Editing Debian (section)

== Hardware ==

Hardware requirements are at least those of the kernel and the [[GNU]] toolsets.<ref name="hreqs2">{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch02s01.en.html |work = Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide |title = 2.1. Supported Hardware |publisher = Debian |year = 2019 |access-date = 2019-07-27 |archive-date = December 28, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201228203501/https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch02s01.en.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Debian's recommended system requirements depend on the level of installation, which corresponds to increased numbers of installed components:<ref name="hreqs1">{{cite web |year= |title=3.4. Meeting Minimum Hardware Requirements |url=https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch03s04.en.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250407212814/https://www.debian.org/releases/stable/amd64/ch03s04.en.html |archive-date=April 7, 2025 |access-date=2025-05-11 |work=Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide |publisher=Debian}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Type
! Minimum [[random-access memory|RAM]] size
! Recommended RAM size
! Minimum processor clock speed (IA-32)
! Hard-drive capacity
|-
| Non-desktop
| 256&nbsp;[[Mebibyte|MiB]]
| 512&nbsp;MiB
|
| 4&nbsp;[[gigabyte|GB]]
|-
| Desktop
| 1&nbsp;[[gibibyte|GiB]]
| 2&nbsp;GiB
| 1&nbsp;GHz
| 10&nbsp;GB
|}

The real minimum memory requirements depend on the architecture and may be much less than the numbers listed in this table. It is possible to install Debian with 170&nbsp;[[megabyte|MB]] of RAM for x86-64;<ref name="hreqs1" /> the installer will run in low memory mode and it is recommended to create a [[Paging|swap partition]].<ref name="installation-7-6.3" /> The installer for [[z/Architecture]] requires about 20&nbsp;MB of RAM, but relies on network hardware.<ref name="hreqs1" /><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/s390x/ch05s01.html.en |work = Debian GNU/Linux Installation Guide |title = 5.1. Booting the Installer on S/390 |publisher = Debian |year = 2015 |access-date = 2017-01-20 |archive-date = July 29, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200729040658/https://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/s390x/ch05s01.html.en |url-status = live }}</ref> Similarly, disk space requirements, which depend on the packages to be installed, can be reduced by manually selecting the packages needed.<ref name="hreqs1" /> {{As of|2019|5|df=}}, no Pure Blend exists that would lower the hardware requirements easily.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://blends.debian.org/blends/ch04.html |work = Debian Pure Blends |title = Chapter 4. Existing Debian Pure Blends |publisher = Debian |date = 2013-06-19 |access-date = 2014-06-19 |archive-date = May 28, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140528053841/http://blends.debian.org/blends/ch04.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

It is possible to run [[graphical user interface]]s on older or low-end systems. However, the installation of [[window manager]]s instead of [[desktop environment]]s is recommended, as desktop environments are more resource intensive. Requirements for individual software vary widely and must be considered, with those of the base operating environment.<ref name="hreqs1" />

=== Architectures ===
[[File:HP-HP9000-C110-Workstation 21.jpg|thumb|[[HP 9000]] C110 [[PA-RISC]] [[workstation]] booting Debian Lenny]]

