Antix Linux operating system: installation step by step. Only 100 steps (15 stages).

Introduction

AntiX Linux operating system (name "antiX" is translated as Anti-fascist Linux) In its philosophy, a fast and light operating system (OS) was created. This version of Linux is based on the DEBIAN Bullseye package base (stable version of Debian), suitable for old and very old computers. antiX OS is undemanding to the size of the RAM (operates on 256 MB), and InitV is used as a bootloader instead of a slow SystemD, so the OS is also loaded faster than the rest "light" distribution. The size of the OS after installation is 6.5 GB, while antiX contains as many as three graphic shells, to choose: JWM, Icewm or Fluxbox. They can be switched "on the fly", without rebooting the OS or completing the session. Also, two file managers are preinstalled - Rox and ZZZ (I recommend the latter). The Mozilla Firefox ESR browser and the LibreOffice 7 package are installed. Unlike the outdated Windows XP and Windows 7, this OS supports the most modern technologies for working on the local network and the Internet, has sound support (ALSA 1.2.2) and Xorg 1.20.11 and Mesa 20.3.5. The Python 3.9 programming language is built in. The DEB package base is compatible with Debian, due to which it is possible to install devices and programs for Debian Bullseye. Also, compatibility at the level of repositories with a rich in auxiliary programs of the distribution "MX Linux". Both systems, Antix and MX Linux, have almost the same user community, a rich base of advices and FAQ for problems' solving. The distribution itself is multilingual, but not all messages in English are translated, because Unlike the same Ubuntu or Fedora. This distribution is maintained on the enthusiasm of its author, a devoted community of fans, and powerful corporations such as Canonical or Redhat are not behind it. There are guidelines and FAQ for the use of this operating system. The unusual possibilities of the distribution are the ability to launch in Live-mode with a flash drive with storage changes on the hard disk (Persistence). It is also possible to store the operating system image in a compressed form to save space (Frugal). Probably the main advantages are the absence of telemetry and data leaks. The JWM shell according to the author is completely devoid of memory leakage, which distinguishes this OS from Q4OS. Compared to Ubuntu, this OS is more fast 2-3 times, because Uses the lightest program samples, does not use GNOME and KDE Plasma. The purpose of the distribution is for weak PCs, light installation, everyday distribution, desktop. The OS was chosen by me after six months of operation of MX Linux, which did not differ in responsive work at the configuration PC AMD C-30 processor (1 core with a frequency of 1.2 GHz), RAM 4 GB, HDD 300 GB. After the transition to antiX, I acquired a friendly interface. quick loading and new applications that have not yet managed to master, such as "System Snapshot","Chroot Rescue Scan" radio player, SMTube, Streemlight, XMMS, MIRAGE, DROOPY, Adblock, Cherrytree, Searchmonkey.

Go to the Antix Linux website:

Stage 0. Preparing a computer for installing Antix Linux

From the factory on a computer of the Eee PC type, a lightweight version of Windows 7 Starter was installed. To be able to install one of the Linux OS versions next to Windows (in Dualboot mode - double booting), I changed the size of the Windows section, reducing it in half. To do this, you can use as a standard tool "Disk Manager" - select partition - "Compress" command and various programs for partitioning, such as the Aoemi Partition Assistant Standard Edition or Minitool Partition Wizard.

The boot disk is recorded from the ISO image for the X64 processors. ISO loaded from the page https://antixlinux.com/download/. I recorded the image on the USB Flash as usual - using sudo dd if=file.iso of=/dev/sdc bs=1M command.

Stage 1. Preparation for loading from the installation USB-Disk

Step 1.
Let's go to the BIOS Setup, in the Boot section we choose our boot USB disk ("USB flash") with the distribution of Antix Linux

Step 2.
Put the removable USB medium for loading in the first place in the list

Step 3.
Exit from the BIOS Setup while saving (F10 key).

Step 4.
The computer will start loading from the installation USB-Disk

Stage 2. Downloading from Live USB Disk and setting up the system of the system before installation

Step 5.

