Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
On Mon, Mar 11, 2013 at 09:32:59AM +1100, Zenaan Harkness wrote: Perhaps there's a marketing opportunity: Instead of netinst.iso perhaps damn-thats-minimal.iso Might get confused with Damn Small Linux. -- If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. --- Malcolm X -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20130311061124.GB12160@tal
Re: Refining the question - was [Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install]
On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 09:04:12AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote: There may be some 386 machines (dealing with those on a case by case basis would be feasible). Unless I'm very much mistaken, for 386, you'll have to look at BSD. -- If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing. --- Malcolm X -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20130311061721.GC12160@tal
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 3:22 PM, Bob Proulx b...@proulx.com wrote: Kelly Clowers wrote: Bob Proulx wrote: Tom H poked me that the netinst image can be used without a network. It is 168M and much smaller than the full CD#1. I just did an install test using it in Expert mode and was able to verify that it is indeed possible to use the smaller netinst image on a system without a network. Using Expert mode and manual selections it was possible to install and avoid seeing any errors. That is how I always install, I never install more packages than what is on the netinst cd till after a reboot. I guess I figured everyone knew. I think that ex-pats coming from other distros don't realize this because most other distros, I'm looking at you RH, don't really give the option to only install a subset. The installer there is really designed to give you very large chunks. GNOME, KDE, Software Development, large chunks like those are selectable or not in the installer. Sure you can unselect any of those but the resulting system is still quite large. If people are used to that then they never think that other systems might be different. Fedora's Anaconda allows you to install a minimum system and allows you to choose from far more yum groups that d-i allows you to choose from tasksel tasks. You can also customize the packages within a group. Fedora also has a netinst iso that's equivalent in functionality to Debian's businesscard iso. I pointed out to the OP in a thread that he started a few months ago - on the same recurring topic - that the size of the installer has no effect on the size of the install. Furthermore, since he has purchased a set of Debian DVDs, he has no reason to use any other iso! -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/CAOdo=sw+ryfszlnshyw7vktbehobpfesah3dmk1-8wy07qc...@mail.gmail.com
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
Tom H wrote: I pointed out to the OP in a thread that he started a few months ago - on the same recurring topic - that the size of the installer has no effect on the size of the install. I agree and appreciate the help you and many others have been giving me. Furthermore, since he has purchased a set of Debian DVDs, he has no reason to use any other iso! I disagree with your conclusion ;} I don't express my self well in writing. I still pursue a small iso to satisfy my overall goals. I wish there were viable user groups nearer than a 2-3 hour drive each way. Being able to sit down over a pizza or two would solve many communication issues. [I live in Springfield MO. Nearest active groups I know of are in Kansas City and Columbia.] Once again, I appreciate the help I continue to receive. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/513de2cd.6090...@cloud85.net
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
On Mon, 2013-03-11 at 08:57 -0500, Richard Owlett wrote: I wish there were viable user groups nearer than a 2-3 hour drive each way. Being able to sit down over a pizza or two would solve many communication issues. [I live in Springfield Yes, regarding to the German Wiki, there's no user group in your neighbour city, http://simpsonspedia.net/index.php?title=Shelbyville . -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/1363012568.631.61.camel@archlinux
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
On Sat, Mar 9, 2013 at 3:45 PM, Bob Proulx b...@proulx.com wrote: Bob Proulx wrote: Richard Owlett wrote: Installation iso on a CD or flash drive as desired. ( target iso size is ~100MB, smaller if possible) AFAIK Debian CD#1 is the smallest fully standalone install supported. But at the time that you are committed to booting from cdrom then might as well commit to a fully populated cdrom. In for a penny, in for a pound. I am sure there are contributed installation media that are smaller and standalone. Anyone could put in the effort to create one. Tom H poked me that the netinst image can be used without a network. It is 168M and much smaller than the full CD#1. I just did an install test using it in Expert mode and was able to verify that it is indeed possible to use the smaller netinst image on a system without a network. Using Expert mode and manual selections it was possible to install and avoid seeing any errors. That is how I always install, I never install more packages than what is on the netinst cd till after a reboot I guess I figured everyone knew. Cheers, Kelly -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/CAFoWM=8tdydnfkyq6unuekvk9dlxibb5ypapp_2wtdi-dgy...@mail.gmail.com
