I'm new to Linux, using Mint, and interested in trying out different distros, especially Debian. However, I'm struggling to understand the ISO verification process. Every time I download an ISO, the checksum doesn't match when I use Mint's verification tool or the terminal. I didn't have this issue with Mint's ISO as I downloaded it directly from another Linux device. Can someone break down the ISO verification process for me?
1 Answer
To verify your ISO through the command line, look for the SHA256SUMS file that should be alongside the ISO on the Debian mirror (like here: cdimage.debian.org). Download that file and place it next to the ISO. Use a tool that can generate the SHA256 checksum for your file—some file managers have this feature. Then, make sure your checksum matches the one in the SHA256SUMS file you downloaded. You can also run `sha256sum -c SHA256SUMS --ignore-missing` in the terminal after navigating to your download folder. If everything checks out, you’re good to go!
Remember that Mint might use SHA512 for their checksums. To avoid issues, try downloading the ISO via a torrent using a client like qBittorrent, which can automatically check the file after download.