Debian / Derivatives

Officially, tools like asusctl and supergfxctl aren’t supported on Debian. While this won’t stop you from running Debian on your laptop, you might need to use other software that can partially do the same job.

The main problem is updates. If you have a newer laptop, there’s a good chance some of your hardware might not be fully supported on Debian, things like your keyboard, trackpad, or GPU might not work properly, or at all, because of older packages and kernels. For that reason, it’s recommended to use a distro that’s updated more frequently, such as Fedora, Tumbleweed, or Arch.

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1. Updates:

After installation, it’s crucial to update the system to ensure all packages are up-to-date.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

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2. Driver's:

By default, most drivers (e.g., for Intel, AMD, and other hardware) are included in the Linux kernel. However, Nvidia dGPU drivers must be installed separately.

Debian(Trixie):

To install the NVIDIA driver on Debian, you’ll need to add the non-free sources.

First, create a backup of the sources file in case something goes wrong:

First create a backup of the sources file in case something goes wrong:

sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.bak

Then, edit the sources file:

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie main contrib non-free non-free-firmware

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ trixie-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware deb-src
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian-security/ trixie-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware deb

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware deb-src
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian/ trixie-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware

The following links already exist in the sources section, but components like non-free and non-free-firmware may be missing. Simply compare the existing entries and add any missing components, nothing else needs to be changed. If that’s unclear, you can instead comment out the existing sources and copy these updated ones to the end of the file.

After editing the file update your system with:

sudo apt update

Then, if anything breaks after adding the new entries, you can restore the original file with:

sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list.bak /etc/apt/sources.list

Now install the nvidia-detect package along with the dependencies for the driver: the driver:

sudo apt install nvidia-detect linux-headers-amd64

After that, simply launch nvidia-detect from the terminal and install the recommended NVIDIA driver.

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-full

Also, install and enable the GPU switching wrapper for Debian.

sudo apt install switcheroo-control && systemctl enable switcheroo-control --now

Ubuntu/Mint:

Use the built-in Driver Manager or Software & Updates > Additional Drivers. Ensure that proprietary drivers (not Nouveau) are selected.

Important: Set GPU mode to Hybrid or Ultimate in the Windows before installation or through supergfxctl, or the Driver installer might not detect the GPU.

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3. Flatpak:

If your distro doesn’t come with Flatpak by default, you can add Flatpak with the following command. If your distro already has Flatpak enabled, you can skip this step.

sudo apt install flatpak
sudo apt install gnome-software-plugin-flatpak #For Gnome
sudo apt install plasma-discover-backend-flatpak #For KDE

Then, add the Flathub repository:

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

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4. Asus Software:

These tools need to be built from source. Follow steps carefully.

4.1 Build Dependencies**

Install required development tools and libraries:

sudo apt install -y build-essential git cmake pkg-config libpci-dev libsysfs-dev libudev-dev \
libboost-dev libgtk-3-dev libglib2.0-dev libseat-dev

Install Rust (Cargo):

curl --proto '=https' --tlsv1.2 -sSf https://sh.rustup.rs | sh

Configure the environment:

. "$HOME/.cargo/env"

4.2 Installing asusctl

1. Clone the repository or download the latest release.

2. Extract it and open a terminal inside the asusctl folder.

3. Run:

make && sudo make install

This software requires Wayland. It will not work under X11.

Icons may appear missing for the first few reboots, this is expected.

4.3 Installing supergfxctl

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://gitlab.com/asus-linux/supergfxctl.git
cd supergfxctl

1. Build and install:

make && sudo make install

1. Enable and start the service:

sudo systemctl enable supergfxd
sudo systemctl start supergfxd

4.4 GUI Support

• GNOME: Install the supergfxctl-gex extension.

• Other DEs (e.g., Cinnamon, MATE,XFCE): Use CLI commands.

