Null Server

Systems

Null OS for servers: Debian 13, no desktop, ready for Null Drive.

Download ISO (x64)ARM64 and checksums

Its own release line, separate from Null OS. Live session login: null / null.

See it

From the Null Server CI build, on the text console.

null server · tty1
fastfetch on the live console, with Services, Roles and Null Drive status
fastfetch on the live console, with Services, Roles and Null Drive status
null server · null-extras list
The roles null-extras can add
The roles null-extras can add
Latest: 1.1.0 on GitHub

What it does

Debian 13 with no desktop and the Null OS terminal. Boots to a shell from USB, installs to a disk in minutes (or unattended), with SSH, a firewall and security updates on from the start. Roles add Docker, Caddy, Samba/NFS, WireGuard, KVM, backups and more when you ask.

Who it's for

Homelabbers who want a small, ready server: a mini PC, an old laptop, a Proxmox or KVM guest, or a UEFI ARM board.

Talks to

null-drive install sets up the Null Drive server on port 8080 and prints the address to put in Null Grid's Drive settings.

Works withNull DriveNull GridNull OS
Changelog (GitHub Releases)Data stance: what Null Server keeps and sendsDocs (README)
version 1.1.0 · past releases · all apps

Download Null Server

Two ISOs: x64 for PCs, servers and VMs, ARM64 for UEFI boards. Every download comes straight from the 1.1.0 release.

Live session login: null / null. Then sudo null-install puts it on a disk.

ISO imagesDebian 13 (trixie) · x64 and ARM64

Null Server 1.1.0 for x64x64

PCs, servers, and Proxmox or KVM guests. Boot it to try it live, then run sudo null-install.

nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-amd64.iso · 1002.0 MB
Download

Checksum file (x64)

Save it next to the ISO, then check the download.

nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-amd64.iso.sha256
Download 
$ sha256sum -c nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-amd64.iso.sha256

Null Server 1.1.0 for ARM64ARM64

UEFI ARM boards and VMs.

nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-arm64.iso · 1.0 GB
Download

Checksum file (ARM64)

Save it next to the ISO, then check the download.

nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-arm64.iso.sha256
Download 
$ sha256sum -c nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-arm64.iso.sha256

Put it on a USB stickEverything on the stick is erased

With persistence

Writes the ISO and keeps changes on the stick, so it can run as a tiny server by itself. Replace /dev/sdX with your USB stick (check with lsblk).

$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/Null0Grid/null-server && \
  sudo null-server/tools/make-usb.sh nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-amd64.iso /dev/sdX

With dd

A plain copy. balenaEtcher or Rufus on Windows also work.

$ sudo dd if=nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-amd64.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

System requirements

  • x64: a 64-bit PC, server or VM (Proxmox, KVM); UEFI or BIOS
  • ARM64: a UEFI ARM board or VM
  • A USB stick of 2 GB or more; a fresh install uses about 2 GB of disk
  • Internet on first boot for any roles you pick in the installer

Verify your downloadSHA-256, release 1.1.0

Check a file before you run it: sha256sum <file> on Linux and macOS, Get-FileHash <file> in PowerShell.

nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-amd64.isoISO image · x64edded7e075069ffeb3d7f846d8e702d80fb5737ca37826a17580f5acabbea921
nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-amd64.iso.sha256Checksum file11a0c8ef74da91d0b580cd00d5b4ef339011350ad7bba3dea81358877ff13ae0
nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-arm64.isoISO image · x64a78065a188b0c9f21f2a734fcbcbdc9cd664f675f58067bc63abd234a2ba907f
nullserver-1.1.0-trixie-arm64.iso.sha256Checksum filebb32917c123e28c10a0a0158ec35c0246dccadf712011df70bc6c3538a7e3efc