Gentoo Linux Installation Guide (Desktop Configuration)

12. Post-Reboot Configuration

#

eselect profile list          # List all available Profiles
eselect profile set <number>  # Set selected Profile (e.g., desktop/plasma/systemd)
emerge -avuDN @world          # Update system

Now let's configure the graphical interface and multimedia functions.

12.0 Network Check [Required]

#

After logging in, please ensure your network connection is normal.

• Wired Network: Usually connects automatically.
• Wireless Network: Use nmtui (NetworkManager) or iwctl (iwd) to connect to Wi-Fi.

12.1 Global Configuration (make.conf) [Required]

#

/etc/portage/make.conf is Gentoo's global configuration file. At this stage, we only need to configure graphics cards, input devices, and localization options. Detailed compilation optimization configuration will be introduced in Section 13.0.

vim /etc/portage/make.conf

Add or modify the following configurations:

# Graphics Drivers (select based on hardware)
VIDEO_CARDS="nvidia"        # NVIDIA
# VIDEO_CARDS="amdgpu radeonsi" # AMD
# VIDEO_CARDS="intel i965 iris" # Intel

# Input Devices
INPUT_DEVICES="libinput"

# Localization Settings
L10N="en en-US"
LINGUAS="en en_US"

# Desktop Environment Support
USE="${USE} wayland X pipewire pulseaudio alsa"

12.2 Apply Configuration and Update System [Required]

#

Apply new USE flags:

emerge --ask --newuse --deep @world

12.3 Graphics Drivers [Required]

#

• NVIDIA Proprietary Driver: emerge --ask x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers
• AMD: Set VIDEO_CARDS="amdgpu radeonsi"
• Intel: Set VIDEO_CARDS="intel i965 iris"

Configure VAAPI Video Acceleration

1. Globally Enable VAAPI: Add vaapi to USE in /etc/portage/make.conf.

   # Recompile affected packages
   emerge --ask --changed-use --deep @world
   

2. Install Drivers and Tools:

   emerge --ask media-video/libva-utils # Install vainfo for verification
   

   Special Steps for NVIDIA Users:

   emerge --ask media-libs/nvidia-vaapi-driver
   

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

Intel/AMD Users: Usually directly supported after installing graphics drivers.

3. Verify: Run vainfo to check output. Success if no errors and supported Profiles are displayed.

NVIDIA Chromium Hardware Acceleration Configuration (Recommended Method) (No VAAPI needed, click to expand)

Tip

The following configuration applies to Chromium, Chrome, Edge, Electron applications (like VSCode).

Method 1: Use Flags Configuration File (Recommended)

This method doesn't require modifying .desktop files, and the browser can be correctly recognized as the default browser.

1. Environment Variables Create ~/.config/environment.d/chromium-nvidia.conf:

# NVIDIA Environment Variables
__GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia
__VK_LAYER_NV_optimus=NVIDIA_only
GBM_BACKEND=nvidia-drm

2. Chromium/Chrome Flags Configuration Create corresponding flags file:

• Chrome Stable: ~/.config/chrome-flags.conf
• Chrome Unstable: ~/.config/chrome-dev-flags.conf
• Chromium: ~/.config/chromium-flags.conf
• Edge Beta: ~/.config/microsoft-edge-beta-flags.conf
• Edge Dev: ~/.config/microsoft-edge-dev-flags.conf

Content as follows:

# Vulkan Video Acceleration Configuration
# NVIDIA + Wayland Hardware Acceleration Optimization

--enable-features=VulkanVideoDecoder,Vulkan,VulkanFromANGLE,DefaultANGLEVulkan
--ozone-platform=x11
--use-vulkan=native
--enable-zero-copy
--enable-gpu-rasterization
--ignore-gpu-blocklist
--enable-native-gpu-memory-buffers

3. Apply Configuration Re-login.

Verify: Visit chrome://gpu/ or edge://gpu/, check if Vulkan shows as Enabled.

12.4 Audio and Bluetooth [Optional]

#

# Install PipeWire audio system and WirePlumber session manager
emerge --ask media-video/pipewire media-video/wireplumber


# Install Bluetooth stack, tools and manager (Blueman is GUI manager)
emerge --ask net-wireless/bluez net-wireless/bluez-tools net-wireless/blueman

Start Service (OpenRC)

rc-update add bluetooth default 
/etc/init.d/bluetooth start

Start Service (Systemd)

# Enable Bluetooth service (system level):
sudo systemctl enable --now bluetooth
# Enable PipeWire core and PulseAudio compatibility layer
systemctl --user enable --now pipewire pipewire-pulse
# Enable WirePlumber session manager
systemctl --user enable --now wireplumber

12.5 Desktop Environments and Display Managers [Optional]

#

KDE Plasma (Wayland)

#

echo "kde-plasma/plasma-meta wayland" >> /etc/portage/package.use/plasma
emerge --ask kde-plasma/plasma-meta # Install Plasma Desktop
emerge --ask kde-apps/kde-apps-meta # (Optional) Install full KDE Apps suite
emerge --ask x11-misc/sddm # Install SDDM Display Manager

