How to Minimal Install Debian 10 Server

Debian also known as Debian GNU/Linux is a Linux distribution composed of free and open source software, developed by community supported Debian project, which was established by Ian Murdock on August 16, 1993. Debian is one of the oldest distribution based on Linux Kernel. (Courtesy: Wikipedia)

Ubuntu is the most famous Linux distribution now-a-days, is also derived from Debian Project.

In this article, you will learn how to minimal install Debian 10 Server.

If you are looking for installation of other Linux distros, then you may look at following articles.

To learn about the in depth architecture of Linux server and working of background processes, you should read How Linux Works, 2nd Edition: What Every Superuser Should Know by Brian Ward.

Environment Specification:

We have provisioned a virtual machine with following specification.

CPU - 3.4 Ghz (2 cores)
Memory - 2 GB
Storage - 20 GB

Installing Debian 10 Server:

Debian is free and open source software, therefore it is available for free download from Debian Project website.

After downloading, attach Debian 10 ISO in your server DVDROM and Turn on the virtual machine.

On boot from Debian 10 ISO, a boot menu will be displayed with different options.

Since, we are going to install Debian 10 in Graphical mode, therefore select "Graphical install" option and press <ENTER>.

Debian installer will ask you for the language for the installation process. The same language will be used as the default language for the installed operating system.

Select your preferred language and click on Continue.

Debian installer will ask for a location that will be used to set the regional settings in your operating system.

Select your geographical location and click on Continue.

This time you will be asked by the Debian installer to provide the Keyboard layout.

Choose the preferred keyboard and click on Continue.

Installer will load installer components from Debian ISO/CD.

After loading installation components, the Debian installer will take you to the network configuration screen.

Provide the desired hostname for your Debian server and click on Continue.

To setup a FQDN (Fully Qualified Domain Name), we are also required to provide a domain name.

Provide your domain name here and click on Continue.

We are now at the "Setup users and passwords" screen.

Set a strong password for root user and click on Continue.

Debian installer is now asking us to create an administrative user that will be used as an alternative of the default root user due to the security measures.

Provide the full name of your desired user account and click on Continue.

Now provide the username for this administrative user account and click on Continue.

Finally set a strong password for this administrative user account and click on Continue.

Choose your desired time zone and click on Continue.

Debian installer is now asking to setup the partitions for installing the Operating System.

We have two types of configuration options are available here.

"Guided" options are used for automatic configurations based on some predefined templates.
"Manual" option is used to configure each partition settings i.e. type, size, etc.

We are selecting the "Guided - use entire disk" option and click on Continue.

Choose a disk on which you want to create the required partitions and click on Continue.

Choose your preferred partitioning scheme and click on Continue.

For better space management, we recommend you to select "Separate /home, /var, and /tmp partitions" option.

Based on the selection, Debian installer will create a partition layout and asking for any further customization in the partition layout.

Select "Finish partioning and write changes to disk" and click on Continue.

Debian installer is asking for the confirmation to write changes to disk.

Select "Yes" option and click on Continue.

Debian is installing its base system now.

Installer is now configuring network mirrors for downloading and installing Debian software packages.

Select "Yes" option and click on Continue.

Choose the location nearest to your geographical existence to help the Debian in setting up the closest network mirror for your server.

Click on Continue.

Select a mirror archive from the list provided by the Debian installer and click on Continue.

If your machine uses a proxy server to access the Internet then provide its address and port here. Otherwise leave the field blank and click on Continue.