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
On Sat, Mar 9, 2013 at 6:45 PM, Bob Proulx b...@proulx.com wrote: Bob Proulx wrote: AFAIK Debian CD#1 is the smallest fully standalone install supported. But at the time that you are committed to booting from cdrom then might as well commit to a fully populated cdrom. In for a penny, in for a pound. I am sure there are contributed installation media that are smaller and standalone. Anyone could put in the effort to create one. Tom H poked me that the netinst image can be used without a network. It is 168M and much smaller than the full CD#1. I just did an install test using it in Expert mode and was able to verify that it is indeed possible to use the smaller netinst image on a system without a network. Using Expert mode and manual selections it was possible to install and avoid seeing any errors. At this point I can only assume that it is possible to use netinst image with the appropriate preseeds for an automated installation. I haven't tried it. Seems like it should work okay. Thanks Tom for the prodding! :-) You're welcome. I used the squeeze netinst with preseed earlier today. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/CAOdo=sxf2ydxtngdekz1h5tzdqcfe4mnh59u_m4u2k0wz97...@mail.gmail.com
Refining the question - was [Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install]
Thank you for the replies received. They made clear that I had not adequately separated background information, physical constraints, preferences, and ideas on what solution should look like [for want of better term - the aesthetics of the solution]. I will take my cue from Brian's reply which began I'll respond to what is in the subject line. The strongest physically imposed constraint - no networking capability for target machine. This has three sub-categories. Some machines have no networking hardware installed. In other cases no network infrastructure exists. Connectivity on my home machines is via a 56k modem. The next next issue is CPU and memory. My home machines are GHz dual core with GBytes of ram etc. However there are donated machines at church that I wish to migrate from OSes as old as Win95. I know I'll have to deal with 486 machines. There may be some 386 machines (dealing with those on a case by case basis would be feasible). How to define minimal install? ;/ There's a motivational component. My first exposure to Linux was thru Ubuntu and Debian Live CD's. Using them or installing from them provided a cluttered system with lots of programs which I would never use and CRITICAL software not available [neither could connect to internet via dial-up so relevant software being in repository was irrelevant]. I investigated several Live CD's promoted as being small and friendly. They were that and demonstrated that what I wanted was feasible but they lacked support and applications I wanted. But they got me asking some of the right questions. There is the philosophical component. Smaller tends to be better. Don't install what will not be used. At one point it was suggested that I just remove undesired applications. I noticed that removing did not reproduce never installed. Seems a guarantee of getting bit later. Some the replies have prompted me to reinvestigate starting from the netinst. It may be much more feasible than I though when it was first suggested months ago. I've since done 15-20 installs on my for experimentation only machine. I purposely do some things the hard way as my intention is to learn the guts of Linux. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/513c92dc.6030...@cloud85.net
Re: Refining the question - was [Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install]
On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 09:04:12AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote: The next next issue is CPU and memory. My home machines are GHz dual core with GBytes of ram etc. However there are donated machines at church that I wish to migrate from OSes as old as Win95. I know I'll have to deal with 486 machines. There may be some 386 machines (dealing with those on a case by case basis would be feasible). You might want to look into LTSP. You configure a server (could be a 5-year-old desktop machine) and diskless thin clients (could be something as old as a 486) boot from that server. Networking is required, but internet is not. (Internet access may be required during initial configuration fo the server). The thin clients (old computers) run an X server and not much else. They display applications that are being processed on the server. I've