Baghira System Startup Pack

Intro

Originally i wanted to write a nice PyKDE installer, but as we're gonna touch essential parts of your system, i believe it's better you're in full control of what's going on here.
So be prepared - you might even learn something ;)

Step 1: LILO

LILO (LInux LOader) is one of the oldest and most used Bootmanagers on Linux (ok, at least i use it... ;) and skinnable since a while.
The Picture is dark, as LILO runs on VGA@60Hz mode and bright screens cause a visible flicker on this refresh rate (hurting the eyes).
The Boot Labels will appear on the left side, bright if selected, dark otherwise and with the timeout timer below them.
If you use GRUB and want to use this Logo, you'll have to figure out how to do by yourself, as i have now experience here.

Installation

Note: you'll need root permissions for this process!

1. Copy the file lilo/lilo.bmp to somewhere (e.g. /usr/share/lilo/contrib/baghira.bmp, you may name the image however you want) and note this path.
2. Open the file /etc/lilo.conf in your favorite editor
3. Search for any line that starts with install=/boot/boot-
4. Make sure the only line like this says:

   install=/boot/boot-bmp.b

   you may comment lines by prepending #, e.g.:

   install=/boot/boot-menu.b

   ↓

   #install=/boot/boot-menu.b
   install=/boot/boot-bmp.b

5. Look for the line that starts with bitmap= and adjust the area, so you'll end up with:

   bitmap=/[path/to/where/you/stored/the/]image.bmp
   bmp-colors=5,,,15,,
   bmp-table=55p,60p,1,15
   bmp-timer=80p,420p,11,0,5
   

6. Don't forget to run lilo after saving /etc/lilo.conf!
   And make sure it runs without errors (e.g due to typos)

Step 2: Bootsplash

The Bootsplash is an extension to the Linux Kernel that was introduced by SuSE
It's currently only available as patch to the Vanilla kernel (but probably your distributor has included it)
It originates from www.bootsplash.org but currently the most active location with recent patches is www.bootsplash.de
I assume you have a running copy on your system, otherwise follow the documentations on the above pages.
As i still think, the silent Splash is a bad idea (while the simple oneis nice stuff), there is none.

Installation

Note: you'll need root permissions for this process!

To keep download size small, the package contains only a 1600x1200 version of the image.
You must create a scaled copy, e.g. convert -resize 1280x1024! -quality 75 1600x1200.jpg 1280x1024.jpg

1. Copy the bootsplash/baghira subfolder to /etc/bootsplash/themes/baghira
2. Figure out the resolution of your Framebuffer device (CTRL+Alt+F1 to switch to the first vt, login, call fbset -i and see the mode entry. CTRL+Alt+F7 to switch back to X)
3. Ok, here starts the serious part!
   Depending on how your distribution loads Linux, you must change the initrd file:
   Open /etc/lilo.conf, search the line for your kernel that starts with initrd=
   • There is no such entry:
     This is the easy case. Just add one

     image=/boot/2.6.13
     label=Linux(2.6.13)
     read-only
     restricted

     ↓

     image=/boot/2.6.13
     label=Linux(2.6.13)
     initrd=/boot/initrd.splash
     read-only
     restricted

     and call root@box:~$ splash -sf /etc/bootsplash/themes/baghira/config/1280.cfg > /boot/initrd.splash root@box:~$ lilo
   • There is such entry: (e.g. /boot/initrd)
     
     1. Make a copy of this file!!!, e.g. root@box:~$ cp /boot/initrd /boot/initrd.bak
     2. create a new entry in /etc/lilo.conf that points the initrd backup

        image=/boot/2.6.13
        label=Linux(2.6.13)
        initrd=/boot/initrd
        read-only
        restricted

        ↓

        image=/boot/2.6.13
        label=Linux(2.6.13)
        initrd=/boot/initrd
        read-only
        restricted
        
        image=/boot/2.6.13
        label=Backup
        initrd=/boot/initrd.bak
        read-only
        restricted

     ---

     If anything in runs wrong in the following parts, you'll still be able to access your system by booting Backup

     ---

     3. Open the initrd file in KHexEdit
     • If the first chars state BOOTSPL3 this is most probably a pure bootsplash initrd file.
       Call root@box:~$ splash -sf /etc/bootsplash/themes/baghira/config/1280.cfg > /boot/initrd root@box:~$ lilo
     • If not, this is probably a real initrd that loads essential modules before booting the kernel (e.g. the filesystem module)
       Search the file for the BOOTSPL3 entry and delete anything from there (including BOOTSPL3 to the end of the file) Call root@box:~$ splash -sf /etc/bootsplash/themes/baghira/config/1280.cfg >> /boot/initrd root@box:~$ lilo

for ((i=1;$i<9;i=$i+1)); do
if ((i!=6)); then
/sbin/splash -su $i /etc/bootsplash/themes/baghira/config/1280.cfg
fi
done

Step 3: KDM

Installation

Note: you'll need root permissions for this process!

To keep download size small, the package contains only a 1600x1200 version of the image.
KDM will automatically scale the image, but the result is inferior to e.g. complex gimp scaling algorithms.

Installation is quite simple, as the KDE structure is pretty fix.

1. Move into the KDM dir and copy the KDM theme me@box:~$ cp -rd Baghira $(kde-config --prefix)/share/apps/kdm/themes/
2. Open the file $(kde-config --prefix)/share/config/kdm/kdmrc and adjust it like this:

   UseTheme=true
   Theme=[$KDEDIR]/share/apps/kdm/themes/Baghira

   where [$KDEDIR] is the value that $(kde-config --prefix) expands.
   Don't use shell variables!
3. Make sure you have the Background Image activated, i.e. have this line:

   UseBackground=true

   Find a line like

   BackgroundCfg=/usr/share/config/kdm/backgroundrc

   Open the BackgroundCfg file and adjust it like this:

   Wallpaper=[$KDEDIR]/share/apps/kdm/themes/Baghira/kdm.jpg
   WallpaperMode=Scaled
   

   with [$KDEDIR] as above.

Step 4: KSplash

Installation

1. Copy the Baghira subfolder either to your KSplash resources, either local me@box:~$ cp Baghira ~/.kde/share/apps/ksplash/Themes/ or global me@box:~$ cp Baghira $(kde-config --prefix)/share/apps/ksplash/Themes/ (you'll need root permissions for the latter one)
2. run KSplash's theme manager me@box:~$ kcmshell ksplashthememgr and select the Baghira theme
3. If you wish, you may try out the theme by calling me@box:~$ ksplash --test

Step 5: Wallpaper

Wallpapers go into ~/.kde/share/wallpapers - no discussion about that ;)

To keep the download size small, the image in the wallpaper subfolder is only a symlink.

Installation