{{As of|2023|08|18|alt=As of the upcoming Trixie release}}, the official ports are:<ref name="packages_base-files">{{cite web |url = https://buildd.debian.org/status/package.php?p=base-files |title = Buildd status for base-files |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2023-08-18 }}</ref>
* amd64: [[x86-64]] architecture with 64-bit userland and supporting 32-bit software
* arm64: ARMv8-A architecture<ref name="two-ports">{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2014/08/msg00012.html |title = Two new architectures bootstrapping in unstable – MBF coming soon |last = Wookey |mailing-list = debian-devel-announce |publisher = Debian |date = 2014-08-27 |access-date = 2014-09-01 |archive-date = September 3, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140903112550/https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2014/08/msg00012.html |url-status = live }}</ref>
* armel: Little-[[endianness|endian]] [[ARM architecture family|ARM architecture]] (ARMv4T instruction set)<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-embedded/2010/01/msg00057.html |title = Re: Identification of ARM chips |last = Wookey |mailing-list = debian-embedded |publisher = Debian |date = 2010-01-23 |access-date = 2014-10-16 |archive-date = October 21, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141021015329/https://lists.debian.org/debian-embedded/2010/01/msg00057.html |url-status = live }}</ref> on various embedded systems (embedded [[application binary interface]] (EABI)), although support has ended after Buster
* armhf: ARM hard-float architecture (ARMv7 instruction set) requiring hardware with a [[floating-point unit]]
* i386: [[IA-32]] architecture with 32-bit userland, compatible with x86-64 machines<ref name="hreqs2" />
* mips64el: Little-endian 64-bit MIPS
* mipsel: Little-endian 32-bit MIPS
* ppc64el: Little-endian [[PowerPC]] architecture supporting [[POWER7]]+ and [[POWER8]] CPUs<ref name="two-ports" />
* riscv64: 64-bit [[RISC-V]]<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://wiki.debian.org/RISC-V
|title = Debian for RISC-V
|access-date = 2024-01-01
|language = en}}</ref>
* s390x: z/Architecture with 64-bit userland, intended to replace s390<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/releases/wheezy/s390/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html |work = Release Notes for Debian 7.0 (wheezy), S/390 |title = Chapter 2. What's new in Debian 7.0 |date = 2014-11-09 |access-date = 2015-01-28 |archive-date = December 25, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131225120659/http://www.debian.org/releases/wheezy/s390/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

Unofficial ports are available as part of the ''unstable'' distribution:<ref name="packages_base-files" />
* alpha: [[DEC Alpha]] architecture
* hppa: HP [[PA-RISC]] architecture
* hurd-i386: [[GNU Hurd]] kernel on [[IA-32]] architecture
* ia64: [[Intel Itanium]]
* loong64: [[Loongson#LoongArch|LoongArch]]<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2023/08/msg00000.html |title = LoongArch architecture added to Debian Ports |last = John Paul Adrian Glaubitz |mailing-list = debian-devel-announce |publisher = Debian |date = 2023-08-16 |access-date = 2023-08-18 }}</ref>
* m68k: [[Motorola 68000 series|Motorola 68k]] architecture on [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST|Atari]], [[Mac (computer)|Macintosh]] and various embedded [[VMEbus|VME]] systems
* powerpc: 32-bit PowerPC
* ppc64: [[Ppc64|PowerPC64]] architecture supporting 64-bit PowerPC CPUs with [[AltiVec|VMX]]
* sh4: Hitachi [[SuperH]] architecture
* sparc64: Sun [[SPARC]] architecture with 64-bit userland
* x32: [[x32 ABI]] userland for x86-64<ref>{{cite web |url = https://wiki.debian.org/X32Port?action=recall&rev=1 |title = X32Port |last = Schepler |first = Daniel |publisher = Debian Wiki |date = 2012-11-20 |access-date = 2014-10-17 |archive-date = October 21, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141021032124/https://wiki.debian.org/X32Port?action=recall&rev=1 |url-status = live }}</ref>

Debian supports a variety of [[ARM architecture|ARM]]-based [[network-attached storage|NAS]] devices. The [[NSLU2]] was supported by the installer in Debian 4.0 and 5.0,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://linuxgazette.net/161/brownss.html |title = Upgrading your Slug LG #161 |last = Brown |first = Silas |publisher = [[Linux Gazette]] |access-date = 2011-07-27 |archive-date = December 16, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101216182528/http://linuxgazette.net/161/brownss.html |url-status = live }}</ref> and [[Martin Michlmayr]] is providing installation [[tar (computing)|tarballs]] since version 6.0.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.cyrius.com/debian/nslu2/install/ |title = Installing Debian on NSLU2 |publisher = [[Martin Michlmayr]] |date = 2011-02-24 |access-date = 2011-07-27 |archive-date = May 31, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140531043624/http://www.cyrius.com/debian/nslu2/install/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Other supported NAS devices are the [[Buffalo network-attached storage series|Buffalo]] Kurobox Pro,<ref name="new-in-lenny-arm">{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/releases/lenny/arm/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html |work = Release Notes for Debian GNU/Linux 5.0 (lenny), ARM |title = Chapter 2. What's new in Debian GNU/Linux 5.0 |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2011-07-27 |archive-date = June 28, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110628192707/http://www.debian.org/releases/lenny/arm/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html |url-status = live }}</ref> GLAN Tank, Thecus N2100<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/releases/etch/arm/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html |work = Release Notes for Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 ('etch'), ARM |title = Chapter 2 – What's new in Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 |publisher = Debian |date = 2007-08-16 |access-date = 2011-07-27 |archive-date = June 28, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110628192754/http://www.debian.org/releases/etch/arm/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html |url-status = live }}</ref> and QNAP Turbo Stations.<ref name="new-in-lenny-arm" />