used it for years and it works pretty well for everything except watching videos, which tends to saturate the network. Some the replies have prompted me to reinvestigate starting from the netinst. It may be much more feasible than I though when it was first suggested months ago. I've since done 15-20 installs on my for experimentation only machine. I purposely do some things the hard way as my intention is to learn the guts of Linux. You can definitely use the netinst cd to get a minimal system. Just uncheck all the software groups when it gives you an option to do so. Typically desktop environment and standard system will be checked automatically. You can uncheck both of them. There is a smaller installation CD called the businesscard CD. I'm not sure if it contains everything you need for a minimal system, or if it requires downloading packages from the internet. -Rob -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20130310142430.gc15...@aurora.owens.net
Re: Refining the question - was [Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install]
On Sunday 10 March 2013 14:04:12 Richard Owlett wrote: How to define minimal install? ;/ [snip] Richard - had you thought of the Debian Business Card installer? Even smaller and nearer to minimal than the netinstall CD. And there is a nice howto: http://www.debiantutorials.org/talkitup/archive.php/archive.php?topic=139.0 A trifle long in the tooth, but the basic principles haven't changed. HTH Lisi -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/201303101634.32541.lisi.re...@gmail.com
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
Kelly Clowers wrote: Bob Proulx wrote: Tom H poked me that the netinst image can be used without a network. It is 168M and much smaller than the full CD#1. I just did an install test using it in Expert mode and was able to verify that it is indeed possible to use the smaller netinst image on a system without a network. Using Expert mode and manual selections it was possible to install and avoid seeing any errors. That is how I always install, I never install more packages than what is on the netinst cd till after a reboot I guess I figured everyone knew. I think that ex-pats coming from other distros don't realize this because most other distros, I'm looking at you RH, don't really give the option to only install a subset. The installer there is really designed to give you very large chunks. GNOME, KDE, Software Development, large chunks like those are selectable or not in the installer. Sure you can unselect any of those but the resulting system is still quite large. If people are used to that then they never think that other systems might be different. But until I tested it I had always thought that the netinst image _required_ a network in order to set up the sources.list mirrors. The normal netinst install path does complain about not having it if there is no network available. But those complaints can be either ignored or the expert path walked through to avoid it. I think most of us using the netinst image would go ahead and set up the network sources.list with basic values if nothing else and then never see any errors from the installer. Boot to the newly installed 360M system and then adjust sources.list as we desired. Bob signature.asc Description: Digital signature
Re: Refining the question - was [Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install]
Rob Owens wrote: On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 09:04:12AM -0500, Richard Owlett wrote: The next next issue is CPU and memory. My home machines are GHz dual core with GBytes of ram etc. However there are donated machines at church that I wish to migrate from OSes as old as Win95. I know I'll have to deal with 486 machines. There may be some 386 machines (dealing with those on a case by case basis would be feasible). You might want to look into LTSP. This is a mailing list for Lutherans? ?? ??? [take a look at 2nd hit for www.google.com/search?q=LTSP ;] For those as acronym challenged as myself, he is likely referring to Linux Terminal Server Project q.v. www.ltsp.org I can see that being of use in another project I have in mind. Totally irrelevant for current problem set. You configure a server (could be a 5-year-old desktop machine) and diskless thin clients (could be something as old as a 486) boot from that server. Networking is required, but internet is not. Ohhh, twas life so simple. To quote myself The strongest physically imposed constraint - no networking capability for target machine. ;/ (Internet access may be required during initial configuration for the server). The thin clients (old computers) run an X server and not much else. They display applications that are being processed on the server. I've used it for years and it works pretty well for everything except watching videos, which tends to saturate the network. Some the replies have prompted me to reinvestigate starting from the netinst. It may be much more feasible than I though when it was first suggested months ago. I've since