Getting Debian

Debian GNU/Linux is distributed freely over the Internet. You can download all of it from any of our mirrors.

If you simply want to install Debian, these are your options:

Buy a set of CDs from one of the vendors selling Debian CDs and install from it.
It is recommended that first time installers buy the CD set.
Many of the vendors sell the distribution for less than US$5 plus shipping (check their web page to see if they ship internationally).
Some of the books about Debian come with CDs, too.

Here are the basic advantages of CDs prepared by someone else:
- Installation from a CD set is more straightforward.
- You can install on machines without an Internet connection.
- You can install Debian on more than one machine.
- The CD can be used to more easily rescue a damaged Debian system.
Download images of Debian CD/DVDs over the Internet, make a CD set yourself and install from that.
If you prepare the CDs yourself, you get all the advantages of CDs mentioned above, and:
- You can use your own CD recorder, and rewritable media (CD-RW).
- You can use your Internet connection.
- You don't have to wait for the shipping.
Download the installation system from the Internet, and get the rest by downloading as you install.
The network installation also has its pros:
- You can use your Internet connection, and rewritable media (diskettes or CD-RWs).
- You will only download those .deb packages that you actually want.
  If you get a whole CD set, you will get a lot of packages that you won't actually use.
- A network installation of the "testing" distribution will provide you with the very latest packages, whereas any CD images of "testing" that you download would be outdated very quickly.
Buy a computer with Debian pre-installed.
There are a number of advantages to this:
- You don't have to install Debian.
- The installation is pre-configured to match the hardware.
- The vendor may provide technical support.

The Installation Manual for your target architecture contains instructions and links for all the files you need to install.