chimera-linux/installation.md

# Installation

It could have been an installation script, but it's more fun to do it yourself !

## Preparation

Download the [latest image](https://repo.chimera-linux.org/live/latest/) for your architecture, verify the checksum, and copy it to a USB pendrive.
Then boot the machine from the USB drive, log in as `root` using the password `chimera`.

> You can use `loadkeys` to set your keymap if needed.

You can now proceed with the installation either from this machine or from another machine via SSH, which may be useful for copying and pasting commands.

For remote installation, start the `sshd` service :
```
# dinitctl start sshd
```

Find the IP address using `ip a` and connect from your workstation with `ssh anon@<ip>` using the password `chimera`.
Then switch to the root account with `doas -s` using the same password.

### Partition the disks

Identify disks with `lsblk`, let’s assume here that the target disk drive is `/dev/sda`.
Start with wiping everything on it :
```
# wipefs -a /dev/sda
```

The easiest way to initialize a partition table and create partitions is with the `cfdisk` TUI program :
```
# cfdisk /dev/sda
```

Advised GPT partitioning scheme for UEFI systems :

| Partition | Mountpoint | Filesystem | Size | Type             |
|-----------|------------|------------|------|------------------|
| 1 : EFI   | /boot/efi  | fat32      | 512M | EFI System       |
| 2 : Boot  | /boot      | ext4       | 1G   | Linux filesystem |
| 3 : Root  | /          | ext4       | -    | Linux filesystem |

Advised GPT partitioning scheme for BIOS systems :

| Partition | Mountpoint | Filesystem | Size | Type             |
|-----------|------------|------------|------|------------------|
| 1 : -     | -          | -          | 1M   | BIOS boot        |
| 2 : Boot  | /boot      | ext4       | 1G   | Linux filesystem |
| 3 : Root  | /          | ext4       | -    | Linux filesystem |


### Format the partitions

For UEFI systems :
```
# mkfs.vfat /dev/sda1
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3
```

For BIOS systems :
```
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda2
# mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda3
```

### Mount the file systems

Mount the root then the boot partitions :
```
# mkdir /media/root && mount /dev/sda3 /media/root
# mkdir /media/root/boot && mount /dev/sda2 /media/root/boot
```

For UEFI systems you also have to mount the EFI partition :
```
# mkdir /media/root/boot/efi && mount /dev/sda1 /media/root/boot/efi
```

Check with `lsblk` that your mountpoints are corrects.

## System installation

### Bootsrap

```
# chimera-bootstrap /media/root
```

### Chroot

```
# chimera-chroot /media/root
```

### Kernel

You could omit the installation of the firmwares metapackage when installing in a virtual machine or a container :
```
# apk add !base-firmware-linux
```

Linux LTS kernel installation :
```
# apk add linux-lts
```

### Essential packages

```
# apk add bash bash-completion tree ucode-<amd/intel>
```

> For an AMD CPU install `ucode-amd` package and `ucode-intel` for Intel.

Other useful packages :

* Install `ufw` if you wish an easy to use firewall.
* If you want `cron` install the `cronie` package.
* You may want `git` it can be installed with the `git` package.

### Swapfile (optional)

Create a file that will be used for swap :
```
# fallocate -l 1G /swapfile
```

Only the root user should be able to write and read the swap file.
To set the correct permissions type :
```
# chmod 600 /swapfile
```

Use the mkswap utility to set up the file as Linux swap area :
```
# mkswap /swapfile
```

Enable the swap with the following command :
```
# swapon /swapfile
```

### Fstab

```
# genfstab -U / >> /etc/fstab
```

### Time zone

```
# ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Europe/Paris /etc/localtime
```

### Localization

Set yout locale in the `/etc/locale.conf` file :
```
LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8
LC_COLLATE=C
```

If non `us` keymap, set console keymap in the `/etc/default/keyboard` file.

### Hostname

```
# echo "<your_hostname>" > /etc/hostname
```

### Initramfs

```
# update-initramfs -c -k all
```

### Root password and shell

```
# passwd root
# chsh -s /bin/bash root
```

### Create a user

```
# useradd -m -G wheel -s /bin/bash <your_username>
# passwd <your_username>
```

### Boot loader

For EFI systems :
```
# apk add grub-x86_64-efi
# grub-install --efi-directory=/boot/efi
# update-grub
```

For BIOS systems :
```
# apk add grub-i386-pc
# grub-install /dev/sda
# update-grub
```

### Enable services at startup

* Network
```
# cd /etc/dinit.d/boot.d && ln -sf ../dhcpcd .
```

* System logging
```
# cd /etc/dinit.d/boot.d && ln -sf ../syslog-ng .
```

Optional services, pick up what you need :

* Firewall
```
# cd /etc/dinit.d/boot.d && ln -sf ../ufw .
```
> Don't forget to execute `ufw enable` at first boot.

* Cron
```
# cd /etc/dinit.d/boot.d && ln -sf ../crond .
```

* SSH server
```
# cd /etc/dinit.d/boot.d && ln -sf ../sshd .
```
> If you don't have a user don't forget to enable root connection !

### Reboot

Exit the chroot environment by typing `exit` or pressing `Ctrl+d`, and restart the machine with `reboot`.
If you don't need a graphical user interface, your system is ready to use !

## Desktop installation

Additional tasks to do if you wish to run graphical applications on the system.

### Network Manager

```
# apk add networkmanager
# dinitctl disable dhcpcd
# dinitctl enable networkmanager
```

### Gcompat

```
# apk add gcompat
```

### Flatpak

```
# apk add flatpak
# flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo
```

### Gnome

Install the desktop environment :
```
# apk add '!gnome-apps'
# apk add gnome gnome-console gnome-software gnome-system-monitor gnome-tweaks gnome-text-editor loupe evince
```

If non `us` keymap, set the X11 keymap for GDM :
```
# localectl --no-convert set-x11-keymap fr
```

Finally start the display manager :
```
# dinitctl enable gdm
```

Your system is ready to use !