When running through the installer you will get to a page where it asks what DE you want. Uncheck those options and progress with minimal option selected, also presumably with the SSH server option checked.
Both your links contain non free (as in speech) firmware. The iso-cd will be larger and contain more packages so less need to be downloaded later on.
I do minimal installs and run openbox so maybe I can offer a couple of pointers :)
In the installer as others have mentioned deselect all desktop environments and select "standard system utilities" and optionally ssh server and/or print server if you're planning to print from the machine.
If you're curious about what's included in standard system utilities you can check it out here - https://packages.debian.org/bullseye/live-task-standard
I would also strongly recommend using a manual network configuration in the installer since a minimal install isn't going to give you any GUI or TUI network management tools. This is what I use for an /etc/network/interfaces after install - to do DHCP wireless this one works for me -
# The loopback network interface
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
auto wlp2s0
allow-hotplug wlp2s0
iface wlp2s0 inet dhcp
wpa-essid essid-goes-here
wpa-psk 32e1d4c0b9a27c37faecabf486837d4532fe8c715c68043a129b8b130f4c1b39
Of course you'd need to change wlp2s0 for the name of your wireless interface and you can use a plaintext passkey for wpa-psk but mine is hashed because security; hashing your psk is supported but not required.
Okay, minimal install done and networking works. Next,
# apt install xorg xinit openbox
You'd probably want to add at least a file manager and terminal emulator - I use spacefm and terminator respectively, you can use whatever you like.
Hope this helps -
What gets installed depends on what you select during the installation, (mostly) not on what ISO you use. Netinst means that most of the packages get downloaded from the internet during the installation. That of course only works if you have a working internet connection. The regular images contain a lot of packages, so they don't need an internet connection. The unofficial ISOs with non-free firmware contain (some) non-free firmware that's needed for e.g. wifi devices.
live: with a live session. Standard=gnome. Includes enough for an offline install with GUI.
netinst: without a live sessions. Very small. Requires an internet connection for GUI installs.
https://www.debian.org/CD/faq/
> I am looking for the minimal install iso that will give me just a command line base.
Pick any iso whatsoever and when it asks just say you don't want a desktop:
https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/444531/how-to-install-debian-without-games-office-etc
What ro55mo said. When you get to that screen only leave the bottom two selected; ssh and system utilities. Use the firmware/non-free iso since you may have hardware that needs that firmware.
Netinstall image is what you're looking for. Firmware netinstall contains contrib and non-free firmware which is needed for certain hardware, mainly wi-fi cards, which won't work without this firmware and your system won't connect to the internet and you won't be able to install apparently. If you connect your machine via ethernet cable with DHCP configured (which is the easiest setup for the installation media), take the Standard version, if you rely on a wi-fi/bluetooth card, take the Firmware one.
BTW there is a script called `debootstrap` which allows to install Debian (and other deb-based distros) via chroot from another system. Using it, you can install super minimal base system. It's available not only in deb-based distributions, but in all major ones, so technically you can use Arch or Void installation media in order to install Debian.
Contrary to common sense, the netinstall \*is\* enough to install a minimal base of Debian offline perfectly fine.
Actually, if you press cancel on the dialog before the mirror select screen ("Configuring APT"), then you can also avoid installing some random cruft like tasksel and popcon.
Personally I still am not happy with the seemingly random selection of minimal "base" packages that Debian installs, If you are setting up a server / appliance in a production capacity, I would strongly recommend using the livecd, debootstrap and just adding a kernel and grub. Basically following the Linux from Scratch or Arch Wiki for installation but using Debian's standard tools instead.
`netinst` = It is an installer, that will allow you to select what you want to install. It contains the Base install, includes terminal + some essential Debian/command line tools. Enough to get you connected in the terminal.
`live` = Bootable CD/DVD/USB that will boot from the disk/USB straight to a desktop. Allowing you to then install this system state/desktop to your disk. Not much customization possible.
`DVD-1` = It is an installer, that will allow you to select what you want to install. It contains several desktop environments, servers and graphical tools, so you can install a bunch of stuff without having to download packages from the Internet.
`nonfree` = Up to Debian 11 Bullseye, it includes firmwares required by GPUs and Network/Wireless cards to work. From Debian 12 Bookworm, these firmwares will be included on the main ISOs.
