Ark Linux FAQ
From ArkWiki
Welcome to the Ark Linux FAQ
[edit] I've never used Linux
So you're a complete newbie to Linux? Well perhaps this part of the FAQ can help you see why you should switch to Ark Linux.
[edit] What is this?
Ark Linux is an operating system (the basic software that makes your computer work) along with a collection of software -- it is a complete replacement for other operating systems such as Windows (but can coexist with other operating systems).
Ark Linux was developed primarily as a desktop system - easy enough for people without Linux (or computer) experience to install and learn, while still powerful enough for longtime Linux users.
Ark Linux comes on one CD - including everything the average Desktop user may need: the OS itself, an office suite, a web browser, a multi-protocol instant messenger program, video and music players, a peer-to-peer filesharing program, various games, and more.
Many other applications that are interesting for many users, but not the average Windows convert, are available in the project's large "apt" repository (apt is a package manager that allows, among other things, installing software over the Internet and keeping the system up to date), and through the Ark Linux add-on CDs, such as:
- Ark Extra Software is a collection of assorted additional software. This CD includes many games, several additional applications, and some tools that make more traditional Unix users feel at home.
- Ark Extra Languages extends the internationalization support of Ark Linux to 76 languages - In addition to the translations for most applications included in Ark Linux, Ark Extra Languages contains input systems for Chinese/Japanese/Korean characters and international spellcheckers.
- Ark Development Suite contains all tools a software developer will need.
Ark Linux currently comes in two variants - Ark Lin th software that is available in the distribution's own repository can be installed through apt-get or its graphical frontend kynaptic, installing other software is as easy as clicking on an rpm file in the browser, and confirming to Ark's "rpmhandler" tool that you wish to install this.
Since rpmhandler is treated as a graphical config tool, there is no need to switch user accounts before installing new software - everything can be done in one place.
Most other system configuration is done through Ark's "Mission Control" panel, which has since been copied by various other distributions.
Another characteristic setting Ark Linux apart from many other distributions is its "newbie friendliness" - you don't get a "RTFM" or "Read the FAQ" in its support channels.
[edit] Can I run my Windows programs?
The best answer is.. maybe.
Ark Linux includes Wine- - a compatibility layer that tries to provide the Windows application interface (API) on top of Linux.
Since Wine's implementation of the Windows API is completely independent from Microsoft's, both implementations have different bugs, and may work completely differently internally -- so applications written for one implementation and making use of its internals may not work correctly on the other.
Many applications and games are known to run in Wine, others will not - the only way to find out for sure whether your application can work is to try.
Since Wine is constantly under development, if something doesn't work today, it may well work tomorrow.
For a list of native Linux applications that can replace commonly used Windows applications, check this list. You may also check out the How to get Windows applications to run page.
[edit] What software does Ark Linux have?
Check the table at this link.
[edit] Is there a walkthrough? Where is it?
There is a walkthrough right on this wiki. It's name is Ark Linux Walkthrough and it is linked from the main page of the wiki.
[edit] I'm an experienced Linux user
So you've been using Linux for awhile? Unsure of what makes Ark different from other distros? This will help explain that.
[edit] How is Ark Linux different from other distributions?
The probably most notable difference is the ease of installation and the security system- that allows the standard user to get all important tasks done without having to bother with a root account, while not going the easy and wrong way of doing normal work as root.
Underneath the easy exterior, experts can find a powerful Linux distribution using the latest technologies, and add-ons that suit their needs:
- Ark Development Suite contains all the tools a developer would need, including support for the C++, C, Objective-C, Java, Python, C#, Objective-CAML, D and BASIC languages.
- Ark Server Software allows you to run all kinds of servers on your Ark Linux system. This ranges from lower level protocol servers like Apache httpd, vsftpd, Unreal-Ircd over server centric languages like PHP to full fledged content management systems like Joomla.
- Ark Linux can be customized very easily - see the instructions- for details.
Optimizations that make Ark Linux faster and more responsive than other distributions include the "no-hz" kernel patch and the fact that top-current tools like gcc 4.2.1, X.Org 7.3 and OpenOffice.org 2.2.1 are used.
