A few questions about Artix

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A few questions about Artix

10 December 2023, 16:03:04

I just read a gross news about systemd (they're gonna add a BSOD component which means it will have something to do with MS, more or less) which made me think (again) about systemd-free distros. And since I can't use anything else but Arch (not so much that I "can't" but more like I don't like anything that doesn't use pacman), the first thing that crossed my mind was Artix Linux.
So: which initializer would you recommend? I want something simple that will make things run without any intervention from me - just like systemd does.
Also:
• Does the Artix installer support MBR installation? My motherboard supports both Legacy and UEFI but I still prefer Legacy.
• Can I install an LTS kernel from Arch repo? Or is Arch's kernel too dependent on systemd and that won't work the way I hope?
• Can I install an older nvidia driver which was meant for Arch?
• If "no" to the previous 2 questions, does Artix have an "Archive" repository which I can use for downgrading packages?

Re: A few questions about Artix

Reply #1 – 10 December 2023, 19:19:14

Best init: openrc.
Entirely subjective.

Does the Artix installer support MBR installation.
Yes it must as I've installed it from iso into virtual machines with no EFI support.
However Calamares may have some autodetect feature which will automagically use UEFI if detected? I have no clue but it wouldn't surprise me.
You are better off using a base install (or bootstrap install) if you know what you are doing and want full control.

Can I install an LTS kernel from Arch repo? Or is Arch's kernel too dependent on systemd and that won't work the way I hope?
Can I install an older nvidia driver which was meant for Arch?
You should be able to. Be aware that any 'out of tree' drivers need to be matched with specific kernel packages or you must use the -dkms versions (where available)

https://archive.artixlinux.org/

Re: A few questions about Artix

Reply #2 – 11 December 2023, 00:34:25

I know about DKMS and the matching versions, currently in my arch I'm using nvidia-dkms 515.76 with LTS kernel 5.15.94.
As for the base install - you could say I know what I'm doing but I'm not sure if I've downloaded ALL the dependencies of the desktop. Cinnamon is a fork of gnome, thus I gotta install the gnome desktop, then the entire Cinnamon and xorg-server. For this reason I prefer the GUI installer which will install all the necessary components and then I can downgrade only the ones I need without any risks to mess up things.
I have disabled EFI boot in UEFI/BIOS, so it shouldn't cause problems.
Anyway, I'ma make a full system backup of my current arch install and attempt an artix install.

Btw, is there any website where I can check which nvidia driver for which kernel version is matched?

Re: A few questions about Artix

Reply #3 – 11 December 2023, 07:22:22

Quote from: Valso – on 10 December 2023, 16:03:04

So: which initializer would you recommend?

I have been using openrc without any intervention on different PCs since 2019.

Quote

Also:
• Does the Artix installer support MBR installation? My motherboard supports both Legacy and UEFI but I still prefer Legacy.

I installed MBR or UEFI depending on the age of the PC from Calamares.

Quote

• Can I install an LTS kernel from Arch repo? Or is Arch's kernel too dependent on systemd and that won't work the way I hope?

Code: [Select]

pacman -Si linux-lts
Dépôt                    : system
Nom                      : linux-lts
Version                  : 6.1.66-1
Description              : The LTS Linux kernel and modules
Architecture             : x86_64
URL                      : https://www.kernel.org

Code: [Select]

uname -a
Linux jp-artix-Acer 6.1.66-1-lts #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Fri, 08 Dec 2023 15:54:55 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Quote

• Can I install an older nvidia driver which was meant for Arch?

I hate and avoid nvidia!

Quote

• If "no" to the previous 2 questions, does Artix have an "Archive" repository which I can use for downgrading packages?

I guess so, because I (very rarely) use downgrade.

My two cents.

Re: A few questions about Artix

Reply #4 – 11 December 2023, 18:44:47

Unfortunately I won't be able to use Artix.

Not with this alien stuff that started happening right after a fresh install - the whole interface was flickering, parts the desktop background were "see through" the file manager, icons flickering quickly (appearing and disappearing) with the speed of a car's blinker. That's not a normal behaviour and I can't even get to the nvidia driver files which I have downloaded because the path in the file manager keeps changing and I never know in which directory I actually am.

https://vtube7.com/watch/artix-linux-fresh-install-no-drivers-installed_MwnYqMV8bGGCwIN.html

Re: A few questions about Artix

Reply #5 – 12 December 2023, 12:10:21

Quote from: Valso – on 11 December 2023, 18:44:47

Unfortunately I won't be able to use Artix. ...
That's not a normal behaviour and I can't even get to ...