Overview
These are my notes for installation of Debian Linux on my personal workstation. They are intended as a high level checklist rather than a step by step installation guide. I tend to start from a minimal, text-only Debian install.
Installation
Hardware
ASUS P8H77-I
Linux has poor support for the Realtek 8168F ethernet chip. If possible, buy a motherboard with an Intel ethernet chip instead. Firmware files for the Realtek are available from the Debian firmware-nonfree repository and must be supplied on a USB stick if using the netinst CD.
SSD Hard Drive
Use a TRIM enabled filesystem such as ext4.
Locate partitions so they match the SSD block size. To check under Windows, execute msinfo32 and check under Components -> Storage -> Disks, looking for “Partition Starting Offset”. If it is divisible by 4096, all is well. If not, use the GParted Live CD and follow the instructions.
Set AHCI mode in the BIOS.
Install package hdparm and check for TRIM support with
hdparm -I /dev/<your device>
under “Data Set Management TRIM supported”.
Create daily TRIM cronjob by creating the following file in /etc/cron.daily/fstrim (remember to make it executable)
#!/bin/sh
# Perform manual filesystem TRIM
#
LOG=/var/log/trim.log
echo "*** $(date -R) ***" >> $LOG
fstrim -v / >> $LOG
To reduce disk writes, mount the SSD filesystems with the relatime option in /etc/fstab to reduce file and directory access time updates.
USB Automounting
Install package usbmount and add “ntfs” to valid partition types in /etc/usbmount/usbmount.conf so the line reads
FILESYSTEMS="ntfs vfat ext2 ext3 ext4 hfsplus
Graphics Drivers
Add the contrib and non-free repositories to /etc/apt/sources.list and then install the fglrx-driver and fglrx-control packages.
As root, execute aticonfig --initial to generate an initial Xorg config file.
For my dual head configuration (30" 2560x1600 in landscape and 24" 1920x1200 in portrait) create new file ~/.xinitrc with the following contents:
#!/bin/sh
xrandr --output DFP10 --mode 2560x1600 --pos 0x0 --output DFP11 --rotate left --mode 1920x1200 --pos -1200x-150
. /etc/X11/Xsession
Audio
Install relevant packages and then use alsamixer to set audio levels. Later, after fluxbox is installed, can add key bindings for volume control.
apt-get install libasound2 libasound2-doc alsa-base alsa-utils alsa-oss alsamixergui
Printer
Install packages cups and cups-client.
/etc/init.d/cups start
usermod -a -G lpadmin ataylor
In a browser, visit http://localhost:631 and add printer via this interface (autodetects the networked HP LJ4). Go to “Printers” tab, then click printer name. From “Administration” dropdown, make this printer the default for this server. From “Maintenance” dropdown, print a test page.
Scanner
Install relevant packages:
apt-get install xsane sane sane-utils xsltproc libtiff-tools
Download Epson ImageScan software and install
dpkg -i iscan-data_1.22.0-1_all.deb
dpkg -i iscan_2.29.1-5~usb0.1.ltdl7_amd64.deb
dpkg -i iscan-plugin-gt-x770_2.1.2-1_amd64.deb
Basic Services
Package Repositories
Add the following line to /etc/apt/sources.list to enable the backports repository.
deb http://backports.debian.org/debian-backports squeeze-backports main
Install basic packages
apt-get install openssh-server bzip2 zip
Email Forwarding
The minimal OS install includes exim4. Execute dpkg-reconfigure exim4-config and select “mail sent by smarthost; no local mail” unless you intend to host a mail server on this machine.
Create file ~/.forward containing destination email address.
Check /etc/aliases to make sure system/daemon users are routed the way you want.
NTP Configuration
Install package ntp and check servers with ntpq -p. Default configuration should cause daemon to start at boot and sync automatically.
ZFS File Archive
Obtain latest .deb package for ZFSonLinux and install.
wget http://archive.zfsonlinux.org/debian/pool/main/z/zfsonlinux/zfsonlinux_2%7Ewheezy_all.deb
dpkg -i zfsonlinux_2~wheezy_all.deb
apt-get update
apt-get install debian-zfs
Do modprobe zfs and add “zfs” to /etc/modules so it loads on boot.
Can now use normal ZFS commands to manage existing, or create new zpools.
