DeepSkies
Arch Linux
My favourite distribution of Linux is Arch Linux. The reason? It lets you choose exactly what
components you'd like to install - nothing more. Unlike pre-packaged distros like Ubuntu, Arch
doesn't come with an office suite, a graphics editor, various games, tons of GUI tools, etc. Oh, you
can install all of these things. As a matter of fact, you can make Arch look and behave exactly like
Ubuntu, or any other distro. But that's not what I'm into.
When I install Arch, I either run Tom's Window Manager (TWM) which was one of the original window managers for Unix, or I run XFCE4 which is a nice, lightweight but modern window manager. I tend to install Arch often - recently I re-did my laptop after buying a bigger hard drive, or into a virtual machine for testing purposes. Here is the guide I use to install Arch:
Installation Notes
# iwctl ;when using wifi instead of LAN
[iwd]# device list ;make note of your device ie: wlan0
[iwd]# station {device} connect {SSID}
# ping archlinux.org ;ensure you have Internet!
# lsblk ;list devices
# fdisk /dev/sdx ;partition drive
Command: g ;create GPT table - clears drive
Command: n, 1, enter, +512M ;partition 1 for EFI
Command: t, 1, 1 ;set partition 1 type = 1 (EFI Boot)
Command: n, 2, enter, +1024M ;partition 2 for Swap
Command: t, 2, 19 ;set partition 1 type = 19 (swap)
Command: n, 3, enter, enter ;partition 3 for Linux System
;by default, partition type = system
Command: p ;display partition table - double check!
Command: w ;write changes and exit app
# mkfs.fat -F32 /dev/sdxX ;format EFI boot partition
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sdxY ;format primary partition
# mkswap /dev/sdxZ
# swapon /dev/sdxZ
# mount /dev/sdxY /mnt
# pacman -Syy
# reflector -c "Canada" -f 12 -l 10 -n 12 --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
# pacstrap -K /mnt base base-devel bash-completion linux linux-firmware vim vi rfkill networkmanager
Other Packages To Consider:
intel-ucode ;if running an Intel processor
amd-uccode ;if running an AMD processor
os-prober ntfs-3g ;if dual booting with Windows
# genfstab -U /mnt >> /mnt/etc/fstab
# arch-chroot /mnt
# vi /etc/locale.gen ;uncomment en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
# locale-gen
# echo LANG=en_US.UTF-8 > /etc/locale.conf
# ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/{Zone}/{SubZone} /etc/localtime
# hwclock --systohc --utc
# echo {hostname} > /etc/hostname ;replace {hostname} with your preference
# vi /etc/hosts ;insert lines listed below:
127.0.0.1 localhost
::1 localhost
127.0.1.1 {hostname}
# systemctl enable NetworkManager.service ; if required
# passwd
# pacman -S grub efibootmgr
# mkdir /boot/efi
# mount /dev/sdxX /boot/efi
# grub-install --target=x86_64-efi --bootloader-id=GRUB --efi-directory=/boot/efi
# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg
# vi /etc/pacman.conf ;uncomment Color and multilib repository!
# useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash rick
# passwd rick
# visudo ;uncomment 'wheel' group line!
# exit
# reboot
Once rebooted, install nice things. Run all these commands with:
sudo pacman -S {package}
first, update repositories:
sudo pacman -Sy
PACKAGES:
---------
For Tom's Window Manager (TWM) or other X11 desktop:
xorg
xorg-server
xorg-apps
xorg-xinit
xterm
xorg-fonts-100dpi
xorg-fonts-75dpi
xorg-twm
For modern desktops like GNOME and KDE using Wayland:
plasma-meta ;KDE desktop
kde-applications-meta ;KDE applications
;install xdg-desktop-portal-gtk to have
;gnome apps look proper in KDE
gnome ;GNOME desktop
gnome-extra ;GNOME applications
gnome-shell-extension-dash-to-dock ;install via yay (AUR)
gnome-shell-extension-weather-oclock ;puts weather in top bar beside clock
gnome-browser-connector ;for installing extensions from https://extensions.gnome.org/
adw-gtk3 ;for dark and light themes
LOGIN SERVICE:
---------------
sudo systemctl enable sddm ;enables KDE login
sudo systemctl enable gdm ;enables GNOME login
VIRTUALBOX GUEST:
-----------------
pacman -S virtualbox-guest-utils
vi ~/.xinitrc ;add /usr/bin/VBoxClient-all
OTHER PACKAGES:
---------------
yay ;aur + pacman wrapper
stellarium ;night sky simulator
stella ;Atari 2600 emulator
gimp ;image manipulation
firefox ;web browser
vlc ;multimedia player
libreoffice ;office suite
clamav ;antivirus
jre-openjdk ;java runtime
virtualbox ;virtualization
;gpasswd -a {user} vboxusers
FLATPAKS:
Firefox ;web browser
Thunderbird ;email app [X5c$uTJHQeMt%Q!72TiN!]
