Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

manasij7479 · 2014-02-24 16:38:12

I tried to assist a friend with setting up Arch Linux on his desktop.
His (wired) internet connection requires him to visit an address from the browser and log in.
I used elinks for visiting the page.
The page loaded successfully and the username and password fields were usable.
But it turned out to be impossible to actually click(/call the javascript function?) on the submit button.

(It doesn't work if the authentication is performed from another environment and the machine is reset.)
What is the recommended action?

Can the Arch install scripts be modified to be run from a live environment of another distro?
(I'd like to help out with that if someone points me to the right directions)

Last edited by manasij7479 (2014-02-24 16:38:45)

Trilby · 2014-02-24 16:43:18

As at least one solution - the arch install scripts can be installed on any arch system. I don't even use the isos anymore; I just have a full system on a bootable usb that also have the arch install scripts package installed. I can boot any system to that, which has X and firefox so they could log in to such a connection, then you can install as usual.

The downside of this approach is that it would require a larger usb (but even 3-4Gb should be more than enough) and it would require going through the installation process twice (once to install a system on the usb, then once to install to his computer from the usb).

I suspect there is a way to handle the JS issue from a text-mode browser, but I'm not sure how.

progandy · 2014-02-24 16:44:46

A simple choice would be to use archbang as your install medium. Make sure the mirror and repositories are set to a pure archlinux, install arch-install-scripts and pacstrap a normal arch installation.

If you want to use the textmode installation you might try to get the source files with curl/wget, examine the sourcecode and do all necessary requests manually.

Last edited by progandy (2014-02-24 16:49:34)

manasij7479 · 2014-02-24 16:52:13

Trilby wrote:

I just have a full system on a bootable usb that also have the arch install scripts package installed.

Neat idea, thanks.
I'll make one and keep it updated..
Is there a way to install *all* graphics drivers(or at least the ones in the kernel) so that it can successfully start x anywhere I plug it in?
AFAIK, pacman asks to replace a lot of stuff when trying to do that directly.

manasij7479 · 2014-02-24 16:55:05

progandy wrote:

If you want to use the textmode installation you might try to get the source files with curl/wget, examine the sourcecode and do all necessary requests manually.

I don't have much knowledge on web-technology stuff yet, so not very keen on doing that.

progandy · 2014-02-24 16:58:17

manasij7479 wrote:

Trilby wrote:
I just have a full system on a bootable usb that also have the arch install scripts package installed.
Neat idea, thanks.
I'll make one and keep it updated..
Is there a way to install *all* graphics drivers(or at least the ones in the kernel) so that it can successfully start x anywhere I plug it in?
AFAIK, pacman asks to replace a lot of stuff when trying to do that directly.

You should be able to install all open source drivers (xf86 and mesa) without conflicts.

Edit: For a leightweight setup system you might simply want to use generic fbdev or vesa drivers.

Last edited by progandy (2014-02-24 17:01:02)

daneel971 · 2014-02-24 17:04:46

If you stick to open source drivers, yes.
On my bootable USB device I nave radeon, nouveau e Intel and I can boot fine with each of them.
Remember not to use early modesetting.

Trilby · 2014-02-25 00:05:16

As indicated above, you could install all the drivers, but xf86-video-{intel,ati,nouveau} (and their *-dri dependencies) will cover you on a *vast* majority of hardware you'd ever encounter. There are many other video drivers to rare corner cases that become more and more rare by the day. So there is a trade-off between installing three drivers that will probably cover you in over 99% of cases, and installing dozens more to be sure to get that other fraction of a percent coverage.*

* "over 99%" is a made-up estimate. I don't know any actual numbers, but hardware requiring other than these three seems extremely rare.

Arch Linux

#1 2014-02-24 16:38:12

Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

#2 2014-02-24 16:43:18

Re: Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

#3 2014-02-24 16:44:46

Re: Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

#4 2014-02-24 16:52:13

Re: Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

#5 2014-02-24 16:55:05

Re: Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

#6 2014-02-24 16:58:17

Re: Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

#7 2014-02-24 17:04:46

Re: Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

#8 2014-02-25 00:05:16

Re: Setting up Internet connection requires a js enabled browser

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