Linux

I have tried to learn Linux for ages, and have experimented with installing Arch and Ubuntu.

There's your problem. Try Linux Mint.

Is it an unrealistic goal to want to eventually run a computer with coreboot and a more cybersecurity heavy emphasis? I’m still a noob at this and any advice would be appreciated!

Don't try to bite off more than you can chew. Start small and easy, with a beginner Linux distro, and once you've become really comfortable with that, you can try to move onto something less user friendly.

Is it an unrealistic goal to want to eventually run a computer with coreboot and a more cybersecurity heavy emphasis?

No, its not unrealistic. However, what I think is unfair to yourself is to attempt this before knowing what you are doing. Think of it like learning to draw. You have good taste, and you see art you like, and want to do it too. Yet your personal skill level, you finger dexterity, isn't yet there to be able to make the art you can visualize in your mind.

If a task is too hard, or to complex, then there must exist a smaller, easier task to accomplish first. Coreboot specifically is an extremely low hardware/firmware level system, but you don't feel confidant in installing a working desktop OS. You have aspirations for cyber security, as well. Find the smaller, and easier task first. Get Debian/Ubuntu working in a VM. Then look at what software is installed, and read about it. If you want to eventually pursue security projects, setup a LAMP stack. If that too hard, just get the A in LAMP. If that's too hard, find out why. What do you know, what do you not know? It's machines all the way down, and its an extremely small chance you are the first person with a problem. Don't worry about "correctness" and focus on the learning experience.

It is 100% achievable, but it is a lot of time. I started with it because I wanted to run a game server for myself. It's a couple of decades later, and I still have a massive amount to learn.

[This comment has been deleted by an automated system]

Don't start with the most complicated distro and then fail.

Even though Arch is very well documented, it's not really accessible to newcomers. The documentation assumes that you know the basics, so if you don't, you're screwed. Mint, Pop! and Debian, to some extent, are much more accessible.

Mint is great. I recently switched fully to Linux and mint feels comfortable

Bog standard arch is absolutely not what I'd recommend to a new user, maybe endeavor if they're really asking for it, but you really should have some idea what you're doing before using arch. Try Linux Mint or Pop OS. I'm surprised you had an issue with Ubuntu, though I haven't used it since like 16.04 so maybe it just is a pain now.

You definitely don't need Coreboot. Try Linux Mint to start with, and just use your computer as you normally would. Getting comfortable with how Linux does things is something you need to learn before taking the next steps. No one became a Linux guru by reading the "Linux manual" front to back. I picked up almost all of my Linux knowledge on-the-fly because I broke something or because I wanted to do something.

Also, if all you want is better cybersecurity, you'll make a huge leap just by picking any Linux distro. Save Coreboot, full disk encryption, etc for at least a few months down the road when you're picking a new distro and have a better idea of what you want to do differently.

Start with Ubuntu, eventually switch to Debian, then give Arch a shot.

Don't use regular Arch if you're struggling. There are some arch-based distros that are more user friendly, though. Like EndeavourOS or ArchMan. Manjaro can be good too but there are legitimate problems with how the project is run.

I was having graphics driver problems in Ubuntu-based distros until I tried Linux Mint.

If you get crashes right before or after login, it's often a (Nvidia) graphics issue. To get around this, you could use nomodeset in the Grub menu to get a successful first boot where you can then install the proprietary drivers.

Look at sections 4 and especially 5 on this page
Also, here is that info in a tutorial format

Also, you may want to set the Desktop Environment to Xorg or X11 (same thing) if Wayland is causing you problems. It's older, but in some cases more efficient and less experimental. Check out the section: Switching desktop environments using a graphical user interface. It should look similar to the pictures. And notice that the "gear" icon may not appear until you select a user.

If your problem is different than this, open a support ticket in the discord or forums of the distro you're using. Linux Mint has a great system for this on Discord.

You're on the right track! That feeling of understanding less is normal - and good news is that it isn't true. You understand more than you did before - but now you also know of some other things you don't know about yet. This is good and exciting! I wish I were in your shoes so I could experience this for the first time again.

