Libreboot on x86 uses the GRUB payload by default, which means that the GRUB configuration file (where your GRUB menu comes from) is stored directly alongside libreboot and its GRUB payload executable, inside the flash chip. In context, this means that installing distributions and managing them is handled slightly differently compared to traditional BIOS systems.
On most systems, the /boot partition has to be left unencrypted while the others are encrypted. This is so that GRUB, and therefore the kernel, can be loaded and executed since the firmware can't open a LUKS volume. Not so with libreboot! Since GRUB is already included directly as a payload, even /boot can be encrypted. This protects /boot from tampering by someone with physical access to the system.
This works in Trisquel 7, and probably Trisquel 6. Boot the 'net installer' (Install Trisquel in Text Mode). How to boot a GNU/Linux installer.
This guide is *only* for the GRUB payload. If you use the depthcharge payload, ignore this section entirely.
Note: on some thinkpads, a faulty DVD drive can cause the cryptomount -a step during boot to fail. If this happens to you, try removing the drive.
Set a strong user password (lots of lowercase/uppercase, numbers and symbols).
Use of the diceware method is recommended, for generating secure passphrases (instead of passwords).
when the installer asks you to set up encryption (ecryptfs) for your home directory, select 'Yes' if you want to: LUKS is already secure and performs well. Having ecryptfs on top of it will add noticeable performance penalty, for little security gain in most use cases. This is therefore optional, and not recommended. Choose 'no'.
Your user password should be different from the LUKS password which you will set later on. Your LUKS password should, like the user password, be secure.
Choose 'Manual' partitioning:
Now you are back at the main partitioning screen. You will simply set mountpoints and filesystems to use.
Installation will ask what kernel you want to use. linux-generic is fine.
Choose "Trisquel Desktop Environment" if you want GNOME, "Trisquel-mini Desktop Environment" if you want LXDE or "Triskel Desktop Environment" if you want KDE. If you want to have no desktop (just a basic shell) when you boot or if you want to create your own custom setup, then choose nothing here (don't select anything). You might also want to choose some of the other package groups; it's up to you.
If asked, choose "No Configuration" here (or maybe you want to select something else. It's up to you.)
Choose 'Yes'. It will fail, but don't worry. Then at the main menu, choose 'Continue without a bootloader'. You could also choose 'No'. Choice is irrelevant here.
You do not need to install GRUB at all, since in libreboot you are using the GRUB payload (for libreboot) to boot your system directly.
Just say 'Yes'.
At this point, you will have finished the installation. At your GRUB payload, press C to get to the command line.
Do that:
grub> cryptomount -a
grub> set root='lvm/matrix-root'
grub> linux /vmlinuz root=/dev/mapper/matrix-root cryptdevice=/dev/mapper/matrix-root:root
grub> initrd /initrd.img
grub> boot
If you didn't encrypt your home directory, then you can safely ignore this section.
Immediately after logging in, do that:
$ sudo ecryptfs-unwrap-passphrase
This will be needed in the future if you ever need to recover your home directory from another system, so write it down and keep the note somewhere secret. Ideally, you should memorize it and then burn the note (or not even write it down, and memorize it still)>
Now you need to set it up so that the system will automatically boot, without having to type a bunch of commands.
Modify your grub.cfg (in the firmware) using this tutorial; just change the default menu entry 'Load Operating System' to say this inside:
cryptomount -a
set root='lvm/matrix-root'
linux /vmlinuz root=/dev/mapper/matrix-root cryptdevice=/dev/mapper/matrix-root:root
initrd /initrd.img
Without specifying a device, the -a parameter tries to unlock all detected LUKS volumes. You can also specify -u UUID or -a (device).
Additionally, you should set a GRUB password. This is not your LUKS password, but it's a password that you have to enter to see GRUB. This protects your system from an attacker simply booting a live USB and re-flashing your firmware. This should be different than your LUKS passphrase and user password.
Use of the diceware method is recommended, for generating secure passphrases (as opposed to passwords).
The GRUB utility can be used like so:
$ grub-mkpasswd-pbkdf2
Give it a password (remember, it has to be secure) and it'll output something like:
grub.pbkdf2.sha512.10000.711F186347156BC105CD83A2ED7AF1EB971AA2B1EB2640172F34B0DEFFC97E654AF48E5F0C3B7622502B76458DA494270CC0EA6504411D676E6752FD1651E749.8DD11178EB8D1F633308FD8FCC64D0B243F949B9B99CCEADE2ECA11657A757D22025986B0FA116F1D5191E0A22677674C994EDBFADE62240E9D161688266A711
Use of the diceware method is recommended, for generating secure passphrases (instead of passwords).
