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How to install Linux Mint Debian Edition on an encrypted LVM file system

lmdelvm29

Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) is the edition of Linux Mint that is based on Debian Testing. Like the edition of Linux Mint based on Ubuntu, the installer of LMDE lacks support for LVM, and disk encryption. This tutorial presents a detailed guide on how to install LMDE on an encrypted LVM file system. But how is that possible if the installer lacks support for LVM and disk encryption? Easy. First, install a base Debian Testing system using a Debian Testing installer. Second, point the package manager to the default LMDE repositories. At the end, you will be running a system with an encrypted disk, which means another layer of physical security for your data, and one that makes it possible to manage disk space in a manner that is not possible otherwise.

To complete this tutorial, you need to download an installation image of:

  1. Debian Testing – for i386 or amd64
  2. Linux Mint Debian Edition Update: It is not necessary to download the LMDE installation image. You will not need it to complete this tutorial.

Note: This tutorial assumes installation on a computer with one hard disk and no other operating system on it. You can adapt it easily to install it in a dual-boot configuration with another operating system, like Windows.

To begin, boot the computer from the Debian disk. The default boot menu option will take you through an ncurses-based installation routine. For a more user-friendly installation, select the option shown in the image below. Enter.
lmdelvm

To reduce the number if images used in this tutorial, the images for Language, Location (country), Keymap, Hostname, Domain name, root password, User account (three images), and Time zone, have been omitted.

Because Debian defaults to a non-LVM disk partitioning scheme, you will have to choose one of the LVM options or the manual option, if you know what you are doing. Note that if you choose the encrypted LVM option, the installation process will take a little bit longer. Continue.
lmdelvm1

At this step, the installer will present the hard drives it found on the computer. If you have more than one disk, select the one you want to use for the installation. Continue.
lmdelvm2

The Debian installer offers three partitioning schemes. If you choose he first option, the installer will create a swap partition and one system partition. Though the installer recommends that for new users, I say pass on it. The second option, for most users, is better. The third option has its advantages, but we do not need that on a desktop computer except if you want it that way. Continue.
lmdelvm3

Choose Yes. Continue.
lmdelvm4

This is where you specify the passphrase that will be used to encrypt the disk. For added security, the passphrase should not be the same as the password of any user account on the system. Continue.
lmdelvm5

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MrRabbit
MrRabbit
10 years ago

Hi there and thank you for this great howto.

In the meantime the domain name of “www.debian-multimedia.org” has changed to “www.deb-multimedia.org”. Maybe you’d like to update that.

PePas
PePas
10 years ago

Just so people that find this article are helped in the right direction: I provided a very simple way to get a fully luks encrypted LMDE (201303) install on LVM2. You can read the instructions here: http://j.mp/lmdelukslvm2

Raymond
Raymond
12 years ago

Have several challenges thus far. Installing on laptop which has 3 primary partitions already, a boot a recovery and C:. An unkn virus damaged Win7, took the opportunity to redo the drive. Expanded boot sector from 100mb to ~500mb to allow for LMDE non-encrypt grub. Created through much error (days of guessing) an encrypted-LVM 50G/root 10G/swap 350G/home partitions for LMDE. Still at CLI, pls advise. I would like LMDE, not just looks like, ready for update to announced 3/25/12. Quite a noob, struggled this far.

apt-get install mint-meta-debian #Did not work
apt-get install gdm #Did not work
apt-get install mintmenu #Did not work

Thanks

netzgewitter
12 years ago

Not a bad solution. In my case I had LMDE already installed in a VM first and then transferred it onto an encrypted LVM. That way I didn’t need Debian Testing as a starter. You can read about it here:
http://www.netzgewitter.com/2011/09/how-to-install-linux-mint-debian-edition-lmde-on-an-encrypted-hard-drive/

Brandon
Brandon
12 years ago

This is good, however, I don’t like how the final state is so unlike a standard install. It also requires a fast Internet connection. The following howto sets up a pristine encrypted LVM from the LMDE install DVD while downloading only a few packages:

http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=141&t=71159

Steve
Steve
13 years ago

Great tutorial but I have a question.

When I get to the part to run:
apt-get install mint-meta-debian

I get this error:

mint-meta-debian: depends: gstreamer0.10-pitfdll but it is not installable. Broken packages.

Any idea?

I am working with the amd64 netinstall of testing

thanks
Steve.

Tom
Tom
Reply to  finid
13 years ago

apt-get install –fix-broken mint-meta-debian
Reading package lists… Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information… Done
Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
or been moved out of Incoming.
The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
mint-meta-debian : Depends: gstreamer0.10-pitfdll but it is not installable
E: Broken packages

steve p.
steve p.
Reply to  Tom
13 years ago

finid,

I will try as you suggest.

Glad to see that the problem I identified was legitimate.

I appreciate your work.
Steve.

Best Regards
Steve.

Steve
Steve
Reply to  Tom
13 years ago

finid,

We are closer now.

This is what I found:

1. apt-get install -m mint-meta-debian does not work.

2. when attempting to install those packages individually, certain are not found, like mint-artwork-gnome (did you mean art-work-debian?), mint-artwork-common, and maybe others. Note: These are not found, so the gstream issue does not seem to apply.

The other items of note are:
1. software manager launches from desktop and appears to work
2. software sources – can not change sources.
3. synaptic package manager – works from desktop and works.
4. update manager – not sure if it really works.
5. uninstalling epiphany did not appear to cause firefox to install. so I installed the firefox english pack first, then firefox and it installed the english firefox.

In general, the approach you outline does work.

Thanks
Steve.

yarlson
yarlson
Reply to  Tom
12 years ago

You can add Lenny repos to fix the problem.

gearge
gearge
13 years ago

After being accustomed to “inteli” installers for RPM based distributions, I must say that Debian has an impressively smart installer – offering to do exactly what I want it to.

Great introduction to the world of Debian. I am quite impressed. Who knows, may be a new Debian contributor has emerged out of this 🙂

One question: in Debian-testing, is Nouveau 2D/3D driver installed by the first Debian DVD, or will the drivers be added by the Mint meta package?

Eric
Eric
13 years ago

Nice! I’m using Crunchbang (based on Debian Squeeze) so I think it should also work?
Is there a way so the passphrase will be transaparent? I mean just like Ubuntu? I don’t need to enter it each time I boot my machine.

David Miller
David Miller
13 years ago

Great tutorial! I have not performed this step-by-step but I a question. When is the Debian Mint Installation image used? It seems that the Debian install disk is used to install a basic Debian system, the apt sources file is modified to point at LMDE repositories, and a system upgrade is then performed. Is this correct or am I missing something?

Again, great tutorial.
Regards,
Dave

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