My journey to successfully game under Linux (and overcome Microsoft's Stranglehold)

[Indus]

Probably outsourced it to someone on the cheap.

I've done a fair bit of development (mostly for my own needs and my company's needs) and transitioning from Windows GUI development to Linux GUI development isn't straightforward unless you use a cross platform GUI library. And then there's the low level system code that will be wildly different between Windows and Linux. No wonder they don't want to bother.

I wonder if I can download a windows version of surfshark and operate it on linux through wine or proton.

 

[igor_kavinski]

I wonder if I can download a windows version of surfshark and operate it on linux through wine or proton.

You may have better luck with CrossOver: https://www.codeweavers.com/crossover

Use the trial. If it works, it's worth the price since it may help run other stuff too.

 

[manly]

I wonder if I can download a windows version of surfshark and operate it on linux through wine or proton.

It makes no sense to run a VPN client through Wine.

Looks like Surfshark has a "legacy" CLI as well. Maybe that's worth a try?
Also, they have a couple tools to test the VPN as well. I'd compare the results to that from IPleak.

How to set up Surfshark VPN on Linux (Legacy version)

In this tutorial, you will learn how to install the Surfshark VPN client on your Linux device. You will need a computer running Ubuntu or Debian operating system and an active Surfshark subscriptio...

support.surfshark.com

They also have manual setup, but that probably won't have a "kill switch."

How to set up a manual WireGuard® connection on Linux?

In this article, you will learn how to set up a manual WireGuard® connection on your Linux device via CLI or Network Manager. We offer guidance for both in case you're unable to use one or the othe...

support.surfshark.com

Edit:
WireGuard can have a kill switch.

Setting Up A Kill Switch WireGuard VPN - Rex Bytes

This tutorial will guide you through setting up a WireGuard VPN on an Ubuntu / Linux Mint System, featuring a kill switch that completely stops all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops. This configuration is ideal for ensuring maximum security and privacy.

rexbytes.com

 

[Indus]

@WelshBloke I'm reinstalling BF II and deleting all the previous folders.

Do you know when it brings up the EA installer and login page.. what you did?

Did you install EA?

Did you login with Steam ID on EA to link it?

Because other than those 2 steps where I'm not sure what you did, I've followed your instructions.

 

[WelshBloke]

@WelshBloke I'm reinstalling BF II and deleting all the previous folders.

Do you know when it brings up the EA installer and login page.. what you did?

Did you install EA?

Did you login with Steam ID on EA to link it?

Because other than those 2 steps where I'm not sure what you did, I've followed your instructions.

I literally just installed the game through Steam. I always just try to run things natively then when that doesn't work go straight to the force compatibility thing in the Steam options. I can check which one I've got it running under later for you but I'm fairly sure it's one of the 10.something beta protons.

I'm fairly sure my EA account (and all my other ones) is linked to my Steam account but that's something I did a long time ago.

It just runs as it did in the video I posted. That's what it's done since I installed it on Linux (I can't remember what it did on windows).

 

[WelshBloke]

I fount out something the scary way and it should scare you..

If you like using a VPN.. do not trust the linux version of the app.. it's not good enough. It leaks DNS and gives away your IP.. and you can be tracked..

ipleak.net is your friend to make sure.. especially if you use p2p share services.

At least on that front Windows version of the app is rock solid.. so good job dual booting whoever chooses to do it.

Which VPN is that? I'm using Nord with the app and I get a clean report at ipleak.net.

 

[WelshBloke]

I literally just installed the game through Steam. I always just try to run things natively then when that doesn't work go straight to the force compatibility thing in the Steam options. I can check which one I've got it running under later for you but I'm fairly sure it's one of the 10.something beta protons.

I'm fairly sure my EA account (and all my other ones) is linked to my Steam account but that's something I did a long time ago.

It just runs as it did in the video I posted. That's what it's done since I installed it on Linux (I can't remember what it did on windows).

