dolphin_oracle's respins (updated June 23, 2024)

[kd4e]

Systemd is present though not enabled on the official release. The respin does not even have it present.

So, otherwise, it's the same.

That's cool.

Thanks!

[dolphin_oracle]

I'm not sure this is the right place for this but I wanted to share my experience using MX Linux minimal 21, I was very Happy then finding a minimal respin as I prefer appimages or blender style standalone apps over installed ones, also installing apps on mx linux is very easy and preinstalled packages will be outdated at some point and has to be upgraded, so I encourage you to make the minimal official as this is the biggest draw back is that you don't get official support, other issues that bothered me were resolved by digging and installing packages that resolved my issues that might not be a problem for super user but normal users might suffer. so I'm sharing a note
minimal version(as downloaded) needs tweeking after install
- install gvfs so that thunar can see external drives or usb flash, and gvfs-fuse & gvfs-backends for ftp server to open within thunar.
- install menulibre for edit applications on the whisker menu to work.
- enable AHS repository for latest Nvidia drivers, from MX Repo Manager goto indivdual sources, find mx.list, check the box that containes ahs at the end of the line.
- after enabling AHS repo, install Nvidia driver normally, from the app menu find "Nvidia Driver installer"
- install Xarchiver for the extract here in the right click menu inside thunar file manager to work.
- to install Qiuck system info which is required by MX forums to give support, you have to know the right package name "qiuck-system-info-gui" (that was a tricky one)

that's not one of my respins, so not the place. but thanks.

[a_freed_man]

Has anything changed wrt the antix persistence in this mx-23 respin? It may just be my faulty memory, but I thought the only option I needed to select to boot with persistence was p_static_root. Also, when a console screen resolution is selected it doesn't boot with that setting. The "Console" terminology is a bit confusing if that boot option is referring to the X11 display resolution and not the text virtual terminals (Ctrl-Alt-Fn keys).

The first boot used the following options and persistence worked as expected:
- separate static root and home persistence (NOT p_static_root)
- root size: 20GB (option 23)
- home size: 80GB (option 35)
- swap size: 4GB (option 12)

Second boot I didn't let timer expire but rather used up arrow to select top option (MX 23) to boot.
The default option selected is not the top, but rather is Language, something in middle of list.

I'm booting a 120GB SSD in a USB3 enclosure via UEFI on a fairly new bee Link system.

If p_static_root was selected the only difference is that no "home" persistence size is prompted, but the rest is the same. However I didn't get any home persistence with p_static_root. I believe I did get root persistence, not sure, need to retest that.

Is there a way I can reset all those boot options so I could start a new test fresh, without using the USB maker to wipe the whole drive?
Or how can the top "MX-23 64..." option be selected by default so the system will boot with persistence without user intervention?

[dolphin_oracle]

Has anything changed wrt the antix persistence in this mx-23 respin? It may just be my faulty memory, but I thought the only option I needed to select to boot with persistence was p_static_root. Also, when a console screen resolution is selected it doesn't boot with that setting. The "Console" terminology is a bit confusing if that boot option is referring to the X11 display resolution and not the text virtual terminals (Ctrl-Alt-Fn keys).

The first boot used the following options and persistence worked as expected:
- separate static root and home persistence (NOT p_static_root)
- root size: 20GB (option 23)
- home size: 80GB (option 35)
- swap size: 4GB (option 12)

Second boot I didn't let timer expire but rather used up arrow to select top option (MX 23) to boot.
The default option selected is not the top, but rather is Language, something in middle of list.

I'm booting a 120GB SSD in a USB3 enclosure via UEFI on a fairly new bee Link system.

If p_static_root was selected the only difference is that no "home" persistence size is prompted, but the rest is the same. However I didn't get any home persistence with p_static_root. I believe I did get root persistence, not sure, need to retest that.

Is there a way I can reset all those boot options so I could start a new test fresh, without using the USB maker to wipe the whole drive?
Or how can the top "MX-23 64..." option be selected by default so the system will boot with persistence without user intervention?

Presuming systemd iso with UEFI boot. (see this is where quick-system-info i nice, just saying).

