Re: Request for Clarification on Debian Installation Modes

[Darac Marjal]

On 15/10/2024 21:03, deb...@nexgntech.com wrote:

Dear All,

A few days back, I had the opportunity to dive into the OpenWISP / OpenWRT project, and I learned that it is best supported on Debian.

(For the benefit of other list members, OpenWISP appears to be something that installs on top of OpenWRT, using Ansible. So I am assuming that the OP is looking for somewhere to run Ansible from)

While studying, I encountered four different modes of installation for Debian, and I would appreciate it if someone could explain the differences between these modes in detail. Specifically, I would like to understand what each mode includes initially and what additional packages can be added later to the operating system.

Here are the installation modes that I found:

Be aware that Debian version 11 is the _previous_ stable version of Debian. It is not recommended for new installs because it receives only minimal support. Better to used Debian 12 which is the current stable version.

For the decision below, the answer essentially comes down to "how much do you want to download NOW" versus "how much do you want to install each time you install the OS".

 1. *debian-11.0.0-amd64-DVD-1.iso (Size: 3.7G)*
      * It seems this is a larger installation image, presumably
        containing more packages and software.
      * What does this image include by default, and how does it
        differ from the others in terms of available software?
      * What additional options or desktop environments can be added
        later?

This will provide almost everything you would want to install. It won't contain every possible package, but if you are installing to something where network connectivity will be impossible, or very difficult, during the install (e.g. if you need dial-up, or if you are on a metered connection), then the DVD may be a good choice. You could even order a physical DVD to be delivered to you so that you don't even have to download the 3.7G file.

     *


 1. *debian-11.0.0-amd64-netinst.iso (Size: 377M)*
      * This appears to be a smaller network installation image.
      * Could someone clarify how this image works and what it
        installs by default?
      * What is the process for adding packages during and after
        installation?

The netinst file is the opposite. This assumes that you *will* have a network connection available during the installation. If you have an ethernet connection or if you're installing to a VM in the cloud etc, then this is a good option because you can get going quicker.

 1. *debian-live-11.0.0-amd64-standard.iso (Size: 903M)*
      * This looks like a live image meant for testing or use as a
        lightweight OS.
      * What is included in the "standard" version, and how does it
        compare to the others in terms of pre-installed software?
      * How would one proceed with adding other packages or a desktop
        environment?

Yes, the "-live-" variants boot into a Debian OS directly from the CD/DVD. You can install Debian from them, but the focus is more around providing a temporary system for the purposes of demonstration. If you only need to install OpenWISP and then don't need the Debian computer any more, this might be an option.

     *


 1. *debian-live-11.0.0-amd64-xfce.iso (Size: 2.3G)*
      * This image includes the XFCE desktop environment.

      * Besides XFCE, what other software comes pre-installed, and is
        it possible to switch or add other desktop environments later?

None of these options will stop you from installing other packages later. If you don't have an internet connection, then the DVD installer will give you a "local repository" where you can install plenty of software direct from disc. In this instance, you'd be restricted to what's available on the disc, but if you do install from the DVD and you have access to the internet, then you will be able to install packages from both the DVD and the internet.

I would appreciate a detailed explanation to help me make an informed decision on which mode to use based on the project requirements.

Looking forward to your insights.

BR,

*Muhammad Nadeem Anjum*

Nexgn Infrastructure Technologies (Pvt) Ltd.

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