Before proceeding, please make sure you meet all the requirements.
For this tutorial, we will install Bluefin, a Linux distribution that is very complete, secure, easy to maintain, and based on Fedora, a historical, popular and rock-solid distribution.
¶ Downloading the installation image
- Go to the Bluefin website.
- If you want, take time to learn more about what Bluefin is, by clicking on the Discover button.
- To download the installation image, click on the Try Out button.
- You will see two downloads available: Bluefin LTS for professionals and AI/ML engineers on the left, and Bluefin for everyone on the right. Choose the one on the right, Bluefin for everyone.
- When prompting which architecture to download, choose x86_64 (Standard for most computers). (At the time of writing, this is the only option available.)
- Select the type of graphics card you have.
- Verify that your selection is correct, then download the ISO image.
¶ Verifying the integry of the download
This step is optional but highly recommended to avoid future issues with a corrupted installation image.
On the same webpage, you will also see a Verify (SHA256) button. Click on it to download a small text file in your Downloads folder. The next steps depend on your current operating system:
- Go to your Downloads folder, and note the name of the downloaded ISO image (usually something like bluefin-stable-x86_64.iso).
- Right-click on the Windows logo at the bottom left of your desktop.
- Select Windows PowerShell (admin).
- Type the following command, replacing
YOURUSERNAMEwith your Windows user name, andBLUEFIN-IMAGEwith the name you noted in the first step above:
certutil -hashfile C:\Users\YOURUSERNAME\Downloads\BLUEFIN-IMAGE.iso SHA256
- The command will return a few lines. Note the long string of numbers and letters, it should be something beginning like
888bb8b52e2815gdb97.... - In your Downloads folder, open the little file with the extension
.iso-CHECKSUMat the end of its name. - Check if the string of step 5 is exactly the same as in this file. If so, you can proceed with the next steps. If not, it means your downloaded ISO image is corrupted. Delete it, download another one as explained in the previous section, and repeat the same verification process.
- Go to your Downloads folder, and note the name of the downloaded ISO image (usually something like bluefin-stable-x86_64.iso).
- Open your terminal, and type the following commands. Tip: your can auto-complete the file’s name by typing its first letters, and using the Tab key.
cd ~/Downloads
sha256sum -c bluefin-stable-x86_64.iso-CHECKSUM
- If the command returns
bluefin-stable-x86_64.iso: OK, you can proceed with the installation. If not, it means your downloaded ISO image is corrupted. Delete it, download another one as explained in the previous section, and repeat the same verification process.
¶ Creating the Bluefin USB Key
The next step is to write the downloaded ISO image on the USB key you will use to install Bluefin on your computer. Again, proceed according to your current operating system:
- Download and install Rufus, a utility that helps format and create bootable USB flash drives.
- Download and install via Flatpak Fedora Media Writer.
- Open Fedora Media Writer. On the first screen Select Image Source, choose Select .iso file. Click Next.
- On the Write Options screen, select the downloaded Bluefin ISO image, and your USB key. Click Write. Read carefully the Erase confirmation message that pops up, as your entire USB key will be erased. Then Write a second time if it is OK.
- The writing process begins, and will take some time ☕️…
¶ Booting the USB Key
Your USB install key is now ready. Great! The serious things begin now 😉
VERY IMPORTANT
Installing Bluefin will wipe out all data on the disk where it will be installed! Please make sure you backed up all your data on another storage media before proceeding!
- Find which key you will have to use when powering up your machine to enter the boot option menu. This key varies a lot depending on computer manufacturers: please refer to your PC or motherboard documentation. It can be Esc, F2, F9, F12…
- If necessary, shut down the machine where you will install Bluefin.
- Insert the USB install key in any USB port available.
- Press the key you identified at step 1 several times, until a boot menu shows up, listing you hard drives and your USB key (again, the appearance of this menu varies a lot amongst computers).
- Select your USB key, and boot it (usually pressing the Return key).
- Wait during the whole system boots, until you see the desktop with a Welcome to Bluefin window.
- Click on the Install Bluefin… button to proceed with the installation.
¶ Installing Bluefin
The installation process is quite straightforward:
- Choose your language and keyboard.
- Verify if Date/Time and Timezone are correct. Adjust if necessary.
- Select the disk where you plan to install Bluefin, and tick Use entire disk.
- Choose disk-based data encryption if you want.
- Review if all is correct. Tick I understand that all existing data will be erased, and then start the installation!
- The installation will take time, so be patient ☕️…
¶ First time booting
Do you see a Successfully installed screen? Congrats, you’ve done it! Time to reboot on the newly installed system!
- Click on the icons in the upper right side of your screen. It will open the little menu where you can adjust volume, brightness, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and so on.
- Click on the ⏻ rounded button, and Restart…
- You may see a blue screen with Secure boot instructions. Select Enroll MOK, and input
universalblueas the password (beware: your keyboard will be QWERTY). More info on this step in the Bluefin documentation. - Wait until the desktop shows up, with a Welcome screen.
- You will be guided into initial configuration. Follow the steps.
- If this is the first time you’re using a GNOME Desktop, you can take the tour when prompted to.
- Addtional setup (Network, Screen, Sound, Online accounts…) can be made in the Settings: open the upper right menu in the top bar (where you see some icons), and click on the wheel ⚙️ button.
Congratulations! You now have the fully functional Linux desktop you will use to run Hauptwerk 🍾🎉 Now it is time to install Wine and Bottles…
Before continuing, I advise you to make a general update of this freshly installed Bluefin. Open the Terminal app, and type the following simple command:
ujust updateWhen finished, restart. Simple as that 😃