ED 40: Linux on ARM64 Hardware (15 pts extra)

What You Need for This Project

Purpose

This gives you a Debian Linux virtual machine that runs on an ARM-based Mac.

Installing VMware Fusion Player

Go to this page:

VMware Fusion Player – Personal Use License

Click "Create an account". Follow the on-screen directions to create an account.

At the top right of the "VMware Fusion Player – Personal Use License" page, click Login. Click "Customer Connect".

Log in with the account you just created.

On the next page, on the right, click the "Trial and Free Products" button, outlined in red in the image below.

On the next page, search for "Fusion". Click "Fusion Player, as shown below.

On the next page, click the "License & Download" button. The download link for VMware Fusion Player appears, along with a License Key, as shown below.

Download and install VMware Fusion Player.

Downloading a Debian ISO Image

Go to this page:

https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/arm64/iso-cd/.

Download the Debian ISO file at the bottom of that page, as shown below.

Installing Debian on a Virtual Machine

Creating a Virtual Machine

Launch VMware Fusion Player.

From the menu at the top left of your desktop, click File, New.

In the "Select the Installation Method" screen, drag the ISO file and drop it on the "Install from disc or image" field, as shown below.

In the "Create a New Virtual Machine" screen, click Continue.

In the "Finish" screen, click Finish.

Click Save.

The installer starts.

Installing a Boot Loader

At the "GNU GRUB" screen, click in the virtual machine's window and press Enter to accept the default selection of "Install", as shown below.

Releasing your Mouse

During the installation, your mouse will be captured by the virtual machine, so you cannot click on other things, such as your browser.

To release the mouse, press command+Tab.

To send input to the virtual machine, click in the virtual machine's window.

Configuring Regional Settings

At the "Select a language" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "English".

At the "Select a language" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "English".

At the "Select your location" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "United States".

At the "Configure the keyboard" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "American English".

Configuring Network Settings

The VM connects to the Internet and loads a library of packages.

At the "Configure the network" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "debian". Press Enter again to accept a blank domain name.

Choosing User Names and Passwords

At the "Set up users and passwords" screen, enter a root password, such as P@ssw0rd and press Enter. Enter the same password again and press Enter again.

Now you need to create a non-root account. I recommend using debian for its username and password.

Choosing a Time Zone

At the "Configure the clock" screen, select Pacific and press Enter.

Parititioning the Disk

At the "Partition disks" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "Guided - use entire disk".

Press Enter again.

At the "Selected for partitioning" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "All files in one partition...".

Press Enter again.

At the next "Partition disks" screen, press Tab to highlight Yes, as shown below, and then press Enter.

Software installs for a few minutes.

Preparing a Package Manager

At the "Configure the package manager" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "No".

At the next "Configure the package manager screen, press Enter to accept the default of "United States".

At the next "Configure the package manager screen, press Enter to accept the default of "deb.debian.org".

At the next "Configure the package manager screen, press Enter to accept the default of no HTTP proxy.

At the "Configuring popularity-contest" screen, press Enter to accept the default of "No".

Installing Additional Software

This is really important--if you skip this step you'll end up with a minimal system, without a graphical desktop, which is difficult to use.

At the "Software selection" screen, press Tab and then SPACEBAR to select Gnome, as shown below. Then press Enter.

Software downloads and installs.

When you see the "Finish the installation" screen, click the wrench icon in the virtual machine's window, outlined in green in the image below.

In the Settings box, click "CD/DVD", outlined in green in the image below.

In the CD/DVD box, verify that the "Connect CD/DVD Drive" box is unchecked, outlined in green in the image below.

Close the Settings box.

Click in the virtual machine's window, and press Enter.

Logging In

A graphical login screen appears, as shown below.

Click debian and enter your password, which is probably also debian

ED 40.1: OS Version (15 pts)

In your Linux machine, open a Terminal window and execute this command: 
uname -a
The flag is covered by a green rectangle in the image below.

Making "debian" a Sudoer

On your Linux machine, in a Terminal window, execute this command: 
su -
Enter your root password, which is probably P@ssw0rd

Then execute these commands: 

usermod -a -G sudo debian
exit

At the top right of your Debian desktop, click the circular icon and restart your Debian virtual machine.

Log in as "debian" again.

Then execute this command to verify that you have "sudo" privileges: 

sudo whoami
Enter your password, which is probably debian

You should see a username of "root", as shown below.

Posted 2-22-23