Hello all,

I want to install Debian 3.1 sarge on my pc as dual boot with xp.

I saw differnet no. of iso files on different mirrors can any body tell me acutally which iso files do I need to download ?

And yes, what do these names sarge, woody, etc mean ?

thanks,
hardik

Where the names come from:

http://www.debian.org/doc/FAQ/ch-ftp...ceforcodenames

Download isos from

debian-31r0a-i386-binary-1.iso
to
debian-31r0a-i386-binary-N.iso

N - it depends on you...
Best is get about 3-4 discks and have complete system... Get at least firsr two for Desktop and Office and most of usefull packages.

If you want to take most useful packages on CDs and not download from internet most of packages in calse you need to install system.

The disks are sorted in terms of how this package is used frequently... In most of case you'll not need 7th or 10th iso. First 3-4 you will use frequently for something more then basic install. At least I have 5... first 4 I used a lot... last 5 maybe once or twice...

You can also go for:

debian-31r0a-i386-netinst.iso

If you want to install from network and not download too much...

You only need the first two disks if I remember correctly. Everything else can be brought in by apt as needed.

Woody = OLD debian stable, now to old to care about unless you need a server that you can forget about for a few years. It really was stable.
Sarge = New version of debian stable. It also is really stable, and while not bleeding edge it is fairly up to date.
Etch = The new version of Debian testing. Use this for desktop systems. It may occasionally break when they update packages, but it is rare in my experience.
Sid = Debian unstable. Primarily for developers, it really can be unstable, but it is THE bleeding edge linux distro in my opinion. I run it on the desktop, I am brave. :-)

I would recommend only downloading the first disk, which contains all the programs you'll need to setup your computer initially, and then you can use a tool called "apt" to download any other programs you'll need from Debian's repositories.

thanks all for reply..

i have heard that apt-get needs direct internet connection and my would be linux machine does not have internet connection. what I can do is download some files from university library and then install on my machine afterwards.. and my main purpose to install debian is to learn Game Programming especailly I need SDL libraries for graphics development. So which iso will be containing SDL ?

I am confused between FC4 and Deb.3.1 sarge can any body tell me which would be better for me considerin that I dont have internet on my linux pc ?

thanks,

Hardik

It is all down to taste, I haven't used FC at all. Debian's boon is its APT system.

hi all,

yes, APT is boon if you have direct internet connection, i guess otherwise you have to use dpkg and face a lot of dependency problems.

and please also tell me in which cd do I find SDL libraries and other developer stuff..

thanks

FC4 is a must NOT Use. It is the worst Fedora Core to date. People have had troubles installing grub and is just a pain in the ass.

If you want some development and not have internet connection then download as much disks as you can... 4-5... I don't know how many is feasiable for you... You'll be able to install all you need from them using standard Debian APT/Synaptic tools as if you were connected to internet. Actually I prefere to use CDs instead of internet because it is faster... What you will not get is some more specific thidr party tools like video codacs or some other tools... But if you want development... Debian for you...

Also FC good distro but not as Debian (IMHO)... If you install FC you'll also get quite good amount of packages... You'll be able to add/remove them without problems with "app-remove-programs" tools...

thanks all,

finally I have decided to install debian and partitioned my second hdd as

hdb1 - windows FAT32
hdb2 - 2 GB for deb root
hdb3 - swap - 500 MB
hdb4 - /home - 500 MB

is the space allocation ok ?

I will install LILO to root partition not on MBR, I will leave it on XP to set dual boot editing the boot.ini

i hope it works!!

Hardik

I would suggest you to make a single root directory without /home... It is better to have separated directories if you have much more space...
However it is up to you...

Also 2.5 GB is not too much space...

In my first Linux installations I've used 3.5GB disk space... and I've run out of space quite fast after some things I wanted to add...

If you are not planning to use it as your primary OS and use it only for development then it is better to have at least 4-5GB... at some point you'll want to try all stuff like KDE+Gnome+Office+DevTools maybe some games maybe some big amount of data...
Keep in mind that it is better to give little more then reinstall system because of lack of space...

Not LILO, GRUB... is default one as far as I remember for Sarge...

I allways install it on MBR... and it controls the boot process - you'll be able to choose XP or Debain on the boot... I installes it not once this way with dual boot with XP without problems...

I know 2.5 GB is very small space, but I dont have other way, I have too much windows stuff on my hda1 - 10 gb and hdb2-10gb...

somebody told me that 1.8 GB for root is enough for debian sarge 3.1 with KDE , i dont want GNOME...can I install in this space with KDE ?


if I can start some game development I will surely buy a new big harddisk but atm I dont hafe much space so I will have to manage. pls tell me if this space is not adequate even for a minimal desktop installation with some developer stuff like libraries etc..

thanks