Debian Linux Installation

To install Debian Linux on new hardware to be used as a RealEd server, perform the following steps:

1. Download the architecture-appropriate CD image from http://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst#smallcd. For 64-bit x86 systems, be sure to select the amd64 architecture instead of the i386 one.
2. Burn the image to a CD and boot the new hardware from it.
3. Select manual partioning, delete all existing partitions, and create the following three primary partitions:
   • Primary 1: size = 128M, filesystem = ext2, mount point /boot
   • Primary 2: size = 2x memory (e.g. 4G), use as swap
   • Primary 3: size = remainder of disk, filesystem = ext3, mount point /
4. Write partition changes to disk.
5. Proceed through the installation with the following responses:
   • Time zone = as appropriate for your school
   • Root password = something secure, preferably generated randomly
   • Debian network mirror ftp.debian.org
   • Package configuration - deselect all software packages, including Desktop Environment and Standard System.
   • GRUB boot loader
6. Modify /etc/apt/sources.list to consist of the following:
   
   deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib
   deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ lenny main contrib
   deb http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib
   deb-src http://security.debian.org/ lenny/updates main contrib
7. Make sure openssh is installed.
8. Temporarily forward port 22 through the firewall to the newly configured system.
9. Provide the external IP address and root password over the phone to RealEd staff, who will proceed with RealEd setup and configuration.