First, the window with the heading is loaded "Welcome to antiX-21 (Grup Yorum)!" and menu of 5 points:

1. [Mark] Antix-21 x64-Full [/Mark] (31 October 2021)<- the beginning of the installation of the operating system is not yet pressed.
2. [Mark] Language, Keyboard, Timezone [/Mark]<- Setting up the tongue, keyboard, time zone
3. 3. Advanced Options <- it is not required, settings for non-core loading modes with Live-USB: "Persistence Setup" and Frugal Install. The first mode, "Persistence", is a hybrid of booting from a "read-only" LiveCD and a "read-write" hard drive. The persistence mode is useful for laptops with a very small hard drive (<8 GB) that cannot accommodate the OS. Then, with persistence, compared to a system image on a USB, only changes are saved between LiveCD sessions. The second mode, "Frugal", is economical and does not split the disk into root, home and swap partitions, but only compresses the boot image of the system into a special disk partition "Antix frugal", which coexists with other OS - Windows and Linux. When using "Persistence", changes are copied to RAM during boot, and written back to the drive when turned off. The Frugal partition is a ready-to-boot system. After a second update (REMASTERING) the user's customized OS version is written to a read-only file of the Linux distribution, and the size of the "root persistence" file with changes since the last remaster is now zero.
4. Memory Test (64-bit UEFI)<- it is not required, checking memory modules
5. Boot Rescue Menus <- It will not be required, the mode of restoration of loading after failures.

After the Antix Setup window appears, you must choose the second point with the mouse "Language - Keyboard - Time zone"
Or press F2 to select the operating system.

Step 6.

The default Indicated language is Russian. As a result, the operating system after loading will be with programs menu translated into Russian. If you do not change the tongue, then the program menu after installing the Antix OS will be in English. Other users can choose their national language, as Antix has the support of many languages.

Step 7.

Let's start installing Antix - using the key "arrow up" select the first point and press "Enter".

Stage 3. The launch of the operating system in Live mode

Step 8.

After choosing the first menu item "antiX-21 x64-full"", antiX Linux will start running in Live USB mode

Step 9.

Diagnostic messages will be displayed on the screen informing you about the startup progress: "Search for Boot Device".,,

Step 10.

After the message about completetion of "udev" initialization, a change in the screen resolution will occur

!!!!Antix loaded in Live-CD mode.

Step 11.

My goal was to install an OS antiX on the hard drive next to Windows OS.
Therefore, I clicked "mouse" twice on the icon "Installer".

Stage 4. Broken of a hard drive and installation of an OS

Step 12.

The beginning of the process of installing Antix Linux OS on a hard drive:

Step 13.

In the window with a section "Keyboard settings", pressed the [Mark]button "Change keyboard settings"[/mark] to clarify the keyboard model, because I have a laptop.

Step 14.

I pressed a list with a keyboard type to specify the type of keyboard more accurately.

Step 15.

The type of keyboard in this case - "ASUS Laptop". For a PC, you can leave a keyboard of a conventional PC: 105-keys (international).

Step 16.

So, we have chosen the keyboard.
RUS, Eng are indicated automatically . To get out of the keyboard selection dialogue and layouts, click OK.

Step 17

Click "Next" to continue the installation

Step 18.

In the next window, there will be a stop for indicating the breakup of the disk - paragraph [Mark]"Customize the disk layout"[/mark] chosen correctly, because The Linux installation will occur next to Windows OS for free retained space of the hard drive.

Step 20

The list of sections will open - Windows sections are visible, but there are no Linux sections yet.

Step 21.

The installation of the OS will take place on the disc SDA (built -in hard drive).

Step 22.

To break the disk into sections, we will call the graphic tool GPARTED. To do this, click on the button with the icon "disc with underline", located below the button "Refresh".

Step 23.

It will open disk break. It shows the busy space (the main section of Windows) at the beginning of the disk and the unrealistic, free space in the second half of the hard drive.

Step 24.

Because MBR partitioning is used, the number of main loading sections is limited to 4 of them. Two of them are already occupied by Windows - this is a system section "Reserved by the operating system" and the main section of Windows.
I decided to install Linux in -extended, not the main partition. Since the GRUB2 bootloader allows you to load the OS from any partition, not necessarily the main one.
The same solves the problem with "marking" linux loading section with the Active and Boot, which is not required for such a disk break, eliminating unnecessary actions.

Step 25.

To create an expanded partition, select the item in the menu "Volume" - "New".

Step 26.

Create Extended volumes for all the free, unoccupied space of the hard drive.

In this expanded section we will create three volumes

• for the root (/),
• For home folders of users (/home)
• Section section - SWAP

Step 27

First, create a section for root file system like Ext4.
In the program menu "Create" - "New".

A 70 GB logical disk is large for the Antix system, which occupies a little more than 6 GB immediately after installing. In this case, I do not have a lack of free space, and decided to break 40% under the OS, and 60% to user files.

