37 lines
1.5 KiB
Markdown
37 lines
1.5 KiB
Markdown
# Installation Media
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This project leverages [nix-community/nixos-generators][nixos-generators] for
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building machine images. In most cases, you'll probably want to use the
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`install-iso` format.
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Making an installable ISO for `hosts/bootstrap.nix` is as simple as:
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```sh
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nix run github:nix-community/nixos-generators -- \
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--format install-iso \
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--flake '.#bootstrap'
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```
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Then "burn" the ISO to your USB stick (or CD-R if you like!) following the
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[instructions in the NixOS manual][burn] (or using your preferred USB burner).
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You can also swap out the `--format` for [any of the others][formats] supported
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by nixos-generators.
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Continue by following the usual installation instructions in the NixOS manual.
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## ISO Nix Store and Cache
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The ISO image holds the Nix store for the live environment and _also_ acts as a
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binary cache to the installer. To considerably speed things up, the image
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already includes all flake `inputs` as well as the `devshell` closures.
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While you _could_ provision any NixOS machine with the same USB stick, an ISO
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custom-made for your target host will maximise those local cache hits. For hosts
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that don't differ too much, a single USB stick might be ok, whereas when there
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are bigger differences, a custom-made USB stick will be considerably faster.
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[nixos-generators]: https://github.com/nix-community/nixos-generators
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[burn]: https://nixos.org/manual/nixos/stable/index.html#sec-booting-from-usb
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[formats]: https://github.com/nix-community/nixos-generators/tree/master/formats
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