Ark Linux Live utilizes a customized version SquashFS that uses the LZMA algorithm and UnionFS technologies to fit more than 2 GB on 1 CD, and make the filesystem appear writable to the user.
[edit] What software does Ark Linux have?
Check the table at the Finding Applications That You Need of our walkthrough.
[edit] Installation
Questions about the installation process? Need to know some stuff before installation? Read on, and if you still have questions, check the Installing section of out walkthrough.
[edit] What are the minimum system requirements?
You need at least an i586 class processor (e.g. Intel Pentium, AMD K6 or Via C3), with at least 64 MB RAM and 2.5 GB of free hard disk space.
More is always better - to speed things up, we recommend at least an i686 class processor (e.g. Intel Pentium II or higher, AMD Duron/Athlon or higher, Via C7) with at least 256 MB RAM.
[edit] I've downloaded the ISO image, now what do I do with it?
An ISO file is a CD image, so most standard CD writing software will support creating an Ark Linux installation CD from the ISO files. Here are some instructions for the most common CD writing software:
K3B (Linux/Unix)
Go to the "Tools" menu, select "Burn CD Image", select the arklinux.iso file in the "Image to Burn" entry, click start.
CD Bake Oven (Linux/Unix)
In the opening screen, click "Burn a new CD from an image file". Select arklinux.iso and then click the "Create!" button.
dvdrecord (Linux/Unix command line)
Type dvdrecord dev=/dev/hdc arklinux.iso and press enter. Replace /dev/hdc with the device node of your CD/DVD writer.
cdrecord (Linux/Unix command line)
Run cdrecord -scanbus to find out the ID cdrecord assigns to your CD/DVD writer. Then use cdrecord dev=0,0,0 arklinux.iso (replacing 0,0,0 with the ID you found out by running cdrecord -scanbus).
Nero Burning ROM (Windows)
Open Nero and close the wizard. Go to "File" and then to "Burn Image..". In the next dialog, click on "Image files (*.nrg)" and select "All Files (*.*)". Choose arklinux.iso and click "Accept". Make sure the next dialog says Type: Data Mode 1, Block size: 2048, Image header: 0 and Image trailer: 0. In the next dialog, make sure the "write" and "finalize" options are active, then click on "Write".
Easy CD Creator (Windows)
Go to the "File" menu and click on "Create CD from disc image". Make sure to change the bottom drop-down menu ("Files of type:") to say "ISO image files". The browse to the arklinux.iso file and select it.
WinOnCD (windows)
Click on the 'New' button and select a "track-image" project. While you are in track mode (not file system mode), drag the arklinux.iso file onto the CD window, and it should be accepted as a raw track. WinOnCD uses .RAW as its own extension - if it won't write arklinux.iso, try renaming the file to arklinux.raw first (this is necessary with some, but not all, versions of WinOnCD).
Now you have an Ark Linux installation CD - put it in your CD drive, and reboot the computer. (If it doesn't boot into the Ark Linux installer, you may have to tell the computer to boot from CD in the BIOS Setup first)
[edit] My computer cannot boot from CD. Can I install Ark Linux from a floppy disk?
Ark Linux does not support installation from a floppy disk; however, there is some free software available which will allow you to install Ark Linux from CD even if your BIOS does not support booting from CD-ROM.
The easiest way to create a btmgr floppy is simply getting the FreeDOS boot image, it contains btmgr and allows you to boot from the Ark Linux CD.
You can write the image to a floppy using dd if=fdos1440.img of=/dev/fd0 obs=128k in Linux, or [rawrite] in DOS/Windows.
[edit] What type of computer do I need to run Ark Linux?
Ark Linux can currently run on any i586 class (or higher) machine with at least 64 MB RAM. You'll also need a CD or DVD drive to install from (but it is safe to remove the drive after installation). You'll need at least 3 Gigabytes of free harddisk space.
For decent performance, we recommend at least an i686 class machine (Pentium II/Duron or higher) with at least 450 MHz, and at least 256 MB RAM.
While Ark Linux runs fine on the low-end machine described above, more is always better -- unlike most other operating systems, Linux will use unneeded resources (e.g. it will automatically cache harddisk content in memory if you have "too much" RAM).
[edit] The installer exits after partitioning. I have a Samsung harddisk.
