FAQ about Debian on QNAP TS-209

Is Debian on the QNAP TS-209 fully supported?

Debian 9 (stretch) includes support for the QNAP TS-109. In Debian 10 (buster), support for the installer was dropped due to size constraints of the device.

Please note that there are no plans to support this device in Debian 11 (bullseye).

Is Debian on the TS-209 suited for people new to Linux?

No, I would not recommend you install Debian on your QNAP if you don't have any experience with Linux and Debian. Debian will not install a web interface through which you can control your QNAP, so I recommend you stay with the QNAP firmware.

Can I have both the QNAP firmware and Debian?

No, Debian will completely replace the QNAP firmware on disk and in flash. You have to choose between the QNAP firmware and the Debian installation described on my pages. However, it would be possible to make a small Debian system on your disk with the QNAP firmware by using debootstrap and chroot.

Can I go back to the QNAP firmware if I don't like Debian?

Yes, you can restore the original QNAP software without any problems.

Will this installer work on the TS-209 and the TS-209 Pro?

Yes, the only difference between the TS-209 and the TS-209 Pro is the software that is included in the QNAP firmware. Since the installation of Debian will replace the QNAP firmware, this difference in software won't matter.

Will this installer work on the TS-209 II?

Yes, the TS-209 II is exactly the same as the TS-209 with the exception that it has more RAM. The same applies to TS-209 Pro and TS-209 Pro II.

Will this installer work on the QNAP TS-101 or TS-201?

No, the TS-101 and TS-201 are based on a PowerPC chip. This installation routine will only work on Orion based QNAP devices. This include the TS-109, TS-209, TS-409 and variants thereof.

Will this installer work on the QNAP TS-509?

No, the QNAP TS-509 is based on an Intel Celeron chip and therefore not compatible with this installation routine which only supports QNAP devices based on Marvell's Orion (ARM) chip.

Is there a recovery mode?

Yes, the TS-209 has a recovery mode with which a firmware image can be written to flash. This is useful in case there are problems during the installation or an upgrade of Debian. See the recovery mode page for more information.

Is the serial header soldered onto the board already?

Yes, a serial header is on the main board. You only need to prepare a cable with a TTL level shifter for a serial console.

Will I need a serial console to use Debian?

No, the installation and operation of Debian on your QNAP doesn't require a serial console.