Installing Debian Stretch

Another (somewhat not new) notebook PC of mine

I got Acer C720 Chromebook this year (2017).

Since it is a good opportunity, I install Debian Stretch (now "testing") to this machine. It took a half of day (including replacing SDD and BIOS, preparation of USB memory for installation, as well as OS installation itself).

Comments on Stretch

My installation didn't have "install-info" package. So, "update-info-dir" didn't work well. I manually installed "install-info" package.

Well, I submitted a bug report: https://bugs.debian.org/850808

USB memory preparation

I had a USB memory for EFI boot, but I realized that it didn't work with standard ROM of Acer C720, which only supports legacy Boot (not EFI).

Reading the Debian Installation Guide, especially the section "4.3.3. Manually copying files to the USB stick — the flexible way", I prepared my USB memory with 8GB capacity.

I used: install-mbr, mkdosfs and syslinux. Then, I put vmlinuz and initrd.gz on the USB memory, and wrote syslinux.cfg.

Since Stretch is not yet stable release, I downloaded "debian-testing-amd64-DVD-1.iso" of weekly-builds onto the USB memory.

Installation

I installed Debian Stretch in English, with timezone Asia/Tokyo. The locale setting is en_US.UTF-8. I chose : standard "Standard system utilities", desktop "Debian desktop environment" with XFCE, and "SSH server" tasks.

Installation went well, although it didn't detect its wireless hardware (Qualcomm Atheros AR9462 Wireless Network Adapter). I did install with "no ethernet".

After installation, it can successfully find wireless hardware.

Customization of /etc/group

I add "gniibe" to adm, mail, dialout, and sudo group.

Customization for keyboard

Even though its keyboard is Japanese one (with double quotation mark above 2), I chose English one (with @-mark above 2). I blind touch in ASCII, I don't see key top.

I change KMAP in /etc/default/keyboard:

KMAP="/etc/kbd-setup"

The content in /etc/kbd-setup is:

keymaps 0-127
keycode 125 = Control

This is for console.

For X Window System, I created /etc/X11/Xsession.d/39x11-xmodmap with:

xmodmap /etc/X11/xmodmap

The content in /etc/X11/xmodmap is:

! keycode 133 = Super_L
clear control
clear mod4
add control  = Control_L Control_R Super_L
add mod4 = Hyper_L Super_R

Customization for Touchpad

For touchpad, I need this as /etc/X11/xorg.conf:

Section "InputClass"
    Identifier      "Touchpad peppy cyapa"
    MatchIsTouchpad "on"
    MatchDevicePath "/dev/input/event*"
    MatchProduct    "cyapa"
    Option          "Tapping" "On"
EndSection

This enables tapping as button.

Customization for ssh-agent

Since I use gpg-agent to work for ssh-agent service, I disable ssh-agent. I removed the line:

use-ssh-agent

in /etc/X11/Xsession.options.

Initial login

I login to the desktop in English, it created directories such as Desktop, Documents, etc. in my home directory.

Configuration of XFCE

Invoking xfce4-settings-manager ("Settings") from its "Application" menu, I configured:

  • Desktop
    • Background: Change background image of Desktop
    • Menus: Modify "Window List Menu" to disable "Show window list menu on desktop middle click"
    • Icons: Icon type = "None" not showing icons on Desktop
  • Window Manager
    • Style: Change "Theme" to "Daloa" for minimum height of title
    • Focus: Change "Focus model" to "Focus follows mouse"

Invoking xfce4-settings-editor "Settings Editor" from xfce4-settings-manager, I configured:

  • xfwm4

    • /general/tile_on_move: False

      This is important for me not to change Windows size during its move

  • xfce4-session

    I needed to create new entries with False values. See https://bugs.debian.org/791378

    • /startup/ssh-agent/enabled: False
    • /startup/gpg-agent/enabled: False

Customization of Panels

I place "Panel1" at the top-left of screen with "Application Menu", four launchers (Emacs, Terminal, Browser), Place, Desktop Button, and Window Button.

I place "Panel2" at the top-right of screen with two clocks (Japan and Germany timezone), Notification Area, Battery Monitor, Workspace switch, CPU monitor, PulseAudio Plugin and Action Button.

Packages added after installation

After installation, I added following packages for my system administration:

  • sudo
  • git
  • etckeeper

I added following packages for my daily use:

  • emacs25
  • install-info
  • scdaemon
  • ssmtp
  • magit
  • pidgin
  • mumble

I added following packages for my Japanese work:

  • fonts-ipafont
  • fonts-noto-cjk
  • emacs24
  • anthy
  • egg

That's pretty much important for me.

Adding locales

I add Japanese locale by invoking dpkg-reconfigure:

# dpkg-reconfigure locales

I add ja_JP.UTF-8 and zh_CN.UTF-8, and specify its defaults to C.UTF-8.

Second login

Before second login, I rebooted the computer, since DBUS service needed to know the change of locales support.

Then, I logged in with Japanese, selecting language at lightdm screen.

Non-free

I have to install a non-free package firmware-atheros for Bluetooth.

More installation, configuration