install NixOS without internet connection

[char16t]

Issue description

I tried install NixOS from graphical iso image and minimal iso image. Both requires internet connection for downloading "acl" package with nix package manager, but I have no internet connection via WiFi. File /etc/nixos/configuration.nix in live CD is read-only. File /etc/network/interfaces is not exists.
I have no availability connect to internet via Ethernet cable.

Steps to reproduce

1. Download graphiclal ISO image from nixos.org
2. Write ISO image to USB drive via dd
3. Boot from USB without internet connection
4. Prepare drive (/dev/sda10 for example)
5. Mount /dev/sda10 to /mnt
6. Generate config with nixos-generate-config
7. Add only one line to config: boot.loader.grub.device = "/dev/sda";
8. Execute nixos-install
9. Get error: build of nixos-system-nixos-17.03.drv failed

building the system configuration...
...
build of nixos-system-nixos-17.03.drv failed

Technical details

• System: 17.03.1482.1b57bf274a (Gorilla)
• Nix version: 1.11.11
• Nixpkgs version: 17.03.1482.1b57bf274a
• Sandboxing enabled: false

[0xABAB]

A release test should also be added, which tests for this property.

[char16t]

After connecting and removing ethernet cable I can connect to WiFi (networks menu is shown).

But I still would like to be able install nixos without internet (if it need someone else).

[avnik]

Confirm, install media miss stuff for bootloader installation (grub/grub-efi).

[0xABAB]

@char16t Please close this issue, since your immediate problem has been resolved and there is now an issue for improving the quality of the release such that this won't happen again.

[Meizikyn]

I would like to reopen this.

As of Loris 19.09 this issue still persists.

[char16t]

Hi Nicholas,

I recommend you create new issue with link to this. You should provide your technical details in issue description.

[char16t]

@Meizikyn

[bernadinm]

I've just tested this on a new machine (Framework Laptop) running 21.04 and it doesn't work without an internet connection.

[nkichukov]

Same here, nixos-install fails with some unable to download DNS resolution failures for cache.nixos.org ... any workaround to this?

Nixos 22.05.1460 here.

[jcleng]

Same here, nixos-install fails with some unable to download DNS resolution failures for cache.nixos.org ... any workaround to this?

Nixos 22.05.1460 here.

the same

[jrdot]

@jcleng @nkichukov

Hi,

I solved the problem by following these steps:

• Disable Wired connection

• Enable Wi-fi and configure ip and dns manually

• Restart services network-interfaces.target and network-online.target

• Close and reopen the Calamares installer

[jcleng]

@jcleng @nkichukov

Hi,

I solved the problem by following these steps:

• Disable Wired connection
• Enable Wi-fi and configure ip and dns manually
• Restart services network-interfaces.target and network-online.target
• Close and reopen the Calamares installer

I think what I need is no network for installation,offline install, rather than network for installation

[pete3n]

If you want to install NixOS from an ISO completely offline, I created this repo to build an ISO with the the graphical installer that works offline.

[nixos-discourse]

This issue has been mentioned on NixOS Discourse. There might be relevant details there:

https://discourse.nixos.org/t/more-airgap-questions/38748/11