Installing Debian in a Virtual Machine

To install on a "real" machine, boot from Debian CD and skip to 4
  1. Download the "blank" virtual machine and unzip it in your "My Virtual machines" folder.
  2. Download the debian installer ISO image and save it inside the folder for the virtual machine. You will see that there is a zero length image already there called "livecd.iso". This is a place holder. Rename the debian image to "livecd.iso". If you are using Linux as your Host OS, just symlink the debian image to livecd.iso. Also note that once your mouse has been captured by the VMWare session, you must use <Ctrl><Alt> to release it.
  3. Launch VMWare Player. Select the new virtual machine you just set up. The first time you launch it, it will ask you if you want to create a new identifier. Say Yes.
  4. Once you get a boot prompt, hit "F1" to look at your options. Explore a little, then type "expert" at the prompt.
  5. Follow the installation prompts. Most of the defaults should work just fine.
  6. Some hints -- you can tab to continue when it askes for additional locales. You don't need to start PCMCIA services.
  7. You DO need to load "Choose mirror to install from"
  8. Choose a name for your Debian machine. Your first name would be an obvious choice. Accept the default domain "cs.csubak.edu".
  9. When the "choose mirror" list comes up, scroll to the top and choose "enter information manually." The hostname we will be using is "blowfish.cs.csubak.edu" If you are installing on your own computer, off campus, you should choose one of the mirrors in the Debian provided list. There will be no advantage to choosing blowfish as a repository in this case.
  10. Partitioning:
  11. Time setting: The hardware clock is not set to GMT because that would confuse Windows. Set the time zone to Pacific.
  12. Set the root password to 'password'.
  13. Create an "ordinary" user. Full Name is "Generic Student" and username is 'student'. Password is 'student'.
  14. Choose the kernel image 2.6.18-686
  15. You DO want to include non-free software
  16. Under software selection, do not choose any packages. We'll install what we need as we go. All the basic packages are there. The system will now upgrade everything to the most current level.
  17. The base system will now install.
  18. Yes, you want to install the GRUB boot loader to the MBR.
  19. The sytem now reboots and configuration continues after the reboot. You will need to change the device boot order or you will end up booting from the CD image again. Hit F2 during the boot to go into the virtual machine's BIOS and change the boot order. Optionally, you may remove or change the name of livecd.iso
  20. Log in to your new system as root.
  21. Issue the following commands:
                apt-get update
                apt-get upgrade
                apt-get install ucf fuse-utils
  22. When you are ready to shut the system down, use the following command line as root:
            shutdown -h now