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Basalt Linux Wiki

Documentation and guides for Basalt Linux.

Post-Installation Guide

Congratulations on installing Basalt Linux! Here are the recommended steps to get your system fully set up.

1. Update Your System

Open a terminal and run the following commands to ensure all packages are up to date:

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

2. Install Additional Drivers

If you have NVIDIA or other proprietary hardware, you may need additional drivers:

  • Check which NVIDIA card you have: lspci -nn | grep -i nvidia
  • Install the recommended driver from the Debian repositories
  • Reboot if prompted

For NVIDIA graphics, the official driver is available as the nvidia-driver package:

$ sudo apt install nvidia-driver firmware-misc-nonfree

Basalt Linux does not include a graphical “Driver Manager” tool — driver selection is done with APT, as on Debian.

3. Install Media Codecs

For full multimedia support, install common codecs:

$ sudo apt install libavcodec-extra ffmpeg

VLC media player is pre-installed and supports most formats out of the box.

4. Configure Timeshift Backups

It is strongly recommended to set up automatic system snapshots:

  • Open Timeshift from the application menu
  • Choose RSYNC mode (recommended)
  • Select a schedule (daily or weekly snapshots)
  • Select the disk location for storing snapshots

5. Install Additional Software

Browse and install software using APT, Synaptic Package Manager, or Flatpak. Some popular additions:

$ sudo apt install steam          # Gaming platform sudo apt install gimp           # Image editing sudo apt install htop           # System monitor sudo apt install synaptic       # Graphical package manager

6. Personalize Your Desktop

Explore Settings > Appearance to change themes, icons, and fonts. Right-click on the panel to add or remove applets and launchers.

7. Join the Community

Connect with other Basalt Linux users:

  • Discord — Real-time chat and support
  • GitLab — Report bugs and contribute
  • WhatsApp Channel — Release announcements