# OpenRC Configuration (SDDM has no independent init script)
# Reference: https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Display_manager#OpenRC
emerge --ask gui-libs/display-manager-init # Install generic display manager init script

# Edit /etc/conf.d/display-manager
# Set DISPLAYMANAGER="sddm" and CHECKVT=7
sed -i 's/^DISPLAYMANAGER=.*/DISPLAYMANAGER="sddm"/' /etc/conf.d/display-manager
sed -i 's/^CHECKVT=.*/CHECKVT=7/' /etc/conf.d/display-manager

rc-update add display-manager default
rc-service display-manager start  # Start immediately (Optional)

# Systemd Configuration
systemctl enable sddm
systemctl start sddm  # Start immediately (Optional)

GNOME

#

emerge --ask gnome-base/gnome # Install GNOME core components
emerge --ask gnome-base/gdm # Install GDM Display Manager
rc-update add gdm default # OpenRC
systemctl enable gdm # Enable GDM Display Manager (systemd)

Hyprland (Wayland Dynamic Tiling Window Manager)

#

emerge --ask gui-wm/hyprland

Other Options

#

If you need a lightweight desktop, consider Xfce or LXQt:

• Xfce: emerge --ask xfce-base/xfce4-meta (Wiki)
• LXQt: emerge --ask lxqt-base/lxqt-meta (Wiki)
• Budgie: emerge --ask gnome-extra/budgie-desktop (Wiki)

12.6 Localization and Fonts [Optional]

#

To display Chinese properly, we need to install Chinese fonts.

# Install Noto CJK (Source Han) fonts
emerge --ask media-fonts/noto-cjk

# Install Emoji fonts
emerge --ask media-fonts/noto-emoji

# (Optional) WenQuanYi Micro Hei
emerge --ask media-fonts/wqy-microhei

Refresh font cache:

fc-cache -fv

12.7 Input Method Configuration (Fcitx5 & Rime) [Optional]

#

Rime is a powerful input method engine that supports multiple input schemes such as Hanyu Pinyin (Traditional/Simplified), Bopomofo, Terra Pinyin, etc.

For the best experience under Wayland, we need to configure environment variables.

Option A: Fcitx5 + Rime (KDE/General Recommendation)

Suitable for KDE Plasma, Hyprland and other environments.

1. Install Core Components

   emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx app-i18n/fcitx-configtool
   

2. Install Language Engines Choose engines based on your language needs:

   • Chinese (Rime): emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx-rime
   • Chinese (Pinyin): emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx-libpinyin
   • Japanese (Mozc): emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx-mozc
   • Korean (Hangul): emerge --ask app-i18n/fcitx-hangul

3. Configure Environment Variables (Wayland)

Edit /etc/environment:

vim /etc/environment

Write:

# Force XWayland apps to use Fcitx5
XMODIFIERS=@im=fcitx

# (Optional) For non-KDE environments or specific apps
GTK_IM_MODULE=fcitx
QT_IM_MODULE=fcitx

4. Start
   • KDE/GNOME usually start automatically.
   • Hyprland/Sway need to add exec-once = fcitx5 -d to the configuration file.

Option B: IBus + Rime (GNOME Recommendation)

GNOME has the best integration with IBus, recommended priority.

1. Install Core Components

   emerge --ask app-i18n/ibus
   

2. Install Language Engines Choose engines based on your language needs:

   • Chinese (Rime): emerge --ask app-i18n/ibus-rime
   • Japanese (Anthy): emerge --ask app-i18n/ibus-anthy
   • Japanese (Mozc): emerge --ask app-i18n/ibus-mozc
   • Korean (Hangul): emerge --ask app-i18n/ibus-hangul

3. Enable Go to GNOME Settings -> Keyboard -> Add Input Source -> Select "Chinese (Rime)" or your preferred language input method.

12.8 Secure Boot [Optional]

#

If you need to enable Secure Boot, Gentoo recommends using sbctl to simplify configuration.

1. Install sbctl:

   emerge --ask app-crypt/sbctl
   

2. Enter BIOS Settings: Reboot into BIOS, set Secure Boot mode to "Setup Mode" (clear existing keys) and enable Secure Boot.
3. Create and Enroll Keys: Execute after entering the system:

   sbctl create-keys
   sbctl enroll-keys -m # -m includes Microsoft keys (Recommended, otherwise may not boot Windows or load some firmware)
   

4. Sign Kernel and Bootloader:

   # Automatically find and sign all known files (including kernel, systemd-boot, etc.)
   sbctl sign-all
   
   # Or manually sign (e.g., GRUB)
   # sbctl sign -s /efi/EFI/Gentoo/grubx64.efi
   

5. Verify:

   sbctl verify
   

12.9 Portage Git Sync & Overlay [Optional]

#

1. Install Git

emerge --ask dev-vcs/git

2. Configure Git Sync

mkdir -p /etc/portage/repos.conf
cp /usr/share/portage/config/repos.conf /etc/portage/repos.conf/gentoo.conf

