I wanted to try the i386 setup for the Flash setup is different than x86_64, I also wanted to try the Linux kernel 3.0.0-1-686-pae.
Installing on Acer Aspire Revo mini computer, These are steps I took to get the setup I wanted.
Go here to Download Debian Testing net installation. (Saves how much you will need to download)
Install how you like. I went with the defaults for the applications.
Applications you will need to setup the Nvidia drivers.
# apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r`
# apt-get install gcc make
Nvidia Video Driver setup:
Go to Nvidia website and download the Nvidia software for ION , Click Here to Download.
At a command prompt type # init 1 (This disable windows and put you at a command prompt, enter root password)
Change to directory you downloaded Nvidia too
# cd /home/username/Download/
# chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86-280.13.run
# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-280.13.run follow the instructions, when asked about the run level (just except that everything is OK, that the nouveau driver is running, have the script disable it, you will have to restart and run this script again. If you see a gcc error, (just except the error and continue).
Restart system
You will need to install pulseaudio and dependencies, pavucontrol and paprefs
# apt-get install pulseaudio pavucontrol paprefs
Sound Setup:
Sound setup through HDMI, Used some information from this website www.greenhughes.com
# nano /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
and add at the bottom of the file
options snd-hda-intel model=6stack-dig
Gnome Sound Setup:
Make sure and also change the sound configuration in Gnome windows manager sound tool. Go to System, Preferences, Sound, Hardware and change to Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input. After making all theses changes make sure to reboot.
To get the sound to go through the HDMI cable:
Create a /etc/asound.conf and add below:
pcm.!default {
type plug
slave {
pcm “hw:0,3″
}
}
ctl.!default {
type hw
card 0
device 3
}
To install current Flash, Go to System, Administration, Synaptic Package Manager, Setting, Repositories, Check off Officially supported (main) ( Or make sure it is checked off).
Quick search for flashplugin-nonfree and install, or you can use command below.
# apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree
Some other applications I like to install.
$ sudo apt-get install chromium-browser roxterm leafpad (Of course there is a lot more application you can install)
I like to use Dropbox, but you need to install from the source package.
$ sudo apt-get install docutils-common libnautilus-extension
Change into the directory you download into.
$ cd /home/username/Downloads
$ bunzip2 nautilus-dropbox-0.6.9.tar.bz2
$ ./configure
$ make
$ sudo make install
$ dropbox start -i (Now you can do the rest of the installation.)
Performance Adjustments I like to do
Swap Tweak added to the sysctl.conf file. sudo sysctl -p
# Change the system on how it uses Swap Space (Default 60)
vm.swappiness = 10
# Don’t shrink the inode cache aggressively (Default 100)
vm.vfs_cache_pressure = 50
# Network Performance Adjustments.
net.core.rmem_max = 4194304
net.core.wmem_max = 4194304
# Decrease the time default value for tcp_fin_timeout connection
net.ipv4.tcp_fin_timeout = 30
# Decrease the time default value for tcp_keepalive_time connection
net.ipv4.tcp_keepalive_time = 1800
# Turn off the tcp_window_scaling
net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 0
# Turn off the tcp_sack
net.ipv4.tcp_sack = 0
# Turn off the tcp_timestamps
net.ipv4.tcp_timestamps = 0
Change I/O Scheduler: Seems to give a better feeling on the desktop, no hesitation when doing big copies, backups etc, may affect other workloads on the system.
# sudo nano /etc/rc.local
test -f /sys/block/sda/queue/scheduler &&
echo deadline > /sys/block/sda/queue/scheduler
File System Tweak
This can help with reads and writes to hard drives, SSD drives may really like this.
sudo nano /etc/fstab
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0