No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

BoneZ · 2020-12-28 22:46:27

ISSUE 1: Refracta OS (and Devuan Beowulf also)
I already mentioned this on the Devuan part of the forum, but I just built a new AMD system this week based on an X570 motherboard and 5900x CPU. I installed Refracta OS and even Devuan Beowulf (alongside Windows on a separate partition) and could not get either the WiFi nor the Ethernet to work. So that means no updating or installing. This is not an issue on Ubuntu-based distros.

This was also not an issue on my previous AMD system with a B450 motherboard and 3700x CPU. Just for reference, this new system has the Intel WiFi 6 AX200 160 Mhz chip, and Realtek PCIe 2.5GbE Ethernet chip. Just wanted to report this issue for future updates of Devuan. I enjoy using Devuan/Refracta OS on one of my PC's as a lightweight distro that just works well. However with no networking, that is currently not possible on newer systems. I'm also a Linux noob, so I won't be doing any building of driver packages, etc.

ISSUE 2: Refracta Snapshot issues on Linux Mint
So because I couldn't get Refracta OS nor Devuan working with networking, I installed Linux Mint. I was able to get Refracta Snapshot installed with dependencies but ran into a couple of issues.

1.) After installing Refracta base and GUI (latest versions), the icon to start the GUI in the start menu would not start the program. Clicking on it caused nothing to happen. However, when running the base and GUI from the command line, they both ran just fine. Not a major issue.

2.) This one is more of a bigger issue: After getting Refracta Snapshot running on Mint, I was trying to do a test image just to make sure it was working properly. After doing the config files and started the Snapshot, I got an error that said "Missing kernel_image and/or initrd_image" and then making sure the config file was pointing to the correct location for these in the config file.

So I searched and found this post on this forum where he changed the location of those two files to "/boot" in the config as that is where they are located in Ubuntu and Mint (as far as my noobness can tell and the other poster also mentions). However, after changing the locations of the files in the config file, I was still getting the same error. So now I'm stuck lol.

fsmithred · 2020-12-29 15:36:58

1. Try the iso with the backports kernel.

2. Show me the log. /var/log/refractasnapshot.log (email or paste.debian.net)
If you run the cli script, start it with the -d option (--debug) so that there's some useful information in the log. If you use the gui script, it will do that automatically.

BoneZ · 2020-12-31 03:03:19

fsmithred wrote:

2. Show me the log. /var/log/refractasnapshot.log (email or paste.debian.net)
If you run the cli script, start it with the -d option (--debug) so that there's some useful information in the log. If you use the gui script, it will do that automatically.

Thanks for the reply. Apparently I was typing the path wrong in the config file. RefractaSnapshot seems to be working so far on Mint. Easiest install on Mint to date.

BoneZ · 2021-01-05 18:17:06

fsmithred wrote:

1. Try the iso with the backports kernel.
2. Show me the log. /var/log/refractasnapshot.log (email or paste.debian.net)
If you run the cli script, start it with the -d option (--debug) so that there's some useful information in the log. If you use the gui script, it will do that automatically.

Just wanted to report 2 things:

1.) Sound is also not working on Refracta OS (and also Devuan).

2.) After getting a few ISO's created in Mint, they stopped working correctly. As in, Refracta Snapshot will create the ISO, but after a few working ISO's, they will not load correctly from the USB (I tried multiple USB). I was getting a continuous countdown at the menu, and one time it eventually said "Can't load kernel" or something to that affect.

fsmithred · 2021-01-05 20:32:02

1. On devuan you have to edit /etc/pulse/client.conf.d/00-disable-autospawn to get sound.
On Refracta, that's not an option because pulseaudio is not installed. Sound works out of the box in most cases. What does aplay -l show? Is the hardware too new for the debian kernel?

2. Not enough info to diagnose the problem. Check the log. Maybe delete the work directory if you're saving it between runs. Maybe something got mangled there and it's not getting cleard on subsequent runs.

BoneZ · 2021-01-08 02:13:16

fsmithred wrote:

Maybe something got mangled there and it's not getting cleard on subsequent runs.

I didn't have it set to save the work. I was trying to edit the main selection menu when this happened and thought I messed something up. But then I removed and reinstalled RefractaSnapshot. Same issue. Then I reformatted the partition, reinstalled RefractaSnapshot. Same issue. I then completely removed that partition, created another partition on a different drive, reinstalled Mint and RefractaSnapshot. Same issue.

I am now in the process of trying Mint with RefractaSnapshot before I update it this time (thinking something recently got updated causing Snapshot to stop working). I'm also going to try Ubuntu as well and see if it's still the same on that OS. Unless I can get Devuan working with networking and sound lol.

Last edited by BoneZ (2021-01-08 02:15:49)

fsmithred · 2021-01-08 10:02:43

I realize I didn't give you a link to the test iso I mentioned. See if you can get the network up with this iso. It has a newer kernel which will work with newer hardware.
https://get.refracta.org/files/experime … 9_0205.iso

BoneZ · 2021-01-10 05:06:03

fsmithred wrote:

I realize I didn't give you a link to the test iso I mentioned. See if you can get the network up with this iso. It has a newer kernel which will work with newer hardware.
https://get.refracta.org/files/experime … 9_0205.iso

I tried it and WiFi works. However the OS is too basic for my needs. I'll just wait for Refracta OS to be updated to the latest kernel and drivers to support newer tech since I can't get RefractaSnapshot to work any other way. Thank you!

