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Installing YunoHost on top of Debian

If you can't install YunoHost successfully using our pre-built image, YunoHost can still be installed on top of a vanilla Debian setup.

YunoHost is based on Debian 12 (Bookworm), and you would usually obtain that image from Debian's download page assuming Debian's stable version is still Bookworm (12.x) when reading this page. Alternatively, you can find the image in Debian's archive > scroll down to find the latest 12.x version > amd64 > iso-cd > scroll down an choose the regular "netinst" iso.

The Debian installer isn't the most user-friendly installer and may ask some technical questions. It'll be easier to format the hard drive you plan to use for Debian+YunoHost before you install Debian, using your disk utility of choice.

You may then flash this ISO file on an USB stick (just like you would do for YunoHost's preinstalled image)

Installing

In general, you can simply follow the instructions on screen and use the suggested defaults.

Debian installer will ask for a hostname and a domain name. You can use yunohost and yunohost.local. It is not that important since the YunoHost Installer will overwrite those anyway.

Debian will ask for a root password, which should be reaonably complex as it is your primary defense to possible attacks.

The installer will also ask for a user account and another password. IMPORTANT: this username should be DIFFERENT from the first YunoHost user which you will choose during YunoHost's posinstall ...For example, you can name it debian. Be sure to also use a long complex password.

When the install asks where to install and how to create disk partitions, select the option to use the whole disk, unless you know what you're doing.

  • We recommend to no separate the /home, /var or /tmp partitions. Use the option to “keep all files in one partition”.
  • We discourage the encryption of any partitions (Edit by Aleks: there's no explanation why though...)

The installer will ask about mirrors. Select a country and server close to your location, or use the default options.

The installer will ask which desktop environment you want. We discourage installing a desktop environment on a server as it's essentially a waste of resources:

  • Unselect all desktop environment
  • Keep “standard system utilities” checked

After installing Debian

  1. Remove the installation media (unplug the USB stick)
  2. Reboot
  3. Login as root
  4. Install curl by typing apt install curl
  5. Proceed to install YunoHost on Debian using these instructions: https://yunohost.org/en/install/hardware:vps_debian

Found errors? Think you can improve this documentation? Simply click the Edit link at the top of the page, and then the icon on Github to suggest changes.