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Installation of Desktop system

Install stable/testing Debian with Xfce from image to encrypted disk

This text documents initial setting up a computer for use as desktop (or laptop) workstation.

Prerequisites

You need a computer with monitor and keyboard connected.

Recommended: Either a Teres-1 laptop or a LIME2 box.

You also need a microSD card as install medium.

Recommended: microSD card from SanDisk marked as "A1" or "A2".

You will need internet access during install, both to get the install image and to finalize system setup.

Non-free firmware

Beware: Many wifi controllers does not work out of the box with Free systems like Debian. You can either avoid wifi (i.e. use ethernet instead), use a Debian-compatible USB wifi dongle, or (if acceptable to you) include suitable nonfree drivers.

Install core system

You are generally recommended to install a stable system. Alternatively you can install a testing system - more exciting but also less reliable.

You are recommended to use full disk encryption, which protects your personal data stored on the harddisk from being accessible by others e.g. if your computer gets stolen.

Beware: Disk encryption only protects your data while the computer is turned off (also use a strong user password and a screensaver with locking). Also, if you forget your disk password then all your data is lost!

Follow the guide at http://box.redpill.dk/ to download image and copy it over to an install medium, and then start the new system, enable network, and finalize system setup.

Beware: Builtin wifi on the Teres-I laptop does not work with the regular box image (see notes [above][#Non-free firmware]). If including nonfree code is acceptable to you then you can instead use a nonfree box image.

Setup desktop

You are recommended to use the Xfce desktop - as a conservative X11 desktop environment.

Run "box-add-gui" to have a graphical user interface.