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 What apps are useful for a New (clean) Install | Debian
Nala - apt frontend:
sudo apt install nala
Misc apps etc…:
sudo nala install ufw gufw fonts-noto-color-emoji conky 7zip rclone tree traceroute inkscape rpi-imager vlc gparted keepassxc audacious ansiweather w3m lynx psensor code mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-utils vulkan-tools nmap mame
Flatpak package manager:
sudo nala install flatpak
GIMP Beta:
flatpak install --user https://flathub.org/beta-repo/appstream/org.gimp.GIMP.flatpakref
Netsurf web browser:
flatpak install netsurf
SNAP Package manager:
sudo nala install snapd
SNAP Store and Commander x16 emulator:
snap install core snap-store x16emu
002 Terminal | Debian
Use the following key-presses to open a terminal window:
Crtl + Alt + T
To display the terminal command history use the following command:
history
003 Software update and Tidy up | Debian
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
004 Journal files (journalctl) | Debian
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
005 Location of script files | Debian
Scripts can be placed in the following directory so you don't have to include the full path
/usr/local/bin
006 Network Manager | Debian
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
007 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
008 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
009 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
010 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
011 *.desktop file, allow launching | Debian
Use the following command:
gio set file.desktop metadata::trusted true
012 Add *.desktop file to launcher and/or menu | Debian
Copy the *desktop file into the following folder:
~\.local\share\applications
013 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
014 Backup / Restore entire HDD using command line (Terminal) | Debian
Backup:
dd if=/dev/sda of=./part1.image
Restore:
ddd if=./part1.image of=/dev/sda
015 Compressed backup to img file using command line (Terminal) | Debian
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…
016 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"
017 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")"
018 Configure Network Manager from CLI | RasPi OS | Bookworm
Use the following command:
nmtui
019 Auto update CertBot using cron | Debian
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 and 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
020 Show network information | Debian
Use the following command (change eth0 for the device you're interested in):
nmcli device show eth0
021 Check firmware is up to date | RasPi OS
Use the following command:
sudo rpi-eeprom-update
022 Stop / Start a package from updating via apt | Debian
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
023 numlock on at system start | Debian
Use the following command to install the app numlockx:
sudo nala install numlockx
024 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
025 Find names and info of devices on the network | Debian
Use the following command:
avahi-browse -alr
026 Find MAC address and device manufacturer of most network device | Debian
Use the following command:
sudo nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24