This guide is a guide for information found through using Debian - so it's mainly custom solutions, applications and extra things to make Debian even better.
Introduction
What is Debian?
Debian is a free operating system (OS) for your computer. An operating system is the set of basic programs and utilities that make your computer run. Debian uses the Linux kernel (the core of an operating system), but most of the basic OS tools come from the GNU project; hence the name GNU/Linux.
Debian GNU/Linux provides more than a pure OS: it comes with over 15490 packages, precompiled software bundled up in a nice format for easy installation on your machine.
For more information, visit: http://www.debian.org/intro/about
How can I get Debian?
There are many ways. The best place to start is here: http://www.debian.org/distrib/
Where can I download Debian?
You can download Debian and burn to CD:
http://www.debian.org/CD/
Where can I find further Debian help?
There are many places around the web. Here is a short list:
*
http://www.debian.org/support
*
http://www.debian-administration.org/
*
http://www.debianhelp.org/
*
http://planet.debian.net/
Installation
Basic Installing
TBC.
Post-Reboot Setup
TBC.
Installing Core Packages
TBC.
Installing the X-Window-System and GNOME
TBC.
Installing Nifty Extras
TBC.
Further Applications
There are many further applications I have not covered above. They are thus documented just below, each is of course optional. Each is free (but not all below are open source).
Installing Applications & Updating Debian
What is Apt?
Apt is a core tool inside Debian. Apt makes it possible to:
* Install applications
* Remove applications
* Keep your applications up to date
Apt works with dpkg, another tool, which handles the actual installation and removal of packages (applications). Apt is very powerful, and can be used on the command line (console/terminal), and there are many GUI/Graphical tools to let you use Apt without having to touch the command line.
The documentation which follows is broken down into how you want to configure and use apt (either via the command line, or the graphical manager - synaptic).
Apt Command Line Tools
Configuring Apt
Apt downloads and installs, updates (and removes) packages (applications) from your debian. operating system. You can configure Apt to use a source (or multiple sources) to get these packages from. There are many sources - web (HTTP) servers, FTP servers, CD-ROM disks, network servers (etc). To configure apt from the command
Use apt-setup
Apt-setup lets you add an extra source to your Apt configuration.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-setup"
3. Follow the Wizard!
Edit sources.list
It's best to add new sources to Apt by using the apt-setup tool (see above). But, you may want to remove old source, and add your own directly:
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "nano /etc/apt/sources.list" (for a console editor) or "gedit /etc/apt/sources.list" (for a graphical editor)
3. Edit the sources file!
4. For help with the file, exit Nano (Ctrl+X) or gedit (Alt+F4) and type "man sources.list"
Installing an Application
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install
Removing an Application
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get remove
Updating an Application
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get update
Keeping your system up-to-date
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get update".
3. Type "apt-get dist-upgrade"
Search for applications
1. Open a console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-cache search
You may want to pipe the output (redirect the output) into "less" (a scrollable viewer) since the list may be huge:
apt-cache search
List installed packages
1. Open a console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "dpkg --list"
3. You may want to pipe (redirect) that to a program called "less" since the list will be long (type "dpkg --list | less")
Find what package a binary belongs to
This is a really neat function of dpkg. Basically, if you want to find out what debian package a particular binary belongs to, do the following:
1. Open a console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "dpkg -S /bin/foo" where /bin/foo is the full path to the binary
Simulate Upgrades
With apt-get you can simulate an upgrade - that is - show which packages would be installed if you did upgrade.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get -s upgrade"
Delete used package files
If you want to delete the packages you've already installed applications from (via apt-get install) then you can do the following (and retrieve a lot of disk space!):
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get clean"
apt-spy
apt-spy will generate a sources.list file (the configuration file for apt package sources) for you! It measures the latency and bandwidth to servers, and picks the best one.
To get started, you'll need to install it, and then read how to use it:
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install apt-spy"
3. Read about how to use apt-spy: type "man apt-spy"
configure packages
When packages are installed, you are asked to configure them via a wizard (note: most packages don't require configuration). To reconfigure packages, do this:
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "dpkg-reconfigure
Graphical Apt Tool
There is a tool called Synaptic which lets you use all of the power of apt from one tool.
First, you must install it:
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install synaptic".
Configuring Apt
1. Open Synaptic (Applications -> System Tools-> Synaptic Package Manager in GNOME)
2. Click the Settings Menu, and choose Repositories.
3. Configure!
Browsing, Installing, Removing
First - open Synaptic (Applications -> System Tools-> Synaptic Package Manager in GNOME)
Synaptic shows you all the packages available to you - and marks each one as installed or not installed. You can now navigate and find packages, marking packages you want to install (or remove) by clicking the tick box, and then click "Apply" to make changes.
Extra (Non-Standard) Applications
Network / Internet
Web Browsers
There are many web-browsers available in Debian GNU/Linux. Epiphany - the GNOME web-browser will have been installed if you have followed the "Install" part of this guide, or if you have installed GNOME.
