Lightning Talk by Krishna

Topic : Desktop Customization : picom, pywal

Resource : Krishna S

SSD File System Comparison : https://www.linux.org/threads/comparison-of-file-systems-for-an-ssd.28780/

https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/KanchiLUGMMOct13

Notes on Choosing HDD to SSD Linux Installation migration

Chat GPT Prompt : how to backup current linux installation configuration files and packages list as a archive and apply on a new installation

Result

Backing up your current Linux installation’s configuration files and package lists is a great way to ensure you can easily restore or replicate your setup on a new installation. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Backup Configuration Files

1. Identify Configuration Files: Most configuration files are located in /etc. You may also have application-specific configurations in your home directory (like .bashrc, .vimrc, etc.).
2. Create an Archive:
   You can create a compressed archive (like a tarball) of your configuration files. Run the following command:

   sudo tar -czvf config_backup.tar.gz /etc /home/your_username/.bashrc /home/your_username/.vimrc

Adjust the paths based on what configuration files you want to back up.

Step 2: Backup Installed Packages List

The method to back up the installed package list depends on your Linux distribution.

For Debian-based systems (like Ubuntu):

1. Backup Installed Packages:

   dpkg --get-selections > package_list.txt

2. Backup Sources List:

   sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.backup

For Red Hat-based systems (like Fedora, CentOS):

1. Backup Installed Packages:

   rpm -qa > package_list.txt

2. Backup Repositories:

   sudo cp -r /etc/yum.repos.d/ /path/to/backup/repo_backup/

Step 3: Create a Complete Backup Archive

Combine everything into one archive:

tar -czvf full_backup.tar.gz config_backup.tar.gz package_list.txt /etc/apt/sources.list.backup

Step 4: Restore on a New Installation

1. Transfer the Backup: Copy the full_backup.tar.gz to your new installation.
2. Extract the Backup:

   tar -xzvf full_backup.tar.gz

3. Restore Configuration Files:

   sudo tar -xzvf config_backup.tar.gz -C /

4. Restore Package List: For Debian-based systems:

   sudo dpkg --set-selections < package_list.txt
   sudo apt-get dselect-upgrade

#### For Red Hat-based systems:
You can reinstall packages from the list:

   xargs -a package_list.txt sudo dnf install -y

5. Restore Sources List (Debian-based):

   sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list.backup /etc/apt/sources.list
   sudo apt update

Step 5: Finalize and Reboot

After restoring everything, it’s a good idea to reboot your system to ensure all configurations take effect.

Notes:

• Make sure to review any new configurations or installed packages after the restoration, as dependencies and versions may vary.
• For user-specific configurations, you may want to back up the entire home directory or specific application directories.

This process should help you smoothly transition to a new Linux installation with your desired configurations and packages!

Chat GPT Prompt : I am in a plan of migrating linux os to a new file system which is xfs or zfs brtfs which on is good

Choosing between XFS, ZFS, and Btrfs depends on your specific needs and use cases. Here’s a breakdown of each file system’s strengths and considerations to help you decide:

XFS

Pros:

• Performance: Excellent performance, especially for large files and high-performance workloads.
• Scalability: Designed for scalability, making it suitable for high-capacity storage systems.
• Mature: A well-established file system with a long history of stability.

Cons:

• Features: Lacks some advanced features like snapshots and built-in RAID compared to ZFS and Btrfs.
• Management: Does not have as many management tools as ZFS.

ZFS

Pros:

• Data Integrity: Strong focus on data integrity with built-in checksumming.
• Snapshots and Clones: Supports efficient snapshots and clones, allowing for easy backups and recovery.
• Compression: Offers built-in compression options, which can save space.
• RAID: Supports various RAID levels natively (ZRAID), enhancing redundancy.

Cons:

• Memory Usage: Can require more RAM for optimal performance.
• Complexity: More complex to set up and manage compared to traditional file systems.

Btrfs

Pros:

• Snapshots and Subvolumes: Supports snapshots and subvolumes, making it flexible for backups and system management.
• Built-in RAID: Offers support for multiple RAID levels.
• Compression and Deduplication: Supports on-the-fly compression and deduplication.

Cons:

• Stability: Still considered less mature than XFS and ZFS; while it has improved significantly, it may not be as stable for all workloads.
• Performance: Can have variable performance depending on the workload and configuration.

Recommendations

• For General Use: If you want stability and performance for general workloads, XFS is a great choice.
• For Data Integrity and Advanced Features: If data integrity, snapshots, and advanced features are critical, ZFS is likely the best option.
• For Flexibility and Modern Features: If you want modern features like snapshots and subvolumes with some flexibility, consider Btrfs.

Final Thoughts

Evaluate your specific use cases (e.g., data integrity, performance, ease of management) and the resources available on your system (e.g., RAM for ZFS). If possible, testing each file system in a non-production environment can also help you determine which one best meets your needs.