Put that in the grub.cfg (the one for CBFS inside the ROM) before the 'Load Operating System' menu entry like so (example):
set superusers="root" password_pbkdf2 root grub.pbkdf2.sha512.10000.711F186347156BC105CD83A2ED7AF1EB971AA2B1EB2640172F34B0DEFFC97E654AF48E5F0C3B7622502B76458DA494270CC0EA6504411D676E6752FD1651E749.8DD11178EB8D1F633308FD8FCC64D0B243F949B9B99CCEADE2ECA11657A757D22025986B0FA116F1D5191E0A22677674C994EDBFADE62240E9D161688266A711
MAKE SURE TO DO THIS ON grubtest.cfg *BEFORE* DOING IT ON grub.cfg. Then select the menu entry that says Switch to grubtest.cfg and test that it works. Then copy that to grub.cfg once you're satisfied. WHY? BECAUSE AN INCORRECTLY SET PASSWORD CONFIG MEANS YOU CAN'T AUTHENTICATE, WHICH MEANS 'BRICK'.
(emphasis added, because it's needed. This is a common roadblock for users)
Obviously, replace it with the correct hash that you actually got for the password that you entered. Meaning, not the hash that you see above!
After this, you will have a modified ROM with the menu entry for cryptomount, and the entry before that for the GRUB password. Flash the modified ROM using this tutorial.
A user reported issues when booting with a docking station attached on an X200, when decrypting the disk in GRUB. The error AHCI transfer timed out was observed. The workaround was to remove the docking station.
Further investigation revealed that it was the DVD drive causing problems. Removing that worked around the issue.
"sudo wodim -prcap" shows information about the drive: Device was not specified. Trying to find an appropriate drive... Detected CD-R drive: /dev/sr0 Using /dev/cdrom of unknown capabilities Device type : Removable CD-ROM Version : 5 Response Format: 2 Capabilities : Vendor_info : 'HL-DT-ST' Identification : 'DVDRAM GU10N ' Revision : 'MX05' Device seems to be: Generic mmc2 DVD-R/DVD-RW. Drive capabilities, per MMC-3 page 2A: Does read CD-R media Does write CD-R media Does read CD-RW media Does write CD-RW media Does read DVD-ROM media Does read DVD-R media Does write DVD-R media Does read DVD-RAM media Does write DVD-RAM media Does support test writing Does read Mode 2 Form 1 blocks Does read Mode 2 Form 2 blocks Does read digital audio blocks Does restart non-streamed digital audio reads accurately Does support Buffer-Underrun-Free recording Does read multi-session CDs Does read fixed-packet CD media using Method 2 Does not read CD bar code Does not read R-W subcode information Does read raw P-W subcode data from lead in Does return CD media catalog number Does return CD ISRC information Does support C2 error pointers Does not deliver composite A/V data Does play audio CDs Number of volume control levels: 256 Does support individual volume control setting for each channel Does support independent mute setting for each channel Does not support digital output on port 1 Does not support digital output on port 2 Loading mechanism type: tray Does support ejection of CD via START/STOP command Does not lock media on power up via prevent jumper Does allow media to be locked in the drive via PREVENT/ALLOW command Is not currently in a media-locked state Does not support changing side of disk Does not have load-empty-slot-in-changer feature Does not support Individual Disk Present feature Maximum read speed: 4234 kB/s (CD 24x, DVD 3x) Current read speed: 4234 kB/s (CD 24x, DVD 3x) Maximum write speed: 4234 kB/s (CD 24x, DVD 3x) Current write speed: 4234 kB/s (CD 24x, DVD 3x) Rotational control selected: CLV/PCAV Buffer size in KB: 1024 Copy management revision supported: 1 Number of supported write speeds: 4 Write speed # 0: 4234 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 24x, DVD 3x) Write speed # 1: 2822 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 16x, DVD 2x) Write speed # 2: 1764 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 10x, DVD 1x) Write speed # 3: 706 kB/s CLV/PCAV (CD 4x, DVD 0x) Supported CD-RW media types according to MMC-4 feature 0x37: Does write multi speed CD-RW media Does write high speed CD-RW media Does write ultra high speed CD-RW media Does not write ultra high speed+ CD-RW media
Copyright © 2014, 2015 Leah Woods <info@minifree.org>
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