Its 10.0-2 beta for the proton version forced in the compatibility options. BF2 files are installed in my homefolder (that Steam defaults to) rather than my other steam storage disk.
Steam details are:
Steam Beta Branch: Steam Beta Update
Steam Version: 1753403107
Steam Client Build Date: Fri, Jul 25 00:28 UTC -08:00
Steam Client Build Date: Fri, Jul 25 00:28 UTC -08:00
Steam API Version: SteamClient022

Its the flatpak version of Steam from the Gnome software store.
Linux version is Zorin OS 17.3 Core with 6.8.0-60-generic kernel

 

[Indus]

Which VPN is that? I'm using Nord with the app and I get a clean report at ipleak.net.

I was using surfshark.

I just think their app on linux is crap because if I use the browser vpn.. no leaks.. but the flathub app for surfshark is very barebones.

 

[WelshBloke]

I was using surfshark.

I just think their app on linux is crap because if I use the browser vpn.. no leaks.. but the flathub app for surfshark is very barebones.

Got to be honest installing the GUI app for Nord was a PITA but I think that was more of a me thing.

I picked a Ubuntu based distro because I figured that it's got a big install base and everything has a guide to help you set things up.
That said there have been a few interesting times where I've felt that I'm just copy/pasting things from the internet that I don't understand! I was pleased at installing some drivers for Ryzen SMU stuff that lets me set the CPU voltage offset curve as my MB doesn't support that.

 

[Indus]

Got to be honest installing the GUI app for Nord was a PITA but I think that was more of a me thing.

I picked a Ubuntu based distro because I figured that it's got a big install base and everything has a guide to help you set things up.
That said there have been a few interesting times where I've felt that I'm just copy/pasting things from the internet that I don't understand! I was pleased at installing some drivers for Ryzen SMU stuff that lets me set the CPU voltage offset curve as my MB doesn't support that.

Yeah I'm wondering if the debian app is much better.. I'll try downloading it for my wife and testing it.

Wife is very happy with LMDE and I have her use surfshark for her stuff sometimes since it gives this can only be viewed from within x country. I never tested it for leaks though.. so definitely worth a test on that front..

Overall I'm quite happy with my linux experience.. these are the only 3 headaches I ran into.. that one game.. samba not accessible and this.

You've also taught me that despite what that Linux Mint admin said that gaming on LM is stupid.. it is very possible so I could just go back to LMDE once they come out with LMDE 7 (with a newer kernel). The only thing is I really seem to be liking KDE a lot more than I thought over Cinnamon.. hell over windows too!

 

[WelshBloke]

I think that the fork of Linux should matter less nowadays as long as your hardware is supported and you can install Steam. Steam has done all the heavy lifting to get games working now.

I have learnt not to fiddle too much with things that are working. I broke things a few times by updating my kernel to the latest version for no other reason than that's what I do on Windows.

I must admit that I really don't like KDE at all, I find Gnome a lot more user friendly. Also it looks a lot like how I always wanted Windows to look!

 

[Indus]

I think that the fork of Linux should matter less nowadays as long as your hardware is supported and you can install Steam. Steam has done all the heavy lifting to get games working now.

I have learnt not to fiddle too much with things that are working. I broke things a few times by updating my kernel to the latest version for no other reason than that's what I do on Windows.

I must admit that I really don't like KDE at all, I find Gnome a lot more user friendly. Also it looks a lot like how I always wanted Windows to look!

I can work with GNOME.. I've tried to make myself like it.

My dealbreaker is the scaling model.. its' always either 100% or 200% and nothing inbetween while I like 125% on 2560 x 1440.

Let me know if you have fix or work around to that problem because I don't like looking at interfaces with small fonts and very small icons that're hard to click accurately.

BTW you'll be surprised how clean my desktop is in KDE.. I keep clutter down to a minimum.. and I'm using a launcher that looks like GNOME when going through apps.

 

[WelshBloke]

I can work with GNOME.. I've tried to make myself like it.

My dealbreaker is the scaling model.. its' always either 100% or 200% and nothing inbetween while I like 125% on 2560 x 1440.