No options have been changed, but the console text options I don't think work under systemd boots, if that is the spin you are using. They are basically ignored.

you can change the boot options at any time.

if you want to get rid of the persistence files, boot without any persistence enabled and delete the persistence files you don't want. the default names and locations are /live/boot-dev/antiX/rootfs and /live/boot-dev/antiX/homefs.

if you set the language and timezone, then the top option will be the default.

summary of persistence boot options and what they do:

Code: Select all

persist_all - use separate persistence files for root and home. root is loaded into ram

persist_root - use persistence file for root (home folder included). loaded into ram

persist_static - like persist_all, but not loaded into ram, accessed from live-usb if its writeable.

p_static_root - like persist_root, but not loaded into ram

persist_home - no root persistence file, only home. home is never loaded into ram

frugal_persist - like persist_all, but performs a "frugal" install onto a folder on an internal hard drive. subsequent boots with this option will try to find the existing frugal install and boot it.

frugal_root - like persist_root, but for frugal installs

frugal_static - like persist_static, but for frugal installs

f_static_root - like p_static_root, but for frugal installs

frugal_home - like persist_home, but for a frugal install

frugal_only - do a frugal install, but no persistence used (read only system).

[a_freed_man]

Thanks Dolphin. Yes, UEFI booting with systemd only. Quick info below.

When I look at the freshly created USB Maker filesystem is see:

Code: Select all

antiX
boot
cdrom.ico
snapshot_USB-20241125
EFI
lost+found
made-by-live-usb-maker

Do I need to boot, delete peristence files then reboot to start over? Won't the persistence files be locked?
I don't recall seeing a /live/boot-dev folder. What I recall is a /Live-xxx??? folder under root and user accounts.
I'll reboot now and play around, looking more carefully for the rootfs and homefs files.

Code: Select all

Snapshot created on: 20231002_0747
System:
  Kernel: 6.5.0-1mx-ahs-amd64 [6.5.3-1~mx23ahs] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-6.5.0-1mx-ahs-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
  Desktop: Xfce v: 4.18.1 tk: Gtk v: 3.24.36 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm v: 4.18.0 vt: 7
    dm: LightDM v: 1.26.0 Distro: MX-23_x64 Libretto-systemd-only-respin October 02  2023 base: Debian
    GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: AZW model: SEi serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends LLC.
    v: ALDER109 date: 12/01/2022
CPU:
  Info: model: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U bits: 64 type: MST AMCP arch: Alder Lake level: v3
    note: check built: 2021+ process: Intel 7 (10nm ESF) family: 6 model-id: 0x9A (154) stepping: 4
    microcode: 0x430
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 10 mt: 2 tpc: 2 st: 8 threads: 12 smt: enabled cache: L1: 928 KiB
    desc: d-8x32 KiB, 2x48 KiB; i-2x32 KiB, 8x64 KiB L2: 6.5 MiB desc: 2x1.2 MiB, 2x2 MiB L3: 12 MiB
    desc: 1x12 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 790 high: 1449 min/max: 400/4400:3300 scaling: driver: intel_pstate
    governor: powersave cores: 1: 1052 2: 574 3: 400 4: 936 5: 400 6: 1179 7: 400 8: 1200 9: 1048
    10: 1449 11: 451 12: 400 bogomips: 59904
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Enhanced / Automatic IBRS, IBPB: conditional, RSB filling,
    PBRSB-eIBRS: SW sequence
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Alder Lake-UP3 GT2 [Iris Xe Graphics] driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-12.2
    process: Intel 10nm built: 2021-22+ ports: active: HDMI-A-1 empty: HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:46a8 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: xfwm v: 4.18.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0.0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1600x900 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 423x238mm (16.65x9.37") s-diag: 485mm (19.11")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 model: LG (GoldStar) 32 FHD serial: <filter> built: 2017
    res: 1600x900 hz: 60 dpi: 58 gamma: 1.2 size: 698x392mm (27.48x15.43") diag: 801mm (31.5")
    ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 24.2.2-1~mx23ahs renderer: Mesa Intel Graphics (ADL GT2)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Alder Lake PCH-P High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    alternate: snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl bus-ID: 00:1f.3 chip-ID: 8086:51c8 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.5.0-1mx-ahs-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 0.3.65 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie:
    gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 3000 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel modules: wl pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:2723 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel AX200 Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 3-7:3 chip-ID: 8087:0029
    class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 3.0 lmp-v: 5.2
    sub-v: 2184 hci-v: 5.2 rev: 2184
  Info: acl-mtu: 1021:4 sco-mtu: 96:6 link-policy: rswitch sniff link-mode: peripheral accept
    service-classes: rendering, capturing, object transfer, audio, telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 585 GiB used: 62.52 GiB (10.7%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Crucial model: CT500P3PSSD8 size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter>
    rev: P9CR40A temp: 36.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 type: USB model: SSK SSK Storage size: 119.24 GiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 1507 scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 50 GiB size: 48.91 GiB (97.83%) used: 15.6 GiB (31.9%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4 maj-min: 259:4
  ID-2: /boot raw-size: 1000 MiB size: 965.9 MiB (96.59%) used: 194.3 MiB (20.1%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
  ID-3: /boot/efi raw-size: 100 MiB size: 98.4 MiB (98.45%) used: 274 KiB (0.3%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
  ID-4: /home raw-size: 398.69 GiB size: 391.36 GiB (98.16%) used: 36.97 GiB (9.4%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/dm-0 maj-min: 254:0 mapped: home_space-home
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 16 GiB used: 512 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3
    maj-min: 259:3
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 28.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2504 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2489 libs: 1317 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 15
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security/ bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    3: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ bookworm-backports main contrib non-free
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/librewolf.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] http://deb.librewolf.net/ bookworm main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirrors.rit.edu/mxlinux/mx-packages/mx/repo/ bookworm ahs
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/tailscale.list
    1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/tailscale-archive-keyring.gpg] https://pkgs.tailscale.com/stable/debian bookworm main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscodium.list
    1: deb [ signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/vscodium-archive-keyring.gpg ] https://paulcarroty.gitlab.io/vscodium-deb-rpm-repo/debs/ vscodium main
Info:
  Processes: 318 Uptime: 13m wakeups: 5 Memory: 15.39 GiB used: 2.13 GiB (13.8%) Init: systemd
  v: 252 target: graphical (5) default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

