Since version 0.10.0 pre-built Debian packages for The Arsse are available from the [OpenSUSE Build Service](https://build.opensuse.org/) (OBS) under the author's personal project repository. This is the preferred method for instaling the software and is the means documented below.
Generic release tarballs may also be downloaded [from our Web site](https://thearsse.com), and a Debian package built manually. Installing directly from the generic release tarball without producing a Debian package is not recommended as the Debian packages make the set-up process on Debian systems significantly simpler.
# Adding the repository
In order to install The Arsse, the OBS repository must first be configured along with its signing key:
Please note that the "Unstable" qualifier in the repository URL is a reference to Debian's "sid" release and is not a reflection on The Arsse's stability. The repository should be suitable for any Debian version or derivative which includes a sufficiently recent version of PHP.
After installation is complete The Arsse will be started automatically.
During the installation process you will be prompted whether to allow `dbconfig-common` to configure The Arsse's database automatically. The default `sqlite3` (SQLite) option is a good choice, but `pgsql` (PostgreSQL) and `mysql` (MySQL) are possible alternatives. If you wish to [use a database other than SQLite](/en/Getting_Started/Database_Setup/index), you should install it before installing The Arsse:
If you wish to change the database backend after having installed The Arsse, running `dpkg-reconfigure` after installing the database server can be used to achieve this:
Sample configuration for both Nginx and Apache HTTP Server can be found in `/etc/arsse/nginx/` and `/etc/arsse/apache/`, respectively. The `example.conf` files are basic virtual host examples; the other files they include should normally be usable without modification, but may be modified if desired.
You may also want to review the `config.defaults.php` file included in the download package and create [a configuration file](/en/Getting_Started/Configuration), though The Arsse can function even without using a configuration file.
Upgrading The Arsse is done like any other package. Occasionally changes to Web server configuration have been required, such as when new protocols become supported; these changes are always explicit in the `UPGRADING` file.