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Distributions / Fedora
A Fedora Installation on a Btrfs Filesystem with a Simple Snapper Compatible Subvolume Layout

While Fedora defaults to a Btrfs filesystem for new installations, as of Fedora 41, the Anaconda installer does not automatically create a Btrfs subvolume layout with additional subvolumes for mounting filesystem hierarchy paths that should be excluded from Btrfs snapshots.

In an earlier article on this site, a somewhat complicated process -- which required chrooting into the installed system from the installation live environment -- to replicate the multi-level hierarchical subvolume layout used …

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Distributions / Debian
Installing Kvantum from Source on Siduction (Debian Sid)

Kvantum is a theme engine for Qt based desktop environments, such as KDE's Plasma and other desktop environments such as LXQt. It is based on SVG elements. It is managed with the Kvantum Manager GUI application which allows users to select and customize themes.

Unfortunately, although it is commonly available in many distributions, a version supporting Qt6 -- necessary for the latest release series of Plasma -- is not in Debian's repositories. Fortunately it …

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Siduction Linux 2024.1.0 (Shine On) Review [KDE Plasma Edition]

Siduction Linux is a rolling release distribution based on the unstable branch of Debian, permanently assigned the codename Sid, from which the name of the distribution is derived.

The distribution provides installation images featuring the KDE Plasma, LXQt and, Xfce desktop environments, as well as an X Window System only version without a DE and minimal version without even the X Window System.

The standout feature of the current incarnation of Siduction is the …

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Distributions / Ubuntu
Converting an Existing Ubuntu 24.10 Installation on Ext4 to Btrfs with an openSUSE Style Subvolume Layout and Snapper Integration for System Snapshot Management

The ext4 filesystem -- and its preceding versions, known for its stability and reliability has long been the default filesystem used by most Linux distributions. However, the Btrfs filesystem, due to its scalability and next-generation fault tolerance and self healing features have helped it gain popularity.

openSUSE pioneered its use as the default filesystem almost ten years ago, provisioning it on installations with a complex but very rational subvolume layout, along with Snapper to manage …

Latest Distribution Reviews


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Siduction Linux 2024.1.0 (Shine On) Review [KDE Plasma Edition]

Feb. 21, 2025, 8:20 p.m.

Siduction Linux is a rolling release distribution based on the unstable branch of Debian, permanently assigned the codename Sid, from which the name of the distribution is derived.

The distribution provides installation images featuring the KDE Plasma, LXQt and, Xfce desktop environments, as well as an X Window System only version without a DE and minimal version without even the X Window System.

The standout feature of the current incarnation of Siduction is the …

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Ultramarine Linux 39 Review [KDE Plasma Edition]

April 11, 2024, 9 p.m.

Ultramarine Linux is a Fedora based GNU/Linux distribution developed by Fyra Labs, a professional services provider in various information technology areas. The distribution strives to be easy to use, stable, and secure with features that benefit developers as well as casual users. Some of the value it adds to its excellent Fedora base is the inclusion of additional repositories for software not distributed by Fedora, such as the third-party RPM Fusion, which provides among …

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Garudal Linux Review [KDE Dragonized (D460nized),231029

April 3, 2024, 9 p.m.

Garuda Linux is an Arch based distribution that provides an easy GUI installation of an Arch system with the widely used Calamares installer. But unlike the numerous other distributions that offer such an easy installation of an Arch system and some custom convenience tools, such as a welcome application, Garuda Linux is more ambitious. It provides installation on a Btrfs filesystem that incorporates Snapper to manage snapshot and rollback capability, as well as distribution developed …

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Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Review

July 7, 2023, midnight

Red Hat Enterprise Linux is the leading Linux distribution used by enterprises. Red Hat, its developer, has built a very successful FOSS business using this core product, generating revenue from RHEL support subscriptions and other large scale technologies built with RHEL at their core.

In 2014, Red Hat took control of CentOS, a community developed clone of RHEL produced by recompiling Red Hat source. In 2020 it changed the CentOS development model and purpose from …

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Latest Blog Articles


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Not Enough Space on Btrfs Filesystem Due to Exhausted Metadata Block Group Allocation

April 25, 2023, 9 p.m.

The Btrfs filesystem for Linux is believed by some to be the next default filesystem for Linux, replacing the current de-facto standard default filesystem, ext4. It has many advanced features which are not available in the current standard filesystem, such as copy-on-write capability which allows the creation of snapshots, …

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Btrfs with Snapper Saves Arch System After IBT Conflict with NVIDIA Driver Kernel Module

April 9, 2023, 9 p.m.

The Btrfs filesystem used in combination with Snapper to allow system rollbacks without an external live system was pioneered by openSUSE almost a decade ago. This configuration creates Btrfs snapshots periodically and when package management transactions, such as updates, are performed. When a rollback is required, it can be effectuated …

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Latest Distribution Specific Guides


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A Fedora Installation on a Btrfs Filesystem with a Simple Snapper Compatible Subvolume Layout

Aug. 29, 2025, 12:02 a.m.