Let me know if you have fix or work around to that problem because I don't like looking at interfaces with small fonts and very small icons that're hard to click accurately.

BTW you'll be surprised how clean my desktop is in KDE.. I keep clutter down to a minimum.. and I'm using a launcher that looks like GNOME when going through apps.

Oh I think that KDE is probably technically a better, more powerful desktop environment and if you like it it's absolutely the way to go! I always get og winamp vibes when I use it! Plus I always break it because there's a lot you can fiddle with!

Have you discovered the joys of Conky yet?

 

[Indus]

Oh I think that KDE is probably technically a better, more powerful desktop environment and if you like it it's absolutely the way to go! I always get og winamp vibes when I use it! Plus I always break it because there's a lot you can fiddle with!

Have you discovered the joys of Conky yet?

Ummm I think I know what you mean by breaking KDE.. did you delete panel the taskbar and get rid of start button and the hotkeyed programs??

I've done that a few times.. and there's an easy fix to that.

Was that the problem or something else?

 

[WelshBloke]

Ummm I think I know what you mean by breaking KDE.. did you delete panel the taskbar and get rid of start button and the hotkeyed programs??

I've done that a few times.. and there's an easy fix to that.

Was that the problem or something else?

Pretty much that! It was totally a me thing!
I mean I can do that in Gnome as well but, for some reason, I don't do it as often!
The gnome tweaks app lets you break Gnome in the same way as KDE! 😆

 

[Indus]

Pretty much that! It was totally a me thing!
I mean I can do that in Gnome as well but, for some reason, I don't do it as often!
The gnome tweaks app lets you break Gnome in the same way as KDE! 😆

Ok I'm not doing this to change your mind or get you to switch.. but if you ever experiment with KDE again.. this is the quick 5 second fix to that:

1. Right click on that empty taskbar that you have left at the bottom

2. Click on Show Panel configuration

That'll make KDE look like this:



3. At the very top where it says Add Panel.. click on that and select DEFAULT PANEL



And viola.. that's it.. you got your standard task bar with icons and launcher and everything back to default.

It won't fix everything like go back to how you had it configured but it goes back to the way it was when KDE launched into the system first time and you can reconfigure it again how you like it.

 

[Zepp]

My dealbreaker is the scaling model.. its' always either 100% or 200% and nothing inbetween while I like 125% on 2560 x 1440.

hmm, I think this is maybe an X11 thing, I have ultramarine GNOME wayland on my laptop and it has +25% incremental scaling options from 125% to 225% in display settings

I like GNOME a lot for single screen use in particular, like laptops. I prefer the traditional windows layout for my multi-monitor desktop though.

 

[Indus]

hmm, I think this is maybe an X11 thing, I have ultramarine GNOME wayland on my laptop and it has +25% incremental scaling options from 125% to 225% in display settings

I like GNOME a lot for single screen use in particular, like laptops. I prefer the traditional windows layout for my multi-monitor desktop though.

I didn't try Ultramarine gnome but I did try Fedora and Nobara Gnomes.. then I went to Bazzite and from there upon your recommendation I went with Ultramarine as they had a KDE distro.

But I'm used to it now. Maybe I'll look into install Gnome as a secondary desktop environment and mess with it a bit.. don't really want to reformat again.

 

[WelshBloke]

Ok I'm not doing this to change your mind or get you to switch.. but if you ever experiment with KDE again.. this is the quick 5 second fix to that:

1. Right click on that empty taskbar that you have left at the bottom

2. Click on Show Panel configuration

That'll make KDE look like this:

View attachment 128117

3. At the very top where it says Add Panel.. click on that and select DEFAULT PANEL

View attachment 128118

And viola.. that's it.. you got your standard task bar with icons and launcher and everything back to default.

It won't fix everything like go back to how you had it configured but it goes back to the way it was when KDE launched into the system first time and you can reconfigure it again how you like it.

