Debian Linux
Debian is another recommended Linux distro to use with Limbo. Most recent versions might be tool slow but you can get a good performance out of Debian Sarge, since it's based on a Kernel 2.4 which is not very demanding on resources, though it's old and security updates are not supported. You can try the live ISO business card CDROM or download the net installation CD (netinst) and install the packages via the network to a hard disk drive:
All Debian versions:
https://www.debian.org/releases
Latest version Bullseye:
https://www.debian.org/releases/bullseye/debian-installer
Old version Sarge:
https://www.debian.org/releases/sarge/debian-installer
All Debian versions:
https://www.debian.org/releases
Latest version Bullseye:
https://www.debian.org/releases/bullseye/debian-installer
Old version Sarge:
https://www.debian.org/releases/sarge/debian-installer
Debian Sarge - Net Install
This guide is for Debian version 3.1 which is old and probably insecure but has a very good performance, use your own discretion. You can of course try newer versions to do that scroll down to Debian Bullseye Net Install.
CD ISO x86: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/3.1_r8/i386/iso-cd
CD ISO ARM: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/3.1_r8/arm/iso-cd
CD ISO PowerPC: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/3.1_r8/powerpc/iso-cd
CD ISO SPARC: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/3.1_r8/sparc/iso-cd
Official Website: https://www.debian.org
Steps to setup Debian Linux
Start QEMU on your desktop with the settings below. If you haven't installed QEMU on your desktop visit our Downloads page and
* Architecture: qemu-system-x86 (or qemu-system-arm for nearly native speed with KVM)
* Machine Type: pc
* RAM Memory: 256 MB
* CD: debian-31r8-i386-netinst.iso
* HDA: debian-31.qcow2 (create a new disk with qcow2 as the format with a size of 20 GB)
* vga: cirrus (Cirrus Logic)
* net: User
* Nic: ne2k-pci
This is the command line to create the qcow2 virtual disk image:
qemu-img create -f qcow2 debian-31.qcow2 20G
Starting the virtual machine using QEMU:
For Windows:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 256 -cdrom debian-31r8-i386-netinst.iso -hda debian-31.qcow2 -accel hax
Or on a Linux Desktop:
qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc -m 256 -cdrom debian-31r8-i386-netinst.iso -hda debian-31.qcow2 -accel kvm
Debian Installer
Keyboard: choose US Keyboard and English (others may not be supported by Limbo)
Language: English
Disk: Use recommended settings for new users
Grub Install: Choose Yes on the Master Boot Record
Follow instructions and complete download and installation.
When asked to finish installation and reboot (press continue)
After reboot complete the steps for post installation.
Note: if you're install Sarge:
When configuring apt-get choose to edit the sources manually (file /etc/apt/sources.list)
Make sure the following lines are present:
deb http://archive.debian.org/debian/ sarge main non-free contrib
deb http://archive.debian.org/debian-security/ sarge/updates main non-free contrib
NOTE: remove all other lines (ie oldstable)
Make sure you work all the way through the rest of the configuration process.
When you asked for packages DO NOT install the Desktop Environment (we'll do that later).
Don't select any manual packages either just choose OK and press enter.
You can skip the Mail configuration.
Now choose "Finish Configuring Base packages"
CD ISO x86: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/3.1_r8/i386/iso-cd
CD ISO ARM: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/3.1_r8/arm/iso-cd
CD ISO PowerPC: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/3.1_r8/powerpc/iso-cd
CD ISO SPARC: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/archive/3.1_r8/sparc/iso-cd
Official Website: https://www.debian.org
Steps to setup Debian Linux
Start QEMU on your desktop with the settings below. If you haven't installed QEMU on your desktop visit our Downloads page and
* Architecture: qemu-system-x86 (or qemu-system-arm for nearly native speed with KVM)
* Machine Type: pc
* RAM Memory: 256 MB
* CD: debian-31r8-i386-netinst.iso
* HDA: debian-31.qcow2 (create a new disk with qcow2 as the format with a size of 20 GB)
* vga: cirrus (Cirrus Logic)
* net: User
* Nic: ne2k-pci
This is the command line to create the qcow2 virtual disk image:
qemu-img create -f qcow2 debian-31.qcow2 20G
Starting the virtual machine using QEMU:
For Windows:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 256 -cdrom debian-31r8-i386-netinst.iso -hda debian-31.qcow2 -accel hax
Or on a Linux Desktop:
qemu-system-x86_64 -M pc -m 256 -cdrom debian-31r8-i386-netinst.iso -hda debian-31.qcow2 -accel kvm
Debian Installer
Keyboard: choose US Keyboard and English (others may not be supported by Limbo)
Language: English
Disk: Use recommended settings for new users
Grub Install: Choose Yes on the Master Boot Record
Follow instructions and complete download and installation.