done 15-20 installs on my for experimentation only machine. I purposely do some things the hard way as my intention is to learn the guts of Linux. You can definitely use the netinst cd to get a minimal system. Just uncheck all the software groups when it gives you an option to do so. Typically desktop environment and standard system will be checked automatically. You can uncheck both of them. There is a smaller installation CD called the businesscard CD. I'm not sure if it contains everything you need for a minimal system, or if it requires downloading packages from the internet. It requires internet connection. See http://www.debian.org/CD/netinst/ under What is the difference between the netinst and the business card images? *HOWEVER*, in stating It does not contain the base system, but only the installer: even the base packages need to be downloaded from the net it declares feasibility of meeting my goal(s) - replace net by ??? . Back when I was a college freshman we had a saying If all else fails THIMK! [P.S. no transcription error there;] -Rob -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/513cddf8.9090...@cloud85.net
Re: Refining the question - was [Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install]
On Sun 10 Mar 2013 at 10:24:30 -0400, Rob Owens wrote: There is a smaller installation CD called the businesscard CD. I'm not sure if it contains everything you need for a minimal system, or if it requires downloading packages from the internet. It contains only the installer components. Everything else is dowloaded from the internet. But don't go looking for an image of it post-Squeeze as it is no longer produced or offered as an option. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20130310192923.GN32477@desktop
Re: Refining the question - was [Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install]
Lisi Reisz wrote: On Sunday 10 March 2013 14:04:12 Richard Owlett wrote: How to define minimal install? ;/ [snip] Richard - had you thought of the Debian Business Card installer? No. But see my reply to Mr. Owens. I saw his note moments before yours ;) Even smaller and nearer to minimal than the netinstall CD. And there is a nice howto: http://www.debiantutorials.org/talkitup/archive.php/archive.php?topic=139.0 A trifle long in the tooth, but the basic principles haven't changed. Though too young to recall taming of fire and invention of wheel, I don't consider old bad grin. I'll test with Squeeze. It just might be foundation I'm looking for. HTH Lisi -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/513ce4d9.7090...@cloud85.net
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
On 3/11/13, Bob Proulx b...@proulx.com wrote: Kelly Clowers wrote: Bob Proulx wrote: Tom H poked me that the netinst image can be used without a network. It is 168M and much smaller than the full CD#1. I just did an install .. That is how I always install, I never install more packages than what is on the netinst cd till after a reboot I guess I figured everyone knew. I think that ex-pats coming from other distros don't realize this .. But until I tested it I had always thought that the netinst image _required_ a network in order to set up the sources.list mirrors. The normal netinst install path does complain about not having it if there is no network available. But those complaints can be either ignored or the expert path walked through to avoid it. I think most of us using the netinst image would go ahead and set up the network sources.list with basic values if nothing else and then never see any errors from the installer. Boot to the newly installed 360M system and then adjust sources.list as we desired. Perhaps there's a marketing opportunity: Instead of netinst.iso perhaps damn-thats-minimal.iso And the business card (~80MiB?) firetruckingly-tiny.iso ?? -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/caosgnsqkia8c3s2_xsatsdktasbjvbpyuruto-4m2-uq361...@mail.gmail.com
Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
Current standard practice optimizers AWAY from my goal.
My old 2 Mhz Z80 32 kByte system could do more than 90% of
what I actually use my computer for.
Instead Debian follows in the dainty footsteps of corporate
behemoths such as Microsoft, Apple, and Canonical by loading
everything {including a variety of kitchen sinks} into a
base install.
There are some, who having finished reading this article,
might ask Why not use ...(DamnSmallLinux, Slackware,
TinyCore, etc, etc.)?
Because I wish to conveniently cooperate with some specific
people who use Debian based distros. Also I know all the
software I might currently wish to use is already in Debian
repositories. And I like apt and synaptic ;)
I have several specific environments in mind.
Presumed configuration
at least 486 class CPU (if I run into a 386 I'll treat as
special case)
1 GB RAM
VGA display
Serial/PS2/USB mice depend ending on individual machine
CD drive - may not be bootable
keyboard
All target machines currently use Win95 or later.
What the typical user will have at install time.
