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You can do this with virtually any distribution, but if you want debian based why not just use debian? Installing X server is optional, or you could just install the X Server in case you need it, but boot to runlevel 3 (CLI) by default.
is there any distro that match my discription? i would like to do this in order to get used to the command-line.
koenfloris,
Once Debian is installed you can change the init script to default to booting only to runlevel 3, that's pure terminal login without X server.
But it seems you are looking after for a "slim" or "minimalist" distro, one that requires only little memory resources. I am familiar with one very stable and fast minimalist distro, intended to run even in old machines (I have tried running it with 128mb RAM with a P-2 processor, still fast enough), it offers Lynx, bitorrent and ctorrent (maybe rtorrent is available now). It offers further minimalist windowing managers depending on your choice. Only that, it is Slackware based, that is 'package.tgz'; although package installation is just as easy as debian 'package.deb' you will need to familiarize a short while, and there are plenty of resources available to learn from. It boots to runlevel 3 (Command Line as you say you'd like it), you have to enter command to launch window if you want. You can download Absolute Linux from here. The installer is one CD, if you want to install Open Office you'll need to download CD2.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.
Last edited by malekmustaq; 11-24-2009 at 12:17 PM.
Just download the NETINST CD from Debian, that's the basics to get you running, no GUI, no X, no apps. Just take it from there and install what you need from the command line.
You're welcome, just make sure that when installing you're connected to the internet, preferable by cable. That way your Debian will connect automatically if DHCP is available and you can update and start installing from the console at once.
"If you simply want to install Debian, these are your options:
* Download a small image file, record it to a CD/DVD/USB disk/floppy, and install using the Internet.
These small "netinst" images can be downloaded quickly. These allow you to download only those Debian packages that you actually want, but require an Internet connection on the machine being installed.
"
I just want to clear up what seems to be a very common miss understanding about run levels in Debian. Run levels 2,3,4 and 5 are identical. If you want them to be different you can customize them. By default they are the same.
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