There's a (so far unidentified) bug in some Samsung harddisks that prevents them from working correctly when they're attached to the same ribbon cable as another harddisk from a different manufacturer, even if the master/slave settings are correct.
If possible, connect the Samsung harddisk elsewhere (it will work fine if it's the only device on the cable, and if it shares the cable with a CD/DVD drive.)
[edit] How long does an installation usually take?
About half an hour on most computers.
[edit] How do I install (eg) a network card driver?
The basic idea is, you don't -- all common cards are supported out of the box. If yours doesn't seem to work, check for other reasons first (make sure you've set an IP address, or, if you're using DHCP, make sure the DHCP server is talking to you).
[edit] Upgrading
Do you need help with upgrading to the latest copy of Ark Linux?
[edit] I am running an older version of Ark Linux. Do I need to reinstall in order to get 2008.1?
No, The purpose of the "dockyard" tree is to keep your machine up to date with the latest stable release. Simply follow the instructions at Upgrading to 2007.1 Without A CD to upgrade to the latest stable release.
The file /etc/ark-release (which is read by some other tools such as Mission Control) will continue to say you're using whatever version you installed initially (this is for internal reasons) - but other than that, your system will be identical to the current version.
[edit] I would like to help beta test. Do I need to reinstall to get the latest test release?
No, the purpose of the "dockyard-devel" tree is to test the latest possible upgrades for Ark. To upgrade to the latest test release, follow te instructions at Upgrading To dockyard-devel. Please keep in mind that dockyard-devel can sometimes be unstable-we can not be held responsible for lost data due to your choosing freely to try the test release-please back up all data if you plan to use the test release on your main computer.
The file /etc/ark-release (which is read by some other tools such as Mission Control) will continue to say you're using whatever version you installed initially (this is for internal reasons) - but other than that, your system will be identical to the latest test release.
[edit] Using Ark Linux
Have questions about using Ark Linux?
[edit] How do I log in? What is my username and password? What is the root password?
If you're seeing a login prompt after installation, something went wrong (probably your graphics card wasn't detected correctly).
You should be taken right to a graphical desktop (of course, once in the desktop, you can configure it to act more like a traditional Linux/Unix system and set passwords -- just launch the user manager or, if you like command line tools, open K -> System -> Command Line Interpreter (Super User Mode) and use passwd).
The default username is 'arklinux' and the account is disabled, meaning you can log in only through autologin unless you set a password using the user manager. The root user (superuser) is setup in the same way (password disabled). The arklinux user has special capabilities (provided by the kapabilities tool) that allow it to perform certain (configurable) tasks normally only available to the root user (such as installing packages, stopping/starting network interfaces, running graphical setup tools, or opening a root shell without autolaunching a script -- nothing a malicious script could exploit).
Additionally, the arklinux user has the capability to log in on a local text mode console without a password, allowing you to log in to text mode if something went wrong.
This is not a security problem, assuming your machine is not physically accessible to malicious users -- if it is, we recommend turning the autologin feature off.
[edit] Why is it my favorite application or game is not included?
There are many possible reasons - ranging from a restrictive license to the fact that even a Linux distribution team can't possibly know all applications out there.
Please let us know what you'd like to see included in the Forum, and include a link to the application so we can take a look at it even if we weren't aware of it before.
[edit] Can I run my Windows programs?
The best answer is.. maybe.
Ark Linux includes Wine- - a compatibility layer that tries to provide the Windows application interface (API) on top of Linux.
Since Wine's implementation of the Windows API is completely independent from Microsoft's, both implementations have different bugs, and may work completely differently internally -- so applications written for one implementation and making use of its internals may not work correctly on the other.
Many applications and games are known to run in Wine, others will not - the only way to find out for sure whether your application can work is to try.
Since Wine is constantly under development, if something doesn't work today, it may well work tomorrow.
For a list of native Linux applications that can replace commonly used Windows applications, check this list. You may also check out the How to get Windows applications to run page.
[edit] (How) Can I help Ark Linux?
There are many ways in which you can help, regardless of who you are and what your skills are.
A list of examples (which is by no means complete -- if you have other ideas let us know!) can be found here.
[edit] How do I connect to the internet?
