Convert your PPC LinkStation into a full-blown Debian system

'' This article Based on work by andre, Thorongil and frontalot. Originally by frontalot. at Linkstationwiki.org ''

1. Backup all your important data (see GeneralBackup).

2. If you don't have a Linux workstation you may use the Knoppix bootable Linux CD from http://www.knoppix.org.

3. Download fix_ext2_magic from the downloads area, and download the latest PPC Debian LinkStation package from the downloads area.

4. Disassemble the LinkStation and connect it to a workstation (see Articles/GeneralDisassemble).

5. Run fix_ext2_magic to repair the partition information and make the hard drive mountable. Use the command, where x is the hard drive name:

./fix_ext2_magic --fix /dev/hdx1

6. Mount the LinkStation hard drive. Use the command:

mount /dev/hdx1 /mnt/hdx1

7. Unmount the LinkStation hard drive. Use the command:

unmount /dev/hdx1

8. Partition the LinkStation hard drive according to your preferences. A good choice is a 2GB partition 1 (main), a 512MB partition 2 (swap), and the remaining hard drive space partition 3. Use:

fdisk /dev/hdx

9. Build an ext3 file system on partitions 1 and 3. Use the commands:

mke2fs -j /dev/hdx1; mke2fs -j /dev/hdx3

10. Turn off the file system check timers since partitions 1 and 3 are ext3 with journals. Use the commands:

tune2fs -i0 -c0 /dev/hdx1; tune2fs -i0 -c0 /dev/hdx3

11. Build the swap space. Use the command:

mkswap /dev/hdx2

12. Mount partition 1. Use the command:

mount /dev/hdx1 /mnt/hdx1

13. Extract the LinkStation Debian tar. Use the commands:

cd /mnt/hdx1; tar -zxvf ./debian_package_date_dist.tgz

14. Previous versions of this tutorial directed you to replace the kernel modules folder with the updated version available here. The updated kernel modules now come pre-installed in the latest Debian distribution.

15. Correct the networking files so you can connect to the Linkstation. Edit /etc/network/interfaces, /etc/resolv.conf , /etc/hosts , /etc/hosts.allow , and /etc/hosts.deny to your network settings. It is recommended to change /etc/hosts.deny to ALL : PARANOID.

16. Shutdown the computer, remove the LinkStation hard drive, reassemble the LinkStation (make sure to return the hard drive jumper to cable select), and turn it on.

17. Connect to the LinkStation via telnet. The default users are:

tmp-kun:tmp-kun and root:root

18. Log in as tmp-kun and su to root.

19. Now be sure that swap space is activated (your linkstation may fail on you when doing heavy work because of filled up RAM), run "top", it shows you in the upper left corner the available swap space. If it's zero, run:

mkswap /dev/hda2 swapon -a

20. Edit /etc/apt/sources.list so that it contains the following lines:

deb http://security.debian.org stable/updates main contrib non-free deb http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian stable main contrib non-free deb-src http://security.debian.org stable/updates main contrib non-free deb-src http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian stable main contrib non-free

21. Now update the list of packages. Use the command:

apt-get update

22. Then upgrade your system by using the command:

apt-get dist-upgrade

23. Reboot the LinkStation. Use the command:

reboot

24. Log in to the LinkStation via telnet and su to root. Make a new user. Use the command:

adduser yournewusername

25. Logout, log back using the new username, and su to root. Then remove the default tmp-kun user. Use the command:

deluser tmp-kun

26. Set a new root password. This is very important. Use the command:

passwd root

27. And enter your new password. Lastly let's change the hostname from the default KURO-BOX to one of your choice. Use the command:

hostname yourhostname

28. However, the changes won't be saved unless we edit 2 more files. First open up /etc/hostname and replace KURO-BOX with the hostname of your choice. Then open up /etc/hosts and again replace KURO-BOX with the hostname of your choice. Reboot your LinkStation and verify the changes by typing the command:

hostname

29. That should output the new host name. Congratulations, you have successfully installed Debian on your LinkStation. Now wasn't that easy?