How To Use Gala Window Manger with XFCE Xubuntu

Add the elementary daily ppa and install gala

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:elementary-os/daily
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install gala dconf-tools

Set gala as xfce's default window manager

cp /etc/xdg/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml

gedit ~/.config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-session.xml

replace "xfwm4" with "gala"

Put min/max/close buttons on the right

open dconf-editor:

org pantheon desktop gala appearance
button-layout: :minimize,maximize,close

10 Things To Do After Installing elementary OS Luna

1.  Update xorg using xorg-edgers PPA

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

2.  Install Propietary Graphics Driver

    sudo apt-get install nvidia-current

3.  Generate xorg.conf For Open Source Graphics Driver

     If using open source video drivers (fglrx, nouveau) generate xorg.conf
     to  improve performance.

     ctrl+alt+F1
     sudo service lightdm stop
     sudo Xorg -configure
     sudo mv xorg.conf.new xorg.conf
     sudo mv xorg.conf /etc/X11/
     sudo reboot

4.  Update kernel using pre-built packages from Ubuntu Mainline  http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/

Download the appropriate packages for your architecture ie. amd64 or i386 make sure to download the "all.deb" package as well.  Next install using the command below.

    sudo dpkg -i *.deb

5.  Install Ubuntu Restricted Extras

    sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

6.  Enable all Startup Applications

    cd /etc/xdg/autostart
    sudo sed --in-place 's/NoDisplay=true/NoDisplay=false/g' *.desktop

7.  Install a Firewall Application

    sudo apt-get install gufw 

8.  Install 32-bit Libraries

    sudo apt-get install ia32-libs

9.  Optimize SSD Performance

    sudo nano /etc/fstab

    noatime,nodiratime,discard

    Swap Space

    /etc/sysctl.conf
 

   vm.swappiness=1
   vm.vfs_cache_pressure=50

10.  Enable DVD Playback

    sudo apt-get install libdvdread4

    sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh
 
11.  Add PPA's

    Openshot

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openshot.developers/ppa
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install openshot openshot-doc

    Gimp

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:otto-kesselgulasch/gimp
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install gimp

    Handbrake

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stebbins/handbrake-releases
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install handbrake-gtk

    XNOISE

    sudo add-apt-repository ppa:shkn/xnoise
    sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install xnoise

How to Compile ffmpeg,libvpx and x264

Make sure you don't have ffmpeg or x264 installed:

sudo apt-get remove ffmpeg x264 libx264-dev

Update your system:

sudo apt-get update

Install all of the packages required for compilation & Installation:

sudo apt-get -y install build-essential checkinstall git libfaac-dev libgpac-dev libjack-jackd2-dev libmp3lame-dev libopencore-amrnb-dev libopencore-amrwb-dev libsdl1.2-dev libtheora-dev libva-dev libvdpau-dev libvorbis-dev libx11-dev libxfixes-dev texi2html yasm zlib1g-dev

x264

cd

git clone git://git.videolan.org/x264

cd x264

./configure --enable-static

make -j 32

sudo checkinstall --pkgname=x264 --pkgversion="3:$(./version.sh | awk -F'[" ]' '/POINT/{print $4"+git"$5}')" --backup=no --deldoc=yes --fstrans=no --default

libvpx

cd

git clone http://git.chromium.org/webm/libvpx.git

cd libvpx

./configure

make -j 32

sudo checkinstall --pkgname=libvpx --pkgversion="1:$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M)-git" --backup=no --deldoc=yes --fstrans=no --default

ffmpeg

cd

git clone --depth 1 git://source.ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg

cd ffmpeg

./configure --enable-gpl --enable-libfaac --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libopencore-amrnb --enable-libopencore-amrwb --enable-libtheora --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libx264 --enable-nonfree --enable-version3 --enable-x11grab

make -j 32

sudo checkinstall --pkgname=ffmpeg --pkgversion="5:$(date +%Y%m%d%H%M)-git" --backup=no --deldoc=yes --fstrans=no --default

hash x264 ffmpeg ffplay ffprobe

Make Your Own Custom Ubuntu/Gnome Remix

-->

Ubuntu 12.04/12.10

Step 1. Install required packages...

sudo apt-get install gdm gnome-shell gnome-tweak-tool synaptic deborphan

(During installation you will be asked to select a display manager make sure to select GDM "Gnome Display Manager" I have not tested this using Light DM)

Step 2.  Restart & Login to Gnome-Shell

Step 3.  Start removing Unity...

sudo apt-get remove unity unity-2d unity-2d-common unity-2d-panel unity-2d-shell unity-2d-spread unity-asset-pool unity-common unity-lens-applications unity-lens-files unity-lens-music unity-lens-video unity-scope-musicstores unity-scope-video-remote unity-services indicator-messages indicator-status-provider-mc5 appmenu-qt appmenu-gtk appmenu-gtk3 lightdm unity-greeter overlay-scrollbar zeitgeist zeitgeist-core zeitgeist-datahub activity-log-manager-common activity-log-manager-control-center

Step 4.  Begin removing dependencies...

sudo apt-get autoremove

Step 5.  Clean up...

sudo apt-get purge `deborphan`

(This command will need to be performed multiple times until there are no more dependencies to be removed)

Step 6.   Remove Unity config files

sudo dpkg --purge `dpkg -l | egrep "^rc" | cut -d' ' -f3`

Step 7.  Add the Gnome3Team PPA to update Precise to the latest Gnome packages that have been left out of the 12.04 LTS repositories

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:gnome3-team/gnome3

Step 8.  Update your system and install/upgrade packages

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

Step 9.  (Optional) Clean up your “apt” cache

sudo apt-get clean

Step 10.  Smile, Unity is gone!

