Smxi

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Contents

Introduction

smxi , as the developer h2 says, is "a general utility script that handles the standard system upkeep for Debian Sid (and Sid based, distros like sidux), Debian Testing, and Debian Stable - kernel installs, dist-upgrade/upgrade, package installs, cleanup, and graphics install." It comes pre-installed in antiX-M7.5 and later versions and can be used successfully on MEPIS-8.0 and later versions, and makes many procedures automatic.
Smxi also includes the handy hardware listing script, Inxi.

Installation

To get this, open Konsole, become root and type or copy and paste: 

 cd /usr/local/bin && wget -Nc smxi.org/smxi.zip && unzip smxi.zip

see: http://smxi.org/site/install.htm#install-with-zip

Running the script

The script requires a working internet connection and MUST be run out of X, the window system used by MEPIS. There are several ways to get out of X desktop and start smxi. This is the recommended way:

  1. Ctrl-Alt-F1 will drop you out of X desktop to a command line prompt
  2. Login as root
  3. Type smxi

As the script runs, you will be asked a number of questions about your preferences for the system configuration--pay attention!

Each time the script is run it will check to see if it is the most current version and will update itself automatically. This will provide you with the latest bug fixes and new features for smxi.

sgfxi

Included with smxi is the graphics driver installer known as sgfxi. It can also be downloaded as a separate script. Like smxi, sgfxi is normally run outside of X desktop, see the 'Usage' section below. In some cases it maybe necessary to partially run sgfxi from the X Desktop, see the 'Partial install in X, completion outside of X method' section.

Installation (sgfxi)

If you are not installing smxi, and only want to install sgfxi: open Konsole, become root and type or copy and paste 

cd /usr/local/bin && wget -Nc smxi.org/sgfxi && chmod +x sgfxi

see: http://smxi.org/site/install.htm#install-single-scripts

Usage (sgfxi)

NOTE: Sgfxi requires a working internet connection! Some wireless internet connections may be dropped when operating outside of X. If this applies to your internet connection either temporarily switch over to a wired internet connection before proceeding or use the 'Partial install in X, completion outside of X method' instructions in the next section below.

sgfxi allows the automatic installation of video drivers such as NVIDIA and ATI . It is the recommended way to install video drivers with Mepis 8.0, 8.5 & 11.0.

  1. Ctrl-Alt-F1 {this will drop you out of X desktop to a command line prompt}
  2. Login as root
  3. Type sgfxi

The sgfxi script automatically downloads and installs the kernel headers and every thing else it needs. This script downloads the binary graphic driver installers from either nvidia or ATI, prepares system, installs, then sets up xorg.conf, all in a fairly clean, reasonably intuitive way. Plus it updates itself so any new drivers released will be installed. Finally, sgfxi allows you to easily switch between proprietary non free drivers like ATI's fglrx and nVidia's nvidia driver and the free xorg drivers.
sgfxi can be run with numerous options. Enter sgfxi -h to see all the options and check the sgfxi Manual at the documentation links below.

Partial install in X, completion outside of X method (sgfxi)

Some wireless internet connections may be dropped when leaving X. If this applies to your wireless connection, sgxfi can be partially run from the X desktop by using it's -X option.

Open Konsole and run the command below 

su -c 'if [ ! -e /etc/X11/xorg.conf ]; then touch /etc/X11/xorg.conf; fi && sgfxi -X'

Using the 'X' option causes sgfxi to download and install kernel headers, build-essential packages and the correct ATI or NVIDIA installer script while running within X. Sgfxi will eventually error out when running the ATI or NVIDIA installer scripts, but by then all packages needed to build the ATI or NVIDIA driver have been downloaded and installed. The remainder of the installation process can be completed outside of X, without an internet connection.

Complete the installation by:

  1. Ctrl-Alt-F1 {this will drop you out of X desktop to a command line prompt}
  2. Login as root
  3. Type sgfxi -W

The -W option causes sgfxi to skip all downloads (everything has already been downloaded) and complete the installation process without an internet connection.

Links

Retrieved from "http://mepis.org/docs/en/index.php?title=Smxi"
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