While Fedora defaults to a Btrfs filesystem for new installations, as of Fedora 41, the Anaconda installer does not automatically create a Btrfs subvolume layout with additional subvolumes for mounting filesystem hierarchy paths that should be excluded from Btrfs snapshots.

In an earlier article on this site, a somewhat complicated process -- which required chrooting into the installed system from the installation live environment -- to replicate the multi-level hierarchical subvolume layout used …

GO TO ARTICLE
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Installing Kvantum from Source on Siduction (Debian Sid)

March 2, 2025, 11 p.m.

Kvantum is a theme engine for Qt based desktop environments, such as KDE's Plasma and other desktop environments such as LXQt. It is based on SVG elements. It is managed with the Kvantum Manager GUI application which allows users to select and customize themes.

Unfortunately, although it is commonly available in many distributions, a version supporting Qt6 -- necessary for the latest release series of Plasma -- is not in Debian's repositories. Fortunately it …

GO TO ARTICLE
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Converting an Existing Ubuntu 24.10 Installation on Ext4 to Btrfs with an openSUSE Style Subvolume Layout and Snapper Integration for System Snapshot Management

Oct. 22, 2024, 6 p.m.

The ext4 filesystem -- and its preceding versions, known for its stability and reliability has long been the default filesystem used by most Linux distributions. However, the Btrfs filesystem, due to its scalability and next-generation fault tolerance and self healing features have helped it gain popularity.

openSUSE pioneered its use as the default filesystem almost ten years ago, provisioning it on installations with a complex but very rational subvolume layout, along with Snapper to manage …

GO TO ARTICLE
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Upgrading a Fedora 39 Installation on a Btrfs Filesystem with an openSUSE Style Subvolume Layout to Fedora 40

May 18, 2024, 9 p.m.

In a recent article on this site, a process to convert a Fedora 39 installation on a Btrfs filesystem with a simple subvolume layout to the hierarchical subvolume layout style of openSUSE with Snapper integration, automatic creation of snapshots, GRUB menu integration of snapshots, and other conveniences was presented. Since then Fedora 40 (and Ultramarine Linux 40) has been released. The installation and configuration presented in the earlier article survived a release upgrade to 40 …

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Latest Specials


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Best Distribution of 2020: Arch Linux

March 20, 2021, 11 p.m.

The best distribution of 2020, in my experience is Arch Linux. This is a change from my choice of the best distribution of 2019 when I chose openSUSE Tumbleweed, with Arch as a close second. openSUSE Tumbleweed retains all of its strengths in the areas of system design and system …

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Best Distribution of 2019: openSUSE Tumbleweed

Jan. 7, 2020, 8 p.m.

The best distribution of 2019 is openSUSE Tumbleweed. This article describe some of the characteristics of openSUSE that make it so, at least for me.

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Latest Guides


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Nvidia Optimus on Linux

Oct. 19, 2022, 7:14 p.m.

NVIDIA provides a proprietary driver for Linux, which generally provides better performance compared to the alternative FOSS driver -- Nouveau, as well as better functionality for newer models of its GPUs. For desktop computers, enabling the proprietary driver is straightforward. However for Optimus laptops running Linux, the situation is more complicated, requiring either specialized utilities provided by Linux distributions or manual methods to set the graphics mode (i.e., switching between discrete GPU only, integrated …

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The Best Distributions for Problematic Nvidia Optimus Hybrid Graphics

May 19, 2020, 7 p.m.

For Linux users with NVIDIA/Intel hybrid graphics laptops, having everything working perfectly or at least to the extent that their needs are met from the computer sometimes requires intervention by the user if the chosen distribution does not set it up. Sometimes this includes adjusting the system configuration to prevent the FLOSS Nouveau driver from being loaded or installing card switching technology such as Bumblebee. The last of these is what I have always done …

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Enabling a Native File Dialog for Firefox on Plasma Desktop

May 19, 2020, 4 p.m.

Firefox is an excellent browser with many useful and innovative features that is created by an organization that respects and strives to protect its users' privacy. It is also a GTK based application which means that it will use GTK elements in dialog windows for browsing files to upload to a website or to save files to the computer from a website. Plasma users would prefer to have native Qt/KDE Frameworks based file dialog windows. …

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Using SSH in KDE's Dolphin File Browser

July 13, 2019, 9 p.m.

KDE's Dolphin file browser is widely regarded as the most customizable. But it also has a lot of advanced built-in functionality and is extensible to add even more capability. Among its most useful functionality is the ability to access and manage remote files directly in the file browser using the FISH protocol, which in turn relies on the SSH protocol. This article describes how this can be used to transfer files to and from remote …

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Latest Opinion Articles


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Why Buy a Blackberry Passport In 2017?

June 1, 2017, 9 p.m.

Almost three years after release, the Blackberry Passport and other devices that use Blackberry 10 OS are essentially useless to most people who are used to the cornucopia of apps in the Apple App Store and in Google Play -- especially popular social media apps -- because of the very …

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openSUSE Tumbleweed Needs True Multiple Version Kernel Support

June 1, 2017, 9 p.m.

