Split Linux

cross-posted from: https://zoo.splitlinux.org/post/5397

While working on v0.18.3.2 the other day, I published a script to automate reproducible Monero builds in Split Linux.

It's not a highly-adopted Linux distribution and so when v0.18.3.3 quickly followed I wondered how I could help those of you who want to stick with what they already use.

I figured you can build entirely from the Live environment if you have at least 16GB of RAM:

1. Boot a copy of Split Linux from a pendrive
2. Ensure you're connected to the Internet (/etc/wpa_supplicant/ for Wifi)
3. Mount a tmpfs: mount -t tmpfs -o size=12G lxc /var/lib/lxc
4. Download and run the linked script
5. Copy the results to where you need them

I hope this gets you on track to joining us as a signer for the official Monero binaries.

cross-posted from: https://zoo.splitlinux.org/post/5266

This is a script I made to assist in reproducibly building the Monero binaries on Split Linux, the distribution that splits your various identities into separate TTY's.

The logic creates a containerized vanilla Ubuntu install where it then executes the Gitian-Docker build variant.

An upcoming Split Linux version will ship the script, but I thought I'd do a little pre-release so you may build the recently released Monero v0.18.3.2.

Usage

While logged in as root to any TTY, ideally in a tmux window, run

OS=l ./monero-gitian.sh  [container_name]

• OS can be any lower-case initial of "Linux", "Android", "FreeBSD", "Windows" or "MacOS". Set OS=lafwm to build all (required for sharing your results via the official channel).
• Github username is used for correctly naming directories in case in intend to publish your checksums later on.
• Optional container name can be freely chosen, as long it doesn't clash with an existing one (defaults to gitian-TIMESTAMP).

At the password prompts, simply provide a matching one each time.

The resulting binaries can be used as-is as long as you are on a supported platform and using glibc.

To learn how to sign and publish your results, refer to Monero's Gitian documentation.

1e4be74189b98570f471de21fc9c46bece6b3ca9dc298fdf502acbde95dcf624

See Release history for details.

Remember: Official community communication happens on zoo.splitlinux.org.

3152791b9f0f055390bb24ca7dced624edc31b0f8040dfb3ab10ac70ead1a257

See Release history for details.

Upstream is replacing sxiv by nsxiv.

This command sequence should allow for a seamless transition for any Beast user:

XDG_CONFIG_HOME="${XDG_CONFIG_HOME:-$HOME/.config}"
mv "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/sxiv" "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/nsxiv"
ln -s "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/nsxiv" "$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/sxiv"

Specifically, the above mitigates this error:

sxiv: /home/<user>/.config/nsxiv/exec/key-handler: No such file or directory

26bd661e10921fd2b9d17a7a8da1571067948424f985c08922e53559c5609566

See Release history for details.

From now onwards, releases are versioned to the kernel version they ship.

Few hosting companies offer Void Linux on their Virtual Private Servers. Apart from being handy for general bare-metal installations, the playbooks should simplify the switch from other pre-installed Linux distributions.

I created them in an effort to prepare moving Split Linux away from Big Tech infrastructure and services. Middle to long-term plans and considerations are:

• Community communication on individual Fediverse instance
• Protect users who visit and download Split Linux from generalized monitoring
• Simplify setup of Homemade VPN's
• Create Split Linux identities (containers) from Void Linux ROOTFS (playbook LXC variant)

Our update to Monero 0.18 has been accepted, meaning that Void and Split Linux users alike can again rely on their package manager to obtain the version compatible with the current Monero network.

Split's default environment, The Beast Desktop, comes with Monero CLI pre-installed.

Additionally, in Split Linux only, the miner package has been updated. Users locking their screens with Shift+Pause will have their machine mine Monero, helping safeguard the network, no additional steps required.

Details in the handbook: https://docs.splitlinux.org/the-beast-desktop/beast-scripts/BDmine_monero.html

Documentation of Split Linux and The Beast Desktop has just been started at https://docs.splitlinux.org!

A PDF version can be downloaded via https://docs.splitlinux.org/splitlinux-handbook.pdf.

There's a lot of void to be filled and your contributions are more than welcome!

After the recent post about AirVPN I realized that there must be more VPNs that accept connections from Tor:

Like so:
you -> tor -> VPN -> internet

NOT:
you -> VPN -> tor -> internet

I started to pick some providers from the "VPN Companies" at https://monerica.com to verify.

SnowHaze's "Firewall Bypass" configuration works and I'll be looking at Xeovo next.

If you already have VPN accounts with other providers, please let us know if they connect when setting socks-proxy 172.1X.0.2 9050 in your config, so we can compile a list for all Split Linux users.

AirVPN currently runs a Halloween promotion where you can get three years for less than half a Monero.

It's the only VPN that I am aware of that allows you to connect through Tor. (Others who tout Tor usually mean that they allow you to use Tor after you connected to them via clearnet, compromising your privacy.)

If you happen to need VPN for one of your Split Linux idententities and want to support the project, feel free to use our referral link to sign up:

https://vpn.splitlinux.org

See https://splitlinux.org/posts/the-beast-desktop-environment--changelog.html

7161f6ac83e2796b79e6d4369b749ce414aec5f4a25ba09d02e645a229ec623a

See Release history for details.

For machines with multiple encrypted devices this release allows to skip the manual device-selection at boot.

Beast's functionality is provided through several modules. I've started to document the development progress of those modules in the form of a changelog.

As of today, the history of the module beast-scripts is outlined at https://splitlinux.org/posts/the-beast-desktop-environment--changelog.html .

Documentation for further modules will likely be added to the same page.

a6cadc3677bcf704639a90a35aa694d5ff47b2ad4eabcd56d88aa25b3933c2f8

See Release history for details.

Last year we lost many people who made this a more interesting world. Mircea Popescu and John McAfee were among the colorful ones, but often those least famous leave the greatest dents in the universe. Hence this release is dedicated to JStark1809. May you rest in extreme peace.

<retracted - see next release instead>

(OP u/Barp_the_Wire)

I run Void on all my machines and love its simplicity and ease of use. Today I discovered Split and I must say I am very impressed by all the work you have put into it. Wanting to learn how it works I mounted the ISO file locally and dug through create_void_container but could not find where the magic happens that makes a user who logs in to land inside a container rather than the host machine.

Does just copying the content of /etc/shadow do some magic here? Any hint would be very welcome, thanks in advance.

7088fd01b00eaf962c85ba11ed4f1fc934566049461d89144d3d492adf8255d6

See Release history for details.

PS: Remember to print for liberty.

I added a bit of history about Beast and the motivation and intention behind creating it. The section shall help understand why it is designed the way it is and that it is the way it should be.

You can read it on the official website on the page titled The Beast Desktop Environment.

Jesse Smith dove into Split Linux to create this excellent DistroWatch feature story.

It manages to explain the concept of the decoy OS in a simple manner and even has some screenshots of the Beast desktop environment which was recently added to our repositories as an optional package for Void Linux containers.

Articles like this are great motivation to move forward and provide valuable feedback. Scripting the initial hard drive setup and moving the Tor service output away from tty0 can easily be implemented and will greatly improve user experience. Thanks to the suggestions both will now be made a priority.

Thank you Jesse.

1ee709b2ab9c547105f73d3c47d417b9e2c2b6328717f598cdfc3539c762b231

See Release history for details.

0681621d58090567555fe7a73f791fbba769b435cd1c1793d7a106970c770d1a

See Release history for details.