Step 28

I drag the right border of the section to reduce its size to ~ 70 GB, using the mouse.
I finish the choice -Add.

Step 29

In the same way, we create a second section - for user files (/home).
Menu "Volume" - "New". It also stands out in the remaining unreasonable area.

Step 30

The size of the section for the user's data chose 92 GB, but left 7 GB under SWAP (the last section) of the retained space with a volume of 7 GB.

Step 31

The last section Swap - will be 7.5 GB in size - the remaining space.

Step 32

To create it, we also select a item "Create" - New.

Step 33

For a pumping file, you must select in the list the type of file system is not Ext4, but "linux-swap".

Step 34

We will take the remaining free space under the swing section (SWAP) -7.5 GB.

Step 35

The disk is completely distributed. The marking is completed. We look at whether the logical disk is properly divided into sections.
Now you can still change the breakdown by changing the boundaries of the sections.

Step 36

To apply changes to the disk, click on the button with a checkmark:"Apply all operations".

Step 37

Warning "Apply scheduled operations?", because The operation will change the structure of the strict disk sections.

We agree to press the button "Apply".

Step 38

The process of creating a logical section for Linux OS began ...

... and creating the file system Ext4.

The same changes are applied to the one that will continue to be mounted on the mounting point /home

Creating the EXT4 file system for the future /home volume...

The creation of sections in the file system continues ...

Step 39

After that, the sections will be re -scanned.

Type of the MBR sections table after applying the changes:

Step 40

We leave the disks breakdown program: click on the window of the window -Close the window.

Step 41

We perform the most important stage -assigning mount points to the Linux volumes just created, in the window with a list of volemes. It is necessary to fill in the roads of the field in the columns "Use for".

Three created sections will be compared when mounted during loading:

• root
• home
• swap
  

Step 42

To continue the installation, click on the button "Next".

Step 43

Before the final stage, the installation program will ask the question "The antiX Linux installer will now perform the requested actions. These actions cannot be undone. Do you want to continue?".

Press the key "Yes"

Step 44

The background of the installation process has begun.
It remains only to indicate where to install the bootloader Grub2. In this case, the installation on the MBR table of the sections of the SDA disk, the rest is in the root /, in the /boot folder of the expanded SDA5 section.
Therefore, I chose "Loсation to install on" - MBR. We pay attention to the fact that the point "Install Grub for Linux and Windows" set by default(Do not take off!). Put only the switch against the point MBR(In this case, because the style of breaking the disk MBR -"hybrid" and non -standard with BIOS UEFI)

When breaking the GPT disk, the switch would be default - ESP (the first and main, official ESP section of 8-32 GB, formatted in FAT, used by both Windows and Linux, storing bootloaders). According to my data, if UEFI BIOS and the GPT disk breakdown style, then UEFI bootloader completely ignores MBR and PBR options, because Uses the UEFI Bootloader file on the disk in the ESP section. http://reboot.pro/index.php?showtopic=20448

Installation of a switch against MBR (in my case, because there is no ESP section - inherited from Windows 7 x86):

I repeat that in the case of UEFI BIOS / GPT Drive / ESP section, the switch would be by default on ESP which is the correct choice.

Step 45.

On the next window, indicate the name of the computer ("computer name") and domain DNS ("domain"). Both parameters can be changed at will. The Domain Name parameter must comply with the DNS rules, i.e. To be called through a point. For example: Laptop.home, etc. I leave the default, because Both parameters suit me.

Press the button "Next".

Step 46.

The next screen must be specified Locale - the program set itself country as "Russia".
Also, in this window you can specify time zone(for Moscow by default indicated correctly - GMT+3)

Step 47.

In the section "Service Settings" - "Advanced" we set up services that will be launched:
Press the button "View"(show):

By default, all services are included:

Disabled scanning services "sane" and printing "cups" that will not be used on this netbook, removing the corresponding

Step 48.

To go to the next screen, I pressed the buttons "ОК" and "Next".

In the window of creating the user by default, we come up with the name of the first user in the system (his uid = 1000).

• "Default user login name"(I chose the standard "user" 0
• "Default user password" password for the account of the user by default.
• "Confirm user password" - enter the password again.

We put a checkmark below "Autologon" for automatic entry to the user's desktop when you turn on the computer. (If this checkmark is not installed, the operating system will request the user name and password).

The flag against "Save live desktop changes" must be It (which is done by default). As far as I understand, this switch was conceived for transferring settings from LIVE -crushing to the work system, but it works incorrectly - with it, after the reloading of the user menu without program points.