Edit /etc/portage/repos.conf/gentoo.conf:

[DEFAULT]
main-repo = gentoo

[gentoo]
location = /var/db/repos/gentoo
sync-type = git
sync-uri = https://github.com/gentoo-mirror/gentoo.git
auto-sync = yes

Available Git mirror sources:

• GitHub (International): https://github.com/gentoo-mirror/gentoo.git
• BFSU (Beijing): https://mirrors.bfsu.edu.cn/git/gentoo-portage.git
• Tsinghua University: https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/git/gentoo-portage.git

3. Add Gentoo-zh Overlay Create a gentoo-zh.conf file in /etc/portage/repos.conf/ directory with the following content:

[gentoo-zh]
location = /var/db/repos/gentoo-zh
sync-type = git
sync-uri = https://github.com/microcai/gentoo-zh.git
auto-sync = yes

Available gentoo-zh Git mirror sources (Optional):

• Original Source (GitHub): https://github.com/microcai/gentoo-zh.git
• Chongqing University: https://mirrors.cqu.edu.cn/git/gentoo-zh.git
• Nanjing University: https://mirror.nju.edu.cn/git/gentoo-zh.git

gentoo-zh distfiles mirror (Optional): To accelerate downloads of packages in the gentoo-zh overlay, you can use the following distfiles mirrors:

• Original Source: https://distfiles.gentoocn.org/
• Chongqing University: https://mirror.cqu.edu.cn/gentoo-zh
• Nanjing University: https://mirror.nju.edu.cn/gentoo-zh

Usage help: https://t.me/gentoocn/56

# Check installed repositories
eselect repository list -i

# Remove old configuration
eselect repository remove gentoo-zh

# Re-enable (will automatically use the correct upstream source)
eselect repository enable gentoo-zh

4. Execute Sync

emerge --sync

5. Software Installation Demo

For example, installing flclash-bin:

emerge -pv flclash-bin

Output example:

These are the packages that would be merged, in order:

Calculating dependencies  
    ... done!
Dependency resolution took 0.45 s (backtrack: 0/20).

[ebuild  N     ] dev-libs/keybinder-0.3.2-r300:3::gentoo  USE="introspection" 371 KiB
[ebuild  N     ] x11-apps/xmessage-1.0.7::gentoo  126 KiB
[ebuild  N     ] net-proxy/flclash-bin-0.8.90::gentoo-zh  39,565 KiB

Total: 3 packages (3 new), Size of downloads: 40,061 KiB

After confirming no errors, execute installation:

emerge --ask flclash-bin

12.10 Flatpak Support and Software Center [Optional]

#

If you need to use Flatpak or want to manage Flatpak applications in the Software Center:

1. Install Flatpak

   emerge --ask sys-apps/flatpak
   

2. Enable Software Center Support To let GNOME Software or KDE Discover support Flatpak, enable the corresponding USE flag.

   GNOME Users: Add to /etc/portage/package.use/gnome (or create a new file):

   gnome-extra/gnome-software flatpak
   

   KDE Users: Add to /etc/portage/package.use/kde (or create a new file):

   kde-plasma/discover flatpak
   

3. Update Software Center

   # GNOME
   emerge --ask --newuse gnome-extra/gnome-software
   
   # KDE
   emerge --ask --newuse kde-plasma/discover
   

# Search applications
flatpak search qq
flatpak search wechat

# Install QQ and WeChat
flatpak install com.qq.QQ
flatpak install com.tencent.WeChat

12.11 System Maintenance (SSD TRIM & Power Management) [Optional]

#

1. SSD TRIM (Extend SSD Life)

Regular TRIM execution can maintain SSD performance.

• Systemd Users:

  systemctl enable --now fstrim.timer
  

• OpenRC Users: Recommended to run fstrim -av manually every week, or configure a cron task.

2. Power Management (Recommended for Laptop Users)

Please choose one of the following options (do not install both):

Option A: TLP (Recommended, Extreme Power Saving) Automatically optimizes battery life, suitable for most users.

emerge --ask sys-power/tlp
# OpenRC
rc-update add tlp default
/etc/init.d/tlp start
# Systemd
systemctl enable --now tlp

Option B: power-profiles-daemon (Desktop Integration) Suitable for GNOME/KDE users, can switch "Performance/Balanced/Power Saver" modes directly in the system menu.

emerge --ask sys-power/power-profiles-daemon
# OpenRC
rc-update add power-profiles-daemon default
/etc/init.d/power-profiles-daemon start
# Systemd
systemctl enable --now power-profiles-daemon

3. Zram (Memory Compression)

OpenRC Users:

emerge --ask sys-block/zram-init
rc-update add zram-init default

Configuration located at /etc/conf.d/zram-init

Systemd Users: Recommended to use zram-generator:

emerge --ask sys-apps/zram-generator
# Create default configuration (Automatically use 50% memory as Swap)
echo '[zram0]' > /etc/systemd/zram-generator.conf
systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl start dev-zram0.swap