Notes: Nitrux 5.0.0

• For a list of system requirements, see the System Requirements section.
• To install the distribution on a computer, see Installing Nitrux.
• Since Nitrux 3.2.1, our ISO files are signed with a GPG key to ensure their authenticity, and we only provide SHA512 checksum files to ensure their integrity; see Verify the ISO Integrity and Authenticity.

• Un[u̶s̶e̶d̶]cached RAM is wasted RAM
  • Starting with Nitrux 3.7.1, you may notice that the system uses more RAM than previous versions. This increase primarily results from our optimizations. These changes enable better handling of high-speed network traffic, improved caching mechanisms, and enhanced system responsiveness. Higher memory usage in this context indicates that the system is leveraging available resources more effectively to deliver a smoother, more efficient user experience.
• Why This Matters
  • Faster Network Performance:
    • Enhanced Buffer Sizes: Larger TCP buffers allow the system to handle higher data throughput, reducing latency and improving overall network stability.
    • Efficient Packet Handling: Increased packet queues enable better management of burst traffic, minimizing packet loss during high network loads.
  • Smoother Multitasking:
    • Increased Caching: Allocating more RAM to application and filesystem caches enables faster application launches and faster access to frequently used files, enhancing productivity during heavy workloads.
    • Optimized Memory Management: Adjustments keep more data in memory before writing to disk, reducing I/O wait times and improving overall system performance.
  • Improved Stability:
    • Higher Free Memory Thresholds: Maintaining higher free memory levels prevents memory shortages that could lead to stalling or reduced performance during intensive tasks.
• Rest Assured
  • Nitrux uses the hardware capabilities to ensure top-tier performance and reliability. The observed increase in RAM usage demonstrates our commitment to delivering a smoother, faster, and more secure user experience by intelligently leveraging available memory. The system ensures resources are not idle by using available RAM for caching, buffering, and managing system processes, resulting in a more responsive and efficient computing experience. Modern operating systems intelligently manage memory allocation. If applications require more memory, the system reallocates resources as needed, ensuring that critical tasks receive the necessary memory without manual intervention.

• Since Nitrux 5.0.0, Nitrux no longer supports virtual machines out of the box, and we’ve removed the X.Org X server — QXL display driver, Hyper-V, and SPICE integration by default.
  • ⚠️ Important: Bug reports related to virtual machines will be closed in the bug tracker.

• Nitrux provides multiple ways to encrypt information, including block-device encryption with dm-crypt (see File Encryption in Nitrux), filesystem-level encryption with f2fs-crypt, and userland encryption tools like fscrypt.
• Nitrux enables multiple security features and policies by default in addition to any encryption capabilities; see Default Security Policies in Nitrux.
• Since Nitrux 2.6.0, the root directory is immutable by default; see XFS Features and Root Immutability in Nitrux.

• To upgrade from previous versions of Nitrux, see How to Upgrade Nitrux.

• Nitrux is a distribution that doesn’t revolve around a package manager like other distributions; in Nitrux, the preferred way to install new software is via AppBoxes. However, we understand that not all software is available as an AppBox. So, by default, we have included various options for users, such as Flatpak and Distrobox, to complement AppBoxes.
  • To learn how to manage software in Nitrux, see the tutorial about Software Management.
• Users can also create their own AppBoxes; see the NX AppHub wiki for more information.

• Nitrux users have been able to back up their data using Kup since version 1.1.9 (July 27th, 2019). You can find Kup in System Settings→Backups.
  • To use it, see How to create backups using Kup.

• Nitrux does not use systemd as its init system; instead, it uses OpenRC.
  
  • See How to create service files in Nitrux pt. 1: OpenRC will create and use system services.
  • See How to create service files in Nitrux pt. 2: User to create and use user services.

• By default, Nitrux uses Hyprland, Waybar, and Crystal Dock to put together the desktop. However, users can install other desktop environments or window managers using Distrobox. For more information, see our tutorial, Installing other DEs in Nitrux.
  • ⚠️ Important: Using Distrobox to install other desktop environments is considered an “an experiment” by the Distrobox developer, so keep that in mind.

• Starting with Nitrux 2.8.1, the distribution uses a Wayland session by default.
• Screen sharing is still an issue in Wayland for applications like Discord or Zoom, especially when sharing the entire screen; sharing individual windows may work under Wayland.
  • ⚠️ Important: Since Nitrux 5.0.0, Nitrux does notinclude any X11 session. To use an X11 session, try installing a compatible X11 window manager or desktop environment with Distrobox.

• Since Nitrux 2.6.0, the distribution uses PipeWire by default.