When asked to finish installation and reboot (press continue)
After reboot complete the steps for post installation.
Note: if you're install Sarge:
When configuring apt-get choose to edit the sources manually (file /etc/apt/sources.list)
Make sure the following lines are present:
deb http://archive.debian.org/debian/ sarge main non-free contrib
deb http://archive.debian.org/debian-security/ sarge/updates main non-free contrib
NOTE: remove all other lines (ie oldstable)
Make sure you work all the way through the rest of the configuration process.
When you asked for packages DO NOT install the Desktop Environment (we'll do that later).
Don't select any manual packages either just choose OK and press enter.
You can skip the Mail configuration.
Now choose "Finish Configuring Base packages"
Debian Sarge - Business Card ISO
If you want to run debian from a live Business card ISO:
Download here and click on businesscard CD image to download the CD iso for the architecture you want to use.
Then move the iso image to your external sd card on your device.
Create new VM from Limbo
Open the ISO as CDROM
Start your virtual machine.
Desktop Managers
If you want to install a desktop manager like icewm otherwise skip below
Desktop (optional)
icewm installation guide:
> apt-get update
> apt-get install icewm
> apt-get install x-window-system
Follow the instructions on the screen and choose default values.
Use auto probing when available.
Also you should make sure that mouse is detected as ImPS2
Now you can start the desktop by typing:
> startx
Note: You can install other windows managers also:
> apt-get install fluxbox
> apt-get install xfce4
> apt-get install gnome
If you don't want the graphical login in the beginning type on a terminal:
> apt-get remove xfce4 xdm gdm
Note that the above will just uninstall the login managers not the desktop managers. So if you want to uninstall a desktop manager type the following on a terminal:
> apt-get remove icewm*
> apt-get remove fluxbox*
> apt-get remove xfce*
> apt-get remove gnome*
Download here and click on businesscard CD image to download the CD iso for the architecture you want to use.
Then move the iso image to your external sd card on your device.
Create new VM from Limbo
Open the ISO as CDROM
Start your virtual machine.
Desktop Managers
If you want to install a desktop manager like icewm otherwise skip below
Desktop (optional)
icewm installation guide:
> apt-get update
> apt-get install icewm
> apt-get install x-window-system
Follow the instructions on the screen and choose default values.
Use auto probing when available.
Also you should make sure that mouse is detected as ImPS2
Now you can start the desktop by typing:
> startx
Note: You can install other windows managers also:
> apt-get install fluxbox
> apt-get install xfce4
> apt-get install gnome
If you don't want the graphical login in the beginning type on a terminal:
> apt-get remove xfce4 xdm gdm
Note that the above will just uninstall the login managers not the desktop managers. So if you want to uninstall a desktop manager type the following on a terminal:
> apt-get remove icewm*
> apt-get remove fluxbox*
> apt-get remove xfce*
> apt-get remove gnome*
Debian Bullseye - Net Install
This is a guide for installing Debian Bullseye on a virtual disk using QEMU on your desktop. You can later transfer the disk image to your Android device and create a virtual machine in Limbo to use it with.
Limbo Configuration
QEMU image creation command line:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-img" create -f qcow2 debian-bullseye.qcow2 20G
QEMU command line to start the virtual machine:
On a Windows Desktop:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 1024 -cdrom debian-11.1.0-amd64-netinst.iso -hda debian-bullseye.qcow2 -vga cirrus -soundhw sb16 -soundhw adlib -net user -net nic,model=ne2k_pci -accel hax
On a Linux Desktop:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 1024 -cdrom debian-11.1.0-amd64-netinst.iso -hda debian-bullseye.qcow2 -vga cirrus -soundhw sb16 -soundhw adlib -net user -net nic,model=ne2k_pci -accel kvm
Note: if you get an error about the accelerator you can remove the -accel option from the command line and try again. The hax and kvm are accelerators for virtualization and provide faster speeds so they might not available on your machine.