Firefox
Firefox is perhaps the best web-browser available. It is highly recommended. To install:
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install mozilla-firefox"
For more information: http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
Galeon
Galeon is a lightweight web-browser designed for GNOME. It uses the same web-page rendering engine as Firefox.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install galeon"
For more information: http://galeon.sourceforge.net/
Mozilla Suite
The Mozilla Suite is a cross-platform integrated Internet suite. It contains the Navigator (web browser), Communitcator (Mozilla Mail & Newsgroups), a web page developer (Mozilla Composer), an IRC-Client (ChatZilla) and an electronic adress book.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install mozilla"
For more information: http://www.mozilla.org/
Konqueror
The Konqueror is the standard web browser in KDE.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install konqueror"
For more information: http://www.konqueror.org/
Dillo
Dillo is a small (~350kb), minimalistic multi-platform web browser. It has no CSS, JavaScript and Frame support.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install dillo"
For more information: http://www.dillo.org/
Opera
Opera is a web browser and Internet suite developed by the Opera Software company. Opera handles common Internet-related tasks such as displaying web sites, sending and receiving e-mail messages, managing contacts, IRC online chatting, downloading files via BitTorrent, and reading web feeds. Opera is offered free of charge for personal computers and mobile phones, but for other devices it must be paid for.
1. Download Opera here: http://www.opera.com/download/index.dml?platform=linux
2. Open the downloaded .deb-file with "GDebi-Installer".
3. Install Opera
For more information: http://opera.com/
Mail Clients
Evolution will have been installed.
Thunderbird
Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open source, cross-platform e-mail and news client developed by the Mozilla Foundation.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install thunderbird"
For more information: http://www.mozilla.com/thunderbird
Sylpheed
Sylpheed is an open source e-mail and news client licensed under the GPL. It offers easy configuration and an abundance of features. It stores mail in the MH Message Handling System. Sylpheed runs on both Unix-like systems such as Linux, BSD, and Mac OS X and Windows. It uses GTK+.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install sylpheed"
For more information: http://sylpheed.sraoss.jp/en/
mutt
Mutt is a text-based e-mail client for Unix-like systems. It was originally written by Michael Elkins in 1995 and released under the GNU General Public License. Initially it resembled elm. Now the program most similar to it may be the newsreader slrn.
Mutt supports most mail formats (notably both mbox and Maildir) and protocols (POP3, IMAP, etc). It also includes MIME support, notably full PGP/GPG and S/MIME integration.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install mutt"
For more information: http://www.mutt.org/
FTP/SFTP/SCP Clients
gFTP
nautilus
Peer2Peer
Azureus
BitTorrent
eMule Client (aMule)
Instant Messaging
gAIM
Skype
X-Chat
irssi + screen
Media Players
Beep Media Player
Xine
MPlayer
Totem (w/ Xine)
Real Player
VLC
XMMS
Plugins, Runtimes and Viewers
Java Runtime Environment
Mono Runtime Environment
Adobe/Macromedia Flash Player/Plugin
PDF Viewer
CD and DVD
CD and DVD Burner
Compression Apps
Zip
Rar
Editing and Development
CLI Editors
GUI Editors
IDE's
Eclipse
NetBeans
Office / Authoring Applications
Gnome Office
OpenOffice.org
Other
Diagram Editor (Dia)
Nvu
System Configuration
Services and Boot Up
BUM
Gnome System Tools
etc.
Partition Manager
gParted
Firewall
Firestarter
Misc
aterm
Fonts
Compiling Applications
gDesklets
User Administration
Hardware
Networking
Tips and Tricks
Installing the ClearLooks GNOME Theme
Using the XFCE Desktop Environment
Sound: Using ALSA and ESD
Network Services
Remote Desktop
Windows File Server
SSH Server
Installing an SSH server is surprisingly simple and will allow you to access programs and files on your computer from anywhere that has access to port 22 on your computer. It's all done over an encrypted connection so any data transferred is going to be completely secure. This does open you up a little to anyone who can guess your password being able to log in, so it's good practice to ensure that either your root password is fairly complex or you disable root logins from elsewhere altogether.
1. Open a root console window (Applications -> System Tools-> Root Terminal in GNOME)
2. Type "apt-get install ssh"
3. Most users can leave all the options as their defaults when asked.
In order to make your SSH server more secure and more useful, it's well worth editing your sshd_config file to disable root logins and allow X forwarding (so you can run graphical applications on your computer but displayed on another computer providing it is also running X, either as part of a Linux/Unix/BSD system or under Cygwin in Windows).
1. Still in your root terminal, type "nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config".
2. Press Ctrl+W (for "Where Is").
3. Type "PermitRoot" and press enter.
4. You should see the option "PermitRootLogin", change it from "yes" to "no".
5. Press Ctrl+W again.
6. Type "X11For" and press enter.
5. Change "X11Forwarding" from "no" to "yes".
6. Press Ctrl+X to exit, and Y to confirm that you want to save.
7. Type "/etc/init.d/ssh restart" to restart your SSH server and confirm the changes.
If you need to do root things over SSH, SSH in as your normal user and type "su".
DHCP Server
Database Server
Web Server
FTP Server
D
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