Planning an install

lost eden · 2008-01-01 22:01:34

I've recently ordered the parts for a new machine & after consulting some IRC buddies as to what distro to go with I've decided on Arch. I've used (open)SuSE for the last 5 years & have been running a headless Debian fileserver for about 18 months, so I'm not an absolute newcomer when it comes to Linux (incidentally, I also run a BSD firewall). But I have never embarked on an install quite as 'involved' as that of Arch, so I'm going to pose some questions now before the parts arrive to try to smooth the installation procedure.

Firstly, the hardware specificaiton of the machine in question, as it isn't the most standard (notably when it comes to graphics);

Motherboard: Abit IP-35E (IP-35 Northbridge, ICH9 Southbridge)
Processor: Intel E2140
RAM: 2x 1GiB Micron
HDDs: 160GB SATA Barracuda (boot), 320GB PATA Barracuda (storage)
Graphics: PCI-E nVidia 8400GS, PCI nVidia Quadro NVS 280
Case/Power/Cooling: not important

I'm intending to run a NEC MultiSync LCD 1710VM on the 8400GS, with 2x LG Flatron L1510S LCDs on the Quadro, one on either side of the NEC. I checked the 'supported GPUs' appendix of the (new) nVidia driver & it lists both the 8400GS & the Quadro, so that's the first hurdle jumped. However, I expect that I will run into trouble getting this setup to work & I think that it might be a sensible approach to boot the machine with just the NEC attached, leaving the LG's disconnected, until I have installed the system & the nVidia driver, at which point I can use the GUI xorg.conf editor provided as part of the nVidia driver to assist me in setting up the monitors. Is this a sensible thing to do?

I also need help choosing a window manager. I have never used anything but KDE during my SuSE time, other than a 15 minute play with XFCE before I decided to run the Debian fileserver headless. I am used to KDE & all of the KDE apps, but I'm not sure whether I really need it's fuller feature set & larger footprint & might be better off saving resources & running XFCE4? The only thing that I know I absolutely need is the ability to run windows maximised on each individual monitor, essentially physical tiling. However, I also love the way that KDE handles window placing (in blank space where available) & edge snapping when multiple windows are on one screen (a light approach to tiling).

Also, a quick hardware choice question, just in case anybody can provide an insight. I have the choice of using the onboard Intel HD Audio, or my venerable 10 year old SoundBlaster Live! Value that currently resides in my SuSE media machine. I only want analogue stereo output which I feed into my 25-30 year old amplifier, so I am only concerned about quality & not at all about number of channels or digital outputs.

Once the parts arrive & I start the install, I will probably add many more questions here as well as joining #archlinux, but it'd be great to have my 'plan of attack' decided in concerns to the above points!

tigrmesh · 2008-01-01 23:46:30

I have the choice of using the onboard Intel HD Audio, or my venerable 10 year old SoundBlaster Live! Value

I get *no* sound in linux with my intel onboard sound card (snd-intel8x0). If I could, I would get a(nother) sound card.

Last edited by tigrmesh (2008-01-01 23:46:57)

Pajaro · 2008-01-02 00:02:34

I never had problems with this driver. Just make sure that the driver is loaded, that no channels are muted, and that it is set as the main soundcard.

skottish · 2008-01-02 00:25:39

lost eden wrote:

I also need help choosing a window manager. I have never used anything but KDE during my SuSE time, other than a 15 minute play with XFCE before I decided to run the Debian fileserver headless. I am used to KDE & all of the KDE apps, but I'm not sure whether I really need it's fuller feature set & larger footprint & might be better off saving resources & running XFCE4? The only thing that I know I absolutely need is the ability to run windows maximised on each individual monitor, essentially physical tiling. However, I also love the way that KDE handles window placing (in blank space where available) & edge snapping when multiple windows are on one screen (a light approach to tiling).