Step 49.

Press the button "Next"

"Installation in progress".
We are waiting for the end of the installation.

Step 50.

The installation is completed. Fit against "Automatically reboot the system when installer is closed".
Press the button "Finish".

Step 51.

The process of turning off the Live CD will begin, with the inscription "reboot":

As soon as the screen goes out, pull out the USB boot disk from the computer.

Stage 5. The first launch of the OS

Step 52.

After loading the computer, the GRUB menu first appears, the first point of which was our Antix OS:

Step 53.

After a small timeout or when the Enter key is pressed, the operating system from the hard drive begins:

Step 54.

Services are launched. Since the Initv bootloader is used here, not Systemd, the launch of the OS passes quite quickly.

The level of execution ([runlevel] (https://web.mit.edu/rhel-doc/3/rhel-rg-en-3/s1-boot-init-shutdown-sysv.html)))"5" what does the launch of the graphic shell (GUI) mean.

Step 55.

After starting the GUI shell, we get to the desktop if the option is previously turned on "Autologon",
in the center of the window, the program window for connecting to Wi-Fi wireless networks pops up.
In this window we don’t press anything yet.

Step 56.

Also, a small window with a message will appear on the screen "Showcase was not used. Default showcase was selected. Use 'rox=Default' to enable this showcase in the future.". In this window you need to click OK.

Stage 6. Settings Antix through the "Control Center"

Step 57.

Using the starting menu "antiX" we launch "Control Center", with which we will set up an OS.

Step 58.

First of all, I changed the scale of the screen (because my netbook has a low resolution screen of 1024 by 600 pixels, not all windows of windows can fall into the visible area of ​​the screen).
On modern laptops, the desired scale of the screen must be selected based on the resolution and diagonal of the display.
1 = 100%, 0.9 = 90%, etc.

IN Control Center in the first section "Desktop" pressed on an icon with the letter [Mark]"F"[/mark] -"Set font size dpi"

Before changing the parameters of the system, the password, which was invented earlier, will be requested at the installation stage "Default user password". Enter the password and press OK.

Changed the DPI system parameter to 0.9 (86DPI).
Pressed "Apply".

Step 59.

If at this point the Wi-Fi network selection window has already been closed, you need to restart the session:
Antix - Output - restarting the session

Step 60.

We are considering Wi-Fi window of the selection of networks:

Step 61.

We go to the bookmark "Wireless networks"

Step 62.

Choosing the desired Wi-Fi network named SSID

Step 63.

Press the button "Connect"

Step 64.

Enter a password for Wi-Fi wireless network

Step 65.

If the password is correct, the condition of the network will change to "connected", what the icons with the symbol of the antenna and the plug are informed against our network.

Step 66.

We go to the first bookmark "State" and we see that the computer is connected not only to the Wi-Fi network, but also to the Internet: condition is "Online"

Stage 7. Choice sound card for the output of sound

Step 67.

In the same "antiX Control Centre" in the section "Equipment" click on "Select sound card"

Step 68.

In the list "Default ALSA card by default the device is specified "geneeric: HDA-INTEL - HD Audio Generic", it needs to be changed.

Step 69.

I chose a sound card from the list SB: HDA-INTEL-HDA-TI SB (Other PCs or laptops can have other options)
I pressed the button OK.

Step 70.

Immediately the Antix operating system suggested checking the sound: "Sound test. SB card installed. Want to check how the sound works?"
I pressed the button "Yes".

Step 71.

The display of sound will begin alternately from the left, right, and from both speakers at the same time.
"Was the test successful?" I click "Yes".

Sound the volume of sound later.

Stage 8. Setting up desktop wallpaper in Antix

Step 72.

IN Control Center we go to a familiar section "Desktop"

Step 73.

Click on the icon next to the inscription "Choose wallpaper"

Step 74.

In the window "antiX Wallpaper" choose desktop wallpaper: button "Select picture"

Step 75.

In the conductor in the/usr/share/walpaper folder or in another, select the format wallpaper file JPEG.
In this case -Sunflower.jpg
Press the button "Open".

Step 76.

To use the selected wallpaper to the desktop, click the button "Apply".

Step 77.

The desktop wallpaper was replaced.

Stage 9. Selecting and setting up a file manager in Antix

The best file manager for this OS is called ZZZ.
(Second file manager "Rox-Filer" not convenient at all).

Step 78.

To change the file manager of the manager to "zzz", choose in the menu Antix - desktop - other desktop.
We select one of the options for desktop with the mention of ZZZ. For example,ZZZ-JWM(more economical to resources) or ZZZ-USWM(more beautiful).