Remember to add zpool scrubs and status update to cron with delivery to email so you know if a drive develops problems.
Data Partitions
Partition with cfdisk /dev/sda
Use NTFS format for drives that will be shared. If needed, install package ntfs-3g.
Entries in /etc/fstab should be of the form:
UUID=4A0E269F181DD6BB /mnt/int_share ntfs uid=1000,gid=1000,dmask=027,fmask=137,utf8 0 0
UUID can be determined with blkid /dev/sda1.
Use option “noauto” in /etc/fstab for external USB drives otherwise they will give timeout errors as they spin up. The usb automounting will put them in the right place if they have an entry in /etc/fstab.
Dropbox
Download .deb from dropbox.com rather than using the nautilus-dropbox package. After package installation, install the daemon with dropbox start -i. Create the following init script as /etc/init.d/dropbox and install with update-rc.d dropbox defaults
#!/bin/sh
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides: dropbox
# Required-Start: $local_fs $remote_fs $network $syslog $named
# Required-Stop: $local_fs $remote_fs $network $syslog $named
# Default-Start: 2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop: 0 1 6
# X-Interactive: false
# Short-Description: dropbox service
### END INIT INFO
DROPBOX_USERS="ataylor"
DAEMON=.dropbox-dist/dropbox
start() {
echo "Starting dropbox..."
for dbuser in $DROPBOX_USERS; do
HOMEDIR=`getent passwd $dbuser | cut -d: -f6`
if [ -x $HOMEDIR/$DAEMON ]; then
HOME="$HOMEDIR" start-stop-daemon -b -o -c $dbuser -S -u $dbuser -x $HOMEDIR/$DAEMON
fi
done
}
stop() {
echo "Stopping dropbox..."
for dbuser in $DROPBOX_USERS; do
HOMEDIR=`getent passwd $dbuser | cut -d: -f6`
if [ -x $HOMEDIR/$DAEMON ]; then
start-stop-daemon -o -c $dbuser -K -u $dbuser -x $HOMEDIR/$DAEMON
fi
done
}
status() {
for dbuser in $DROPBOX_USERS; do
dbpid=`pgrep -u $dbuser dropbox`
if [ -z $dbpid ] ; then
echo "dropboxd for USER $dbuser: not running."
else
echo "dropboxd for USER $dbuser: running (pid $dbpid)"
fi
done
}
case "$1" in
start)
start
;;
stop)
stop
;;
restart|reload|force-reload)
stop
start
;;
status)
status
;;
*)
echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/dropbox {start|stop|reload|force-reload|restart|status}"
exit 1
esac
exit 0
NFS Server/Client
Server: install portmap and nfs-kernel-server
Client: install portmap and nfs-common
Configure /etc/exports on the server. For example:
/example 192.168.1.0/255.255.255.0(rw,no_root_squash,subtree_check)
Configure /etc/fstab for any filesystems you want to automount at boot.
GUI
X, Fluxbox
Install the following packages:
apt-get install xorg fluxbox
Modify ~/.fluxbox/keys file to change Mouse[4,5] when On[Desktop,Toolbar] to [Prev,Next]Window instead of [Prev,Next]Workspace. Also, add the following key shortcuts:
# open a terminal
Mod1 F1 :Exec xterm
# open a dialog to run programs
Mod1 F2 :Exec fbrun
# Open file manager
Mod1 F3 :Exec nautilus
# Take a screenshot
107 :Exec /home/ataylor/bin/take_screenshot.sh
# volume settings, using common keycodes
# if these don't work, use xev to find out your real keycodes
123 :Exec amixer sset Master,0 1+
122 :Exec amixer sset Master,0 1-
121 :Exec amixer sset Master,0 toggle
# Start screensaver, lock screen
127 :Exec xscreensaver-command -lock
# current window commands
Mod1 F4 :Close
Mod1 F5 :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 1200 950} {Moveto 0 0 UpperLeft}
Mod1 F6 :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 1200 950} {Moveto 0 0 LowerLeft}
Mod1 F7 :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 1250 1600} {Moveto 0 0 UpperLeft}
Mod1 F8 :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 1250 1600} {Moveto 0 0 UpperRight}
Mod1 F9 :Minimize
Mod1 F10 :Maximize
Mod1 F11 :Fullscreen
# Window sizing commands
136 :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 1200 950} {Moveto 0 0 UpperLeft}
137 :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 1200 950} {Moveto 0 0 LowerLeft}
138 :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 1250 1600} {Moveto 0 0 UpperLeft}
139 :MacroCmd {ResizeTo 1250 1600} {Moveto 0 0 UpperRight}
140 :Maximize
141 :Minimize
142 :Fullscreen
Use “meta” style in fluxbox
Install numlockx package and add numlockx & to ~/.fluxbox/startup
Ensure ~/.xinitrc ends in . /etc/X11/Xsession if the file doesn’t already exist.
