How to Perform a Network Installation of Debian

Debian is one of the oldest and most respected Linux distributions, known for its stability, versatility, and large software repository. Whether you’re setting up a lightweight server or a full-featured desktop, Debian offers the flexibility to tailor the system precisely to your needs. One of the most efficient ways to install Debian is via a network installation.

A network installation (netinst) involves downloading a minimal ISO image, which includes only the installer and a few essential files. During installation, the rest of the system is downloaded directly from Debian mirrors over the internet. This method not only ensures you install the most up-to-date packages but also allows for a smaller initial download size.

In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to perform a network installation of Debian—from preparing your system to post-installation tasks.

Why Choose a Network Installation?

Before diving into the steps, it’s worth understanding the benefits of a netinst approach:

• Smaller initial download: The netinst ISO is typically under 500 MB.
• Fresh packages: You get the latest packages from the repositories instead of those bundled on a full ISO.
• Custom installs: Select only the packages and environments you need.
• Flexible and scalable: Great for both personal computers and enterprise environments.

Prerequisites

To perform a successful Debian network installation, you’ll need:

• A computer or virtual machine to install Debian on.
• Stable internet connection (wired preferred during installation).
• Debian netinst ISO downloaded from the official site.
• Bootable installation media (USB/DVD) or a virtual CD drive.
• Basic knowledge of Linux and partitioning (helpful but not strictly necessary).

Step 1: Download the Debian Netinst ISO

Start by downloading the network installation ISO image:

• Visit: https://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst
• Choose the appropriate architecture:
  • amd64 for most modern 64-bit systems.
  • i386 for older 32-bit systems.
• Download either the standard netinst ISO or one with non-free firmware (useful for systems with proprietary Wi-Fi drivers).

Tip: If you’re unsure about firmware support, go with the “unofficial” ISO that includes non-free firmware:
https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/

Step 2: Create Bootable Media

Once you have the ISO file, you need to create bootable installation media.

For USB (Using Rufus, Etcher, or dd)

• Windows: Use Rufus to create a bootable USB.
• Linux/macOS: Use the dd command or Etcher.

Example using dd on Linux/macOS:

sudo dd if=debian-12.5.0-amd64-netinst.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress

Replace /dev/sdX with your USB device identifier. Be cautious: using the wrong device can wipe important data.

Step 3: Boot the Target System

• Insert the USB or DVD into the target system.
• Reboot and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (commonly via F2, Del, Esc, or F12).
• Change the boot order so the USB or DVD boots first.
• Save and reboot.

You should now see the Debian installer boot menu.

Step 4: Start the Network Installation

Choose one of the following installation methods:

• Graphical install – More user-friendly and intuitive (ideal for beginners).
• Install – Text-based installer, useful for low-resource systems.

Let’s walk through the graphical method, although both follow similar steps.

Step 5: Choose Language, Location, and Keyboard

The installer will prompt you to:

• Select a language.
• Choose your location/time zone.
• Pick a keyboard layout.

These options affect your locale settings and keyboard input method.

Step 6: Configure the Network

The installer attempts to automatically detect and configure your network.

• Wired connections are typically configured via DHCP.
• If using Wi-Fi:
  • Select your wireless network.
  • Enter the passphrase.
  • If your Wi-Fi device requires firmware, the installer may prompt you to load it from a USB stick.

Tip: If you’re having trouble with Wi-Fi, consider using the firmware-including ISO mentioned earlier.

Step 7: Set Hostname and Domain

You’ll now set:

• Hostname: This identifies your machine on a network. E.g., debian-pc.
• Domain name: Optional for home users, useful in organizational networks.

Step 8: Set Root and User Passwords

• Root password: Set a strong password or leave it empty to disable the root account (recommended for better security).
• Create a regular user account with a secure password.

Best practice: Don’t use the same password for root and the user.

Step 9: Partition Disks

You can let Debian handle partitioning or do it manually.

Guided Partitioning

• Choose Guided – use entire disk if you’re okay with Debian taking over the entire drive.
• Choose LVM (Logical Volume Manager) for flexible disk management.
• Choose encrypted LVM for full disk encryption.

Manual Partitioning

• Ideal for dual-boot setups or custom partition schemes.
• Create partitions like:
  • /boot (500 MB – 1 GB)
  • / (20–50 GB)
  • swap (size based on RAM)
  • /home (remaining space)

Step 10: Select Package Mirror

The installer will now connect to a Debian package mirror to download software.

• Choose your country.
• Select a mirror (e.g., deb.debian.org).
• If you’re behind a proxy, enter the proxy address.

Step 11: Configure the Package Manager

The installer will prompt about:

• Popularity contest: This sends anonymous usage statistics to Debian. Opt-in is optional.

Next, choose the desktop environment:

• GNOME (default)
• KDE Plasma
• XFCE
• LXDE
• MATE
• Cinnamon
• Or no desktop environment (for servers or minimal installs)

You can also install standard system utilities and an SSH server at this stage.

Step 12: Install the GRUB Bootloader

GRUB is the default bootloader for Debian.

• Choose to install GRUB to the primary drive’s MBR or EFI partition (usually /dev/sda or /dev/nvme0n1).
• If you’re dual-booting, make sure GRUB detects your other OS.

Step 13: Finish Installation and Reboot

The installer will wrap up the process and prompt you to:

• Remove the installation media.
• Reboot the system.

Upon reboot, GRUB should load, and you can select Debian to start.

Step 14: Post-Installation Tasks

Congratulations! Debian is now installed. Here are some useful post-installation tasks:

1. Update the System

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

2. Enable sudo (if not already)

If you didn’t enable sudo during installation:

su -
apt install sudo
usermod -aG sudo your_username

Then log out and log back in.

3. Install Additional Software

Some common packages to install:

sudo apt install build-essential curl git vim gnome-tweaks synaptic

For a minimal desktop setup:

sudo apt install lightdm xfce4 xfce4-goodies

4. Configure Firewall

sudo apt install ufw
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw allow ssh

5. Set up Backups and Restore Points

Use rsync, Timeshift, or your preferred tool to regularly back up your system.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Wi-Fi not working: Use the non-free firmware ISO or install drivers post-install (firmware-iwlwifi, network-manager).
• Black screen after boot: Try adding nomodeset to GRUB boot parameters.
• GRUB issues: Boot into live media and use boot-repair or manually chroot to reinstall GRUB.

Conclusion

Performing a network installation of Debian is a streamlined and flexible way to get up and running with one of the most powerful Linux distributions available. Whether you’re setting up a personal desktop, a development environment, or a production server, the netinst method ensures you start with the latest packages and minimal bloat.

By following this guide, you not only gain insight into the installation process but also learn foundational Linux skills along the way. Debian’s wide community support and comprehensive documentation make it a great choice for users at all levels.