Installing Debian without the installer.

[edbarx]

Unlike MS Windows GNU/Linux (including Debian) can be installed without using the installer. This procedure requires the use of a Live Linux CD and obviously a free partition where to install the new Debian base system.

The installation makes use of official Debian mirrors and debootstrap which installs the base system without the kernel and without doing any sort of configuration. This means, for any user to be able to log into the newly installed system, some files in /etc need to be modified just after the installation.

The installation procedure:

1. mount the new partition:

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   # mount /mnt /dev/sdax

   sdax stands for the partition to be mounted. x is a number from 1 upwards.
2. Install the base system.

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   # debootstrap --arch amd64 stable /mnt http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian

   Instead of amd64, you can use any other architecture, for example, i386 is another viable option. However, be aware that the architecture type you chose is comptable with your hardware.
   Instead of ftp.us.debian.org/debian, you can use any other mirror. Choose one that is not too far away from where you are doing the installation.
3. Now that the base system is installed, we have to borrow /dev and /proc from the working Live Linux system.

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   # mount -o bind /dev /mnt/dev

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   # mount -o bind /proc /mnt/proc

4. Copy /etc/network/interfaces and /etc/mtab from the working Live Linux system.

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   # cp /etc/mtab /mnt/etc/mtab

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   # cp /etc/network/interfaces /mnt/etc/network/interfaces

5. Enter the new installation through chroot.

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   # chroot /mnt /bin/bash

6. Add the installation partition to the /etc/fstab file.

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   # echo '/dev/sdax / ext4 defaults 0 0' >> /etc/fstab

   Be careful to replace ext4 with the appropriate file system for your partition.
7. Update the new installation repository.

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   # apt-get update

8. Install a kernel. To check which kernels are available for your system, run:

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   #apt-get install linux-image

   The system will respond by providing a list of viable options.
   
   Install a kernel.

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   apt-get install linux-image-amd64

9. Install a bootloader unless you know how to boot an installation without having menu links or you have other reasons why you would opt not to install a bootloader.

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   # apt-get install grub-pc

10. Create a root password for the installation.

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    # passwd

11. Clean the system from unnecessary files.

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    # apt-get clean

12. Exit the chroot environment.

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    # exit

13. Unmount the installation partition to flush any pending journals.

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    # umount /dev/sdax

Exit the chroot environment, reboot and enjoy.