How to Install a Debian 10 (Buster) Minimal Server

If you're looking for a reliable and secure server operating system, Debian 10 (Buster) is an excellent choice. It's known for its stability, security, and open-source nature. In this article, we'll show you how to install a Debian 10 minimal server, which is a stripped-down version of the operating system without any graphical user interface or unnecessary software. A minimal server is an excellent option for those who want to build a custom server tailored to their specific needs.

Before we begin, it's essential to note that installing a Debian 10 minimal server requires some technical knowledge. You'll need to be comfortable working with the command line interface and have a basic understanding of Linux. If you're new to Linux, we recommend starting with a graphical desktop version of Debian 10, such as Debian 10 GNOME or Debian 10 KDE, and then moving to the minimal version once you're more comfortable.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to install a Debian 10 minimal server.

Step 1: Download the Debian 10 Minimal Server ISO

The first step is to download the Debian 10 minimal server ISO image from the official Debian website. You can download it from the following link −

https://www.debian.org/distrib/netinst

Choose the appropriate architecture (i.e., 32-bit or 64-bit) and download the ISO file.

Step 2: Create a Bootable USB Drive

Once you've downloaded the Debian 10 minimal server ISO, you'll need to create a bootable USB drive to install it on your server. To do this, you'll need a USB drive with at least 4GB of space and a tool like Rufus or Etcher to create the bootable drive.

Here's how to create a bootable USB drive using Rufus −

• Insert your USB drive into your computer.

• Download and install Rufus from the official website: https://rufus.ie/

• Launch Rufus and select your USB drive from the Device dropdown menu.

• Under the Boot selection section, click the SELECT button and choose the Debian 10 minimal server ISO file you downloaded earlier.

• Leave all other settings as default, and click the START button to begin the process.

• Rufus will format the USB drive and copy the ISO image to the drive. This process may take a few minutes, so be patient.

Step 3: Boot from the USB Drive

Now that you've created a bootable USB drive with the Debian 10 minimal server ISO image, you'll need to boot your server from the USB drive. To do this, you'll need to change the boot order in the server's BIOS or UEFI settings.

Here's how to change the boot order on a typical server −

• Power on your server and press the appropriate key to access the BIOS or UEFI settings. The key to press may vary depending on your server's manufacturer and model, but it's usually one of the function keys (F2, F10, F12, etc.).

• Once you're in the BIOS or UEFI settings, navigate to the Boot tab using the arrow keys.

• Find the boot order settings and move the USB drive to the top of the list. This ensures that the server boots from the USB drive first.

• Save the changes and exit the BIOS or UEFI settings. Your server will now boot from the USB drive.

Step 4: Install Debian 10 Minimal Server

After booting from the USB drive, you'll be presented with the Debian 10 minimal server installer. Follow the steps below to install the operating system −

Select the Install option from the main menu and press Enter.

Choose your language, location, and keyboard layout from the subsequent screens.

The installer will then detect and configure your network settings. If your server is connected to the internet via Ethernet, the installer will automatically detect your network settings. If not, you'll need to manually configure your network settings.

Next, the installer will prompt you to enter a hostname for your server. The hostname is the name that identifies your server on the network. Choose a name that is unique and easy to remember.

The installer will then ask you to set up the root password. The root user is the superuser account that has full administrative privileges. Choose a strong password that is difficult to guess and remember it.

The installer will then partition your hard drive. If you're installing Debian 10 on a dedicated server, you can choose the Guided - use entire disk option. This will automatically create a single partition that uses the entire hard drive.

Once the partitioning is complete, the installer will prompt you to confirm the changes to the disk. If you're happy with the changes, select the Yes option and press Enter.

The installer will now copy the necessary files to your hard drive. This process may take a few minutes, depending on the speed of your hard drive.

Once the installation is complete, the installer will prompt you to install the GRUB bootloader. Choose the Yes option and press Enter to install GRUB. This will allow you to boot into Debian 10.

Finally, the installer will prompt you to reboot your server. Choose the Continue option and press Enter to reboot your server.

Step 5: Configure Debian 10 Minimal Server

Once your server has rebooted, you'll need to log in as the root user to configure it. To do this, enter your username and password at the login prompt.

Here are some essential configuration tasks to perform on your Debian 10 minimal server −

Update Your System

Run the following command to update your system −

apt-get update && apt-get upgrade

This command will update all the packages on your server to the latest version.

Install necessary packages: Since the Debian 10 minimal server doesn't include any graphical user interface, you'll need to install any necessary packages manually. For example, if you need to install a web server, run the following command −

apt-get install nginx

This command will install the Nginx web server.

Configure your firewall: Debian 10 minimal server comes with the UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) firewall pre-installed. You'll need to configure it to allow traffic to the services you've installed. For example, to allow traffic to the Nginx web server, run the following command −

ufw allow 'Nginx HTTP'

This command will allow HTTP traffic to the Nginx web server.

Configure SSH: SSH (Secure Shell) is a secure method of remotely accessing your server. By default, SSH is already installed on Debian 10 minimal server. However, you'll need to configure it to allow remote access. Run the following command to edit the SSH configuration file −

nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

In the configuration file, find the following line −

#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password

Uncomment this line and change prohibit-password to yes −

PermitRootLogin yes

Save the changes and exit the editor. Then, restart the SSH service with the following command −

systemctl restart ssh

Conclusion

Installing a Debian 10 minimal server is a straightforward process that requires some technical knowledge. By following the steps outlined in this article, you'll have a minimal but powerful server operating system that you can customize to your needs.

Remember to keep your server up to date by regularly running system updates and installing security patches. Additionally, make sure to configure your firewall and SSH access to secure your server from unauthorized access.

If you're new to Linux or unfamiliar with the command line interface, we recommend starting with a graphical desktop version of Debian 10 before moving to the minimal version. This will help you get familiar with the operating system and its features.

Overall, Debian 10 is an excellent choice for server administrators looking for a stable and secure operating system. With its open-source nature and extensive community support, you can be confident in your ability to configure and maintain your server.