I would recommend Fedora Silverblue 38. It is an immutable OS, meaning that it is impossible to break it to the point where it doesn't work. Since the root file system is read only, like a mobile OS, you would be hard pressed to actually break it. Don't worry though, most graphical applications are available as flatpaks on Flathub. Flathub is integrated with the app store in Fedora 38, no need to use the terminal. For terminal applications you want to use there are toolboxes, which are little mini fedora containers that have access to your home directory and some other integrations. Also Fedora Silverblue is easy to install and works with most hardware.

Arch is a bad distro for newbies. Go find an ISO for Kubuntu and install that. The install wizard is idiot-proof. I use KDE-based distros like Kubuntu even though I'm a fairly advanced user so don't view it as some kind of failure. There's no virtue in using more complicated stuff. Get comfortable with the easier distros first.

One word: Mint

It's pretty streamlined, more reliable than some newer trendy Ubuntu spin offs, and still powered at it's core by the same old kernal that even the "advanced" distros use.

I applaud you for trying Arch, and if you can figure it out while learning Linux in general that's a great achievement, but it's overly complicated and I personally wouldn't reccemend it to anyone starting out (or even a most experienced users unless they had a particular need for it's features).

If you continuously get issues across all distros in VMs a live environment might also be worth checking out (live being booted off external media without an install).

Ultimately, though if Linux does mess with your workflow, then use what works best for you. Sure I like Linux, but if it breaks what you need and Windows or Mac doesn't then use what works best for you. But, there's a saying "the more the island of my knowledge grows the greater the shore of my ignorance". The more you learn the more that you realized how little you know. It's always the case for anybody who's either not an extreme expert or a narcissistic, but it's also a great motivator to keep learning.

i wouldn't say that it's unrealistic.

The "Problem" is however, that there are a gazillion different approaches to everything. And everyone will tell you their method and maybe even badmouth other peoples methods... That way you don't really know what to do anymore.

Imho, don't install them in a VM. Get yourself a new cheap SSD. Unplug the one with windows on it and just install a well-known Linux distro that has a big open community on your PC.

If you want something Arch-based: I'd highly recommend you Garuda-Linux. Don't get scared off by it's ..... flashy default looks. This can be changed very easily. But they have one of the most welcomming and helpful communities i have ever witnessed. They aren't really here or on reddit, but rather have their own forum.

This thing will give you everything you need to start. And if something breaks, it does automatic snapshots of your system everytime you install a new package. So if something breaks, you turn off...turn on....and in the boot menu you'll find your snapshots. Pick the last working one. and that's it. Good to go again.

But these are just my 2 cents..

If I were you I would start by using standard Ubuntu desktop. In my experience it tends to be the most reliable, easy to install, least technical and does alot of stuff behind the scenes that others don't. A simple thing like plugging in a printer works very well in Ubuntu but is a nightmare on opensuse.

If you still run into issues then start to troubleshoot, especially if you are installing on bare metal and not a VM. Often the most common issues are WiFi drivers and graphics drivers. This is because these companies often don't make their code available so other Devs have to reverse engineer their own code and it's not included in the kernel. It has you need installed after installation. If your pc has an ethernet port or ethernet adapter I HIGHLY recommend using that when installing.

In Ubuntu open the search page and type "drivers" and it will show you an option to install additional drivers. Click that and it should detect what hardware you have and give you the choice to tick a box and install those drivers. Your must be connected to the internet via ethernet for this to work. After successful installation, reboot and the WiFi/graphics card should work.

If you have issues Google it an Ubuntu normally has TONS of answers.

Keep it simple, Ubuntu/Mint/PopOS, play around with it for at least a few months before trying an arch install

Next time you decide to attempt Arch, you could try the included install script.

But for now I would also suggest starting out with something more simple, such as Linux Mint or Ubuntu LTS.

@gronjo45 The big question here is; what do you mean by "learn linux"?

If you really want to learn and understand what you're doing, here's a solution that will not leave you empty handed. No matter if you decide to call it quits half way through, you still have a great deal more knowledge than you'd get from simply installing a distro that does all the hard work for you.

