Running Asterisk on Debian GNU/Linux

6. Boot the Installation System

Boot Disk

Remove any floppy disks from the first floppy drive, then insert disk 1 of 7 of the Debian GNU/Linux CD set into the first CD-Rom drive and turn on the computer

Boot Prompt

At the boot: prompt type vanilla followed by return.

Debian GNU/Linux Installation Menu

The entire installation process is presented through the Debian GNU/Linux Installation Menu. This section presents the sub-menus that the installation menu will lead you through, as well as some suggested values to enter and a few notes. Remember to substitute values from your hardware worksheet where appropriate!

Configure the Keyboard: qwerty/us

Partition a Hard Disk: dev/hda

WARNING: Partitioning a hard disk will ERASE ALL OF THE DATA ON THE HARD DISK, so before performing this step backup any valuable data on the disk!

There are many factors to consider when choosing the number of partitions to create and their sizes. For a basic system, such as the one this document currently describes, I recommend setting up a primary Linux swap partition the same size as your available RAM (192MBs in my case) and using the rest of your disk as a bootable primary Linux partition. That said, the partition table output of my system from fdisk is as follows:

Initialize a Linux Partition: /dev/hda1 (Ext2 filesystem)

Perform a Bad Block Scan: Yes

Note: If you're sure of the integrity of your disk, you can say No to this prompt.

Mount Root File System: Yes

Install Kernel and Driver Modules

Use Debian CD-Rom as the Primary Installation Medium: Yes

Configure Device Driver Modules

It is recommended that you only configure devices which are required for the installation process and not already detected by the kernel. In my case, the only device I had to configure was the net module and I did so as follows (if you have to perform this step, remember to use values from your hardware worksheet):

Net Module: eepro100

Note: After the installation is complete, modconf can be used to configure additional modules.

Configure the Network

Use DHCP to Configure the eth0 interface: No
Now you will be asked to provide the information that you gathered from your network's system administrator. It's important that this information is accurate, so if you skipped that step go back and complete it now!
Note: After the installation is complete, you can modify these values by editing /etc/network/interfaces.

Install the Base System (this happens automatically from the CD)

Make System Bootable: Install LILO in the MBR

Make a Boot Floppy: Yes

Note: While this isn't absolutely necessary, it is a Very Good Idea!

Shutdown the System

Remove any floppies and CD-Roms from the drives.
Reset the boot devices in the following order (if your BIOS does not list a particular device, just omit it from the list):

First hard disk drive
First CD-Rom drive
First floppy disk drive
Ethernet

Boot the System

Debian Post-Boot (Base) Configuration

After booting, you will be prompted to complete the configuration of your basic system, and then to select any additional packages you want to install. This section presents the prompts that you will encounter, as well as some suggested values to enter and a few notes. The suggested values are there as examples and they will get you through the configuration process, but it should be easy to customize them to your scenario.

Configure Your Time Zone

Hardware Clock is Set to GMT: No
Region: America
City: New_York

Enable MD5 Passwords: No

Enable Shadow Passwords: Yes

Set the Root Password: secret

Note: Take extra care when setting your root password, since it is such a powerful account. Avoid dictionary words or the use of any personal information which could be guessed.

Create a Normal User: Yes

Username: jsmith
Password: secret

Remove PCMCIA Packages: Yes

Use PPP Connection: No

Configure apt

The apt package contains a program called apt-get that can be used to install other packages on the system. In this step, we will configure apt so that it knows where to retrieve packages from.

Configure apt Sources: Scan each CD in your Debian GNU/Linux CD Set
Add apt Source: http

Use Non-US Software: Yes
Use Non-Free Software: Yes
Use Contributed Software: Yes
Select a Mirror: United States, carroll.cac.psu.edu

Proxy Information: <blank>

Use Security Updates From security.debian.org: Yes

Note: After the installation is complete, you can reconfigure apt by running apt-setup or by editing /etc/apt/sources.list.