:)

How to Transfer Files to and from your Galaxy Nexus

Add ADB to your PATH

# Ubuntu Users:

sudo gedit .bashrc

# Linux Mint Users:

sudo gedit /etc/bash.bashrc

# Make the appropriate changes ie. your username and path to where you keep the Android SDK add it to the bottom of your bashrc file save and close.

# Android ADB

export PATH=$PATH:/home/yourusername/sdk/platform-tools/

# Restart bashrc Ubuntu Users:

source .bashrc

# Restart bashrc Linux Mint Users:

source /etc/bash.bashrc

# Push files to Galaxy Nexus using ADB

adb push /pathtoyourfile(s) /sdcard/directory/

# Pull files from Galaxy Nexus using ADB

adb pull /sdcard/directory/file/ /home/username/directory/

How to Optimize SSD Drives in Linux

1.  First make sure that you have your SATA mode set to "AHCI" in your motherboard's BIOS this is a necessary step for Trim support.

2.  Next you must edit your fstab file to include "noatime" & "discard" mounting options for your file system we do this be executing the following:

sudo gedit /etc/fstab

Enter the following options:

noatime,discard,

You do not need to do anything to your "/boot" partition just the root file system "/" or any other partition layout you have such as "/home" it should look something like this when you're finished....

After entering the above text Save & Close the file.

3.  Next we should change your I/O scheduler.  Assuming you haven't compiled your own custom kernel you're probably using the "CFQ" I/O scheduler.  For optimal performance we want to use either "Deadline" or "Noop".  To check which scheduler you're using enter the following into Terminal:

cat /sys/block/sda/queue/scheduler

The output should look something like this:

noop [deadline]

As indicate by the brackets I'm running the Deadline I/O scheduler.  To change your I/O Scheduler you can either compile your own custom kernel if you're unsure how to do that I have multiple videos covering the topic or you can do it in userspace by editing your /etc/rc.local file.

In Terminal enter the following:

sudo gedit /etc/rc.local

Next you will add the following to this file:

echo deadline > /sys/block/sda/queue/scheduler

It should look like this when you're finished...

After entering the above text Save & Close the file.

4.  For changes to take effect reboot your computer and enjoy!

How to Benchmark Hard Drive Read Speeds in Linux

First as root clear the buffer-cache to accurately measure read speeds directly from the device:

echo 3 > /proc/sys/vm/drop_caches

Next run the test:

sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sda

NOTE: In the code above "/dev/sda" is the hard drive I wanted to benchmark you will have to change the hard drive identifier "/dev/sxx" to whatever hard drive you would like to benchmark.

Sample Output: (Crucial m4 128gb SATA III SSD)

/dev/sda:

Timing cached reads: 26764 MB in 2.00 seconds = 13397.24 MB/sec

Timing buffered disk reads: 1216 MB in 3.01 seconds = 404.64 MB/sec

root@ubuntu rizzo # sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sda

/dev/sda:

Timing cached reads: 26976 MB in 2.00 seconds = 13503.76 MB/sec

Timing buffered disk reads: 1356 MB in 3.00 seconds = 451.66 MB/sec

root@ubuntu rizzo # sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sda

/dev/sda:

Timing cached reads: 27148 MB in 2.00 seconds = 13589.38 MB/sec

Timing buffered disk reads: 1358 MB in 3.00 seconds = 452.58 MB/sec

root@ubuntu rizzo # sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sda

/dev/sda:

Timing cached reads: 26458 MB in 2.00 seconds = 13243.58 MB/sec

Timing buffered disk reads: 1352 MB in 3.00 seconds = 450.17 MB/sec

Sample Output: (Seagate 1Tb 7200rpm Mechanical Drive)

/dev/sdb:

 Timing cached reads:   27010 MB in  2.00 seconds = 13520.18 MB/sec

 Timing buffered disk reads: 352 MB in  3.00 seconds = 117.33 MB/sec

rizzo@ubuntu ~ $ sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:

 Timing cached reads:   27248 MB in  2.00 seconds = 13639.73 MB/sec

 Timing buffered disk reads: 354 MB in  3.02 seconds = 117.41 MB/sec

rizzo@ubuntu ~ $ sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:

 Timing cached reads:   27700 MB in  2.00 seconds = 13866.26 MB/sec

 Timing buffered disk reads: 352 MB in  3.00 seconds = 117.33 MB/sec

rizzo@ubuntu ~ $ sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdb

/dev/sdb:

 Timing cached reads:   26386 MB in  2.00 seconds = 13208.40 MB/sec

 Timing buffered disk reads: 354 MB in  3.01 seconds = 117.42 MB/sec

NOTE: This test should be run at least three or four times to get an accurate average reading.