NixOS 22.05- Starting fresh

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of starting fresh with NixOS 22.05. NixOS is a powerful Linux distribution known for its declarative configuration model and package management system. This step-by-step guide aims to help you set up NixOS on your system, ensuring a smooth installation and configuration experience.

Step 1: Prepare Your Environment

• Download NixOS ISO:

  • Visit the official NixOS website at nixos.org.
  • Select the version 22.05 and download the appropriate ISO image for your hardware (64-bit or 32-bit).

• Create a Bootable USB:

  • Use a tool like Rufus (for Windows) or Etcher (for Windows, macOS, Linux) to create a bootable USB drive.
  • Ensure to select the downloaded NixOS ISO file and the correct USB drive.

• Backup Important Data:

  • Before proceeding, back up any important data on your computer, as the installation process may overwrite existing data on the target disk.

Step 2: Boot from the USB Drive

• Restart Your Computer:

  • Insert the bootable USB drive and restart your computer.

• Access BIOS/UEFI Settings:

  • Enter the BIOS/UEFI settings by pressing the designated key (usually F2, F10, DEL) during boot.

• Set USB as Boot Device:

  • Change the boot order to prioritize the USB drive.
  • Save changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings.

Step 3: Start the NixOS Installer

• Select NixOS Installer:

  • When the NixOS boot menu appears, select the "NixOS installer" option.

• Choose Language and Keyboard Layout:

  • Follow the prompts to select your preferred language and keyboard layout.

Step 4: Configure Disk Partitions

• Open a Terminal:

  • Once the installer loads, open a terminal to manage disk partitions.

• Use fdisk or parted:

  • You can use either fdisk or parted to create partitions. A basic setup might include:
    • A root partition (/) for the NixOS installation.
    • A swap partition (optional).

  Example command to create a new partition:

  fdisk /dev/sda
  

• Format Partitions:

  • Format your partitions using the following command:

  mkfs.ext4 /dev/sda1  # For root partition
  mkswap /dev/sda2     # For swap partition
  

Step 5: Install NixOS

• Mount the Filesystem:

  • Mount the root partition:

  mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
  

• Generate the NixOS Configuration:

  • Run the following command to generate the default configuration files:

  nixos-generate-config --root /mnt
  

• Edit Configuration File:

  • Open the configuration file located at /mnt/etc/nixos/configuration.nix using a text editor (e.g., nano).
  • Customize settings such as:
    • Hostname
    • Users
    • Network configuration
    • Packages to install

• Install NixOS:

  • Execute the installation command:

  nixos-install
  

Step 6: Reboot and Post-Installation Setup

• Reboot the System:

  • Once the installation completes, reboot your system:

  reboot
  

• Remove USB Drive:

  • Ensure to remove the USB drive during the reboot to boot from the hard disk.

• Log In:

  • Log in using the user account you created during the configuration.

Conclusion

You have now completed the fresh installation of NixOS 22.05. This guide covered downloading the ISO, creating a bootable USB, configuring disk partitions, and installing the operating system. To further explore NixOS, consider diving into the NixOS manual for advanced configurations and package management. Happy exploring!