From 1e7b3a66c24b933d32cbfe713bc6ff1735f4b290 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: =?UTF-8?q?=E5=85=AD=E5=BC=80=E7=AE=B1?= Date: Tue, 28 Feb 2023 20:32:06 +0800 Subject: [PATCH] =?UTF-8?q?[=E6=89=8B=E5=8A=A8=E9=80=89=E9=A2=98][tech]:?= =?UTF-8?q?=2020230227.0=20=E2=AD=90=EF=B8=8F=E2=AD=90=EF=B8=8F=20NixOS=20?= =?UTF-8?q?Series=202=20How=20to=20Install=20NixOS=20on=20a=20Virtual=20Ma?= =?UTF-8?q?chine.md?= MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit --- ...ies 2 How to Install NixOS on a Virtual Machine.md | 245 ++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 245 insertions(+) create mode 100644 sources/tech/20230227.0 ⭐️⭐️ NixOS Series 2 How to Install NixOS on a Virtual Machine.md diff --git a/sources/tech/20230227.0 ⭐️⭐️ NixOS Series 2 How to Install NixOS on a Virtual Machine.md b/sources/tech/20230227.0 ⭐️⭐️ NixOS Series 2 How to Install NixOS on a Virtual Machine.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..38d3d76454 --- /dev/null +++ b/sources/tech/20230227.0 ⭐️⭐️ NixOS Series 2 How to Install NixOS on a Virtual Machine.md @@ -0,0 +1,245 @@ +[#]: subject: "NixOS Series #2: How to Install NixOS on a Virtual Machine?" +[#]: via: "https://itsfoss.com/install-nixos-vm/" +[#]: author: "Sagar Sharma https://itsfoss.com/author/sagar/" +[#]: collector: "lkxed" +[#]: translator: " " +[#]: reviewer: " " +[#]: publisher: " " +[#]: url: " " + +NixOS Series #2: How to Install NixOS on a Virtual Machine? +====== + +If you can use the Nix package manager on any Linux distro, why should you install the NixOS? + +I often wondered about the same before using NixOS for a few days. + +Once I realized the benefits, I wrote about it to help you know [why you might consider using NixOS][1]. If you have read the first article of the series, you already know what you want. + +So, how to get started with it? Considering it can be a new experience for many, should you replace your daily driver with it or install it as a virtual machine? + +I recommend using NixOS on a VM before you want to replace it as your primary operating system. This holds for anything new that you want to try, but specifically for [advanced Linux distributions][2] like NixOS. + +### Install NixOS in the VM Using VirtualBox + +In this tutorial, I will be using VirtualBox. + +And if you are using Ubuntu and don't care about having the latest version, VirtualBox can be installed using a single command: + +``` +sudo apt install virtualbox +``` + +Want to install the latest version? You can refer to the given guide: + +And if you are using anything besides Ubuntu, you can[follow the download instructions from its official downloads page.][3] + +Once you have successfully installed VirtualBox, let us start with the first step. + +#### Step 1: Get the ISO image of NixOS + +You need to head to NixOS [official download page][4]. + +And under the `NixOS: the Linux distribution` section, you will find ISO with GNOME and KDE desktops. + +Sure, there is a minimal ISO, too, but I would recommend going with either of the two (GNOME and KDE): + +![Download NixOS ISO file][5] + +For the sake of this tutorial, I will be using GNOME. + +Remember, you are given GNOME and KDE options for the live desktop! + +And during installation, you get the option to choose your favorite desktop environment, including **Xfce, Pantheon, Cinnamon, MATE**, and more! + +#### Step 2: Create a virtual in VirtualBox + +Open VirtualBox and click on the `New` button to add a new virtual machine: + +![screenshot that shows you how to click on new button to add new virtual machine][6] + +And it will open a prompt asking you to add information about the VM you want to add. + +You can start by naming your VM: + +- **Name your VM so that you can identify it is a NixOS install. So I named it `NixOS`.** +- **Choose the ISO image that you've downloaded recently.** +- **Select `Linux` as a type of ISO.** +- **And choose `Other Linux (64-bit)` for version.** + +![][7] + +Once you select everything, click on the `Next` button. + +Next, you will be asked to choose the Base memory (RAM), processors you want to allocate to this VM, and storage space for this install. + +While NixOS mentions no official requirements, I recommend you to have at least **4 gigs of RAM**, **2-4 processor cores**, and **30 GB of space** for this install: + +![select hardware for NixOS VM][8] + +And in the end, it will show you the summary of the choices you made for this VM: + +![summary of NixOS VM install][9] + +If everything seems fine, click on the `Finish` button and it will create a NixOS virtual machine for you. + +#### Step 3: Installing NixOS + +Once you are done creating the VM, the name you gave to your NixOS VM should start reflecting in the VirtualBox list of VMs. + +Select the NixOS VM and click on the start button: + +![start the NixOS VM][10] + +And it will start the NixOS live so you can try the Linux distro. + +##### Select installer language + +Once you boot into the NixOS, the installer will start and ask you to set the preferred language for the installer: + +![choose preferred language for NixOS install][11] + +##### Choose region and timezone + +Next, choose your region and zone. If you don't know this, you can select your country from the map, which will set things for you. + +Once you select the region and zone, it will also select the preferred language, numbers, and date locale. + +Sure, you can change if you want to, but for most users, the selected options will work just fine: + +![choose the region and zone for