Knoppix Hacks, 2nd Edition

Chapter 4. Install Linux with Knoppix

Hacks 40–45

Once you are comfortable using Knoppix for your desktop, you might find yourself booting onto the CD more often. While you can create persistent settings and a portable home directory to mount, at some point you might decide you would like to use Knoppix full-time by installing it to your hard drive.

The Debian GNU/Linux distribution, on which Knoppix is based, is becoming much more popular, but the Debian installer can be daunting even for the experienced Linux user. Some of the more complicated parts of the install ask questions that the new Debian user might not know the answers to. Knoppix handles all of the hardware and network configuration for you and comes with a great selection of applications, so it wasn’t long before people began asking for a way to install Knoppix on their hard drives. As Knoppix’s harddrive installer has progressed, it has become known as the quickest and easiest way to obtain a Debian testing/unstable installation.

The Debian distribution has three main branches that are used to ensure high security and stability on one end, and rapid inclusion of new programs and updates on the other. These branches are:

Stable (currently nicknamed Etch)

The Debian stable branch contains packages that have been rigorously tested with the other packages in the branch over a long period of time and is considered incredibly stable.

Testing (currently nicknamed Lenny)

The Debian testing branch is a blend of the stable and ...