Add any apps that I want to autostart in ~/.fluxbox/startup (pidgin, deluge-gtk, etc)
Set “focus on mouse” and NOT “raise on focus” in the right-click menu.
Screensaver
Install the following packages:
xscreensaver xscreensaver-gl xscreensaver-gl-extra xscreensaver-screensaver-bsod xscreensaver-screensaver-webcollage
Execute xscreensaver-demo to configure the screensaver.
Add xscreensaver -nosplash & to ~/.xinitrc.
Wallpaper Rotation
Install nitrogen package. Execute nitrogen once and set wallpaper manually to create initial config files.
Create file ~/bin/wallpaper_rotation.sh as shown below and add to ~/.xinitrc as sh /home/ataylor/bin/wallpaper_rotation.sh &
#!/bin/sh
#
# Automatic wallpaper rotation, multi-monitor aware
CONFIG="$HOME/.config/nitrogen/bg-saved.cfg"
while true; do
rm ${CONFIG}
cat <<CREATECONFIG > ${CONFIG}
[xin_0]
file=$(find ~/documents/wallpaper/ratio_16_10 -type f | sort -R | tail -1)
mode=0
bgcolor=#000000
[xin_1]
file=$(find ~/documents/wallpaper/ratio_10_16 -type f | sort -R | tail -1)
mode=0
bgcolor=#000000
CREATECONFIG
nitrogen --restore
sleep 1m
done
Screenshots
Create screenshot directory ~/screenshots.
Write the following to ~/bin/take_screenshot.sh
#!/bin/bash
SAVEDIR="$HOME/documents/screenshots"
DATE=`date +%Y%m%d-%T`
if [! -d ${SAVEDIR} ]
then
mkdir -p {$SAVEDIR}
fi
xwd | xwdtopnm | pnmtopng > "${SAVEDIR}"/"${DATE}".png
Update ~/.fluxbox/keys with line 107 :Exec /home/ataylor/documents/screenshots/take_screenshot.sh or use xev to select a different key.
xterm
Set xterm fonts by creating ~/.Xresources with contents shown below. Afterward, restart X or run xrdb -merge ~/.Xresources.
xterm*faceName: Liberaqtion Mono:size=12:antialias=true
xterm*font: 7x13
Desktop Applications
Web Browser
Download Chrome .deb directly from Google. Then, dpkg -i chrome.file.deb and apt-get -f install to clear up dependencies. Create symlink in ~/bin for chrome->google-chrome.
Install iceweasel package with plugins: Adblock Plus, NoScript, Image Zoom, Save Image in Folder, Thumbnail Zoom Plus, Enhanced Steam.
Install icedtea-plugin.
Install package mutt-patched since it includes the sidebar-folder-path.
