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https://github.com/mirkolenz/nixos

Personal nix-based configuration for all my computers and servers
https://github.com/mirkolenz/nixos

dotfiles flake linux macos nix nixos nixos-configuration

Last synced: 3 months ago
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Personal nix-based configuration for all my computers and servers

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README 

        



# NixOS Setup



All configurations select the correct device name through their hostname.

When setting up a new host, please run the following first:



```shell

hostname MACHINE_NAME

```



You may also change the hostname as follows:



```shell

nix run github:mirkolenz/nixos -- --hostname MACHINE_NAME

```



## NixOS



### Graphical Setup



1. Install NixOS with provided ISO

2. Create config: `nixos-generate-config`

3. Migrate generated `/etc/nixos/configuration.nix` and `/etc/nixos/hardware-configuration.nix` to this flake manually

4. Eventually install git in a temporary shell: `nix shell nixpkgs#git`



```shell

# Large changes (like first time)

sudo nix run github:mirkolenz/nixos -- -o boot

# Small changes

sudo nix run github:mirkolenz/nixos

```



### Terminal Setup



- 

- 

- 



#### Partitioning using `parted`



```shell

parted -l # find device name, most likely /dev/sda

wipefs -a /dev/sda

parted /dev/sda

mklabel gpt

mkpart boot fat32 0% 512MiB

set 1 esp on

unit GiB print free

# determine the swap size by substractting the amount of your ram from the free size

# for instance, free size here is 238GiB and the ram of the system is 8GiB

mkpart root ext4 512MiB 230GiB

mkpart swap linux-swap 230GiB 100%

```



#### Partitioning using `fdisk`



One can also use the ncurses-based program `cfdisk`.



```shell

# Find out the device name, most likely /dev/sda

fdisk -l # or lsblk

wipefs -a /dev/sda

fdisk /dev/sda

g # empty gpt partition table

n # new partition

1 # partition number

2048 # first sector, default

+512M # last sector

t # change partition type

1 # partition number (if not already selected)

1 # efi partition type

n # new partition

2 # partition number

# first sector, default

-16G # last sector, size of swap (about the size of your ram)

n # new partition

3 # partition number

# first sector, default

# last sector, default

t # change partition type

3 # partition number

19 # linux swap

v # verify

w # write

```



#### Formatting



```shell

mkfs.fat -F 32 -n boot /dev/sda1

mkfs.ext4 -L root /dev/sda2

mkswap -L swap /dev/sda3

```



#### Mounting



```shell

mount /dev/disk/by-label/root /mnt

swapon /dev/disk/by-label/swap

mkdir -p /mnt/boot

mount /dev/disk/by-label/boot /mnt/boot

```



#### Installation



If you get an error like `too many open files` during `nixos-install`, try one of the following options:



- Execute `ulimit -n 65535` before installing to increase the number of open files for the current shell session

- Use `--max-jobs 2` to limit the number of parallel jobs (could also try with 1 max job)



```shell

nixos-generate-config --root /mnt

cd /mnt/etc/nixos/

# Now verify that the hardware configuration of this flake is in sync with the generated `hardware-configuration.nix`

# The machine name is required for the nixos-install command, even if hostname is updated

nixos-install --flake github:mirkolenz/nixos#MACHINE_NAME

# One could append --no-root-passwd to the command, but that may affect the ability to enter emergency mode

```



A warning about `/boot` being world-readable is not an issue, [the permissions are correctly set after a reboot](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nixos-install-with-custom-flake-results-in-boot-being-world-accessible/34555).



### Troubleshooting



If getting an error like `Getting status of /nix/store/...: No such file or directory`, try the following



```shell

nix-store --verify --check-contents --repair

```



### Tailscale



- Create auth key: 

- SSH into the machine

- Save the auth key to `./tsauth.txt`

- Run `sudo tailscale up --auth-key file:tsauth.txt`

- Run `tailscale status` to verify the connection

- Remove the auth key file: `rm ./tsauth.txt`

- Approve exit-node/routes: 



## Mac Computers



### Installation



1. Install Apple Developer Tools: `xcode-select --install`

2. [Install Homebrew](https://brew.sh)

3. [Install Nix](https://github.com/DeterminateSystems/nix-installer)