It depends on how you want to connect. If you are connecting via dsl or cable, then, usually, having the network cable connected to the computer's network card, before booting should do it.
Assuming your nic is supported by linux, and your modem is logged in, once you boot, you're connected.
If you are connecting via a modem, use kppp to set up the dialer. Assuming your modem is supported, you need to get the detail of your ISP setup from your ISP.
If you wish to connect via wireless, check out our Wireless Networking HOWTO.
[edit] Can I use a higher resolution than 1024x768?
Yes.
Ark Linux doesn't go beyond 1024x768 in its default installation as a workaround for some older hardware that can't identify the monitor correctly, and certain monitors refusing to display anything without a restart if they were set to a wrong resolution, even if they've been reset to a supported resolution afterwards.
A future version will have a graphical tool to fix this; in the mean time, the way to go to a higher resolution is editing a configuration file manually (you'll only have to do this once).
Detailed instructions on doing this can be found below:
- Go to "K -> System -> File Manager - Super User Mode".
- Navigate to the directory /etc/X11
- Click the right mouse button on the file xorg.conf, select "Open With", then "KWrite"
- Near the bottom of the file, you will find some lines saying: Modes "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" "320x200"
- Edit those lines, inserting the resolution(s) you want before "1024x768". A good line could read, for example: Modes "1920x1440" "1600x1200" "1280x1024" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" "320x200"
- Save the file (click "Save" in the "File" menu), exit the editor)
- Restart the graphical user interface by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Backspace (all open applications will be closed -- save your data first).
[edit] How do I rip my audio CDs?
The easiest way to rip a CD in Ark Linux is to rip them directly into your music collection in Amarok. To rip CDs this way, do the following:
- Open Amarok
- Go to the Files browser
- Type in audiocd:/ in the location bar there
- Navigate to whichever one of the types of files you're after (mp3, ogg, flac...)
- Select the tracks you wish to rip
- Drag those tracks, and hover over the Collection browser button, waiting for it to pop up the Collection browser :)
- Drop the files on the list-view
- Set the options you want for naming in the dialog which pops up there
- Wait. Note, you may have to wait a long time, and the progress bar may seem to be stuck. However, do not worry - Amarok is working in the background ripping that music for you.
- When the music has been ripped, you will be able to find it in the collection browser, along with the rest of your music.
Alternatively, you can open Konqueror (Kmenu -> Internet -> Konqueror) and type audiocd:/ into the location bar, and use this in the same manner you would in Amarok. Or, you can go to Kmenu -> Multimedia -> Kaudiocreator. Using these methods, however, when you go to open Amarok, it will take a bit longer for Amarok to add your new tracks to your collection.
[edit] Can I use something other than KDE?
Yes, although it is NOT recommended. Ark and just about everything in it's software repositories (the online place where installable software lives) is KDE centric. Also, using something other than KDE will make it hard for you to find support because most-if not, all-of Ark's users are also KDE Centric. But yes, it is possible to use something other than KDE; using something other than Fluxbox, you will, however, need to manually compile it and add it to the login screen yourself.
To use Fluxbox, go to Kmenu -> Mission Control -> Install Software or Kmenu -> System -> Kynaptic to install Fluxbox with a graphical utility, or (if you prefer a command line) Kmenu -> System -> Konsole and run apt-get update && apt-get install fluxbox (note that everything in that command is lower case).
[edit] Can I use a wireless connection instead of ethernet?
Yes, depending on your card. Some cards will work out of box, some will require a driver made for Windows, and few (VERY few) will not work. For instructions on how to use wireless, see Wireless Networking HOWTO.
[edit] Installing Software
So you want to install a program?
[edit] What is an RPM?
RPM stands for RPM Package Manager. Basically, a RPM is a program that's put into a compressed digital package so you can easily install it on your computer. Be careful what RPM you use, however-some RPMs are meant for distributions other than Ark, and installing an non-Ark RPM can damage your system. RPMs meant specifically for Ark are in the Ark software repositories, which can be accessed through either apt-get, Kmenu>System>Kynaptic, or Mission Control>Install Software.
