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Install Arch Linux with GNOME, then install Federated CoreDesktop with one command. |
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About an afternoon, most of it waiting |
Install Arch, then CoreDesktop. |
Two parts: a standard Arch Linux install with GNOME using `archinstall`, then one command that turns it into CoreDesktop. |
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#installing-federated-coredesktop |
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Part one |
Installing Arch. |
Mostly choose the defaults. The choices below are the ones that matter. |
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| Download the ISO |
Get the Arch ISO from [archlinux.org/download](https://archlinux.org/download/). You may need to scroll down to find the download links. |
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| Write it to a USB stick |
Any tool works. On another CoreDesktop machine, use Impression. |
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| Boot it and run archinstall |
Boot from the USB stick. When it's up, type `archinstall` to get to the simple installer. No wired connection? [Set up wifi first](#a-note-about-networking-in-arch). |
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| Pick the right GPU driver |
**If you have an NVIDIA GPU, choose the proprietary NVIDIA option.** Choose the AMD option for AMD cards. |
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| Choose desktop and GNOME |
When asked what type of system you want, choose **Desktop**, and [**GNOME**](https://www.gnome.org) as the desktop environment. |
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| Choose pipewire, then reboot |
Pipewire is strongly recommended for sound; it works well with Jitsi, Element and the other Federated Core apps. Reboot and log in. |
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You will likely get the Arch install wrong the first or second time. Don't despair. Keep trying! The logic of the install will become clear, and frankly efficient, and you get to know the base Arch install better each time. |
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Networking |
A note about networking in Arch. |
You need an internet connection to install Arch. A wired connection should just work. On wifi, set it up with `iwctl` before running `archinstall`:
```
iwctl
device list
station wlan0 scan
station wlan0 get-networks
station wlan0 connect SSID
```
Replace `wlan0` with your wireless device from `device list`, and `SSID` with your network's name. Leave `iwctl` and check with `ping archlinux.org`, then carry on with the install. The Arch wiki has [the full guide](https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Network_configuration/Wireless).
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Part two |
Installing Federated CoreDesktop. |
Once Arch and GNOME are installed, log in, open a terminal and enter: |
You can also find this command on [Gitea](https://gitea.federated.computer/Federated_Computer/coredesktop): open the Web browser, go to gitea.federated.computer, click Explore, then CoreDesktop. |
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Then |
While it runs, and after. |
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| Enter your password once |
It asks once, at the start. Then be patient: it takes a while. |
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| Run configure |
At the end it offers to run `configure`, which connects your Federated Core, sets up backups and signs you in to the AI agents. If a newer kernel came in, it asks you to reboot first. |
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| If something fails, run it again |
The install skips what's already done, so running it again is always safe. |
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| Reboot |
Run `sudo reboot now` when you're done, so that Element can find the encryption keychain, among other things. |
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| What configure sets up |
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| What gets installed |
/software/ |
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