1 This pages explains how to install Debian on Apple Silicon machines.
 
   4 The USB-A Port on the Mac Mini will not work in u-boot and grub.  The two
 
   5 additional USB-3 ports on the iMac 4 port model don't work in u-boot, grub
 
   6 and Linux. In order to install Linux on a FileVault-enabled Mac run the
 
   7 installer from Recovery open Disk Utility > Expanding "Macintosh HD" >
 
   8 Selecting locked volume > click "Mount".
 
  11 If you don't want to use the prebuild artefacts, you can build them yourself using the [bootstrap.sh](https://git.zerfleddert.de/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi/m1-debian/blob_plain/refs/heads/master:/bootstrap.sh) script.
 
  15 [Video Recording](https://tg.st/u/debian_asahi_installer.mp4)
 
  17 * Poweroff your Mac. Hold and press the power button until you see a wheel chain and Options written below. Approx 20 seconds.
 
  19 * In the boot picker, choose Options. Once loaded, open a Terminal under Utilities > Terminal
 
  21 * Run the asahi installer and select Debian:
 
  23         curl -sL https://tg.st/d | sh
 
  25 * Follow the installer instructions.
 
  27 * Once Debian is booted log in as root without password and set a root password
 
  32 * Configure wifi by editing the wpa_supplicant.conf, enabling the interface and remove the # before allow-hotplug to enable it during boot.
 
  34         vi /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
 
  36         vi /etc/network/interfaces
 
  38 * Reboot to see if grub was correctly installed
 
  42 * Install a desktop environment for example blackbox
 
  44         apt-get install -y xinit blackbox xterm firefox-esr lightdm
 
  46 * Create yourself an unprivileged user
 
  48         useradd -m -c 'Firstname Lastname' -s /bin/bash <username>
 
  51 * Optional install sshd. You can not log in as root, but only with your unprivileged user
 
  54         apt install -y openssh-server
 
  56 * Consult the **[/root/quickstart.txt](https://git.zerfleddert.de/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi/m1-debian/blob_plain/refs/heads/master:/files/quickstart.txt)** file to find out how to do other interesting things.
 
  60 [Video Recording](https://tg.st/u/live.mp4)
 
  64         - USB Stick. this is what this guide assumes, but it is also possible
 
  65           to run the Debian livesystem from another PC using m1n1 chainloading.
 
  66           But if you know how to do that, you probably don't need this guide.
 
  67         - If possible use an Ethernet Dongle, less typing.
 
  69 * Create USB Stick with a single vfat partition on it and untar the modified Debian installer on it. Instructions for Linux:
 
  71         # Identify the usb stick device
 
  75         parted -a optimal $DEVICE mklabel msdos
 
  76         parted -a optimal $DEVICE mkpart primary fat32 2048s 100%
 
  79         curl -sL https://tg.st/u/asahi-debian-live.tar | tar -C /mnt -xf -
 
  82 In order to format the usb stick under Macos, open the disk utility, right-click on the usb stick (usually the lowest device in the list) and select erase. Choose the following options:
 
  86         Scheme: Master Boot Record
 
  88 Than open a terminal, and run the following commands:
 
  92         curl -sL https://tg.st/u/asahi-debian-live.tar | tar -xf -
 
  94 * You need to run the asahi installer and have either an OS installed or m1n1+UEFI.
 
  96 * If you have a EFI binary on the NVMe and want to boot from the usb stick, you need to interrupt u-boot on the countdown by pressing any key and run the following comamnd to boot from usb:
 
 100 * Reboot with the USB stick connected, the Debian livesystem should automatically start, if it doesn't load the kernel and initrd manually, you can use tab. For x try 0,1,2,...
 
 102         linux (hdX,msdos1)/vmlinuz
 
 103         initrd (hdX,msdos1)/initrd.gz
 
 106 * Log in as **root** without password.
 
 108 * Consult the **[/root/quickstart.txt](https://git.zerfleddert.de/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgi/m1-debian/blob_plain/refs/heads/master:/files/quickstart.txt)** file to find out how to get the networking up, etc.
 
 112 *  If I install Debian, will it still be relatively easy to update the Asahi work as it develops?
 
 114 Yes, long answer below.
 
 116 To update the kernel to the lastest "stable" asahi branch you need to run
 
 119         curl -sL https://tg.st/u/ksh | bash
 
 121 Later it might be necessary to upgrade the stub parition in order to
 
 122 support the GPU code. As soon as that happens, I'll add the
 
 123 instructions and a video in order to do so, but short version is:
 
 125         - Backup /boot/efi/EFI
 
 126         - Delete the old stub and efi/esp partition
 
 127         - Rerun the asahi installer with m1n1+u-boot option
 
 128         - Put the /boot/efi/EFI back
 
 130 So, you never need to reinstall Debian. Kernel updates are easy, stub
 
 131 updates are a little bit more cumbersome but also seldom.