Step 79.

We launch the default File manager ZZZ (from the icon on the desktop and on the fast start -up panel).
The window of the file manager will appear, the next type:

Step 80.

As you can see, on top an empty place that is designed for a list of devices.

In the menu "Tools" - "Settings" disconnecting "hover selection" and "click to open":

After pressing OK. The type of file manager will become ordinary.

Stage 10. Sound volume setting in antix

Step 81.

After changing the sound card, you need to leave the session, i.e. Restart the desktop.
Antix menu - output -Restarting the session.

Step 82.

A system tray will appear volume control. The volume can be added to almost the maximum, pulling up with "mouse" volume slider.

Stage 11. Translation of Antix system packages into national language (Russian)

Step 83.

Control Center",
Menu "Programs" - "Package installer "

The installer of packages will start, the left side of which is listed in categories, and in the upper part a search window.

Step 84

In the search window for searching for Russian language packages for an office package of programs Libreoffice and browser Mozilla Firefox
I introduced a keyword "Russian" and pressed the key Enter all packages were found with the word "Russian" in the title.

Step 85.

I marked them all ticks and pressed the button "Install".

Step 86.

The installer of packages entered the work "packageinstaller"

Step 87

Then a text window opened, in which you can observe the installation of packages.

Windows may occur and disappear. So, for example, LibreOffice is updated, in which a package for the Russian language is installed.

The installation of packages lasts quite a long time.

It is important not to interrupt the installation, wait for the completion of the update process.
(You can focus on the red location indicator of the central processor)

The process of installing updates is coming to an end.

Step 88.

At the very end of the update, the window will be displayed about the end of the work.
"The process has completed. Do you want to exit the Package Installer?"
Pressed "Yes".

Step 89.

We update the remaining packages in the same way, but using the menu item
"Control Center" - "AntiX System Update"

Step 90.

The process of another update will begin, including the nucleus of the system.

Step 91.

We are waiting for the end of the update process.

Stage 12. Change in the GRUB2 bootloader configuration for double loading

There is two actions left

• Put away "cosmetic" problem with the background photo when booting GRUB2 (I am used to the GRUB menu have a clean screen only with the text)
• Solve a serious problem that the GRUB2 menu does not display a Windows 7 OS loading point.

Step 92.

We launch the "Terminal" program

Step 93.

We perform the command

sudo nano/etc/default/grub

Before the very last line in the file, we put a comment in this way:

#GRUB_BACKGROUND=...

We save and go out: click on the keyboard combination of the Ctrl+O buttons, Ctrl+X.

Step 94.

For double loading the OS, so that the list of operating systems on the GRUB menu shows, in addition to Linux, Windows also shows. You need to execute the next command.

sudo update-grub

Step 95.

Search for OS will begin, Windows 7 will be found:

Stage 13. Problems and solutions

1) If instead of loading the OS flashes the cursor on the black screen (the problem after turning off the PC or reboot), then the message is displayed "Reboot and Select proper Boot device or Insert Boot Media in selected Boot device and press a key" - This is a known problem that has solutions:

1. The problem usually occurs with a netbook battery close to the full discharge.
   • Turn off the laptop.
   • Connect the power adapter.
   • Turn on the laptop.
     The problem is solved!
2. Mark the first section ("Reserved by the system") as active and loading (can be performed using USB or DVD - loading disk with GPARTED or Alkid Live DVD programs).
3. If possible, with modern BIOS, use the GPT UEFI breakdown (with the ESP section) instead of the MBR style. Because modern UEFI BIOS, together with GPT, use a more reliable EFI Bootloader.

2) if the PC does not want to connect to Wi-Fi and an error occurs"Unable to create an interface to connman on the system bus.
CMST will not be able to communicate with connman.", you need to execute commands in the terminal:

sudo service connman stop
sudo update-rc.d connman defaults
service connman start
service connman status

Stage 14. Checking the Linux version and output of the nucleus

Step 97.

In the terminal we perform commands

lsb_release -a
uname -a

I have a version of the nucleus 5.10.

Stage 15. Settings Mozilla Firefox

Step 98.

Launch the browser in the menu Antix - Applications - Internet - Firefox ESR.

Step 99.

You need to turn on the menu in the upper part of the window: Click the right button on the panel next to the menu "sandwich".

Step 100.

Put a checkmark next to the item "Menu Panel".
A text menu will appear in Firefox

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