Package Installation

Run tasksel: Yes

Select Tasks to Install: Desktop Environment, C and C++

Run dselect: No
Software Installation Prompts

Locales: EN_US ISO-8859-1, EN_US.UTF-8 UTF-8

Select the locales above, then on the following screen choose: Leave Alone

Use SSH Protocol 2 Only: No
Install SUID Root: Yes
Run sshd Server: Yes
Add mime Handler: Yes
Select Papersize: A4
Install Freetype 2 Support: Yes
Configure Sound dsp Wrapper: Auto
Set Default Display Manager: kdm

Note: After the installation is complete, you can change the default display manager by editing /etc/X11/default-display-manager.

Erase .deb Files: Yes

Configure Email: 5 (No Configuration)

Note: After the installation is complete, you can configure email by running eximconfig as root. The default configuration file exists in /usr/share/doc/exim/example.conf.gz. You will need to use gunzip to decompress it.

Install and Configure the xserver Package

In order to enter your desktop environment, the xserver package must be installed and configured. To start this process, login as root and enter the following command:

apt-get install xserver-svga

The installation will complete automatically, then you will be presented with a series of configuration prompts. Below are some suggested values to enter, but as always remember to substitute values from your hardware worksheet when necessary.

Manage xserver Wrapper Configuration File with debconf: Yes
Manage XFree86 3.x Server Configuration with debconf: Yes
Select the XKB Ruleset: xfree86
Select the Keyboard Model: pc104
Select the Keyboard Layout: us
Select the Mouse Port: /dev/psaux
Select the Mouse Type: PS/2
LCD Monitor: No
Choose Method for Selecting Monitor Characteristics: Advanced

Enter Horizontal Sync Range: 30-82
Enter Vertical Range: 50-110
Select Video Modes: 1024x768, 800x600, 640x480
Select Bits per Pixel: 32

Note: After the installation is complete, you can reconfigure xserver-svga by running dpkg-reconfigure xserver-svga.

Reboot into the Desktop Environment

At the command line enter the following command as root:

shutdown -r now

7. Configure the Desktop Environment

If everything has gone correctly so far and you chose kdm as your default display manager, you should now be at kdm's login screen. Login as root, and you'll probably notice two things right away: a window telling you that your sound card isn't configured properly and some strange font problems. The next steps will resolve these issues, present some X Windows tips, and give you some pointers if you chose Gnome (gdm) as your default display manager. As usual, remember to substitute values from your hardware worksheet where appropriate. After you've completed these steps, feel free to play around with the desktop until it has a look and feel that you enjoy.

Configure the Sound Card

1. Launch a console window, then type modconf at the command line. Choose the misc category, then select sb from the sub-menu. After the module installation is complete, exit out of modconf and return to the command line.

2. Enter the following command at the command line: chmod a+rw /dev/dsp

3. Create a file named /etc/modutils/sound using a text editor. Add the following line to the file, then save it and close the text editor: options sb io=0x220 irq=5 dma=1 dma16=5 mpu_io=0x330

4. In the console window, enter the following command at the command line: update-modules

5. Close the console window, logoff from the desktop, and reboot from the kdm login screen.

Fix the kdm Font Problem

1. Open the file named /etc/kde2/kdm/Xserver using a text editor and change the following line from:

:0 local@tty /usr/X11R6/bin/X -dpi 100 -nolisten tcp vt7

to:

:0 local@tty /usr/X11R6/bin/X -dpi 75 -nolisten tcp vt7

2. Open the file named /etc/X11/xinit/xserverrc using a text editor and change the following line from:

exec /usr/bin/X11/X -dpi 100 -nolisten tcp

to:

exec /usr/bin/X11/X -dpi 75 -nolisten tcp

X Windows Key Combinations

1. Cycle resolutions using the following key combination: Ctrl, Alt, +

2. Switch virtual terminals using the following key combination: Ctrl, Alt, Function-Key

3. Exit X Windows using the following key combination: Ctrl, Alt, Backspace

Logging in as root Through Gnome (gdm)

1. Login using the normal user account that you setup.

2. Launch a console window and enter the su command at the command line. At the password prompt, enter your root password.

3. Enter the following command at the command line: chmod a+w /etc/gdm/gdm.conf

4. Open the file named /etc/gdm/gdm.conf using a text editor and change the following line from:

AllowRoot=false

to:

AllowRoot=true

5. In the console window, enter the following command at the command line: chmod go-w /etc/gdm/gdm.conf

6. Reboot by entering the following command at the command line: shutdown -r now

Phase 1: Installing Debian GNU/Linux