Computer with keyboard, display, and no mouse. (explicitly
no GUI mode installer)
Installation iso on a CD or flash drive as desired. (
target iso size is ~100MB, smaller if possible)
Debian repository on a mass storage device. (I
currently use the 8 DVD set for my experiments)
(am experimenting with copy on 64GB flash)
Collection of preseed.cfg files.
(many of target audience not expert but desire flexibility)
The common functionality I see available after a base install
kernel, generic display driver, generic mouse driver, apt,
apt-offline, ability to read multiple CD repository
What is intentionally not installed at this point is any
network connectivity, any display manager or desktop
environment, or just about any application software. What
I've not decide is what shell or scripting framework should
be installed by default.
This outlines my preliminary thoughts.
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Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
On Sat, 9 Mar 2013 11:05:37 -0800 Kelly Clowers kelly.clow...@gmail.com wrote: You can not configure the network, but network support will still be there. I guess you could blacklist all the network card kernel drivers. Don't disable the core network stack that allows the loopback to function, though, that might cause something to blow up. Sounds like a lot of work for no reason though. The etch installer, if not invoked in expert mode and not finding a DHCP server, would install lo only, and no Ethernet networking. I don't know if the current installers do this, as I have had a DHCP server for quite a while now. It wasn't a bug: I reported it as a bug and was rather tersely informed that it was a feature. -- Joe -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20130309192842.59854...@jretrading.com
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
Richard Owlett wrote:
Current standard practice optimizers AWAY from my goal.
My old 2 Mhz Z80 32 kByte system could do more than 90% of what I
actually use my computer for.
Instead Debian follows in the dainty footsteps of corporate
behemoths such as Microsoft, Apple, and Canonical by loading
everything {including a variety of kitchen sinks} into a base
install.
Negative. I am still using a Pentium 133MHz machine with 112M of ram
and a 10G disk. (The original 1G disk died recently.) All running
Debian just fine.
It seems to me that based upon your sentiment above that you would be
most happy with a small machine such as a Raspberry Pi. It is a nice
small machine (with some compromises to make it possible) and would
suit your needs admirably. Interestingly enough for this discussion
the recommended software base for it is based upon Debian Wheezy. If
Debian was hostile to small systems then it would not have become the
preferred base for it.
There are some, who having finished reading this article, might ask
Why not use ...(DamnSmallLinux, Slackware, TinyCore, etc, etc.)?
Because I wish to conveniently cooperate with some specific people
who use Debian based distros. Also I know all the software I might
currently wish to use is already in Debian repositories. And I like
apt and synaptic ;)
No. I am using Debian on very small systems and find it excellent for
that purpose. This is the debian-user list and so I expect a natural
bias toward it. I expect people on those other lists to recommend
those other tools. It's natural.
I have several specific environments in mind.
Presumed configuration
at least 486 class CPU (if I run into a 386 I'll treat as special
case)
Debian is still good to go. Even if you are running one of many other
very popular architectures such as ARM or AMD64. Fortunately Debian
does not require a 486 to install as you would want. Or most of my
machines would be left out.
1 GB RAM
Assuming 1G of ram is too much. Many of my systems do not have 1G of
ram. That would prevent being able to use fun machines like the
Raspberry Pi with either 256M or 512M. I think the least amount of
ram needed to install Debian is 64M these days but I haven't tested
that in a while. My lowest still running machine is 112M. (It is the
least amount of watts for the task. Until I can replace it with a 2W
Raspberry Pi.)
VGA display
The Linux KMS bitmapped display annoys me. If it has a hardware
character generator then I would like the option to keep using it even
if it won't produce unknown-to-it-unicode characters.
Serial/PS2/USB mice depend ending on individual machine
A mouse should not be required to install. Thankfully it is not. A
mouse should be an option not a requirement. My toaster controller
does not need a mouse.
CD drive - may not be bootable
Some bootable media. Might not be a cdrom. Older machines tend to
lack flexible boot options. This is a system firmware BIOS problem
and not an operating system issue. The OS can't turn an unfortunate
machine's hardware into something it isn't. If an old machine needs a
firmware upgrade to support boot media then it needs a firmware upgrade.