4. Sign in to the App Store

5. Enable Full Disk Access for terminal application



```shell

nix run github:mirkolenz/nixos

chsh -s /run/current-system/sw/bin/fish

sudo reboot

# Add ssh key to keychain

ssh-add --apple-use-keychain ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

```



### Uninstallation



```shell

# TODO: Remove old nix-darwin/home-manager generations

chsh -s /bin/zsh

nix run github:lnl7/nix-darwin#darwin-uninstaller

/nix/nix-installer uninstall

```



### Applications and Settings



System Preferences



- `General > About`: Set name

- `Wallpaper`: Solid color (black)

- `Appearance > Allow wallpaper tinting in windows`: Off

- `Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Modifier Keys`: Caps Lock -> Option

- `Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > App Shortcuts`: Disable all

- `Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts > Spotlight`: Disable all



iTerm2



- `Setting > General > Preferences > Load preferences from a custom folder or URL`: iCloud Drive



Raycast



- `Settings > Advanced > Import/Export` (also set up new schedule)

- `Settings > Account > Login`

- `Settings > Extensions > Scripts > Plus`: iCloud Drive

- `Launch > Manage Fallback Command`: Add Kagi



Visual Studio Code



- `Settings > Backup and Sync Setting > GitHub`



Rectangle



- `Settings > General > Sync over iCloud`



Zotero



- [Install Better BibTeX](https://github.com/retorquere/zotero-better-bibtex)

- `Settings > General > Customize Filename Format > {{ creators max="1" case="hyphen" }}-{{ year }}-{{ title truncate="50" case="hyphen" }}`

- `Settings General > Reader > Tabs > Creator - Title - Year`

- `Settings > Export > Item Format > Better BibTeX Citation Key Quick Copy`

- `Settings > Export > Note Format > Markdown + Rich Text`

- `Settings > Better BibTeX > Citation Key Format > auth.capitalize + year + shorttitle(3,3)`

- `Settings > Better BibTeX > Citation Key Format > Automatic Export > Delay > 10 seconds`



Default Folder X



- `Settings > Options > Sync settings via iCloud`



iA Presenter



- Move theme to `$HOME/Library/Containers/net.ia.presenter/Data/Library/Application Support/iA Presenter/Themes`



Contexts



- `Sidebar > Show Sidebar on > No display`

- `Search > Search with > Disable`

- `Command-Tab > Command-Tab`: Show windows of all apps

  - Minimized: Show at bottom

  - Hidden: Show at bottom

  - Apps without windows: Do not show

- `Command-Tab > Command-Backtick`: Show windows of active app

  - Minimized: Do not show

  - Hidden: Do not show

  - Apps without windows: Do not show



Arq Backup



Additional wildcard exclude rules:



```txt

.venv

.direnv

.devenv

node_modules

*/OrbStack

*/.orbstack

*/Library/CloudStorage

*/Library/Application Support/

```



## Home-Manger Standalone



_Note:_ Reconnect via SSH after installing nix.



```shell

sudo /nix/var/nix/profiles/default/bin/nix upgrade-nix

nix run github:mirkolenz/nixos#home

sudo usermod -s $(which fish) "$USER"

```



## Utilities and Snippets



### NixOS Generators



- If building for another architecture on NixOS: [Enable cross compiling](https://github.com/nix-community/nixos-generators#cross-compiling)

- Available formats:

  - `installer-iso`

  - `installer-raspi`



```shell

nix build github:mirkolenz/nixos#FORMAT --system SYSTEM

```



### Update Raspberry Pi



```shell

nix shell pkgs#raspberrypi-eeprom

sudo mount /dev/disk/by-label/FIRMWARE /mnt

sudo env BOOTFS=/mnt FIRMWARE_RELEASE_STATUS=default rpi-eeprom-update -d -a

sudo reboot

```



### Use MakeMKV



```shell

# otherwise the optical drive is not found: https://discourse.nixos.org/t/makemkv-cant-find-my-usb-blu-ray-drive/23714

sudo modprobe sg

# if that does not work, try again with sudo

NIXPKGS_ALLOW_UNFREE=1 nix run pkgs#makemkv --impure

```



### Investigate ID Mappings



```shell

sudo podman run --rm --subuidname=$USER ubuntu cat /proc/self/uid_map

```