4.5 Switching GPU Modes via CLI

supergfxctl --mode Integrated   # Use integrated GPU only
supergfxctl --mode Hybrid       # Use both integrated and discrete GPU
supergfxctl --mode AsusMuxDgpu  # Use discrete GPU only

To check available options:

supergfxctl --help

4.5. Hotkeys:

Some hotkey functions are controlled at the BIOS level and cannot be remapped. To check if a hotkey can be remapped, try creating a shortcut. If the input is detected, remapping is possible.

GNOME

Go the following: Settings > Keyboard > View and Customize Shortcuts > Custom Shortcuts

Then, click Add a Shortcut.

Next, enter the command in the Command field. For the shortcut, click Set Shortcut and press the hotkey you want to assign. After that, give your shortcut a name, and finally, click Add. The shortcut should now work normally.

KDE

Go to Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts and click Add New (Command or Script).

Enter the command and assign a name for the hotkey.

Locate the command you just added in the Command section, then click Add under Custom Shortcuts.

Assign the key combination you want, then click Apply.

Commands:

• Armoury Crate: rog-control-center

• Aura Mode: asusctl aura -n

• Performance Mode: asusctl profile -n

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5. Backup's:

System Backup:

Timeshift is a powerful Linux backup tool that functions similarly to System Restore on Windows or Time Machine on macOS. It protects your system by creating incremental snapshots of your file system at regular intervals. These snapshots allow you to restore your system to a previous state, undoing any system changes or issues.

Installation:

sudo apt install timeshift

How to Use Timeshift:

1. Select Snapshot Type: Choose between RSYNC and BTRFS based on your file system.

If your system is using the BTRFS file system, it is recommended to use the BTRFS snapshot option for better performance. If not, select RSYNC.

1. Choose Snapshot Location: Select the disk or partition where snapshots will be saved.

2. Configure Snapshot Schedule: Enable periodic snapshots if desired and select a snapshot frequency (daily, weekly, or on boot).

3. Create a Snapshot: Click Create to manually create a snapshot at any time.

4. Restore a Snapshot: To undo system changes, select a previous snapshot and click Restore.

Restoring a Broken System Using Timeshift:

1. Boot from a Linux ISO with Timeshift installed.

2. Select the same snapshot type (BTRFS or RSYNC) as used before.

3. Choose the location where your backup is stored.

4. Select the desired backup from the list shown.

5. Click Restore to revert your system to the previous working state.

Timeshift does not back up personal user files such as documents, pictures, or downloads. It focuses exclusively on system files and settings.

Personal File Backup:

Pika Backup is a user-friendly tool designed for personal data backup. It leverages the BorgBackup engine for secure and efficient backups. Note that Pika Backup does not support full system restoration.

Installation

Install Pika Backup via Flatpak:

flatpak install flathub org.gnome.World.PikaBackup

Creating a Backup

1. Open Pika Backup

2. Select Storage Location: Choose a USB drive or external disk for storing backups. Using a USB drive is recommended.

3. Enable Encryption: Choose to encrypt your backups if you want added security.

4. Create the Backup: Click on " Backup Now" to create a backup.

Restoring Files from a Backup

1. Go to the Archives Tab in Pika Backup.

2. Select the Preferred Backup you want to restore.

3. Click the Drop-down Arrow next to the archive entry.

4. Choose "Browse Saved Files".

5. A file browser will open showing the backed-up contents.

6. Manually Copy the desired files or folders to your main directory or another location.

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6. Firewall

A firewall is a security system that monitors, filters, and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic according to predefined security rules. While it is not mandatory, it is highly recommended to set up some form of firewall, as it adds an extra layer of security.

UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall) is recommended because it is relatively easy to set up and use. Begin by installing UFW:

sudo apt install ufw gufw

GUFW provides a GUI for UFW. It is not required for UFW to function, but if you prefer managing the firewall through a GUI, you may find it useful.

Then enable the UFW service so it launches at startup:

sudo systemctl enable ufw --now

To confirm whether UFW is running, run the following command:

sudo ufw status verbose

#The ouput should look like this:
Status: active
Logging: on (low)
Default: deny (incoming), allow (outgoing)
New profiles: skip

For most users, the default profile should be fine, but you may need to enable a port or service. You can do this by following the UFW documentation.