Configure ~/.muttrc
# .muttrc configuration file
# General Configuration
set editor='vim'
set imap_check_subscribed=yes
set print_cmd="muttprint"
set print_split
set certificate_file=".mutt_certs"
# Sidebar
set sidebar_width=20
set sidebar_visible=yes
set sidebar_sort=yes
# View URLs inside mutt
macro index \cd "|urlview\n"
macro pager \cd "|urlview\n"
# Handle HTML emails
auto_view text/html
alternative_order text/plain text/enriched text/html
### Account: ataylor@subgeniuskitty.com
source "~/.mutt/ataylor_subgeniuskitty_com"
folder-hook 'imaps://ataylor\@subgeniuskitty.com@mail.subgeniuskitty.com:993' 'source ~/.mutt/ataylor_subgeniuskitty_com'
# Macros to handle multiple accounts
macro index <f2> '<sync-mailbox><enter-command>source ~/.mutt/ataylor_subgeniuskitty_com<enter><change-folder>!<enter>'
Configure ~/.mutt/ataylor_subgeniuskitty_com
# Read from IMAP server
set imap_user="ataylor@subgeniuskitty.com"
set imap_pass="pass"
set folder="imaps://ataylor\@subgeniuskitty.com@mail.subgeniuskitty.com:993"
set spoolfile="+INBOX"
# Send through SMTP server
set smtp_url="smtps://ataylor\@subgeniuskitty.com@mail.subgeniuskitty.com:465"
set smtp_pass="pass"
set from="ataylor@subgeniuskitty.com"
set realname="Aaron Taylor"
set postponed="=Drafts"
set record="=Sent"
# Account Hook -- Important
account-hook $folder "set imap_user=ataylor@subgeniuskitty.com imap_pass=pass"
Install package elinks and add following line to ~/.mailcap.
text/html; elinks -dump %s ; copiousoutput
Install packages muttprint and ospics, and create ~/.muttprintrc file with contents shown below.
# Muttprint Configuration File
PRINT_COMMAND="lp"
PENGUIN=/usr/share/ospics/Debian_color.eps
Install package urlview
IRC
Install package irssi and add relevant nick/pass/channel/server for autostart with
/server add -auto -network freenode chat.freenode.net 6667 <password>
/network add -nick <nickname> freenode
/channel add -auto #hoggit freenode
Cut down on the chatter
/ignore * JOINS QUITS PARTS
Enable autologging and quasi-rotation by making log dir and setting ownership. Then, in irssi,
/set autolog_path /path/to/logdir/$tag/$0.%Y%m%d.log
/set autolog on
/save
Add the following scripts to ~/.irssi/scripts and symlink to ~/.irssi/scripts/autostart:
adv_windowlist
nickcolor
trackbar
Add to ~/.xinitrc but for some reason, must manually specify xterm colors otherwise they default to black text on white background rather than system defaults.
xterm -fg AliceBlue -bg Black irssi &
Sage
Might want to install mpmath package first. I had problems with Bessel functions when I installed it after Sage. Also, install PDF viewer and LaTeX environment before compiling Sage.
useradd sage
mkdir /home/sage /usr/local/sage /var/log/sage
chown -R sage:sage /home/sage /usr/local/sage /var/log/sage
su sage
cd /usr/local/sage
(download the sage source)
(untar source)
export MAKE="make -j4" (or whatever is appropriate for current machine)
make ("apt-get install build-essential" if necessary)
./sage -upgrade
./sage
sage: optional_packages()
sage: install_package('openmpi-xxx') (if needed)
sage: install_package('mpi4py-xxx') (if needed)
sage: quit
./sage -notebook (answer onscreen prompts)
Create script /etc/init.d/SGKsage with contents:
#!/bin/bash
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides: sage
# Required-Start: $remote_fs $syslog
# Required-Stop: $remote_fs $syslog
# Default-Start: 2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop: 0 1 6
# Short-Description: Start daemon at boot time
# Description: Enable service provided by daemon.
### END INIT INFO
# Aaron Taylor
# Start/Stop init script for sage mathematics program
# Stop method is hacky
# Configuration
SAGE_HOME="/usr/local/sage"
SAGE_OPTS="-notebook"
SAGE_LOG="/var/log/sage"
USER="sage"
NAME="sage"
sage_start() {
echo "Starting Sage..."
start-stop-daemon --start --background --chuid "$USER" --chdir "$SAGE_HOME" --exec $SAGE_HOME/sage -- $SAGE_OPTS
}
sage_stop() {
echo "Stopping Sage..."
kill `cat "/home/$USER/.sage/sage_notebook.sagenb/sagenb.pid"`
}
case $1 in
start)
sage_start
;;
stop)
sage_stop
;;
restart)
sage_stop
sleep 5
sage_start
;;
*)
echo "Usage: $0 {start|stop|restart}"
exit 1
;;
esac
exit 0
Then install with an appropriate priority.
chmod +x /etc/init.d/SGKsage
update-rc.d SGKsage defaults 95
/etc/init.d/SGKsage start
Programming IDE
Can use Netbeans from Debian repository but it only works with specific JDK versions. Prefer to install directly from Oracle with Oracle JDK.