If you decide to manually access the repository via a web browser (http://arklinux.oregonstate.edu/ or http://arklinux.oosuosl.org -- useful if you don't have Internet access on your Ark Linux computer and you need to use a different one to copy software over), you can install the RPM by single- or double-clicking it depending on your click settings-if you need anything else from the repository, simply download that as well, select both, and hit the enter key. For those who prefer working from the command line:
cd /place/where/RPM/is ; rpm -i file.rpm
Or for multiple RPMs:
cd /place/where/RPMs/are ; rpm -i *.rpm
[edit] What is a software repository?
Simply put, it is where installable software lives. For Ark, the software repositories are online and can be accessed through apt-get, Kmenu -> System -> Kynaptic, or <tt>Kmenu Mission Control -> Install Software; or, if you prefer a command line, you can go to Kmenu -> System -> Konsole and use apt-get update && apt-get install program_name to install software. On some other distros, there might be a repository disk, which is a CD or DVD version of the online repository.
For some people, instead of spelling out 'repositories', they will simply put 'repos'.
[edit] Can you tell me specifically about Ark's software repos?
Ark's software repositories are split into two main categories. One is call dockyard-devel. That is where most of the development for the next release of Ark goes on. Since it's mainly for development, it can be a bit unstable at times, so it's only recomended that you use this repository if you have an extra installation of Ark that you're not keeping important information on.
For most people, however, we have the dockyard repository. No-if not, very little-development goes on here. Only software that is both stable and has been proven to work with the current release of Ark is put here until the next release. Once the next release is available, all of dockyard is upgraded to this new release so that everyone can experience the benefits of the latest and greatest in the Ark OS.
[edit] What is apt-get?
apt-get is a way of accessing a software repository through the command line. A basic apt-get command looks like this:
apt-get update && apt-get install program_name
[edit] I don't feel comfortable using apt-get on the command line, is there a graphical tool to install software?
Sure there is. Ark uses a program called Kynaptic (the KDE version of Synaptic). There are two ways of getting to it. The easier way is to go into Mission Control and click on Install Software. Alternatively, if you want to access it through a menu or if you'd rather not open Mission Control, you can click on Kmenu>System>Kynaptic.
[edit] Development
Want to develop for Ark? Great!
[edit] What packaging system does Ark Linux use, and why?
Ark Linux uses a combination of rpm and apt-get.
We picked rpm primarily because it makes it easy to build packages even for people who aren't developers.
We picked apt-get because it's known to work well, and because, unlike most alternatives, it's written in a compiled language, which has a major advantage -- break your python interpreter, and with a package manager written in python, you're lost. With one written in C/C++, you can recover easily (apt-get install python)
[edit] How do I build my own packages?
Check here for a walkthrough of packaging for Ark Linux.
Once you've built the package and verified it works, please let us know - in the irc channel, the forum, or at info AT arklinux DOT org. If you intend to build and/or update packages frequently, we'll give you access to our build system so you can make your changes available to all users.
[edit] I would like to write programs myself. How do I get started?
Take a look at our list of tutorials.
If you need help, ask on the forums and/or Live Support.
[edit] What else can I do?
Check here.
[edit] Troubleshooting
Having problems? Check below.
[edit] I have a problem. How do I get help?
You're in the right place -- if the problem you're looking for isn't in this FAQ, ask in the Forum, or talk to us live through the Live support section on www.arklinux.org, or by pointing an IRC chat client at irc.arklinux.org, channel #arklinux.
Note that this is a volunteer project. Due to different timezones and due to the fact that we have other things to do at times, you may not get an answer immediately. The fact that a username is listed as being on the channel just means this person's computer is running and connected, it doesn't mean the user is actually at his or her keyboard.
[edit] I am trying to play an audio CD, and I do not hear anything.
Chances are you're missing a cable between the CD drive and the sound card/onboard sound chip. There are 2 ways a computer can play an Audio CD:
Method one
Tell the CD drive to play an audio CD, and the sound card to pass what it gets on its CD Input to the speakers. This is what kscd (the default CD player in Ark Linux) does, and it's what makes more sense: This doesn't need any CPU power. The downside to this method is that it needs a connection between the CD drive and the sound chip, which some hardware makers seem to "forget" (the connectors are there on all hardware - but apparently a small cable is deemed too expensive by some HW makers). If this is your problem, add the cable, or see below for a software solution
Method two
Tell the CD drive to send the audio tracks as data, encode them, and send the data to the sound card via the CPU - This is not exactly the smartest way because it puts unnecessary loads on the CPU and doesn't make use of functionality the hardware has -- but this is what Windows does, therefore you didn't notice this hardware defect before if you've just switched. There are also some Linux based CD players that use this approach -- try using mplayer or amarok instead of kscd
[edit] Installation just succeeded, but all I see is a flickering black screen.
