How to manage your Debian install with Smxi
The Smxi script is an excellent tool for Debian users. Users can automatically install GPU drivers (and patches), install desktop environments, software, system-clean up, and more with ease.
If you’re looking to simplify the maintenance on your Debian Linux workstation, personal computer, or home server, this app is for you. Follow this guide to learn how to manage your Debian install with Smxi.
Installing Smxi on Debian (and Debian derivatives)
You’ll need to open up a terminal window to get going with the Smxi maintenance script on your Debian system. You can open up a terminal window on the Debian desktop by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on the keyboard. Or by searching for “Terminal” in the app menu.
With the terminal window open, use the apt-get install command to install the wget downloader tool and the unzip tool. You will need both of these programs to use Smxi on Debian.
Note: you will also need to install Rsync if you do not have it installed already.
sudo apt-get install wget unzip
Upon entering the command above, Debian will ask you for your password. Using the keyboard, write in your user account password and press the Enter key to submit it.
With your password submitted, Debian will ask you to press the Y button to confirm you wish to install the packages. Press Y on the keyboard to confirm. Once you do, Debian will install the packages.
Now that both wget and unzip are installed use the download tool to grab the latest release of Smxi on your system.
wget https://smxi.org/smxi.zip
When the Smxi ZIP archive is done downloading, use the mkdir command to create a “bin” folder in your home directory (~).
mkdir -p ~/bin
With the folder created, use the unzip -d command to extract the contents of “smxi.zip” into the new folder.
unzip smxi.zip -d ~/bin/
With everything extracted, you’ll be able to install the Smxi tool on your Debian system using the rsync command.
sudo rsync -a ~/bin/ /usr/local/bin/
Once the Rsync command is finished running, you’ll be able to run Smxi. However, Smxi must be run with the root account and not sudo.
su - smxi
Note: you will not be able to access the Smxi tool if you do not have a root password configured on Debian. To set up a root password, log into root with sudo using sudo -s. Then, execute the passwd command. Running these two commands will set up your root account password.
How to manage your Debian install with Smxi
To manage your Debian install with Smxi, start logging into your root account using the su – command.
su -
After logging into the root account in the terminal, run the smxi command. Running this command will start up the Smxi script.
When you execute the smxi command, you’ll see, “Since you are currently not in X, selecting 1 will shut down all instances of any detected desktop/X”. So press 1 to shut down and continue with Smxi.
Note: if shutting down X with Smxi doesn’t work, press Ctl + Alt + F2 – F7 to access a TTY terminal console. You can then run smxi.
After shutting down X, Smxi will ask you if you wish to add Liqourix Kernel Sources to your Debian Linux system. Adding these sources will allow you to get more out of the Linux kernel.
Press 1 to add the sources. Suppose you wish not to add sources, press 2.
Once the Liqourix Kernel Sources are added, Smxi will check if you have non-free/contrib sources enabled. Suppose you wish to add these sources; press 1 on the keyboard. Or, select 2 if you do not want to add it.
After adding Liqourix, Smxi will ask what kernel configuration to use. Select Liqourix (3) for better multimedia and gaming support. Otherwise, choose Debian (1). It’ll then attempt to install the kernel, which could take a while.
Press 2 to continue to other Smxi functions when the kernel installation is complete.
Other Smxi functions
There are quite a few other Smxi functions that users can utilize to manage Debian, such as “package-install,” “package-removal,” “clean-up-stuff,” “miscellaneous-tweaks”, “LibreOffice hold/install/update,” “virtual-machine-installer,” and “kernel-options.”
Once you’ve accessed the Smxi area, choose a function. For more information on the functions, check out the information below.
package-install
To install a package with Smxi, press 1 on the keyboard. Once you press 1, it will list out available packages for installation. Choose from the list of available options by pressing the corresponding number on the keyboard. When you press the number, Smxi will install your package.
package-removal
Need to remove a package with Smxi? Press 2 on the keyboard to access “package-removal.” After accessing the package removal page, you’ll see a list of packages to remove. Enter the number corresponding with the package you wish to remove from Debian.
clean-up-stuff
To clean up Smxi, press 3 on the keyboard. Once you press the 3 button, you’ll load up the “clean-up-stuff” area. You’ll then see a list of 8 clean options. Select one of the clean options in Smxi to “clean up” Debian.
miscellaneous-tweaks
If you need to install video drivers, Mozilla product tweaks, Libre Office tweaks, or other tweaks, select the 4 button to access “miscellaneous-tweaks.” Choose from the list of tweaks you’d like to perform on Debian using the Smxi tool.
virtual-machine-installer
Setting up VirtualBox on Debian is more tedious than other Linux operating systems, as it does not come included with the system. If you wish to set up Vbox with Smxi, press 5 on the keyboard.
kernel-options
If you’re not satisfied with the kernel, you set up in Debian and want to tweak it, press 6 on the keyboard. It will open up the kernel options area, where you can install alternative kernels using Smxi.
Other things to do with Smxi
There are a lot of things that Smxi can do. In this article, we’ve covered the basics. However, feel free to explore Smxi to learn about the other functions not covered in this post.
