ZFSBootMenu - install the rest of the desktop

OpenZFS
1

I recently installed Debian with ZFSBootMenu. However, it is pretty bare bones in the install and installs Debian with debootstrap. This leaves you without a graphical interface, only the root user, and no easy way to connect to a network to install a graphical interface. I’ve seen a couple of folks ask how to go from that install to a full desktop. Below is what I did. Am I missing anything? Is there a better way to do this?

During the ZFSBootMenu install, after the steps for “ZFS Configuration” (while in chroot), insert these steps:

  1. Install tasksel:

    apt install tasksel

  2. Install the KDE desktop (or gnome-desktop, etc):

    tasksel install desktop kde-desktop laptop

  3. Set your username for the subsequent commands:

    USERNAME=username-you-want-to-create

  4. Add your user and set a password:

    adduser ${USERNAME}

  5. Add your new user to the sudo group:

    usermod -aG sudo ${USERNAME}

    Steps 6-10 are optional to put the user directory in it’s own zfs dataset

  6. Move the home directory temporarily:

    mv /home/${USERNAME} /home/${USERNAME}_temp

  7. Create a new zfs dataset for the new user:

    zfs create zroot/home/${USERNAME}

    You can create other datasets here too (zroot/home/${USERNAME}/Documents, etc.)

  8. Change the ownership on the mountpoint of the dataset to the new user:

    chown -R ${USERNAME}:${USERNAME} /mnt/home/${USERNAME}
chmod -R 750 /mnt/home/${USERNAME}

  9. Copy the home directory contents into the new dataset:

    rsync -ahP /home/${USERNAME}_temp /mnt/home/${USERNAME}

  10. Remove the temporary home directory:

    rm -r /home/${USERNAME}_temp

    You can repeat steps 3-10 for more users.

  11. Install the firmware-linux package and any other for your hardware (this is for my laptop’s Qualcomm Wifi chip):

    apt install firmware-linux firmware-atheros

  12. Update the initramfs:

    update-initramfs -u -k all

Then continue one with the rest of the steps from ZFSBootMenu.

I’d love to hear any suggestions folks have

2

I wrote a guide a while back for debootstrap. Networking should already be included, at least for a wired connection, unless you choose the minbase option. I’ve been wanting to update it including steps to install Debian on ZFS and anything systemd might have affected.

How easy does ZBM install for you? Seems to be hit or miss for everyone from what I’ve read.

3

I’ll take a look at your guide, thanks for that.

ZBM works great for me so far. Their instructions are pretty straightforward (except for the desktop part).

4

Hmm, my steps didn’t copy over the /etc/skel files into my user account. I wonder if it would be better to adduser --no-create-home and then copy the files over after.