Install Debian Squeeze with the Xfce desktop

I do NOT recommend having two different operating systems installed directly on the hard drive (s). I mean, if you really want to learn Debian GNU / Linux.

I recommend "Burning the Ships" with Windows on board and if you need it to run one or more very specific applications that we cannot find in the program repositories (AutoCAD, for example, although it can be tested with the BricsCAD), install and configure a Virtualization package such as VirtualBox or the same VMware, and make a virtual Windows for that one application.

Even do the same if we want to test different Linux distros. A well-maintained base installation will serve as “host"To virtual machines"guestWhat you need to do to learn how to implement services or work with other operating systems.

Some years ago when I had a Pentium III with only 512 megabytes of RAM, I used this same solution on a Debian 3.0 "Sarge" with the Xfce of that time and a VMware that I do not remember well if the version was 3.0. When I arrive Debian 4.0 or Etch, I used VMware 5.0.

And so, until I had the brand new amount of 1 GB RAM, until today I have 2 GB and a Dual Core at 3 Ghz at home, and I have the privilege of using Squeeze with GNOME and VMware 7.0. Sometimes I have up to 3 virtual servers running at the same time, and the machine behaves very decently. And all of the above is with the Compiz and stationery, when I'm in my "Show Room"

Installing Squeeze with the Xfce4 desktop environment is very simple.

After we introduce the 1st DVD installation, we select "Advanced options" or "Advanced Options"; then "Alternative desktop environments" or "Alternative desktop environments".

At this point we are shown a small list of the most used desks, that is:

KDE
LXDE
Xfce

select Xfce, and by pressing Enter, the menu changes to:

The installation is quite straightforward, be it graphic or in text mode (it is the one I recommend). In addition, each screen is accompanied by a small help, which if read carefully, is better than this post 🙂 Do not be afraid to choose the installer in text mode. It is faster and only requires the keyboard.

The first screen will allow us to select the language, and when choosing “Spanish”The rest of the process will be in Spanish. Then we select the Country and we must descend the options to the option "other", Which will show us the different Continents or regions. We select "Caribbean" and later "Cuba".

When doing so, we are shown another screen through which we will set the location ("premises") by default or omission.

After this step, we select the Keymap. If your keyboard does not have the “ñ” key visible, it is quite likely an American English keyboard.

Subsequently, the installer performs a series of operations until reaching the point of configuring the network card (if one is installed) using DHCP or manually.

If we are connected to a network that has a server DHCP, the IP address of the card will be automatically configured. Otherwise, we must do it manually. Those who install the Squeeze in a virtual machine, remember that the VirtualBox and VMware have a server DHCP incorporated which we can enable or not.

Configure the network manually.

The first thing he asks us is the IP adress. We choose, for example, the 192.168.10.5. Then the Net mask: 255.255.255.0. Later he asks us the Gateway IP, or Gateway to the Internet or another network, or "Gateway": 192.168.10.2.

After the Name Servers addresses o DNS: 192.168.10.1. We recommend that you read the small aids incorporated into each screen.

After finishing the configuration of the network card, we are asked what the name of our team will be. As an example I will choose “machine"; then the domain name: friends.cu.

The installer will ask us for the superuser password and we must type it and confirm it. Then we must declare the name of the first user in our system, as well as its password. Personally I use the same password for both root and the first user if I am at home.

Note that it is contrary to Ubuntu Desktop practice where it does not ask for this important option.

Next we have to partition our disk if it is a new installation. A step-by-step explanation can be found in the download at the end of the post.

Partitioning the hard drive.

Unless we are making a virtual machine for practices, we must always choose the Manual partitioning option.

Final result of partitioning a 15 GB disk.

Base system installation.

After partitioning, proceed to Base system installation, and we will also be asked if we want to analyze another DVD o CD installation to which we answer no.

When they ask us: "Do you want to use a network mirror?", as well we answer no. Later we can configure our package sources, once the entire system is installed.

The "Configuring apt" screen will take a while. Don't be scared It is normal otherwise we have access to the Internet, in which case the Installer complains and shows us the following screen:

We choose "Continue", and after asking ourselves: "Do you want to take the package usage survey?" (forever I answer NO), we are shown one of the last Installer screens, through which we select the programs to install.

Selecting the programs to install.

As el Xfce is a lightweight environment -requires few resources- and is very fast indeed, we can select the option "Graphical desktop environment”So that all graphical applications are installed by default. If we are installing it in a laptopIn addition to the above, we must select (if it is no longer available) the option "Laptop". Also, we must select "SSH server”If we plan to remotely access this machine.

In some hardware configurations, after the above we may be shown the following:

We recommend leaving the default option "No" and writing down the command that allows us to activate it later in case it is really necessary.

Installation of all selected packages.

From this point on, the installation of all the selected packages begins, the amount of which will oscillate around 820 (more or less). We wait patiently for it to finish and be asked, finally, if we want the GRUB Bootloader or "Boot Loader”Be installed in the Master Boot Record of our album, to which we answer yes.

We must be aware that, if we have more than one disk, GRUB will be installed on the Master Boot Record of the MASTER disk, and we must be consistent with this when declaring the boot order in the machine's Setup.