No one ever listens when I say it but I'll say it again; follow the #gentoo handbook cover to cover doing a stage3 install. When you encounter something you don't understand, go read about it, usually links are included. Once you've gotten to any graphical environment, wipe it and start again. Repeat this process until you only reference the handbook to verify you're doing it correctly.

I would also advise doing this on metal, as the VM approach will likely give you no hardware problems to solve along the way. You'll never learn how to fix what never breaks. ;)

Installing something that just works, or where you only need to click next in the installer only gets you a working system. It offers you absolutely nothing in the way of knowledge or understanding. What good to you is a working linux system if you know nothing about it? The method I propose will ensure you have all the basic skills and knowledge you need to be a (mostly) self sufficient linux user.

If you do take my advice and have any questions along the way, feel free to send me a direct message. I'd be happy to help.

Get Fedora Silverblue. It is rock solid. Install Distrobox or Boxes to emulate other systems on top of that.

You could also move on to something else later if toy like.

I cannot stress this enough...

POP!_OS

use linux mint, xubuntu, or maybe pclinuxos

Baby steps, my dear baby penguin -- start with ZorinOS, and then keep venturing its calm waters until you are comfortable enough on trying something more complex like Arch Linux.

If you want to use the Arch ecosystem but have trouble getting there, start with Manjaro. It handles the hardware extremely well. I install it for my friends and rellies because I like the Arch tools, but I don't want the cutting edge issues of pure Arch. I haven't had very many issues to fix with it on over a dozen installs running for as long as 5 or 6 years now.

https://youtu.be/DPLnBPM4DhI

I use this video when setting up a basic arch install. I'm a beginner myself, and this video takes you through every step. Maybe check out if you're missing something in setup?

I have hosed so many installs over the past 20 or so years that it's impossible for me to guess a number. It's part of the learning process. Just keep at it and you'll get there.

I've been in your shoes a few months ago. I tried a few distros in VMs and ended up using OpenSUSE Tumbleweed. It comes with different GUIs and I decided for KDE. As a beginner TW helped me with the built in snapshots mechanism. So before I did anything, I took a snapshot, did it, and if I fucked up, I could easily rollback and try again. Since TW is a rolling release, I now make a snapshot before and after the system update So I always have some stable Rollback snapshots. Gives me so much safety to fiddle around and learn more about Linux. Been loving it so far.

Make heavy use of ChatGPT. I've been chatting about Linux with it for months now.

Get Fedora Silverblue. It is rock solid. Install Distrobox or Boxes to emulate other systems on top of that.

You could also move on to something else later if toy like.

I've been using GNU/Linux and similar systems on-and-off since the late '90s. I have no patience for debugging driver problems or anything else anymore.

I'm typing this on a desktop running Pop!_OS ... where I have spent exactly no time debugging driver problems or anything else.

It just freakin' works.

Mind you, my use case is pretty straightforward. The software I use is pretty much:

• A web browser (currently Chrome)
• A terminal, in which I run vim, a MUD client, coding tools for Python and Go, etc.
• Signal Desktop
• Steam, including Windows games via Proton & WINE
• Transmission and VLC for "arrr" purposes.

Full-disk encryption just works out of the box. Steam games are sometimes a little hinky and I have to pull out my old Unix knowledge and run commands like killall pressure-vessel to shut down borked Steam stuff.

Here are some things I never do:

• Compile my own kernel (or any other code I'm not working on personally — I compile my own keyboard firmware, but that's because I build my own keyboards)
• Read system logs
• Care about which desktop environment, window manager, etc. I'm using

Like some others have said, you should give a shot to the easiest and always up-to-date distro there is: OpenSuse Tumbleweed

Try Crystal Linux, it's based on Arch and it's beautiful installer will do the heavy lifting for you and leave you with a fully working Arch Linux installation.

As a Linux user I can tell you that nothing works. Every single Linux distro requires some amount of work. That's why I do not use Windows or MacOS since it is so closed ecosystem that you can't even fix anything when something fails.