The openSUSE project produces two of the best distributions in the Linux world -- the rolling Tumbleweed and the regular release Leap. It has been my favorite distribution for many years because, in my opinion, it is a technically superior distribution with a mature and extensive infrastructure where rationality is …

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Latest Product Reviews


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Lenovo LEGION 5i PRO 16ITH6 Review [82JF002RUS]

April 12, 2022, 9 p.m.

The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is an excellent laptop. Performance is good -- near the high end for a consumer laptop -- thanks to the Intel Core-i7 with 24 MB of level 3 cache. It also has some surprising outstanding features, such as the excellent 16" 2560x1600 IPS HDR screen. Other outstanding features are the excellent build quality, the plethora of ports, all at the latest standards, including two USB-C ports, one supporting power delivery, …

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AOC 16T2 Portable Monitor Review

Jan. 25, 2022, 9 p.m.

Multiple monitor computer display configurations have become the norm in recent years. Such setups greatly improve productivity, especially for certain workflows. Multiple monitor setups are not limited to those who regularly work from the same location. For those who work on laptops away form their primary locations portable monitors are available to provide the same productivity. These monitors are thin and light for portability and also do not necessarily require an additional power adapter that …

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Bowers & Wilkins PI3 Review

July 9, 2021, 3 p.m.

The PI3 is an around-the-neck in-ear Bluetooth headphones from Bowers & Wilkins -- maker of high end audio equipment since the 1960s.

The Bowers & Wilkins PI3 are high performance in-ear headphones designed to deliver the highest quality mobile personal audio experience combined with the convenience of wireless operation in a compact easy to wear design.

And they in fact deliver. Of the other headphones I currently use -- an Audio Technica ATH-m50xBT, a Sony …

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Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT Review

Oct. 11, 2019, 3 p.m.

The ATH-M50xBT is an over-ear Bluetooth headphone by Audio-Technica -- a maker of professional audio equipment. In making these headphones Audio-Technica began with the design and sound signature of the M50x wired monitor headphones from its Professional line and added the convenience of Bluetooth connection capability. According to Audio-Technica:

The ATH-M50xBT harnesses the legendary M50x studio sound for an exhilarating wireless listening experience, with exceptional clarity and deep, accurate bass response.

Utilizing Bluetooth wireless technology …

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Latest Virtualization Articles


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Sharing Host Computer Driectories with VirtualBox Guests Using NFS

Sept. 14, 2022, 9 p.m.

The VirtualBox Type II hypervisor includes a mechanism to share VM host directories with the VM guest through the functionality termed Shared Folders in a VMs settings in VirtualBox Manager. As an alternative to this built-in functionality, for cases when it is impractical, or not possible -- for example, during …

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VMware: Installing Workstation Player 12.1.0 on Ubuntu 15.10

Nov. 30, 2015, 9 p.m.

Installation of VMware Workstation Player remains as straightforward as previous version of VMware's free hypervisor for desktop systems. However Ubuntu's recent adoption of systemd in place of Upstart, has added additional steps in installing VMware Workstation Player (previously VMware Player). This article presents the installation process, describing the …

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Latest Web, Cloud, Server, Etc. Articles


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Adding a Git Client Node in an Individual Developer Centralized Workflow

Feb. 9, 2023, 7:06 p.m.

Git (or another SCM) is essential in collaborative software development. It is also very helpful for individual developers not only for managing software configuration, maintaining a remote backup, maintaining a separate authoritative software configuration on a remote computer, but for allowing the individual developer to work on a project on multiple computers and have the current state of the repository available on all of the developer's computers.

This article describes the process for duplicating a …

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Introduction to Network File System (NFS)

Sept. 14, 2022, 9 p.m.

Network File System (NFS) is a system that allows a filesystem hierarchy located on a remote host to be mounted on a local host, allowing directories and files stored on the remote host to be accessed as if they were on the local host. NFS, originally developed for Unix over thirty years ago, remains useful on Linux, for example in automated Red Hat Enterprise Linux installations where the installation image is stored on a remote …

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Getting Started with IBM DB2 on Linux Part II: Installation With DB2 Setup Wizard

Aug. 3, 2021, 3 p.m.

This is the second article in a series of articles on getting started with IBM's Db2 Database, a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that is part of a collection of data management and analysis software. The first article of the series -- Getting Started with IBM DB2 on Linux Part I: Background and Installation Preparation, discussed downloading the installation image, preparation for installation, and the available installation methods. The current article describes one …

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Getting Started with IBM DB2 on Linux Part III: Manual Installation

Aug. 3, 2021, 3 p.m.

This is the third article in a series of articles on getting started with IBM's Db2 Database, a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) that is part of a collection of data management and analysis software. The first article, Getting Started with IBM DB2 on Linux Part I: Background and Installation Preparation, discussed the installation methods and the process of preparing for installation; the second article, Getting Started with IBM DB2 on Linux Part …

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