I like my Gnome desktop. It looks pretty and does everything I need. The stock KDE text editor is pretty damn sexy though!

 

[Indus]

I like my Gnome desktop. It looks pretty and does everything I need. The stock KDE text editor is pretty damn sexy though!

Yeah at this point there's no going wrong with linux.. just do what you're happy with.

I think you might have noticed on windows or my wife's computer with LMDE I like my taskbar at the top with clock in the middle.. so there are some GNOME things I really like.. especially it's simplicity. For my wife she really likes it like that.

She has a strange problem though.. she uses a virtual keyboard that is bi lingual and switches with a key press. It's called Onboard.. comes pre-installed with Linux Mint but it won't work with Wayland.

So I can't move her to Fedora.. nor can I update her system till I'm sure that is working.. but as long as it's working.. don't fix it!

 

[Zepp]

She has a strange problem though.. she uses a virtual keyboard that is bi lingual and switches with a key press. It's called Onboard.. comes pre-installed with Linux Mint but it won't work with Wayland.

So I can't move her to Fedora.. nor can I update her system till I'm sure that is working.. but as long as it's working.. don't fix it!

She's using Cinnamon desktop on LMDE right?
Fedora Cinnamon is X11 by default not wayland. so there shouldn't be a conflict there to move to Fedora if she likes cinnamon and needs x11. unless I misunderstood the issue.

 

[Indus]

She's using Cinnamon desktop on LMDE right?
Fedora Cinnamon is X11 by default not wayland. so there shouldn't be a conflict there to move to Fedora if she likes cinnamon and needs x11. unless I misunderstood the issue.

I tried it in VM.. didn't work with Onboard keyboard or another keyboard.

Virtual keyboards are a bit of a nuisance to get to work correctly but I'm hoping as Wayland gets more adopted.. newer ones are prioritized.

It's generally the first thing I try for her.. like that's why I didn't put her on ubuntu.. that virtual keyboard didn't work correctly back then in 2019 or 2020.. but she's been happy with Mint.

 

[Indus]

@manly NETWORK ISSUE SOLVED

Thank you! Your suggestion of SELinux being the problem solved the last bit of networking problem.. the network gave me access! Seriously thank you!!!

Basically I googled "how to configure selinux to allow samba access"

And with that I put in 2 commands

sudo setsebool -P samba_export_all_ro=1
(for read only folder) or in my case:

sudo setsebool -P samba_export_all_rw=1

followed by

sudo chcon -t samba_share_t <path_to_share>

so in my case it was

sudo chcon -t samba_share_t "/mnt/Movies/Videos/"
Rebooted and then it worked!

Thank you @ch33zw1z @igor_kavinski @Zepp @WelshBloke as well. You all helped a lot and it took all of us combined really.




So now I'm down to 2 minor things I don't like and both are not linux themselves.. it's how 2 programs are annoying..

1. Surfshark VPN linux client
2. Battlefront II not loading

BTW the browser surfshark vpn works really good in chrome and firefox. So if needed.. I can do the vpn needed stuff in 1 browser say firefox and stick to normal stuff where VPN is frowned upon on chrome.

For example many websites don't load if you use VPN.. banks/ amazon/ walmart etc. But that happens within windows too.

Otherwise games work, network works.. and I can do everything I wanted within windows in Linux. And I have Windows as a backup if needed but other than downloading p2p.. don't really need to switch.

 

[Indus]

BTW @Zepp do you know what the command is for ultramarine kde to download gnome?

I tried "sudo dnf groupinstall "Gnome Desktop" " but nope.. so it's a different command from the generic fedora one.

 

[Indus]

BTW @Zepp do you know what the command is for ultramarine kde to download gnome?

I tried "sudo dnf groupinstall "Gnome Desktop" " but nope.. so it's a different command from the generic fedora one.

Nevermind I found it..

Switching Desktop Environments / Edition 🚀 Ultramarine Wiki

Add/remove the DE/edition with Ultramarine Hop.

wiki.ultramarine-linux.org

sudo dnf install hop