First Boot Setup

Complete the essential configuration steps after your first Debian 13 boot.

🎉 Welcome to Debian!

Congratulations on successfully installing Debian 13! This guide walks you through the essential first-time setup steps.

🔐 Initial Login

Desktop Login

1. Select User: Choose your user account
2. Enter Password: Type the password you created during installation
3. Choose Session: Select your preferred desktop environment (if multiple installed)

Command Line Login

# If you installed without a desktop environment
debian login: username
Password: [enter your password]

# Switch to graphical mode (if available)
sudo systemctl start gdm3

📶 Network Configuration

WiFi Setup (Desktop)

# GNOME: Click network icon in top bar
# KDE: Click network icon in system tray
# Command line option:
nmcli dev wifi list
nmcli dev wifi connect "WiFi-Name" password "your-password"

Wired Network

# Usually configured automatically via DHCP
# Check connection:
ip addr show
ping google.com

# Manual configuration if needed:
sudo nmcli con add type ethernet con-name "Wired" ifname eth0

🔄 System Updates

Update Package Lists

# Update repository information
sudo apt update

# Upgrade all packages
sudo apt upgrade

# Full system upgrade
sudo apt full-upgrade

# Clean up
sudo apt autoremove
sudo apt autoclean

Configure Automatic Updates

# Install unattended upgrades
sudo apt install unattended-upgrades

# Configure automatic security updates
sudo dpkg-reconfigure unattended-upgrades

# Check configuration
sudo nano /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/50unattended-upgrades

🛡️ Security Setup

Firewall Configuration

# Enable UFW firewall
sudo ufw enable

# Check status
sudo ufw status

# Allow SSH (if using remote access)
sudo ufw allow ssh

# Allow common services
sudo ufw allow 80    # HTTP
sudo ufw allow 443   # HTTPS

User Account Security

# Add user to sudo group (if not done during installation)
sudo usermod -aG sudo username

# Set password policy
sudo nano /etc/security/pwquality.conf

# Check sudo access
sudo whoami

📦 Essential Software Installation

Development Tools

# Basic development packages
sudo apt install build-essential git curl wget

# Text editors
sudo apt install vim nano

# Compression tools
sudo apt install zip unzip rar unrar

Multimedia Support

# Install multimedia codecs
sudo apt install vlc

# Enable non-free repositories for additional codecs
sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list
# Add 'contrib non-free non-free-firmware' to your deb lines

sudo apt update
sudo apt install firmware-linux-nonfree

Additional Package Managers

# Flatpak for additional applications
sudo apt install flatpak
sudo flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

# Snap packages (optional)
sudo apt install snapd

🎨 Desktop Customization

GNOME Customization

# Install GNOME Tweaks
sudo apt install gnome-tweaks

# Install extensions
sudo apt install gnome-shell-extensions

# Popular extensions to consider:
# - Dash to Dock
# - User Themes
# - Clipboard Indicator

KDE Customization

# System Settings are built-in
# Access via: System Settings

# Popular customizations:
# - Desktop themes
# - Window decorations
# - Panel configuration
# - Shortcuts

Icon Themes and Fonts

# Popular icon themes
sudo apt install papirus-icon-theme
sudo apt install numix-icon-theme

# Additional fonts
sudo apt install fonts-noto
sudo apt install fonts-liberation
sudo apt install ttf-mscorefonts-installer

🔧 Hardware Configuration

Graphics Drivers

# NVIDIA drivers (if you have NVIDIA graphics)
sudo apt install nvidia-driver

# AMD drivers (usually work out of the box)
sudo apt install firmware-amd-graphics

# Intel graphics (usually pre-installed)
sudo apt install xserver-xorg-video-intel

Audio Configuration

# Install PulseAudio control
sudo apt install pavucontrol

# ALSA mixer
sudo apt install alsa-utils

# Test audio
speaker-test -t wav -c 2

Bluetooth Setup

# Install Bluetooth support
sudo apt install bluetooth bluez bluez-tools

# Enable Bluetooth service
sudo systemctl enable bluetooth
sudo systemctl start bluetooth

# GUI management
sudo apt install blueman

📁 File System Setup

Home Directory Organization

# Create useful directories
mkdir -p ~/Documents/Projects
mkdir -p ~/Downloads/Software
mkdir -p ~/Pictures/Screenshots
mkdir -p ~/Videos/Recordings

