debian 11 and install another operating system in a dual-boot configuration. To do this, you must shrink the Debian 11 partition using software such as GParted or fdisk on Linux, or Diskpart on Windows. Then, you must create a new partition for the operating system you wish to install. Finally, you must boot from the installation media of the desired operating system and follow the instructions.