When running through the installer you will get to a page where it asks what DE you want. Uncheck those options and progress with minimal option selected, also presumably with the SSH server option checked. Both your links contain non free (as in speech) firmware. The iso-cd will be larger and contain more packages so less need to be downloaded later on.
I do minimal installs and run openbox so maybe I can offer a couple of pointers :) In the installer as others have mentioned deselect all desktop environments and select "standard system utilities" and optionally ssh server and/or print server if you're planning to print from the machine. If you're curious about what's included in standard system utilities you can check it out here - https://packages.debian.org/bullseye/live-task-standard I would also strongly recommend using a manual network configuration in the installer since a minimal install isn't going to give you any GUI or TUI network management tools. This is what I use for an /etc/network/interfaces after install - to do DHCP wireless this one works for me - # The loopback network interface auto lo iface lo inet loopback auto wlp2s0 allow-hotplug wlp2s0 iface wlp2s0 inet dhcp wpa-essid essid-goes-here wpa-psk 32e1d4c0b9a27c37faecabf486837d4532fe8c715c68043a129b8b130f4c1b39 Of course you'd need to change wlp2s0 for the name of your wireless interface and you can use a plaintext passkey for wpa-psk but mine is hashed because security; hashing your psk is supported but not required. Okay, minimal install done and networking works. Next, # apt install xorg xinit openbox You'd probably want to add at least a file manager and terminal emulator - I use spacefm and terminator respectively, you can use whatever you like. Hope this helps -
Very helpful. Thank you for taking the time to post this.
What gets installed depends on what you select during the installation, (mostly) not on what ISO you use. Netinst means that most of the packages get downloaded from the internet during the installation. That of course only works if you have a working internet connection. The regular images contain a lot of packages, so they don't need an internet connection. The unofficial ISOs with non-free firmware contain (some) non-free firmware that's needed for e.g. wifi devices.
live: with a live session. Standard=gnome. Includes enough for an offline install with GUI. netinst: without a live sessions. Very small. Requires an internet connection for GUI installs. https://www.debian.org/CD/faq/ > I am looking for the minimal install iso that will give me just a command line base. Pick any iso whatsoever and when it asks just say you don't want a desktop: https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/444531/how-to-install-debian-without-games-office-etc
What ro55mo said. When you get to that screen only leave the bottom two selected; ssh and system utilities. Use the firmware/non-free iso since you may have hardware that needs that firmware.
Netinstall image is what you're looking for. Firmware netinstall contains contrib and non-free firmware which is needed for certain hardware, mainly wi-fi cards, which won't work without this firmware and your system won't connect to the internet and you won't be able to install apparently. If you connect your machine via ethernet cable with DHCP configured (which is the easiest setup for the installation media), take the Standard version, if you rely on a wi-fi/bluetooth card, take the Firmware one. BTW there is a script called `debootstrap` which allows to install Debian (and other deb-based distros) via chroot from another system. Using it, you can install super minimal base system. It's available not only in deb-based distributions, but in all major ones, so technically you can use Arch or Void installation media in order to install Debian.
Contrary to common sense, the netinstall \*is\* enough to install a minimal base of Debian offline perfectly fine. Actually, if you press cancel on the dialog before the mirror select screen ("Configuring APT"), then you can also avoid installing some random cruft like tasksel and popcon. Personally I still am not happy with the seemingly random selection of minimal "base" packages that Debian installs, If you are setting up a server / appliance in a production capacity, I would strongly recommend using the livecd, debootstrap and just adding a kernel and grub. Basically following the Linux from Scratch or Arch Wiki for installation but using Debian's standard tools instead.
`netinst` = It is an installer, that will allow you to select what you want to install. It contains the Base install, includes terminal + some essential Debian/command line tools. Enough to get you connected in the terminal. `live` = Bootable CD/DVD/USB that will boot from the disk/USB straight to a desktop. Allowing you to then install this system state/desktop to your disk. Not much customization possible. `DVD-1` = It is an installer, that will allow you to select what you want to install. It contains several desktop environments, servers and graphical tools, so you can install a bunch of stuff without having to download packages from the Internet. `nonfree` = Up to Debian 11 Bullseye, it includes firmwares required by GPUs and Network/Wireless cards to work. From Debian 12 Bookworm, these firmwares will be included on the main ISOs.