On Sun, Nov 08, 2026 at 12:45:43PM -0500, Karen Lewellen wrote: > Hi Andrew, > One correction from another post, and a kind nudge before I work through > this later. <snip> > My note for you Andrew is this. > Neither my DOS computer, or my shellworld service is important to installing > a Linux on a different machine that will serve as a shell. > to compare, my employer, curtain up distribution, > www.curtainupdistribution.org > Uses dreamhost > www.dreamhost.com > who provide shells as a part of their hosting services..something I have > been accessing, almost daily, for more than a decade now. > I appreciate You profoundly Andy, but please do not make it harder for the > person local, but not Linux, to do this by making it about adaptive > technology. > Right :) That's what I wanted to hear and why I wanted to know *exactly* what you might need.
As Tomas has suggested - a desktop/tower computer with an thernet adapter should do fine. If your engineer is _only_ a Windows guy, there is a Greater Toronto Area Linux Group - https://linuxassociation.ca/community-detail.php?slug=greater-toronto-area-linux-user-group-gtalug - who might also be able to provide advice. DebianInstaller page on the Debian wiki at https://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/CreateUSBMedia suggests using Rufus in dd mode to write the USB stick to install from. Change the boot order in BIOS/firmware to reference the USB stick first to boot from. Text mode installer and follow the prompts, essentially. A blank root password (no passwords entered for the root account) will mean that you need to use the sudo command to become root. Read up on sudo if you need to. Tasksel suggests tasks to install with a checkbox mark next to them. Hitting the spacebar toggles the selection off/on. Unselect (turn off) Debian desktop and GNOME desktop and select SSH server Follow on - take defaults for disk partitioning - do be careful not to format the USB stick itself. It's all relatively self explanatory. What you do once the base install is made is entirely up to you. > Does that resonate? > My goal, for a non Linux, but very sighted engineer, is some recipe > instructions for installing a Debian console or shell, instead of a > graphical desktop. > > You are still a prince too, > Kare > > With every good wish, as ever, Andrew Cater ([email protected]) > > On Sat, 7 Nov 2026, Andrew M.A. Cater wrote: > > > On Sat, Nov 07, 2026 at 04:41:39PM -0500, Karen Lewellen wrote: > > > Hi all, > > > As I move closer to this effort, I am fielding questions / comments from > > > the > > > engineer who will actually do the heavy lifting...but who has never > > > installed Linux before. > > > > > > > Hi Karen, > > > > I suggest you try and find someone closer to you to help. > > > > Let's try and break this down a fraction: > > > > 1. You have an existing system - running DOS, using Wordperfect and DECtalk > > or another hardware voice synthesiser. > > > > 2. You've had an account with shellworld for many years. Shellworld > > started prior to 2001 and has been providing text mode services for > > many years. You are a happy user there and don't want to become a > > Linux system administrator on your own account. > > > > 3. You reach your account at shellworld via SSH and (I'm guessing here) > > a menu system at the far end? > > > > 4. You're now in a position where you need the services to run for you > > - just as they did on shellworld - and you're hoping that a Linux > > machine set up will help you. > > > > Can you give us all a bit more clarity please / tell me whether I'm > > right or not? > > > > Having run this way for about 30 years, you have your own needs > > and can't throw away the systems you've gotten used to but it's > > a confusing world out there. Am I right? > > > > An install designed for blind users *can* be done without the need > > for sight / Braille. A voice will read out text. The voice is horrible > > but if the install succeeds, then you end up with Linux speech output and > > a Mate basic desktop. > > > > The Debian-accessibility list is also worth asking - but the blind/VI > > users there can also be opinionated/partial to their own solutions > > sometimes. > > > > All the very best, as ever, > > > > Andy Cater > > ([email protected]) > > > > > > > One of them I hope I answered correctly. > > > Debian still provides a variety of drivers for hardware, making it less > > > likely one need hunt down a Linux edition of things, is that correct? > > > I am referring to say onboard sound, and built in Ethernet > > > infrastructure. > > > I feel this differs from say finding a packet driver for a card, something > > > often needed in DOS. > > > > > > Second, are there specific install options clearly intended for the cli > > > interface? > > > Meaning, in the install process, you can choose which..desktop if You > > > will, > > > is intended? > > > > > > As a quick reminder, I will be accessing this machine via a creative ssh > > > door. My hope is to find a shell or cli environment, with the programs I > > > require using. > > > Does the question make sense? > > > > > > Kare > > > > > > > > >
