If you boot your PC on a Setup CD into “live” mode after some time the Desktop Unity or Gnome starts. After successful testing the PC with the current Drivers and Kernel you can select “Install” by pressing the icon left on the desktop. But here the Problem appear that you dont see any informations about bugs, crashes, or other major messages during the setup. Without this you are not able to find any errors later, or you cant tell a supporter what happend! Workaround (#comments!): Always open a gnome-terminal as first step instead of pressing the installer icon! move the gnome-terminal […]
Debian: Update SSD Firmware without CDROM
If you want to update the SSD Firmware of a device you should know some things: Do you REALLY need the update? Bugs? If NOT exit here! Firmwareupdates can destroy DATA on Drives! Data cant be restored if the Controller fails after Update Downgrade a Firmware to older is most IMPOSSIBLE!! .. now you need a USB Stick 4GB and the ISO File of the Firmware Disk of the Manufacter then open the Gnome Terminal or Console and: $sudo su – #become root $apt-get update && apt-get install unetbootin gparted # install the tools $dd if=/dev/null of=/dev/sdc bs=10240 count=1 # […]
Ubuntu Debian Samsung SSD secure erase with Linux
If you use a Samsung (possible others brands same howto) SSD and you want to secure erase the SSD for reuse or resale (better destroy it!!!) do: Insert your Debian/Ubuntu Setup CD/Stick Boot into Live/Setup Mode open Gnome Terminal or Console and enter $sudo su – #to be root then enter.. $ apt-get update && apt-get install hdparm # get the tool $ sudo fdisk -l # show drives $ sudo hdparm -I /dev/sda #show drive Infos and lock for "frozen" state!!! shoud be not frozen/locked $ sudo hdparm –security-set-pass NULL /dev/sdb # set the "NULL" password to UNLOCK the […]
Ubuntu: Libreoffice Calc slow scrolling Intel HD Graphics
On Libreoffice 4.3.X and earlier a lot of users post problems or freezes of scrolling inside Documents This seems to be a bug inside Libreoffice and Cache Handling or 3D Handling to Intel HD Solution: Add last ppa sources to the System to pull newest Version: Open Gnome Terminal / Console enter: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa && apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade -y To pull last from PPA Source Tree and install Libre Office 4.4.X which i tested successful
Debian: Auto Update System Daily without special Tools
If you want to have a full automatic Update on your System then open a Gnome Terminal / Linux Console run (# Comments): $sudo nano /root/update.sh enter: #/!bin/bash apt-get update #pull updates apt-get dist-upgrade -y # install updates apt-get clean #clean update database for next pull to have clean source urls exit 0 save with CTRL+X # save+Exit $sudo chmod 755 /root/update.sh # make able to run Setup Timeplan: $sudo su – # change to root users console with environment $crontab -e # open root timer enter: @daily sh /root/update.sh > /dev/null 2>&1 save with CTRL+X and be happy the […]
Ubuntu Vivid: Things you should change after fresh setup
If you Setup Ubuntu 15.XX on a PC there are a few things to change: open a Gnome Terminal an run (# Comments): $sudo apt-get update && apt-get dist-upgrade #Pull Updates $sudo adduser CrazY12U$ERNAME # Create a crazy Username (Standarduser, no sudo, no lpadmin) for daily work! to prevent social engineering Hacks $sudo chmod 700 /home/* # to prevent that other users look into each other homes! (check root home to “ls -l /root) $sudo passwd root # SET long Password (min.15 digits) for the root User to prevent PC recovery Console Access without Password!!! Keep Password save! $sudo apt-get […]
Ubuntu Vivid Debian: Kernel I/O Errors SSD SATA NVIDIA Chipsets
If you use a PC with a SSD Drive and a Motherboard which uses NVIDIA chipsets you may see Errors on boot Command “dmesg” Output like.. Buffer I/O error on device sdc, logical block 41 ata5: EH complete ata5: EH in SWNCQ mode,QC:qc_active 0x1 sactive 0x1 ata5: SWNCQ:qc_active 0x1 defer_bits 0x0 last_issue_tag 0x0 dhfis 0x1 dmafis 0x1 sdbfis 0x0 ata5: ATA_REG 0x41 ERR_REG 0x84 ata5: tag : dhfis dmafis sdbfis sactive ata5: tag 0x0: 1 1 0 1 ata5.00: exception Emask 0x1 SAct 0x1 SErr 0x300000 action 0x6 frozen ata5.00: Ata error. fis:0x21 ata5.00: cmd 60/08:00:07:04:00/00:00:00:00:00/40 tag 0 ncq 4096 […]
Ubuntu: Recover Data from old Luks Encrypted HDD to new HDD
If you prefer to use encrypted Devices you ran into a problem if you try to move, migrate or recover the files from the old luks protected home. As normal User you should know that luks is used with LVM2 Logicial Volume Manager, which manages the partitions “named based”. Major Info! Ubuntu prename the volume group with the Setup-DVD all time to the same VG_NAME called “ubuntu-vg”!!! So what do you need to migrate or recover? Download the ubuntu DVD and burn it to a disc Insert the new HDD to the Sata1 Port Plugin the ubuntu DVD for Setup […]
