This tool is designed to automate the process of setting up a dedicated ITG Machine within a Debian GNU Linux environment. The objective is to operate it on a standalone machine without any other users or programs.
ITGMania and several essential utilities will be deployed on the machine. Auto login and auto start will be configured.
Watch ITG Machine Installation Demo on Youtube
Certain actions performed by this tool involve managing machine's disk and partitions. Exercise caution when using this tool. There are no guarantees provided.
Installer expects you install minimal GNU Debian Linux version using netinst cd image.
Use, for example, the following link: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/daily-builds/daily/arch-latest/amd64/iso-cd/debian-testing-amd64-netinst.iso
Or you can take a full CD/DVD installation. It depends on required software at the very early stage. For example you need to install network manager with WiFi support. Minimal Debian installation does not have network manager or wpa_supplicant.
Non free firmware is not included into Debian Installer by default. Download them if needed: https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/firmware/trixie/20240701/firmware.tar.gz
If network is not available (because firmware is missing) ignore it and proceed without network configuration. We will deal with it later.
Installer creates default user and it will be used for running ITG Machine.
By default itg user will be used.
ITG Machine is running with UEFI without GRUB. If you don't have
hardware with UEFI support just keep grub and don't select Install kernel to UEFI partition.
NOTE: My first intention was to create machine with hidden partition for backup/restore purpose. Despite the fact I've implemented this complicated logic, after pondering about it, I decided to drop this feature. If you think you need backup/restore just do it in your way and I keep installer simpler.
There is not strict disk layout required. Do it like you want. Here is some recommendation:
- Force UEFI Installation: YES, if possible
- Make sure you have EFI boot partition
- Preferred partition table type is GPT.
- If you plan to backup/restore OS, put
/homeon separate partition makes it easy to backup only OS by backing up only/ - If you have separate
/homeyou should backup files separately. If you wish. Or just machine profile. Maybe be in next versions - For running ITGMania with enough RAM swap is not required
IMPORTANT: If you choose to load kernel directly from UEFI, make sure EFI boot partition is at least 256MB.
EFI Boot partition may already have some files, sometimes up to 100 MB.
The kernel (~10MB) and the initramfs disk (~50MB) will be copied onto EFI boot partition.
In a rare case, if you install additional firmware packages and kernel modules (like NVidia), the initramfs file can suddenly grow up to 300 MB! Either you need big enough EFI bootpartition, or stay with grub, or optimize the initramfs size by setting MODULES=dep in /etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf and running update-initramfs -k all -c -v.
Reboot to your fresh installed system, install required firmware, etc.
At this point it is expected that you have a minimal Debian system installed and running.
Internet access must be provided. Your options:
- Plug network cable (easiest way). Temporary. Until you install everything and go offline or switch to something else
- Plug your phone using USB and choose
USB Tethering(also easy way). Now your phone is an old-gold modem connected to Internet. At least it works for Android - You have configured Internet access somehow
HINT: If you connected with Android or cable just type dhclient to
setup network. It requires only before you get your network manager.
You need to run instal.sh script either by copying it or by:
wget -O- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jsirex/itgmachine/master/install.sh | bash -s