That means the X server (which is the base of the graphical user interface) isn't starting up. This can have various reasons, the most common one is that your graphics card could not be detected correctly.
To fix this, you'll have to get to a command line without the flickering by turning off any attempts to enter the graphical user interface:
Reboot. In the grub menu (that is the menu listing all installed operating systems), move the cursor to the Ark Linux line using the arrow keys, then press e.
In the list that follows, move the cursor to the line starting with "kernel " using the arrow keys, and press e again.
Append " 3" (that's a space and a 3, no quotation maks) to the line, press enter, then press b.
Wait for the system to boot. You should now see a "localhost login:" prompt.
At the login prompt, type arklinux and press enter.
You should now see a command line prompt ("[arklinux@localhost ~]$"). Type Xorg and press enter. Note that file names are case sensitive, it's Xorg, not xorg or XORG.
This will flicker your screen once, and leave a message indicating why the X server didn't start up. We need this error message to know what exactly is going on (and how to fix it). Post the error message in the Forum, or in Live Support so we can figure out what's going wrong and how to fix it.
Please also let us know what graphics chipset you're using. If you don't know, you can find out by running /sbin/lspci. That will list all PCI devices you have, including the graphics chip.
It's always possible that you've run into a bug that has already been fixed, so you may want to try upgrading your system to the current development version and trying again. To do this (assuming you're connected to the Internet using an Ethernet cable on a DHCP compatible network), run su -, and at the new prompt, type apt-get update; apt-get -t dockyard-devel dist-upgrade and press enter. If it asks for confirmation, press y and press enter.
If running Xorg results in a black screen with a mouse cursor shaped like an X after the upgrade, all is ok -- simply reboot to get to the real GUI).
Things to try if it still fails:
Run /sbin/init-rescue x. This will bring up a recovery tool.
If this doesn't work, switch to the VESA driver. This is a generic driver that will work on almost any graphics card, but won't support its specific acceleration features. Edit the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf, e.g. by running nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf. Look for a line saying Section "Screen". A couple of lines below that, you'll find a line saying Driver "Your graphics card". Change that to Driver "Generic VESA SVGA".
[edit] My monitor turns itself off after booting
That means the X server (which is the base of the graphical user interface) is asking for refresh rates (Hz) that your monitor doesn't handle (chances are you're using an old monitor).
To fix this, you'll have to get to a command line without the flickering by turning off any attempts to enter the graphical user interface:
Reboot. In the grub menu (that is the menu listing all installed operating systems), move the cursor to the Ark Linux line using the arrow keys, then press e.
In the list that follows, move the cursor to the line starting with "kernel " using the arrow keys, and press e again.
Append " 3" (that's a space and a 3, no quotation maks) to the line, press enter, then press b.
Wait for the system to boot. You should now see a "localhost login:" prompt.
At the login prompt, type arklinux and press enter.
You should now see a command line prompt ("[arklinux@localhost ~]$").
Type "su -" (without the quotation marks) to get system administration permissions.
Edit the file /etc/X11/xorg.conf (note that file names are case sensitive and the "11" is an eleven - it's /etc/capital X eleven/xorg.conf) by running "nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf".
In Ark Linux versions older than 2007.1-rc1, we enforce fairly safe standard refresh rates.
Look for lines saying
VertRefresh something HorizSync something
In a first try, let the monitor try to set its own refresh rates by just commenting out those lines, by prefixing them with the "#" character.
In Ark Linux 2007.1-rc1 and newer, we default to asking the monitor what refresh rates it can handle - unfortunately some (mostly older) monitors report invalid values, so you may have to enforce refresh rates the way older releases did. Look for
# VertRefresh something # HorizSync something
and remove the "#" character to activate those lines.
Save the file and exit.
