Live – SparkyLinux

Calamares

2016/11/172016/06/18 by pavroo

Calamares – “a distribution-independent system installer, with an advanced partitioning feature for both manual and automated partitioning operations” just landed in Sparky repos.

Does the Calamares replace the present “Live Installer”?
Yes, I’d like to, as soon as possible.

Does the Calamares replace the “Sparky Advanced Installer”?
No, the Advanced Installer is still in use, because:
1. It provides a backup for the main installer (Live Installer or Calamares), in some cases.
2. It provides an installation option of 20 desktops (about)
3. UEFI machines…

Does the Calamares work on UEFI machnes well?
There is still some problems with a GRUB-EFI installation on Sparky. It needs to be fixed, but it works fine on BIOS based machines.

How can I test the Calamares on Sparky?
The best way is: download the latest Sparky ISO image with preinstalled Calamares. It will be available soon, very soon…

SparkyLinux 3.0 beta1 Core is out

2013/12/282013/05/28 by pavroo

SparkyLinux 3.0 beta1 Core “Annagerman” is ready for testing.
It has been built on the “testing” branch of Debian GNU/Linux “Jessie”.
It’s designed for people who want to build their own desktop over the top of Debian testing
or unstable Sid.

What is inside of Sparky Core Live?
1. Debian testing base system, synchronized with Debian testing repos of 27/05/2013.
2. SparkyLinux text mode installer, which can be run:
sudo sparkylinux-installer

3. Set of wireless network cards drivers.
Some of them require to load a module before Ceni starts.

4. Ceni network manager, to be run (in Live system):

sudo ceni

After hard/usb drive installation:

su ceni

5. Elinks web browser
6. Centerim instant messenger
7. Ufw
8. unzip, unrar, p7zip-full, htop, ntfs-3g, nano
9. Midnight Commander file manager & ftp client
10. Set of Sparky wallpapers located in /opt/wallpapers/ dir.

Sparky Core uses repos as default:
– Debian testing
– Debian Sid (non active)
– MATE
– Liquorix – newer Linux kernel
– Opera web browser
– Google-Chrome web browser
– PlayOnLinux

If your machine needs newer Linux kernel, install it after hard/usb drive installation:
apt-get update apt-cache search linux-image apt-get install linux-image-version

If you prefer Debian unstable then testing, simply change repository at ‘source.list’ file:

nano /etc/apt/sources.list
and do full system upgrade:
apt-get update apt-get dist-upgrade

Live system’s user name: live
Password: live
Root password is blank.

SparkyLinux Core iso images are available for 32 and 64 bit machines.

Informacja o wydaniu w języku polskim -> https://linuxiarze.pl/sparkylinux-3-0-beta1-core/

SparkyLinux – full USB stick installation

2016/11/182013/03/06 by pavroo

SparkyLinux has gotten a new functionality – full installation on USB stick.
It means that you can do “normal” system installation, similar to the hard drive installation.
Key features:
– don’t need to cut your hard drive any more
– it’s possible to save your personal files, perform system upgrades, install new apps – everything on USB stick
– the USB system (for me) is still fast and light

The feature is available at coming SparkyLinux 2.1 rc “Eris” LXDE/e17 and any next one.

How to install SparkyLinux on Pen/Flash Drive?
1. You need 8GB USB stick (minimum) for “Eris” edition.
2. Read SparkyLinux 2.x hard drive installation guide.
The USB installation is in 90 % exactly the same as hard drive installation.
3. Put your attention on a few points of installation process:

§ 10. Choose USB disk (for example: /dev/sdb) instead of hard drive disk (/dev/sda).

§ 11. Preper minimum two partitions on USB drive for:
– / – root dir
– swap partition
You can make one more partition for”/home” folder.

§ 12. Choose partition for SWAP on USB drive (sdb2).

§ 13. Choose root partition on USB drive too (sdb1).

§ 18. The most important – GRUB bootloader destination – “rootmbr”.

§ 20. Check all settings for new installation:
– partition “sdb1” (!) will be formatted for root file system
– GRUB will be installed to the mbr of root partition of “sdb1” (!)

After installation finished reboot your machine and start it from USB drive.

Back to -> FAQ main page

How to install SparkyLinux 2.x/3.x on a hard drive?

2016/11/182012/07/18 by pavroo

Instalacja ->SparkyLinux na dysku twardym po polsku.

To install SparkyLinux on a hard/usb drive run desktop’s “SparkyLinux installer” icon.
You can also use text mode installer – instead of GUI:
sudo sparkylinux-installer

1. Target system’s language

1. Run the installer and click “Yes”.

2. The installer will install the system with locales you’ve chosen at start boot and US English keyboard layout. If you’d like to change it click “Yes”.

3. Mark your language and click “Forward”.

4. Choose your language if different than English.

5. Choose keyboard model.

6. Change keyboard layout if different than English.

7. Choose your keyboard.

8. At this step choose default settings.

2. Partitions

9. Make preperation for new partitions for SparkyLinux.

10. Choose a disk (if you have more than one) for the new system installation.

11. GParted disk partitioner will run itself so create at least 2 partitions (maximum 3) :
– root partition “/” – minimum size 5GB (10 GB recommended) – “Eris edition”
– root partition “/” – minimum size 20GB (30 GB recommended) – “GameOver edition”
– SWAP partition – minimum size 256MB (512MB recommended)
– additionally you can create “home” partition for your personal files

If you need help with a disk partitioning, read my tutorial : Hard drive partitioning

It’s in Polish so use the online translator placed at the top left corner.

12. After closing down the GParted window, choose the SWAP partition.

13. Choose the “root” partition for system files.

14. Choose file system for the “root partition” (ext4 recommended). It will be formatted.

15. Choose a partition for your “home” folder if you have one.

16. Choose file system for the “home” folder (will be formatted). If you would like to share your existing “home” partition with your other Linux account, choose “do not format”. The partition will be not formatted then.

3. Users and passwords

17. Now:
– type your system administrator (root) password twice
– type your real name
– type your new user nick name
– type your password twice
– type your host name

4. Bootloader

18. Choose a place for GRUB bootloader installation (MBR recommended).

5. Timezone

19. System clock settings. To set up your time zone choose “Yes”.

6. Installation

20. If all the information is correct, click “Yes” to start installation process.

21. First the newly created partitions will be formatted.

22. Now, all system files will be copied into the partitions.

23. Next, the installer will do post-installation work.

24. As the last step, the GRUB bootloader will be installed.

25. The installation process ended, reboot your computer now.

You should install a few extra language packages via Synaptic (or apt-get).
For Polish for example install:
– wpolish
– myspell-pl
– aspell-pl
– iceweasel-l10n-pl
– icedove-l10n-pl
– libreoffice-l10n-pl

For your language, replace “pl” for your country code.

Have a nice work and fun with SparkyLinux !

Back to -> FAQ main page

How to make SparkyLinux bootable USB key on SparkyLinux host?

2016/11/182012/06/12 by pavroo

If you run SparkyLinux from hard or CD/DVD drive you can make bootable SparkyLinux USB key with Remastersys USB Sturtup Disk Tool.You find it going to Menu-> Applications-> Administration.

This operation will delete all data from your USB key.