Once the main menu starts choose "Graphical Install"
Follow the instructions for choosing keyboard layout, language
You don't have to enter anything when asked for domain.
Add a password for the root user and a password for the login user. Make sure they are strong passwords.
When asked about the disk you are free to choose any of the options though keep in mind if you use encryption you're going to end up with a very slow machine. The recommended option for use with Limbo is "Guided - Use Entire Disk". Then choose the hard disk from the list and choose "All Files in one partition"
Choose Finish Partition and Write changes to Disk and press Yes.
Go get some coffee or tea or whatever is your preference while the operating system is installed.
When asked to scan more media choose No
To configure the package manager select a mirror that's close to your location for faster speeds.
If you don't use proxy leave it empty.
Once the base system is installed you can install additional packages for the window manager and servers. We recommend installing either GNOME or better yet Xfce which is a light weight window manager. Keep in mind that these packages are large and will increase your virtual disk in size.
We also recommend installing the SSH server if you want to access the terminal via SSH from your Android device, you can visit the Network page to learn more about how to setup the network and the Host forward rules.
Now wait till the additional packages are installed, once that is done you will be asked to save a grub loader to the disk so choose the disk entry that is shown but do not enter it manually.
Now you should be prompted to eject the CDROM, just ignore that and press ok to reboot.
Debian system should now boot, make sure you can login in and customize the user interface before you are ready to transfer the qcow2 image to your Android device.
Notes:
If the tool ifconfig is missing you can install it from the command line with:
su
apt install net-tools
Limbo Configuration
- CPU: qemu64
- RAM Memory: 1024 MB
- Mouse: ps2
- Graphics: cirrus
- Audio: sb16
- Network: user
- Network Card: ne2k_pci
QEMU image creation command line:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-img" create -f qcow2 debian-bullseye.qcow2 20G
QEMU command line to start the virtual machine:
On a Windows Desktop:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 1024 -cdrom debian-11.1.0-amd64-netinst.iso -hda debian-bullseye.qcow2 -vga cirrus -soundhw sb16 -soundhw adlib -net user -net nic,model=ne2k_pci -accel hax
On a Linux Desktop:
"c:\Program Files\qemu\qemu-system-x86_64" -M pc -m 1024 -cdrom debian-11.1.0-amd64-netinst.iso -hda debian-bullseye.qcow2 -vga cirrus -soundhw sb16 -soundhw adlib -net user -net nic,model=ne2k_pci -accel kvm
Note: if you get an error about the accelerator you can remove the -accel option from the command line and try again. The hax and kvm are accelerators for virtualization and provide faster speeds so they might not available on your machine.
Once the main menu starts choose "Graphical Install"
Follow the instructions for choosing keyboard layout, language
You don't have to enter anything when asked for domain.
Add a password for the root user and a password for the login user. Make sure they are strong passwords.
When asked about the disk you are free to choose any of the options though keep in mind if you use encryption you're going to end up with a very slow machine. The recommended option for use with Limbo is "Guided - Use Entire Disk". Then choose the hard disk from the list and choose "All Files in one partition"
Choose Finish Partition and Write changes to Disk and press Yes.
Go get some coffee or tea or whatever is your preference while the operating system is installed.
When asked to scan more media choose No
To configure the package manager select a mirror that's close to your location for faster speeds.
If you don't use proxy leave it empty.
Once the base system is installed you can install additional packages for the window manager and servers. We recommend installing either GNOME or better yet Xfce which is a light weight window manager. Keep in mind that these packages are large and will increase your virtual disk in size.
We also recommend installing the SSH server if you want to access the terminal via SSH from your Android device, you can visit the Network page to learn more about how to setup the network and the Host forward rules.
Now wait till the additional packages are installed, once that is done you will be asked to save a grub loader to the disk so choose the disk entry that is shown but do not enter it manually.
Now you should be prompted to eject the CDROM, just ignore that and press ok to reboot.
Debian system should now boot, make sure you can login in and customize the user interface before you are ready to transfer the qcow2 image to your Android device.
Notes:
If the tool ifconfig is missing you can install it from the command line with:
su
apt install net-tools