Ubuntu Vivid: Systemd boot OS into rescue mode with tmpfs
If you setup a Laptop with 15.XX and a luks encrypted SSD, you did set on older OS “tmpfs” for /tmp. Now under “systemd” the the boot hangs cause systemd “automount” tmpfs to /tmp by default!!! If you enter tmpfs into fstab like on ubuntu 14.10, the OS boots into the “RECOVERY RESCUE MODE” Here some details, from a forum post: Disable automatic mount Under systemd, /tmp may be automatically mounted as a tmpfs even though you have no entry for that in your /etc/fstab. To disable the automatic mount, run: # systemctl mask tmp.mount Files will no longer be […]
Backup your PC with Linux Full Disk Snapshot Free Tool with Diskdump
Today a User is forced to Update daily his System or change anything to try new Software. But here mostly the Users run into very BAD PROBLEMS. I got often Calls that Users lose the control of the PC after Updates, Software Setups, Software Removal’s .. For this Linux offers a default Backup Tool, called Diskdump (“dd” command) which is on every Setup/Recover CD and Installation. Before any Changes do allways a Backup to USB Drives, Sticks or Second SATA Disk! This will save you TIME, Money, DATA and Nerves! Backup : Mount the Disk 2 on Path /mnt as […]
Ubuntu Debian: Setup on older Hardware NO UEFI Workaround Black Screen No Boot
Todays current Hardware Bios uses a new Software Interface to boot. Thats called “UEFI” Newer Linux Versions Support this Hardware Setup by default! BUT these settings makes users (Newbies/Office Users) mostly impossible to setup the System on older Hardware, cause the “Setup Routines” does not detect the older Bios! Here the User must interact manual to force the Setup! Cause the Setup tries to create a Harddrive Partition with a seperated UEFI Partition! See “parted” output on Console! Now if your Setup is made and you Reboot a older Non-UEFI PC you run into “Black Screen”! Especiallly if you setup […]
Ubuntu: Advantage of Classic Desktop Openbox
I am often asked what is the best Desktop Software for Linux? a good Desktop must be fast by window handling, easy to read and needs less hardware resources the fonts must be clear and easy to read animations should not break the operations, glossy windows should by easy to switch off a taskbar should always show you which apps are active and opened a taskbar should not group icons! a progam menu should open fast and should wait for user interactions, special for newbies or older people! a good Desktop Software should not force you to the need of […]
DuckDuckgo: The alternate adfree Search Engine
If you dont like or trust the most known Search Engines on the Internet, then give duckduckgo a chance on your Desktop! Adfree Fast Secure Working like charme Clean Not “controlling” your mind by cookie calculation
PHPMYADMIN: Performance Monitor not working Java Script Error
If you install phpmyadmin on your Server Version 4.XX, the Browser shows a Javascript Error if the Performance Monitor is opened. Problem is the mostly the setting “localhost” on the config.inc.php file. If you want to view the monitor from external, set the ip to 192.XXX.XXX.XXX or domainname and control that the MYSQL Server is listening on all IPs! Warning! If you dont really need this tool DONT CHANGE the MYSQL Server IP to listening “ALL” cause LOCALHOST is much more secure! Localhost should work if you have installed a local proxy on the Server! So you can relay the […]
Major Webserver Setup Rules: The “must” do!
If you want to setup a fresh secure Webserver then use this list dont ever upload data, files, images on the Webserver who are classified as “secret” setup daily full backup with Cron view daily the system logs, auth, www, errors … setup a local firewall with less opened ports 80,25 .. setup daily automatic updates by cron reduce the count of users who can login use no logical usernames force long passwords by rules min 15 digits setup a daily load monitor by “uptime” to log setup a realtime network monitor by “iftop” use “nmap” as local portscan to […]
Debian Ubuntu Laptop mods for SSD HDD and a full encrypted with luks
Major INFO 06-2015: Do not set tmpfs on ubuntu 15.XX or Systems with systemd!!! This block PC boot !! If you want to setup a Ubuntu/Debian Laptop with a full encrypted HDD use a “alternate” CD/DVD. After Setup you have to change some little Parameters to extend the lifecycle of the SSD Chips disable Swap if you have more than 4GB Ram enable a RAMDISK with tmpfs for logs, caches of Browsers install cpufrequtils for CPU freqscaling install laptop-mode-tools to set powersave mode for hardware modules install xbacklight to reduce backlight energy Steps: open a Console and change to root […]