GeezerVison

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

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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"

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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

• CPU: qemu64
• RAM Memory: 1024 MB
• Mouse: ps2
• Graphics: cirrus
• Audio: sb16
• Network: user
• Network Card: ne2k_pci

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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.
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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