BoneZ · 2021-01-14 03:57:19

fsmithred wrote:

I realize I didn't give you a link to the test iso I mentioned. See if you can get the network up with this iso. It has a newer kernel which will work with newer hardware.
https://get.refracta.org/files/experime … 9_0205.iso

I can't make any live CD on a USB now. They all act the same: boot loop as it starts to load the kernels. Would having leftover GRUB bootloaders on the hard drives have anything to do with creating and loading bootable USB drives?

fsmithred · 2021-01-14 22:50:30

If there's a way to tell the computer to boot from usb, then it should ignore any bootloaders on the hard drive.

Boot loop usually means kernel and initramfs are missing. Mount the iso and look inside the live folder. There should be filesystem.squashf along with kernel and initramfs. And if the file names are different, make sure the boot menu has the right names.

BoneZ · 2021-01-18 20:15:20

fsmithred wrote:

If there's a way to tell the computer to boot from usb, then it should ignore any bootloaders on the hard drive.
Boot loop usually means kernel and initramfs are missing. Mount the iso and look inside the live folder. There should be filesystem.squashf along with kernel and initramfs. And if the file names are different, make sure the boot menu has the right names.

I'm wondering if when a bootloader gets put onto the USB, it uses the information from the EFI partition to do that. I manually removed the two Grub bootloader files from my Windows EFI partition and am now able to boot USB drives.

tuxnoobfr · 2021-03-12 03:32:39

most derivatives don't include non-free wifi firmware goodlife linux was the exception. ethernet is not an option for me (I use neighbor's wifi) crow and star come with the default debian installer thus I cannot install those so refracta is my savior but no wifi even with the alternative isos (test and nodbus)

rgl808 · 2021-03-12 13:55:43

https://www.devuan.org/os/source-code#licensing

Devuan also provides [contrib] and [non-free] packages from Debian though we don’t recommend using them:
the [contrib] section contains free code that depends on non-free software.
the [non-free] section contains packages distributed under the terms of proprietary licenses that deny you one or more computing freedoms.
But sometimes you don’t have a choice. If your machine requires non-free firmware to run, some computing is better than none. You should be aware that non-free firmware may contain undisclosed functionality that may be used against you (backdoors or spyware) and there’s little chance to discover it as the source code is not available for review. Using non-free software means to trust the vendor not only to be cooperative but also not to be coerced into shipping insecure or malevolvent code.
Proprietary software licenses (non-free) may grant the vendor explicit or implicit rights beyond what the law requires from you as a user such as copyright waivers for content created using the program or the ability for the vendor to use your image or sell your private information. Please consult a lawyer before choosing to relinquish your freedom.

edit "/etc/apt/sources.list" with the following content if you agree with proprietary software licenses (non-free)

# ****************Devuan ASCII Repo****************

# deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ ascii main non-free contrib 
# deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ ascii main non-free contrib 

# deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ ascii-updates main non-free contrib 
# deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ ascii-updates main non-free contrib 

# deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ ascii-security main non-free contrib 
# deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ ascii-security main non-free contrib 

# deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ ascii-backports main non-free contrib 
# deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ ascii-backports main non-free contrib 

# ****************Devuan Beowulf Repo****************

# deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ beowulf main non-free contrib 
# deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ beowulf main non-free contrib 

# deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ beowulf-updates main non-free contrib 
# deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ beowulf-updates main non-free contrib 

# deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ beowulf-security main non-free contrib 
# deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ beowulf-security main non-free contrib 

# deb http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ beowulf-backports main non-free contrib 
# deb-src http://deb.devuan.org/merged/ beowulf-backports main non-free contrib

alphalpha · 2021-03-12 17:05:21

tuxnoobfr wrote:

most derivatives don't include non-free wifi firmware goodlife linux was the exception. ethernet is not an option for me (I use neighbor's wifi) crow and star come with the default debian installer thus I cannot install those so refracta is my savior but no wifi even with the alternative isos (test and nodbus)

as far as i remember, refracta has the non-free wifi firmware in ~/firmware.beowulf
they are not installed by default, but you can install them without internet connection
for example for the intel firmware

sudo dpkg -i ~/firmware.beowulf/firmware-iwlwifi_20190114-1_all.deb

The officially official Devuan Forum!

#1 2020-12-28 22:46:27

No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#2 2020-12-29 15:36:58

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#3 2020-12-31 03:03:19

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#4 2021-01-05 18:17:06

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#5 2021-01-05 20:32:02

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#6 2021-01-08 02:13:16

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#7 2021-01-08 10:02:43

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#8 2021-01-10 05:06:03

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#9 2021-01-14 03:57:19

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#10 2021-01-14 22:50:30

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#11 2021-01-18 20:15:20

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#12 2021-03-12 03:32:39

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#13 2021-03-12 13:55:43

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

#14 2021-03-12 17:05:21

Re: No networking on Refracta OS and then Refracta Snapshot issue on Mint

Board footer