[dolphin_oracle]

Thanks Dolphin. Yes, UEFI booting with systemd only. Quick info below.

When I look at the freshly created USB Maker filesystem is see:

Code: Select all

antiX
boot
cdrom.ico
snapshot_USB-20241125
EFI
lost+found
made-by-live-usb-maker

Do I need to boot, delete peristence files then reboot to start over? Won't the persistence files be locked?
I don't recall seeing a /live/boot-dev folder. What I recall is a /Live-xxx??? folder under root and user accounts.
I'll reboot now and play around, looking more carefully for the rootfs and homefs files.

you can either do as I describe, or while running something else, like you are doing when you list out the file system above, open up the antiX folder and delete the rootfs and homefs files to reset to whatever the current default linuxfs file contains on the next boot of the live system.

I gave you the path for the files. they should be present if you are running persistence. I believe on the systemd respin, while running, /live is symlink to /run/initramfs.

[a_freed_man]

I'm booted under the live usb system I just created with USB Maker. /live lists the root of the USB drive, exactly as I posted from the installed MX linux OS. I also see the /live/boot-dev/ folder, and the rootfs file (I booted using p_static_root persistence so home is included, no separare homefs file).

Verified setting Language sets default to top option as you described.

Next I'll check that removing the rootfs file under antiX causes prompting for persistence and swap creation when p_static_root is selected.

Thanks again!

[a_freed_man]

Verified removing the rootfs file does cause reset of persistence and if rebooted using that option does prompt for recreating iit and swap.

However, I still don't have persistence on home as I expect using p_static_root. I DO if I use the option that saves root and home separately. I believe you called it persist_static, but IIRC the menu name is slightly different as it specifically uses the word "separate". That works as expected, saving anything I create in user accounts. I am now booted on the live USB with p_static_root. I see I now have OS updates, so will see if they persist. I created the maximum size for rootfs this time. I use menu to shut down, same as with persist_static.

If nothing is saved I don't understand p_static_root. Doesn't seem to work as I have used it before. Also, shouldn't the Language be saved once set, so on subsequent boots it's not the default option? IIRC that's how it worked for persist_static.

[dolphin_oracle]

Verified removing the rootfs file does cause reset of persistence and if rebooted using that option does prompt for recreating iit and swap.

However, I still don't have persistence on home as I expect using p_static_root. I DO if I use the option that saves root and home separately. I believe you called it persist_static, but IIRC the menu name is slightly different as it specifically uses the word "separate". That works as expected, saving anything I create in user accounts. I am now booted on the live USB with p_static_root. I see I now have OS updates, so will see if they persist. I created the maximum size for rootfs this time. I use menu to shut down, same as with persist_static.

If nothing is saved I don't understand p_static_root. Doesn't seem to work as I have used it before. Also, shouldn't the Language be saved once set, so on subsequent boots it's not the default option? IIRC that's how it worked for persist_static.

have you used the boot option to save the boot options?

p_static_root doesn't use a separate homefs persistence file, even if its present. changes will be saved in the rootfs file.

[a_freed_man]

I am aware the p_static_root should save the home as part of root, but that didn't seem to be happening.

I don't recall it being necessary to use the "save boot options" option in the past. I will retest and make sure I do that. I will use the 2nd option to save "both", gfx and whatever the other one is.