LibreOffice ;office suite
GIMP ;image manipulation
Folio ;similar to OneNote
Spotify ;music streaming
Signal ;secure instant messaging
Pinta ;snagit style editor
Warehouse ;examine Flatpak details
Entangle ;astrophotography
Discord ;more instant messaging
Stellarium ;planetarium software
UltiMaker Cura ;3D slicer
Qbittorrent ;torrent client
FreeCAD ;CAD software
Pika Backup ;backup utility
ProtonVPN ;VPN software
Proton Mail Bridge ;email utility
NoMachine ;use Enterprise Client
VS Code
Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Teams for Linux
FLATPAK COMMAND LINE USAGE:
$ flatpak install {name of app}
$ flatpak update {app}
$ flatpak uninstall {app}
$ flatpak list (list installed apps)
$ flatpak info {app}
$ flatpak search {app}
$ flatpak run {app}
FLATPAK NOTE: flatpaks are installed into: ~/.var/app /var/lib/flatpak
HP printing
-----------
cups ;systemctl enable cups
;systemctl start cups
brother-hl3180cdw ;AUR package for Brother HL-3180 CDW printer
;also ensure Avahi is set up properly (see below)
UPDATES:
--------
sudo pacman -Syu
or
yay
DELL LATITUDE 3540 AUDIO:
sudo pacman -S sof-firmware sof-tools
LOCAL NETWORKING (.local DNS resolution):
verify that avahi is installed (likely is - part of gnome install?)
pacman -S nss-mdns
systemctl enable avahi-daemon.service
systemctl start avahi-daemon.service
edit /etc/nsswitch.conf and change the line to be:
hosts: mymachines mdns_minimal [NOTFOUND=return] resolve [!UNAVAIL=return] files myhostname dns
DISABLE TOUCH SCREEN Using the ability to disable a single USB device, we need
just to create a UDEV rule. Create the file in
/etc/udev/rules.d/80-touchscreen.rules
With following information:
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="2386", ATTRS{idProduct}=="310e", ATTR{authorized}="0"
You can find idVendor and idProduct by running:
cat /proc/bus/input/devices
You can reload the rules without restart:
udevadm control --reload-rules && udevadm trigger
Alternatively: echo "0003:2386:310E.0001" >
/sys/bus/hid/drivers/hid-multitouch/unbind
GNOME
- dark mode (Settings: Appearance)
- auto date/time (Settings: Date & Time)
- time format: 12-hour (Settings: Date & Time)
- workspaces: 1 (Settings: Multitasking: Fixed number of workspaces: 1)
- Settings: Utils: Tweaks: Top Bar: Weekday: ON, Window Titlebars: Max, Min: ON
- Over-Amplification: ON
- wallpaper
- install dash to dock (turn off dodge windows, 50% opacity, remove trash)
- other extensions: weather, app indicator, no annoyance
FIX GDM SCREEN RESOLUTION
- set your screen resolution as desired (ie: 1366x768)
- this creates ~/.config/monitors.xml
- su to root, then copy that file to /var/lib/gdm3/.config/
DISABLE SLEEP
- sudo systemctl mask sleep.target suspend.target hibernate.target hybrid-sleep.target (use unmask to undo this)
GRUB
GRUB Edit: /etc/default/grub
GRUB_DEFAULT=saved
GRUB_SAVEDEFAULT=true
GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768
GRUBCMDLINELINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
GRUBDISABLEOS_PROBER=false
SYNCTHING sudo apt install syncthing
sudo systemctl enable [email protected]
sudo systemctl start [email protected]
http://localhost:8384
ANTIVIRUS
sudo apt install clamav clamav-daemon
reboot
sudo freshclam
curl https://secure.eicar.org/eicar.com.txt | clamscan -
look for stdin: Win.Test.EICAR_HDB-1 FOUND in output
sudo apt install clamtk
WEATHER: edit the file /usr/share/libgweather-4/Locations.xml and add:
Barrie
CYLS
44.400110 -79.666340
near Borden in the Locations.xml file