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NixOS: A new journey

Note: Draft, I’m not sure when I will get back to this.

Introducation

This story happened a long time ago, 2 days ago, in a galaxy far, far away. It is already over. Nothing can be done to change it. It is a story of frustration and love for a crazy operating system on a lost technology laptop Thinkpad T400.

Installation

Installation on 32 bit

https://nixos.org/manual/nixos/stable/index.html#sec-installation

Filesystem Chosen (BTRFS)

Youtube overview on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwNg_fusT9A

Encryption: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co5V2YmFVEE

FS questions

  1. What are subvolumes in BTRFS?
  2. What software/apps is recommended for BTRFS? (Esp. Defrag. Look at OpenSUSE app)
  3. How large my /swap be if I have 64 GB of RAM?

https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-us/red_hat_enterprise_linux/7/html/storage_administration_guide/ch-swapspace

At least 4GB.

https://superuser.com/questions/777907/swap-partition-size-on-a-64-gb-ram-computer-for-memory-intensive-work

16GB

  1. What’s Impermanence means in NixOS?

https://discourse.nixos.org/t/what-does-impermanence-add-over-built-in-functionality/27939

“The idea of impermanence is that upon reboot, the machine loses its state and in the case of NixOS gets recreated from your configuration (stored in a persistent area of your file system). So any erroneous state changes (accidental or otherwise) are lost between reboots. The persistent area will hold some important data - perhaps ssh keys (depending on type) and passwords that you may need beyond your configuration.nix (or flake) It does not affect your home folders. I found Guekka’s blog are good resource - NixOS as a server, part 1: Impermanence | Guekka’s blog I use it - as much to find out more about it as anything else. If it interests you, try on a spare machine first.”

– Damage May 7, 2023, 7:45pm 2

NixOS’s Wiki BTRFS layout recommendations

https://nixos.wiki/wiki/Btrfs

#5: How do you encrypt?

https://wiki.nixos.org/wiki/Btrfs#Installation_with_encryption

NixOS
Licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
© 2009 - 2025 Anthony Quoc Anh Doan - Ramblings of a Happy Scientist

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.

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