gentoo install

gentoo install

installation notes for gentoo OS

systemd, lvm, uefi

notes

• official gentoo handbook
  • read thoroughly!
  • reference for everything gentoo!
• this setup is for my personal desktop & laptop
  • /etc/**, /usr/**, /boot/**
    • if you decide to copy everything
      • you'll want to step through all config files and make any necessary adjustments
  • there are install steps not explicitly stated
  • your system configuration may require other steps
  • again, always reference the official gentoo handbook

prep

1. boot system rescue cd in efi mode
2. connect to network
   • $ nmtui
3. (optional) install git
   • $ emerge --sync
   • $ emerge -a dev-vcs/git
4. manually set date time
   • $ date MMDDHHMMYYYY
   • I use tlsdate to auto update time, the package is installed in a later step
5. download stage-3 tarball (current-stage3-amd64-systemd)
   • gentoo mirrors
     • US -> OSSU -> releases -> amd64 -> autobuilds
6. verify stage-3 tarball integrity
   • $ openssl dgst -r -sha512 stage-3.tar.bz2
   • $ openssl dgst -r -whirlpool stage-3.tar.bz2
   • $ gpg --verify stage3.bz2.DIGESTS.asc
     • may need to import gpg key
7. prepare drives
   • setup lvm vg for gentoo, and then root & home lv's (SSD's)
   • setup var, tmp partitions (spindles eat r/w costs for builds)
8. mount root to /mnt/gentoo
   • create & mount any secondary drives
     • i.e. var, tmp, home, ...
9. unpack stage3 tarball
   • $ tar xjf ... --xattrs --numeric-owner -C /mnt/gentoo
10. copy system config
    • os/gentoo/desktop/etc/**
    • can remove portage postsync eix script file for now
    • ignore any overlay errors for now
11. unmount all drives using unmount script
    • $ ./mountgentoodrivesu

install

1. remount all drives using mount script
   • $ ./mountgentoodrives
2. chroot into gentoo install
   • $ chroot /mnt/gentoo /bin/bash
3. check date/time is correct
4. set hardware clock to utc
   • $ hwclock --systohc --utc
5. config locale
   • $ nano -w /etc/locale.gen
     • uncomment en_US.UTF-8 UTF-8
   • generate locale
     • $ locale-gen
   • $ eselect locale list
     • select en_US.utf8
6. config timezone
   • `$ echo "America/Chicago" > /etc/timezone
   • $ emerge --config sys-libs/timezone-data
7. building the kernel
   • install gentoo sources & pciutils
     • $ emerge gentoo-sources pciutils
   • copy kernel config
     • .config
   • build kernel
     • first save moved config
       • $ make menuconfig
       • load .config file
       • save & exit
     • $ make -j9 -l8 && make modules_install && make install
8. update portage
   • sync
     • $ emerge-webrsync && emerge --sync --quiet
   • create /usr/portage/distfiles dir
     • copy jdk/jre tars (if necessary)
       • used for oracle-(jdk/jre)-bin install
9. initial world update for systemd
   • $ emerge -a --update --deep --with-bdeps=y --newuse @world
10. install some packages to aide in installation process
    1. $ emerge neovim bash-completion
    • if receiving an error saying /usr/bin: file not recognized: Is a directory
      • $ unset path && source /etc/profile
11. install required system applications/libraries
    • sysapplist
    • $ emerge -a $(< sysapplist)
      • nvidia notes
        • $ eselect opengl set nvidia
        • $ eselect opencl set nvidia
    • eprl
      • use if packages break and you want to remove items from $ emerge --resume list
12. enable any required services
    • $ systemctl enable ...<tab list>...
13. generate initramfs
    • install genkernel-next
    • $ genkernel --install initramfs
14. bootloader
    • first unmerge systemd & emerge systemd-boot
    • $ bootctl install
    • unmerge systemd-boot & emerge systemd
15. set root password
    • $ passwd
16. add user
    • create group dev
      • $ groupadd dev
    • $ useradd -M -d /home/USERNAME -U -G dev,wheel,video,audio,docker,input,plugdev,systemd-journal,portage,docker -s /bin/zsh USERNAME
      • the above command implies you already have your home dir stored somewhere
    • set passwd
      • $ passwd USERNAME
17. wrap up
    • exit chroot
    • unmount all drive using unmount script
    • reboot

post install

1. fonts
   • a pain to get, so i stored them, don't sue me, is it ok?
     • siji
     • ionicons
2. add overlays
   • $ emerge layman
   • $ layman -a ...
     • 0x4d4c betagarden dotnet fkmclane hossie petkovich steam-overlay vifino-overlay
     • check /etc/portage/repos.conf/*.conf files, and enable auto sync
3. install required user applications/libraries
   • userapplist
     • $ emerge -a $(< userapplist)
   • eprl
     • use if packages break and you want to remove items from $ emerge --resume list
4. move portage postsync eix script back
   • $ cp os/gentoo/desktop/etc/portage/postsync.d/eix /etc/portage/postsync.d/

troubleshooting

things will break, use tools/docs/forums/google/irc to fix them!

1. dmesg is great for investigating kernel/hardware issues
   • $ dmesg | grep -i error
   • $ dmesg | grep -i fail
2. journalctl is great for investigating systemd services
   • $ journalctl -xe
3. /var/log and cat
   • $ cd /var/log && cat ./* | less
     • all the logs!
4. Linux debugging tools you'll love!
   • great article by Julia Evans

questions, comments, concerns?

probably want to head on over to the official gentoo handbook