2026-01-24 23:07:01 +00:00

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Nimmo's NixOS Setup Guide (Host: electra)

0. Pre-Installation Preparation (Do this NOW on CachyOS)

Since you are hosting this on git.nimmog.uk, we will create the config locally and push it before booting the installer.

Create the Repository on your Server:
- Log into https://git.nimmog.uk.
- Create a new empty repository named nixos-config.
- Do not initialize with README or license (keep it empty).

Create Files Locally: Open a terminal in CachyOS:

mkdir ~/nixos-config
cd ~/nixos-config

# Run the creation script provided by Gemini to generate files here

Initialize & Push:

git init
git branch -M main
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit: Setup for electra"

# Replace with your actual SSH or HTTPS URL
git remote add origin https://git.nimmog.uk/YOUR_USERNAME/nixos-config.git
git push -u origin main

1. Initial BIOS Setup (Crucial)

Before booting NixOS, you must configure the BIOS to handle the memory split for your LLMs.

Reboot and enter BIOS (usually F2 or Del).
Find Graphics Memory, UMA Frame Buffer, or iGPU Memory.
Set this to 16G (or "Game Optimized" if it equates to high memory).

2. Installation

Once you have booted the NixOS Unstable ISO, choose your path below.

Path A: Fresh Install (Wipe Everything)

Use this if you want to start completely fresh.

Partition: cfdisk /dev/nvme0n1 (Delete all, Create 4G Boot + Remaining Root).

Format:

mkfs.fat -F 32 -n BOOT /dev/nvme0n1p1
mkfs.btrfs -L nixos /dev/nvme0n1p2

Create Subvolumes:

mount /dev/nvme0n1p2 /mnt
btrfs subvolume create /mnt/@
btrfs subvolume create /mnt/@home
btrfs subvolume create /mnt/@nix
umount /mnt

Proceed to Step "Mounting" below.

Path B: Migration (Keep /home data)

Use this to delete CachyOS but KEEP your existing data in @home.

Mount the Top-Level Partition:
```
mount /dev/nvme0n1p2 /mnt
```

List & Cleanup: Run ls -a /mnt. Delete the OLD Operating System: Warning: Be extremely careful. Do NOT delete @home.

# Delete the old root and system folders
btrfs subvolume delete /mnt/@
btrfs subvolume delete /mnt/@root
btrfs subvolume delete /mnt/@srv
btrfs subvolume delete /mnt/@log
btrfs subvolume delete /mnt/@cache
btrfs subvolume delete /mnt/@tmp
btrfs subvolume delete /mnt/@.snapshots

Prepare NixOS Subvolumes:
```
btrfs subvolume create /mnt/@
btrfs subvolume create /mnt/@nix
```
(Note: Ensure your existing home data is in a subvolume named @home.)
Format Boot Partition:
```
mkfs.fat -F 32 -n BOOT /dev/nvme0n1p1
```
Unmount:
```
umount /mnt
```

Mounting (Common for Both Paths)

Mount Root (@):

mount -o compress=zstd,subvol=@ /dev/nvme0n1p2 /mnt

Create Mount Points:
```
mkdir -p /mnt/{home,nix,boot}
```

Mount Home (@home):

mount -o compress=zstd,subvol=@home /dev/nvme0n1p2 /mnt/home

Mount Nix Store (@nix):

mount -o compress=zstd,noatime,subvol=@nix /dev/nvme0n1p2 /mnt/nix

Mount Boot:
```
mount /dev/nvme0n1p1 /mnt/boot
```

C. Deploy Configuration (Git Method)

Clone Your Repo:

mkdir -p /mnt/etc/nixos
# Replace USERNAME with your git.nimmog.uk user
nix-shell -p git --run "git clone https://git.nimmog.uk/USERNAME/nixos-config.git /mnt/etc/nixos/"

Generate Hardware Scan: This creates hardware-configuration.nix in the folder.
```
nixos-generate-config --root /mnt
```
(Ignore the warning about configuration.nix existing)

D. Install & Set Password

Run the Installer:
```
nixos-install --flake /mnt/etc/nixos#electra
```
If prompted to set a ROOT password, go ahead and set one.
Set USER Password (Critical): Do not reboot yet! We need to set the password for nimmo.

Enter the new system environment:
```
nixos-enter
```
Set the password:
```
passwd nimmo
```
Exit the environment:
```
exit
```
Reboot:
```
reboot
```

3. Bus ID Configuration (Done)

NVIDIA: 193 (c1:00.0)
AMD: 194 (c2:00.0)

4. Applying Changes (Post-Install)

To apply updates or config changes:

Edit your files in /etc/nixos/ (or pull changes from git).
(Optional) Commit your changes: git commit -am "Update config"

Rebuild:

sudo nixos-rebuild switch --flake /etc/nixos/#electra

5. Boot Modes (Select at Boot)

You will see four options in your bootloader. Use arrow keys to select.

1. NixOS Default

Setup: NVIDIA + Balanced Power (KDE).
Use when: NVIDIA Module INSERTED.

2. Gaming-Zen

Setup: NVIDIA + Zen Kernel + Max Performance.
Use when: Gaming with NVIDIA Module INSERTED.

3. Eco-Battery

Setup: NVIDIA + TLP (Max Saver).
Use when: Traveling with NVIDIA Module INSERTED.

4. No-dGPU (Expansion Shell)

Setup: NO NVIDIA DRIVERS. iGPU Only.
Use when: You have physically REMOVED the GPU module and inserted the blank Expansion Shell.
Note: If you boot Default with the GPU removed, the system will likely fail to reach the desktop.

6. Adding New Apps

CLI Tools: Edit system-utils.nix.
GUI Apps: Edit user-apps.nix.
After editing: Run the rebuild command in step 4.

7. Docker

Docker is installed and running in Rootless mode. You can run docker commands immediately as user nimmo:

docker run hello-world

8. Fingerprint Reader

Go to System Settings -> Users and click "Configure Fingerprint".
If that fails, run fprintd-enroll in a terminal.
Usage:
- Login (SDDM): Password only (required to unlock KWallet).
- Unlock Screen: Fingerprint or Password.
- Sudo (Terminal): Fingerprint or Password.

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