Home/ Questions/Q 7847945
In Process

The Archive Base Latest Questions

Editorial Team
  • 0
Asked: 2026-06-02T18:03:06+00:00

I’m installing Debian linux command-line-only onto a flash drive for portability, and I’d like

  • 0

I’m installing Debian linux command-line-only onto a flash drive for portability, and I’d like some direction if you can offer it. After the base install, I can boot from the thumb drive perfectly, and it loads the command prompt. Now, there’s specific things that I’d like to be able to do, and I’m not sure what packages I need to do so.

I want to be able to have several different command lines open at once (so that, for example, if I’m coding a server/clients application, I can run a server in one CLI, and several clients in the subsequent CLI’s). I believe Ubuntu offers something like this, with CTRL+ALT+F1 – CTRL+ALT+F7. Is there any way I can do something similar in my situation?

Other than that, I’d like to install an internet browser. Will I need a full-blown graphical environment to handle that? If not, what will I need?

Currently I have only installed the XORG package.

Thanks!

Share

Leave an answer

You must login to add an answer.

Need An Account,

1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    1. A Debian install should already have Virtual Terminals [The Ctrl+Alt+Fx]. The number of terminals available is usually set in /etc/inittab. But consider installing ‘GNU Screen‘ and learning how to use it. It is very nifty.

    2. There is the possibility of using a text-only browser, like ‘ELinks‘. OR, you could install and configure a simple window manager, and then install a browser, like iceweasel. While you’re at it, you might also install ‘xterm‘ so you can open up terminals from your X session.

    • 0