In the worst case I have had to remove the disk, Put it in a different
machine and install upon it there, then replace the disk back into the
target system.
keyboard
I have machines without keyboards. Most of my machines are networked
and headless. Also for many machines the serial port works fine.
All target machines currently use Win95 or later.
Uhm... No. Let's not require any non-free parts such as that. Just
trying to locate Win95 bits today would be a challenge for most of us.
FreeDOS would be much more reasonable if you are going that route.
What the typical user will have at install time.
Computer with keyboard, display, and no mouse. (explicitly no GUI
mode installer)
Currently well supported by Debian. (The newest installer will
default to a graphical install. But you can still select the text
mode installer.)
Installation iso on a CD or flash drive as desired. ( target iso
size is ~100MB, smaller if possible)
AFAIK Debian CD#1 is the smallest fully standalone install supported.
But at the time that you are committed to booting from cdrom then
might as well commit to a fully populated cdrom. In for a penny, in
for a pound. I am sure there are contributed installation media that
are smaller and standalone. Anyone could put in the effort to create one.
Debian repository on a mass storage device. (I currently use
the 8 DVD set for my experiments)
Sure. But a DVD would be pushing the limits of advanced storage
technology on many of the older machines that don't have DVD drives. :-)
(am experimenting with copy on 64GB flash)
Collection of preseed.cfg files. (many of target audience not
expert but desire flexibility)
Sould work.
The common functionality I see available after a base install
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
On Sat 09 Mar 2013 at 12:17:38 -0600, Richard Owlett wrote: [Snippety snip] What is intentionally not installed at this point is any network connectivity, any display manager or desktop environment, or just about any application software. What I've not decide is what shell or scripting framework should be installed by default. This outlines my preliminary thoughts. I'll respond to what is in the subject line. Install debian in expert mode. Choose not to configure the network. That is one of your requirements. It is dead easy to achieve. Untick all options when you are asked which type of system you want. What you get is about as minimal as it gets with Debian. You can try to purge what you think is undesirable once you have booted into the new system. You might manage to get rid of aptitude and one or two other packages but what you have is the ideal - a minimal Debian system. You get to decide what shell or scripting framework you want *after* the install. There is nothing you can do about that during the install. So do not stipulate conditions which are impossible to fulfil. All your aims are achievable. Grasp the bull by the horns (or whatever you do in your part of the world) and get on with it. Isn't Debian brilliant? -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of unsubscribe. Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: http://lists.debian.org/20130309205217.GM32477@desktop
Re: Wanted: an internet free minimal Debian install
Bob Proulx wrote: Richard Owlett wrote: Installation iso on a CD or flash drive as desired. ( target iso size is ~100MB, smaller if possible) AFAIK Debian CD#1 is the smallest fully standalone install supported. But at the time that you are committed to booting from cdrom then might as well commit to a fully populated cdrom. In for a penny, in for a pound. I am sure there are contributed installation media that are smaller and standalone. Anyone could put in the effort to create one. Tom H poked me that the netinst image can be used without a network. It is 168M and much smaller than the full CD#1. I just did an install test using it in Expert mode and was able to verify that it is indeed possible to use the smaller netinst image on a system without a network. Using Expert mode and manual selections it was possible to install and avoid seeing any errors. At this point I can only assume that it is possible to use netinst image with the appropriate preseeds for an automated installation. I haven't tried it. Seems like it should work okay. Thanks Tom for the prodding! :-) What is intentionally not installed at this point is any network connectivity, You could add iface eth0 inet manual to the /etc/network/interfaces file after install as a local customization. I don't really see the point though. If you don't want networking then don't attach a network cable to the system. My test installation without any network did not need any special configuration at this point to operate without a network. The resulting small installation consumed 356M of disk space with the default installation. There are opportunities to remove packages to make this even smaller. But that isn't bad for a general default. Bob signature.asc Description: Digital signature