• Due to a significant issue with MESA from Git preventing any keyboard input, Nitrux no longer includes development versions of MESA.
• If using a graphics processor that uses MESA drivers and the GUI does not work, check whether your GPU is loading its firmware. To check, run the following command after logging in to a TTY.

lspci -v | grep -A 10 -i "VGA compatible controller"
lshw -C display

• Since Nitrux 5.0.0, the distribution includes the NVIDIA Linux Open GPU Kernel Module by default in only one of the released ISO files.
  • ⚠️ Important: We strongly recommend that users with NVIDIA GPUs use the correct ISO file; likewise, users of AMD/Intel GPUs should use the correct ISO file.

• Nitrux uses either the Liquorix kernel or the CachyOS-patched (by ferreo), both are enthusiast Linux kernels designed for uncompromised responsiveness.

• For a general overview of gaming-related topics in Nitrux, see Gaming in Nitrux pt. 1: Get Started and Gaming in Nitrux pt. 2: Extra Goodies.
• Nitrux includes desktop launchers for installing Steam, Bottles, and the Heroic Games Launcher from the applications menu; Nitrux does not include these applications by default.
  • 🔰 Information: Their respective install scripts will install the applications in the background after clicking the launcher in the application menu. Installation time will vary depending on the speed of the Internet connection.
• Alternatively, users can install Lutris (from Flathub) to run Windows software.
• Nitrux includes a desktop launcher to install the itch.io Store application, which downloads and runs the official Linux installer; Nitrux does not include this application by default.
  • 🔰 Information: For more information about running the itch.io Store application in Nitrux, see itch.io Store.

• Kernel Boot makes it friendlier to load other Linux kernels on the fly, enabling a faster transition from the currently running kernel to a new one and avoiding the time-consuming hardware initialization and bootloader stages. It performs the following steps:
  1. Reads the settings in the specified configuration file.
  2. Then, it uses Kexec to load the selected kernel using the parameters from the configuration file.
     • 🔰 Information: To learn how to use Kernel Boot, see How to use Kernel Boot.
• In kernel-related topics, for manual building kernel modules using DKMS, see How to Use DKMS in Nitrux.

• To install hypervisors such as VirtualBox, VMware Workstation, or GNOME Boxes, see our tutorial on Installing Hypervisors in Nitrux.

• Nitrux includes energy-optimizing software like Powertop and power-profiles-daemon.
  • 🔰 Information: To adequately use Powertop, run it while using the battery so its auto-tune functionality creates the file “saved_results.powertop” in /var/cache/powertop. When using Powertop for calibration, it will toggle various functions, such as the backlight or WiFi. Thus, it may turn your screen black for a while, cause a network connection loss, etc. Do not touch the machine during the calibration.
  • 🔰 Information: Powertop needs to run 370+ measurements before correctly displaying values for the power usage estimation. Each lasts 20 seconds, meaning Powertop must run for 1h30 in total. To do this, run the commands below. Check the available options in Powertop by running the following command powertop --help.
    • ⚠️ Important: The command below creates files in the root directory; see XFS Features and Root Immutability in Nitrux for more information.

sudo overlayroot-chroot

mount -t devtmpfs dev /dev

powertop --calibrate

sync

umount /dev

exit

• Nitrux has seven virtual consoles, or TTYs (e.g., TTY #1, TTY #2, etc.), accessible via key combinations  Ctrl+Alt+{F1-F7} by default; some hardware configurations can create additional TTYs, such as laptops using NVIDIA Optimus. Each console can run a separate login session. The graphical session may be available in different TTYs depending on the hardware. Switching to a different TTY can cause graphical corruption in certain setups, e.g., switching from TTY #7 to TTY #2. To work around this issue, switch to a different TTY before switching to the TTY with the graphical session.

• Run the following commands to edit the GRUB Menu, such as adding or modifying kernel parameters.
  • ⚠️ Important: This action requires modifying files in the root directory; see XFS Features and Root Immutability in Nitrux.

sudo overlayroot-chroot

mount -t devtmpfs dev /dev

mount -t auto $(findfs LABEL=NX_VAR_LIB) /var/lib

micro /etc/default/grub

# (... do stuff...)

update-grub

sync

umount /dev /var/lib

exit

• When booting with UEFI, press Escape to display the GRUB menu after the manufacturer logo.
  • ⚠️ Important: The GRUB menu will not be displayed in VirtualBox or GNOME Boxes unless there’s an additional entry in GRUB to display a menu; pressing Escape has no effect.
• When booting with Legacy BIOS, press Shift to display the GRUB menu after the manufacturer logo.

• Visit the following link to see how to contribute to the distribution.
• Nitrux is exclusively a 64-bit Linux distribution; we do not use, include, or provide support for 32-bit software.
• Here are various articles, tutorials, and other resources on our blog.