Installation guide

Install Tuxenix.

Start by identifying your image. The public download and the newer hardware-test installer do not use the same partition workflow.

Current public ISO

July 28 public image.

This is the only ISO available from the website. It predates automatic root/EFI assignment and mandatory Limine replacement, so follow the partition controls and final summary shown by that installer.

Download the public ISO Download SHA-256

Verify the download

Put the ISO and checksum file in the same directory, open a terminal there, and run:

sha256sum -c tuxenix-dinit-desktop-latest.iso.sha256

Continue only if the result says OK. Download both files again if verification fails.

Write the entire image to a USB drive

Use Rufus, balenaEtcher, or another image writer. On Linux, identify the whole USB device by its size and model, then write the image:

lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,MODEL,TYPE,MOUNTPOINTS
sudo dd if=tuxenix-dinit-desktop-latest.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=4M status=progress conv=fsync

Replace /dev/sdX with the whole USB device. Do not use a partition such as /dev/sdX1. This command erases the selected USB immediately.

Boot the USB and read the installer summary

Restart the computer, open its one-time boot menu, and choose the USB’s UEFI entry. Open the installer from the live desktop.

If Wi-Fi is needed, open a terminal, run nmtui, choose Activate a connection, select your network, and enter its password.

Use the partition workflow displayed by this public image. Before installation begins, confirm the disk model, disk size, mount points, formatting choices, and bootloader target. Stop if any destructive target is not exactly the one you intended.

Hardware-test installer

The simplified Limine workflow.

Not in the public download. Use the steps below only if you were directly given the August 5 test USB. This build automatically assigns the chosen root and EFI partitions.

Prepare the target disk

Create the required partitions before opening the installer. This test build cannot create, delete, or resize partitions:

Root: one non-FAT32 partition larger than 12.5 GiB; 20 GiB or more is recommended.
EFI: one FAT32 EFI System Partition of at least 128 MiB; 512 MiB is recommended.

Keep a separate backup of anything important before continuing.

Boot the test USB in UEFI mode

Choose the USB’s UEFI entry from the firmware boot menu. The test installer does not support installing a legacy BIOS boot system.

Open the Tuxenix installer from IceWM. Run nmtui in a terminal if you need to connect to Wi-Fi.

Choose the root partition

Match the disk model, size, and current contents against the disk you prepared. Selecting a non-FAT32 partition automatically assigns it to / and formats it as ext4.

Everything on the selected root partition will be erased. Never select the installer USB or a partition containing files you need.

Choose the EFI partition

Select the FAT32 EFI System Partition on the same target disk. The installer automatically assigns /boot/efi and the required boot/esp role. There is no separate flag menu.

Existing bootloader files on this EFI partition will be wiped and replaced with Limine. Check the disk and partition one more time before continuing.

Create your account and review the summary

Enter the requested username, computer name, and password. On the final screen, verify the disk model and size, root partition, EFI partition, formatting action, and Limine replacement warning.

Continue only when both destructive targets are correct. Do not turn off the computer while files are being installed.

Reboot and start IceWM

When installation finishes, remove the USB and reboot. Log in with the account you created. NetworkManager starts through dinit; run nmtui whenever you need to change Wi-Fi.

Start the graphical desktop with:

startx