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Linux Information​|​Annie UK

Sunday 5 May 2024

Below is a list of random Debian based Linux information for my reference. This info also includes some fixes for Rasp­ber­ry Pi specific related issues

Random Linux Information

001 Install Nala (apt frontend)
 
Desktop:
  • sudo apt install nala
002 What apps are useful for a New (clean) Install
 
  • sudo apt install nala
  • sudo nala install ufw fonts-noto-color-emoji neofetch conky 7zip rclone tree traceroute inkscape netsurf-gtk rpi-imager vlc gparted keepassxc audacious ansiweather w3m lynx psensor code mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-utils vulkan-tools
  • sudo nala install flatpak
  • flatpak install --user https://flathub.org/beta-repo/appstream/org.gimp.GIMP.flatpakref
  • sudo nala install snapd
  • snap install core snap-store x16emu
003 Terminal
 
Use the following key-presses to open a terminal window
  • Crtl + Alt + T
004 Software update & Tidy up
 
Use the following commands in a terminal window to update Linux to the latest software
  • sudo apt update
  • sudo apt upgrade
Tidy up install
  • sudo apt -y autoremove && sudo apt -y clean && sudo apt -y purge ?config-files
005 Journal files (journalctl)
 
Use the following command in a terminal window to clear out all journal files older than 1 day
  • sudo journalctl --vacuum-time=1d
Use the following command in a terminal window to clear out all journal files but leave the most recent files upto the specified amount of disk space (##B, ##M, ##G)
  • sudo journalctl --vacuum-size=1B
Use the following command in a terminal window to find out the amount of disk space it taken up by journaling
  • journalctl --disk-usage
Use the following command in a terminal window to disable journaling
  • systemctl disable systemd-journald
006 Location of script files
 
Scripts can be placed in the following directory so you don't have to include the full path
  • /usr/local/bin
007 Network Manager
 
To stop use the following
  • sudo systemctl stop NetworkManager.service
To start use the following
  • sudo systemctl start NetworkManager.service
To restart use the following
  • sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager.service
008 Stop audio setting defaulting to headphones | RasPi OS | Ubuntu
 
Use the following (for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS)
  • sudo nano /etc/pulse/default.pa
Find "load-module module-switch-on-connect.so" and comment it out by adding a # to the front of the line
009 Scrambled online accounts screen | Ubuntu | RasPi OS | Gnome
 
Use the following in terminal to open the settings with the screens unscrambled
  • WEBKIT_DISABLE_COMPOSITING_MODE=1 gnome-control-center
010 Stop polling for an SD card constantly when not using one | RasPi OS
 
Edit config.txt
  • sudo nano /boot/firmware/config.sys
Add the following to the end of config.txt
  • dtparam=sd_poll_once
011 Get the CPU temparature | RasPi OS
 
Use the following command:
  • cat /sys/class/thermal/thermal_zone0/temp
Note: The result needs to be divided by 1000 to get the actual temperature in °C
012 *.desktop file, allow launching
 
Use the following command:
  • gio set file.desktop metadata::trusted true
013 Add *.desktop file to launcher and/or menu
 
Copy the *desktop file into the following folder:
  • ~\.local\share\applications
014 Turn off splash screen | RasPi OS
 
Edit the following file:
  • sudo nano /boot/firmware/cmdline.txt
Remove the following from the end of the line:
  • quiet splash
015 Backup / Restore entire HDD using command line (Terminal)
 
Backup:
  • dd if=/dev/sda of=./part1.image
Restore:
  • ddd if=./part1.image of=/dev/sda
016 Compressed backup to img file using command line (Terminal)
 
Backup:
  • cd ~
  • sudo dd if=/dev/<drive> | gzip -c - > <name>.img.gz
Where <drive> is the name of the mounted drive ie sde, mmcblk0, etc…
017 Login screen settings | Gnome
 
Use the following to edit the settings:
  • sudo nano /etc/gdm3/greeter.dconf-defaults
Some settings under the [org/gnome/desktop/interface] section:
  • cursor-size=64
  • text-scaling-factor=1.50
  • clock-format='12h'
018 ALT + F2 to open Run.. dialogue | Wayfire
 
Add the following into the file ~/.config/wayfire.ini at the bottom of the [command] section:
  • binding_power = <alt> KEY_F2
  • command_power = sh -c "$(zenity --entry --title='Run' --text='Enter Command')"
019 Configure Network Manager from CLI | RasPi OS | Bookworm
 
Use the following command:
  • nmtui
020 Auto update CertBot using cron
 
Use the following command to create a cron job:
  • sudo touch /etc/cron.d/certbot
Use Nano to edit the above file
  • sudo nano /etc/cron.d/certbot
Cut & paste the following into nano and save the file
  • # /etc/cron.d/certbot: crontab entries for the certbot package
    #
    # Upstream recommends attempting renewal twice a day
    #
    # Eventually, this will be an opportunity to validate certificates
    # haven't been revoked, etc. Renewal will only occur if expiration
    # is within 30 days.

    SHELL=/bin/sh
    PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin

    0 */12 * * * root test -x /usr/bin/certbot -a \! -d /run/systemd/system && perl -e 'sleep int(rand(3600))' && certbot -q renew
021 Show network information
 
Use the following command (change eth0 for the device you're interested in):
  • nmcli device show eth0
022 Check firmware is up to date | RasPi OS
 
Use the following command:
  • sudo rpi-eeprom-update
023 Stop / Start a package from updating via apt
 
Use the following commands:
  • sudo apt-mark hold package-name
  • sudo apt-mark unhold package-name
or to show packages on hold
  • sudo apt-mark showhold
024 numlock on at system start
 
Use the following command to install the app numlockx:
  • sudo nala install numlockx
025 Dark mode for the login screen | RasPi OS
 
Edit the file /etc/lightdm/pi-greeter.conf:

[greeter]
default-user-image=/usr/share/raspberrypi-artwork/annieuk.png
desktop_bg=#000000000000
wallpaper=/usr/share/rpd-wallpaper/RPiSystemdark.png
wallpaper_mode=crop
gtk-theme-name=PiXnoir
gtk-icon-theme-name=PiXflat
gtk-font-name= PibotoLt 24

Note: The directories the wallpaper and icons come from should not be altered as this seems to be hardcoded somewhere, just place and new wallpaper / icon files in the above directories

Force Graphic theme (may give unpredictable page rendering)