Run Xorg (again, note that file names are case sensitive, it's Xorg, not xorg or XORG). If the monitor doesn't turn itself off, you're ready to go -- reboot and you'll be on the desktop.
If it still turns itself off, edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf again.
Remove the "#" characters you added, and make the refresh rates something your monitor can handle (consult the monitor's manual for details).
Something like
VertRefresh 60 HorizSync 31.5-60
is very likely to work.
[edit] Sound does not work!
Some ALSA drivers are slightly buggy and prefer being addressed through OSS emulation over being treated as a real ALSA driver. Try switching the audio device in KControl -> Sound & Multimedia -> Sound System -> Hardware to "Open Sound System"
[edit] Some web sites say "unsupported browser", some others give blank pages...
That's because some web designers don't care about browsers that don't have a huge market share - these designers use stupid conditionals like
if(browser == "Internet Explorer") do something else if(browser == "Firefox") do something else
Implying "if the browser is neither Internet Explorer nor Firefox, don't do anything at all". Konqueror can fix this for you though: go to the page that won't display, then go to the "Tools" menu, and use "Change Browser Identification". This will cause Konqueror to (mis-)identify itself as a different browser to the broken website, causing it to work correctly.
Alternatively, you can install Firefox via Mission Control -> Install Software
[edit] I have created a new user and turned off autologin, and now I cannot get into the arklinux or root accounts!
As explained here the arklinux and root accounts are locked by default for increased security.
Unless you explicitly disabled this, you can log in as "arklinux" without a password in text mode (press Ctrl+Alt+F1 to get there).
Once you did that, type
"su -" to get a root shell, from there, type "passwd arklinux" to set a password on the arklinux user and "passwd" to set a password on the root user.
You can now log in without autologin, using the passwords you specified.
[edit] I installed the proprietary ATI driver from an RPM i found somewhere, now Ark will not boot properly
Installing the ATI driver from an RPM from the ATI website, will break your opengl installation even before you enable the driver, causing your X to not start up on bootup. To fix the problem, perform the following steps to revert back to the state of your system before installing the driver.
- Reboot your system into text mode, as described elsewhere.
- Log in as arklinux (type in arklinux and press enter at the login prompt)
- Run the following commands, and upon their completion, reboot the machine and let it start up as normal:
rpm -e --nodeps xorg xorg-Mesa-libGL Xdriver-ati /usr/sbin/apt-get -f install /usr/sbin/apt-get install xorg xorg-Mesa-libGL Xdriver-ati
[edit] I am using 2007.1 or dockyard and cannot get online through Ethernet
Firstly, make sure your cable is connected before boot.
If you are using a DHCP server on your network and still can't connect, there is a simple solution for this. Go to Kmenu -> System -> Command Line Interpreter - Super User Mode and type:
dhclient eth0
If this gets you online, then launch your favorite text editor from super user and add the above dhclient command to the file /etc/rc.local. This will cause it to connect you at bootup.
Note: This should no longer be necessary as of our 2008.1 release (currently our dockyard-devel test release).
[edit] I cannot install Ark. I am using a SATA drive
We recommend using the more current version, 2008.1. 2007.1 does not work with AHCI SATA drives, unfortunately. Alternatively, you can try docyard (do not confuse dockyard and dockyard-devel; dockyard is the latest stable development version while dockyard-devel is the latest and possibly UNSTABLE development version). There should be an option to install dockyard or 2008.1 on the download page (http://www.arklinux.org/content/en/106).
[edit] About this FAQ
[edit] There was already a FAQ on the main web site, why is this FAQ here?
Simple, since this FAQ is on the Ark Wiki, people can edit it. That means that people can add to the FAQ when they notice a question being asked a lot, or edit it when they see something that isn't explained clearly. People may also add solutions to existing FAQs. Eventually, this FAQ may become better than the FAQ on the web site.
[edit] Who wrote the main FAQ from the web site? Who copied it here?
A combination of people. The developers wrote the main faq from the web site (which may be found here). This main FAQ was copied over to this page by a supporting user of Ark Linux. If you really must know who copied this over, click the History link at the top of this page, though this user would prefer you didn't!
[edit] Who asked the Frequently Asked Questions?
Mainly our users. We also tried to anticipate a few questions.
