Installation & hardware / Eitr Linux
A place to begin.
Know the ground first.
The Eitr Linux ISO includes the packages for an offline guided installation. The current download is 0.6.4; the project is a beta for early users, with specific tested configurations and work still open.
Target system
x86_64.
UEFI. Arch underneath.
- An x86_64 PC or VM booted in UEFI mode. Apple Silicon testing uses x86_64 emulation; it is not a native ARM port.
- The guided installer lists writable disks of at least 64 GiB. Erase mode removes the selected disk’s contents after confirmation.
- Install-alongside mode requires a GPT disk with at least 34 GiB unallocated in one gap. Prepare that space first; the installer does not resize existing partitions.
- The supported fresh-install layout uses Btrfs for Eitr’s snapshot and recovery workflows.
- No network is required for the guided installation. Later updates, optional downloads and online services need a connection.
Back up your files before changing a disk. Verify the ISO with its published SHA-256 checksum and read the canonical guide for the complete installation and recovery requirements.
Read the complete installation guide ↗Evidence, not a blanket compatibility claim
What has
actually been tested.
| Configuration | Current evidence |
|---|---|
| Released ISOs in virtual machines | Automated offline installation, update and factory-reset checks. |
| Developer’s Intel/NVIDIA desktop, two monitors | Installed from Eitr’s ISO and used daily, with updates through [eitr]. One real configuration does not establish support for every NVIDIA card. |
| Installing beside Windows | Verified in a VM with a simulated Windows disk. Real Windows and BitLocker configurations remain to be validated. |
| Other graphics cards and laptops | Driver handling exists, but broader real-hardware validation remains open. Laptop power and battery features need testing on actual laptops. |
| Encrypted-system recovery | Encrypted installation and daily use have real-machine evidence. Destructive resets and boot-guard rollback on encrypted disks still need isolated tests. |
Graphics & firmware
Driver handling.
Explicit choices.
Eitr detects graphics hardware and has driver handling for AMD, Intel and NVIDIA. NVIDIA requires a reviewed driver choice because older cards need a different driver; supported Turing-or-newer systems can use the open driver. Read the guide for hybrid graphics and non-default kernels.
Secure Boot setup is documented in the Handbook and is not automatically enrolled by installation. Hardware-specific boot, encryption and recovery steps deserve their own review; a successful VM installation does not verify them on your machine.
Try it & report back
Start with a VM.
Help expand the evidence.
A clean x86_64 VM on Linux/KVM is the preferred first test. A Mac testing guide is also available, with the limits of emulation explained. Move to real hardware only after reviewing the guide and keeping an independent backup.
On the desktop, System → Information → Report a Problem prepares a report for you to inspect and send. For hardware feedback, include the Eitr version, CPU/GPU, firmware mode and the exact steps and result. Remove private information before posting a public issue.