Torrent
Install package deluge-gtk.
Set to autorun in ~/.fluxbox/startup.
Configure to autostart torrents from /mnt/downloads/torrent/torrents and to use relevant directories for in-progress and finished torrents.
Install the scheduler plugin and set reasonable limits.
Misc Software
A list of misc packages in the Debian repository to install.
Text Editor - vim vim-gtk vim-addon-manager
Science/Data - texlive texlive-science texlive-math-extra gnuplot scilab octave dx python-scitools paraview
Document Viewers - okular okular-extra-backends
Communication - pidgin
Office Suite - libreoffice gnumeric abiword scribus
System Tools - dvd+rw-tools nautilus virtualbox-ose cellwriter wine
Graphics - gimp rawtherapee inkscape geeqie
Media - vlc browser-plugin-vlc quodlibet ffmpeg
Programming - valgrind libgmp-dev libplot-dev plotutils glade libncurses5-dev libmysqlclient-dev
Misc - kicad golly
Note: After installing pidgin, do the following to add Steam chat support:
- Install the build dependencies via
apt-get build-dep pidgin. This should grab all the required dependencies. If it doesn’t grablibnss3-dev,libnspr4-devandlibjson-glib-dev, manually install those packages. - Manually install
libgnome-keyring-devpackage. - Download the pidgin-opensteamworks plugin source. Compile with
make libsteam.so. - Copy the library to
~/.purple/plugins(create if necessary). - Download the pixmaps and place in
/usr/share/pixmaps/pidgin/protocols - Files:
Misc
Sun Microsystems Keyboard Codes
name sun code sun name usb code usb name alternative alt USB code alt windows vkey
help 0x76 lf(16) 0x75 help f13 0x68 124
stop 0x01 buckybits+systembit 0x78 stop f14 0x69 125
again 0x03 lf(2) 0x79 again f15 0x6A 126
props 0x19 lf(3) 0x76 keyboard menu f16 0x6B 127
undo 0x1A lf(4) 0x7A undo f17 0x6C 128
front 0x31 lf(5) 0x77 select f18 0x6D 129
copy 0x33 lf(6) 0x7C copy f19 0x6E 130
open 0x48 lf(7) 0x74 execute f20 0x6F 131
paste 0x49 lf(8) 0x7D paste f21 0x70 132
find 0x5F lf(9) 0x7E find f22 0x71 133
cut 0x61 lf(10) 0x7B cut f23 0x72 134
mute 0x2D rf(4) 0x7F mute f24 0x73 135
vol down 0x02 - 0x81 volume down intl'1 0x87 193
vol up 0x04 - 0x80 volume up intl'6 0x8C 234
power 0x30 bf(13) 0x66 keyboard power* - - -
compose 0x43 COMPOSE 0x65 app right gui
left meta 0x78 BUCKYBITS+METABIT 0xE3 left gui left alt
right meta 0x7A BUCKYBITS+METABIT 0xE7 right gui right alt
escape** 0x1D ESC 0x29 escape tilde
tilde** 0x2A ` 0x35 tilde escape
caps lock** 0x77 SHIFTKEYS+CAPSLOCK 0x39 caps lock control
control** 0x4C SHIFTKEYS+LEFTCTRL 0xE0 control caps lock
alt 0x13 SHIFTKEYS+ALT 0xE2 left alt left gui
alt graph 0x0D - 0xE6 right alt right control
Keyboard Shortcuts: mutt
D ~A - Delete all in folder
$ - Purge
c - Change folder
T ~A - Tag all in folder
;s - Save all tagged messages
Ctrl-B - Show URLs
Burning CD/DVD
Create ISO from filesystem(maximizing compatiblity with long filenames):
genisoimage -r -J -l -d -joliet-long -allow-multidot -V undergrad_files -o target.iso /path/to/source/directory
For DVD ISO burning:
growisofs -dvd-compat -Z /dev/sro=name.of.iso
For CD ISO burning:
wodim -v -sao dev=/dev/sr0 name.of.iso
Multipage PDFs
First scan and get everything ready as TIFFs
tiffcp scan_???.tiff multipage.tiff
tiff2pdf -j -o output.pdf multipage.tiff