Installing GNU/Linux on a Laptop for the Newton Free Library course.

For the Newton Free Library class, you will need to have a laptop which you will bring to class that has GNU/Linux installed. The laptop can run GNU/Linux in a virtual machine such as Virtual Box or natively installed directly on the laptop.
  1. To create a Virtual Machine version of Linux on your existing laptop, make sure you have at least 12 GB of free space left. You will use this space to create your virtual machine.
  2. Download a copy of the Debian network installation image, debian-8.2.0-amd64-netinst.iso can be found on the debian network installation page.
  3. Please follow these installation instructions to create a Debian Linux Virtual machine on your laptop. The instructions will help you install Debian Linux into a Virtual Box on your selected laptop. When following these directions, use the debian-8.2.0-amd64-netinst.iso image instead of the debian–6.0.5-amd64-i386-netinst.iso image described in the directions.
You can also elect to install GNU/Linux natively on the laptop. Running GNU/Linux directly on the laptop will most likely improve the computer's performance, but installing GNU/Linux will most likely erase the current contents.

If you run into problem during the installation, you can email me mronell@alumni.upenn.edu. Please also email me any suggestions which will help make this process easier for the class.