# Set up development workspace
mkdir -p ~/Development/github
mkdir -p ~/Development/scripts

External Storage

# Auto-mount external drives
sudo apt install udisks2

# NTFS support for Windows drives
sudo apt install ntfs-3g

# exFAT support
sudo apt install exfat-fuse exfatprogs

🌐 Browser and Internet

Web Browser Setup

# Firefox is usually pre-installed
# Install additional browsers:

# Chromium
sudo apt install chromium

# Google Chrome (from web)
wget -q -O - https://dl.google.com/linux/linux_signing_key.pub | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb http://dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install google-chrome-stable

Email Client

# Thunderbird email client
sudo apt install thunderbird

# Evolution (GNOME)
sudo apt install evolution

# KMail (KDE)
sudo apt install kmail

🖨️ Printer Setup

CUPS Configuration

# Install printing system
sudo apt install cups printer-driver-all

# Enable CUPS service
sudo systemctl enable cups
sudo systemctl start cups

# Web interface for printer management
# Open browser to: http://localhost:631

Scanner Support

# Install scanner support
sudo apt install sane-utils xsane

# Test scanner detection
scanimage -L

💾 Backup Configuration

Setup Regular Backups

# Install backup tools
sudo apt install rsync timeshift

# Timeshift for system snapshots
sudo timeshift --create --comments "Fresh installation"

# Setup automatic backups
sudo timeshift --setup

Cloud Storage

# Nextcloud client
sudo apt install nextcloud-desktop

# Dropbox (download from web)
# OneDrive via rclone
sudo apt install rclone

🔍 System Information

Check System Status

# System information
neofetch
# or
sudo apt install screenfetch && screenfetch

# Hardware information
lshw -short
lscpu
lsblk

# Memory usage
free -h

# Disk usage
df -h

📚 Documentation and Help

Install Documentation

# Man pages
sudo apt install man-db manpages-dev

# Info pages
sudo apt install info

# Debian reference
sudo apt install debian-reference-en

Useful Commands to Remember

# Package management
apt search package-name      # Search for packages
apt show package-name        # Show package information
apt list --installed         # List installed packages

# System management
systemctl status service     # Check service status
journalctl -u service        # View service logs
dmesg                        # Kernel messages

# File operations
ls -la                       # List files with details
chmod +x filename            # Make file executable
chown user:group filename    # Change file ownership

🎯 Next Steps

Recommended Actions

1. Join Community: Connect with Debian forums and mailing lists
2. Learn Package Management: Master apt and package installation
3. Explore Software: Browse available applications
4. Configure Workflow: Set up your development/work environment
5. Create Backups: Set up regular system and data backups

Learning Resources

• Debian Handbook: Online comprehensive guide
• Man Pages: Built-in documentation (man command)
• Info Pages: Detailed program documentation (info program)
• Community Forums: Ask questions and share experiences

🔧 Troubleshooting First Boot

Common Issues

🖥️ No Desktop Environment

# Install desktop environment
sudo apt update
sudo apt install task-gnome-desktop

# Start display manager
sudo systemctl start gdm3

📶 No Network Connection

# Check network interfaces
ip link show

# Restart NetworkManager
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager

# Manual network configuration
sudo dhclient eth0

🔊 No Audio

# Check audio devices
aplay -l

# Restart audio service
pulseaudio --kill
pulseaudio --start

# Install additional drivers
sudo apt install firmware-sof-signed

📚 Related Resources

• System Configuration - Advanced customization
• Package Management - Software installation
• Desktop Environments - Choose your interface
• Troubleshooting - Common problems and solutions

System configured? Explore desktop environments →