Devices based on the Kirkwood [[system on a chip]] (SoC) are supported too, such as the [[SheevaPlug]] plug computer and OpenRD products.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/releases/squeeze/armel/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html#newforarm |work = Release Notes for Debian GNU/Linux 6.0 (squeeze), ARM EABI |title = Chapter 2. What's new in Debian GNU/Linux 6.0 |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2011-07-27 |archive-date = November 9, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201109222500/https://www.debian.org/releases/squeeze/armel/release-notes/ch-whats-new.en.html#newforarm |url-status = live }}</ref> There are efforts to run Debian on mobile devices, but this is not a project goal yet since the Debian Linux kernel maintainers would not apply the needed patches.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2012/24/index.en.html#mobiles |title = Debian Project News – December 10th, 2012 |publisher = Debian |date = 2012-12-10 |access-date = 2014-06-17 |archive-date = July 6, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140706181403/https://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2012/24/index.en.html#mobiles |url-status = live }}</ref> Nevertheless, there are packages for resource-limited systems.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://packages.debian.org/wheezy/matchbox |title = Package: matchbox (1:5) |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2014-06-17 |archive-date = July 6, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140706173217/https://packages.debian.org/wheezy/matchbox |url-status = live }}</ref>

There are efforts to support Debian on [[wireless access point]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://wiki.debian.org/DebianWRT?action=recall&rev=1 |title = DebianWRT |last = Hess |first = Joey |publisher = Debian Wiki |date = 2005-09-23 |access-date = 2014-10-17 |archive-date = October 21, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141021035550/https://wiki.debian.org/DebianWRT?action=recall&rev=1 |url-status = live }}</ref> Debian is known to run on set-top boxes.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2013/21/#minidebconfs |title = Debian Project News – December 2nd, 2013 |publisher = Debian |date = 2013-12-02 |access-date = 2014-06-17 |archive-date = July 6, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140706175547/https://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2013/21/#minidebconfs |url-status = live }}</ref> Work is ongoing to support the AM335x processor,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebianOn/TI/BeagleBone?action=recall&rev=1 |title = InstallingDebianOn TI BeagleBone |last = Liu |first = Ying-Chun |publisher = Debian Wiki |date = 2012-01-27 |access-date = 2014-10-17 |archive-date = October 21, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141021053131/https://wiki.debian.org/InstallingDebianOn/TI/BeagleBone?action=recall&rev=1 |url-status = live }}</ref> which is used in [[Point of sale|electronic point of service]] solutions.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ti.com/tool/am335x-tab |title = Enterprise Tablet Reference Design Kit |publisher = [[Texas Instruments]] |access-date = 2014-06-17 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140612213358/http://www.ti.com/tool/am335x-tab |archive-date = June 12, 2014 |df = mdy }}</ref> Debian may be customized to run on cash machines.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/05/thieves-planted-malware-to-hack-atms/ |title = Thieves Planted Malware to Hack ATMs |publisher = [[Brian Krebs]] |date = 2014-05-30 |access-date = 2014-06-17 |archive-date = June 24, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140624055713/http://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/05/thieves-planted-malware-to-hack-atms/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

[[BeagleBoard]], a low-power [[open-source hardware]] single-board computer (made by Texas Instruments) has switched to Debian Linux preloaded on its Beaglebone Black board's flash.

Roqos Core, manufactured by Roqos, is a x86-64 based IPS firewall router running Debian Linux.