index.md

Install NixOS

1. Run the live image of NixOS.

2. Switch to root:

   sudo -i

3. Connect to the network following the guide.

   It could be useful to read the guide while doing installation:

   screen
   nixos-help
   # C-a S
   # C-a tab
   # C-a c
   # Switch region with C-a tab

4. Partition the disk.

   SWAP=8GiB
   dev=/dev/sda

   Example for UEFI systems:

   parted $dev -- mklabel gpt
   
   parted $dev -- mkpart primary 512MiB -$SWAP
   parted $dev -- mkpart primary linux-swap -$SWAP 100%
   
   parted $dev -- mkpart ESP fat32 1MiB 512MiB
   parted $dev -- set 3 esp on

5. Optionally encrypt the main partition:

   cryptsetup luksFormat "$dev"1
   cryptsetup open "$dev"1 nixenc

6. Format the partitions:

   mkfs.btrfs -L root /dev/mapper/nixenc
   
   mkswap -L swap "$dev"2
   swapon "$dev"2
   
   mkfs.fat -F 32 -n boot "$dev"3

7. Optionally create subvolumes (btrfs only):

   mount -t btrfs /dev/mapper/nixenc /mnt/
   btrfs subvol create /mnt/nixos
   umount /mnt
   mount -t btrfs -o subvol=nixos /dev/mapper/nixenc /mnt
   
   btrfs subvol create /mnt/home

8. Mount the boot partition:

   mkdir /mnt/boot
   mount "$dev"3 /mnt/boot

9. Generate config and install:

   nixos-generate-config --root /mnt
   nixos-install