If you're really locked into KDE but don't want the extra stuff that you're not using, KDEmod is a great option:

http://kdemod.ath.cx/

Doehni · 2008-01-02 00:54:49

A great thing to get you started with installation: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Beginners_Guide

btw, KDEmod is great!! It's fast and you only install what is needed!

lost eden · 2008-01-02 00:56:36

skottish wrote:

lost eden wrote:
I also need help choosing a window manager. I have never used anything but KDE during my SuSE time, other than a 15 minute play with XFCE before I decided to run the Debian fileserver headless. I am used to KDE & all of the KDE apps, but I'm not sure whether I really need it's fuller feature set & larger footprint & might be better off saving resources & running XFCE4? The only thing that I know I absolutely need is the ability to run windows maximised on each individual monitor, essentially physical tiling. However, I also love the way that KDE handles window placing (in blank space where available) & edge snapping when multiple windows are on one screen (a light approach to tiling).
If you're really locked into KDE but don't want the extra stuff that you're not using, KDEmod is a great option:
http://kdemod.ath.cx/

Thanks, I'll take a look at that. I've just realised that I can't run Amarok in XFCE without also loading lot's of KDE stuff & I reall can't imagine living without Amarok... so I may yet stick with KDE(mod)!

Leigh · 2008-01-02 01:01:22

I remember when I installed debian the first time. It was quite a few years ago, but I don't remember it being any easier to install than arch base. Maybe it's because I'm use to the arch installer. I don't think you'll have much trouble with your nvidia cards. I'm running three nvidia cards in my system. a 7900, 6800 and a old geforce4, but they are older than your cards and I'm using the legacy driver. It's hard to recommend a DE or wm. There's so many to choose from, and everyone has different tastes. I'm using the fluxbox wm and love it. It's light and totally efficient and works great with a multi-monitor setup.
You might want to stick with kde, and use kdemod. It's modularized allowing you to keep the install much lighter than full blown kde. Best advice would be to just experiment and try some new things. Arch is perfect for that, since you start out with a minimal base install.

crouse · 2008-01-02 02:08:12

Me, I'd just install full-blown KDE, it's not like you don't have enough space

HDDs: 160GB SATA Barracuda (boot), 320GB PATA Barracuda (storage)

I use KDE all the time and like to many of the features to give it up. You have plenty of ram/hard drive space/cpu power/graphics card.... why NOT run what you like ? Just my opinion, I'm probably in the minority lol

lilsirecho · 2008-01-02 02:30:52

Kde

lost eden · 2008-01-02 08:55:09

crouse wrote:

Me, I'd just install full-blown KDE, it's not like you don't have enough space
HDDs: 160GB SATA Barracuda (boot), 320GB PATA Barracuda (storage)
I use KDE all the time and like to many of the features to give it up. You have plenty of ram/hard drive space/cpu power/graphics card.... why NOT run what you like ? Just my opinion, I'm probably in the minority lol

The only real reason I have to be running KDE is Amarok. Other than that there I don't really use any of the more 'advanced' features that KDE offers over other WMs. I know I have plenty of power/space/RAM to install full-blown KDE if I want, but there is no point being wasteful & installing more than I need.

Also, I read in the wiki that XFCE has the best Xinerama support of any WM which should be nice as I will be running triple screens.

I'm tempted to install XFCE first, see how it goes, & if that doesn't work I can just remove it & install KDE(mod), no?

Edit: oh & btw, that 320GB Barracuda is about 97% full, so I don't have that much space

Last edited by lost eden (2008-01-02 09:39:47)

Arch Linux

#1 2008-01-01 22:01:34

Planning an install

#2 2008-01-01 23:46:30

Re: Planning an install

#3 2008-01-02 00:02:34

Re: Planning an install

#4 2008-01-02 00:25:39

Re: Planning an install

#5 2008-01-02 00:54:49

Re: Planning an install

#6 2008-01-02 00:56:36

Re: Planning an install

#7 2008-01-02 01:01:22

Re: Planning an install

#8 2008-01-02 02:08:12

Re: Planning an install

#9 2008-01-02 02:30:52

Re: Planning an install

#10 2008-01-02 08:55:09

Re: Planning an install

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