NixOS][12] + +##### Select Keyboard layout + +Next, you will have to set the keyboard layout. For most users, `English (US)` with default setting should work fine. + +If you are going with something else, you can test your keyboard configuration before proceeding. + +![select Keyboard layout for NixOS][13] + +After that, you are asked to create a user and set a password for that user. + +You can choose to keep a strong password or just anything random for the VM. + +![create a user for NixOS][14] + +##### Select your favorite Desktop Environment + +With NixOS, you are given the following choices for the desktop environment: + +- GNOME +- KDE (best choice for customization) +- Xfce +- Pantheon (a desktop environment that ships with ElementaryOS) +- Cinnamon +- Enlightenment +- LXQt + +![choose desktop environment for NixOS][15] + +##### Use non-free software on NixOS + +NixOS follows a similar approach to Fedora, where you have to choose whether you want the non-free software. + +I would recommend you enable non-free packages: + +![enable non-free package in NixOS][16] + +##### The partitions part + +As this is a VM guide, I will recommend you go with the `Erase disk` option that should partition the disk automatically! + +![automatic partition the disk for NixOS][17] + +Once done, it will get you the summary of the choices you went with: + +![summery of NixOS installation options in VM][18] + +And if everything seems correct, click on the `Install` button, and it will start the installation button. + +##### Don't Reboot but turn off the VM + +Once the installation is finished, you will be given the option to restart the VM. + +And if you do so, **it will load the installer again**! + +To solve this issue, you must make changes in the boot sequence. + +And to do that, power off your VM once the installation is complete. + +To power off the VM, select the `Close` option from the **File menu** and select the `Power off the machine` option: + +![][19] + +##### Change the boot order in VirtualBox + +To change the boot order in the NixOS VM, open the settings for that VM: + +![][20] + +In settings, select `System` and you will find the boot order. + +Here, select the `Hard Disk` and use the **up arrow** icon next to the options and make it the first option to boot: + +![change boot order in VirtualBox][21] + +Press `OK` and it will save the changes you made. + +**Alternatively**, you can remove the optical disk (ISO image) that we added to start the installation. + +#### Step 4: Boot from NixOS install + +Now, start your NixOS VM, and you will see a GRUB screen: + +![NixOS grub screen][22] + +Select the default option, and it will get you into the fresh install of NixOS with the GNOME desktop. + +![running NixOS in VM][23] + +That's it! **Go on exploring NixOS!** + +### Wrapping Up + +This was a quick guide on how you can install NixOS on VirtualBox. + +For the next part of the NixOS tutorial series, I shall share pointers on **installing and removing packages**. + +💬 _Stay tuned for the next part of the series. Until then, feel free to share your thoughts on NixOS and if you face any issues following the guide!_ + +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +via: https://itsfoss.com/install-nixos-vm/ + +作者：[Sagar Sharma][a] +选题：[lkxed][b] +译者：[译者ID](https://github.com/译者ID) +校对：[校对者ID](https://github.com/校对者ID) + +本文由 [LCTT](https://github.com/LCTT/TranslateProject) 原创编译，[Linux中国](https://linux.cn/) 荣誉推出 + +[a]: https://itsfoss.com/author/sagar/ +[b]: https://github.com/lkxed/ +[1]: https://itsfoss.com/why-use-nixos/ +[2]: https://itsfoss.com/advanced-linux-distros/ +[3]: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads +[4]: https://nixos.org/download.html +[5]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/Download-NixOS-ISO-file.png +[6]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/click-on-new-to-add-new-virtual-machine.png +[7]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/Add-NixOS-ISO-to-VirtualBox.png +[8]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/select-hardware-for-NixOS-VM-1.png +[9]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/summery-of-NixOS-VM-install.png +[10]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/start-the-NixOS-VM.png +[11]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/1.-choose-the-language-of-NixOS-installer.png +[12]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/2.-choose-the-region-and-zone-for-NixOS.png +[13]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/3.-select-Keyboard-layout-for-NixOS.png +[14]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/4.-create-user-and-set-password-for-NixOS.png +[15]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/5.-choose-desktop-environment-for-NixOS.png +[16]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/6.-Allow-unfree-software.png +[17]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/7.-select-erase-disk-option-while-installing-NixOS.png +[18]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/8.-summery-of-NixOS-installation-options-in-VM.png +[19]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/poweroff-VM.png +[20]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/open-settings-for-VM-in-VirtualBox.png +[21]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/how-to-change-the-boot-order-in-VirtualBox.gif +[22]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/NixOS-grub-screen.png +[23]: https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/02/running-NixOS-in-VM.png \ No newline at end of file