LAVA 3.8 Gnome Edition

Finally uploaded the CD version of new lava Build.

You can find the link to the right along with the DVD versions of LAVA: Plus edition and Dev Edition.

Here is a visual guide and change log for the CD Version.


http://newlava.ansotech.com/builds/gnome/3.8/Lava3.8-CDVersion.pdf

SYSCTL.conf

So the sysctl.conf file I posted in my last blog has gone threw some revisions and now I have a sysctl.conf file that seems to be very stable and gives better performance for higher end pcs. Any pc/server with 1GB or more. I added it to my lastest build of my custom ubuntu cd. I also added a bunch of new settings like setting more sensible defaults in hdparm.conf for more modern hardware - increasing the cpuFreq daemon cause I want my dual core to be at performance always, etc. I added them to my new build and also added them to my wiki site.

A wiki site is really a great tool. I have been using it extensively for the last couple months. I wiki everything I learn now so I can always come back to it. My custom apt-get scripts, my scripts to remove extra libs, languages, docs i don't need as well as the scripts that help me rebuild ubuntu.

I've also began using the wiki not only for my lava project but my game project and all the information I have learned on building email servers with ubuntu,fedora,suse,scalix, citadel. It really is helpful to know that once I successfully build or develop a new workflow, install, etc I can find it back in my wiki site without having to scour the internet and refind the information.

The wiki engine I choose was from mindtouch and it really is powerful and simple to use, plus they offer debs for ubuntu so setting it up was really easy. If you are in the market for a wiki, i recommend it.

http://wiki.developer.mindtouch.com/MindTouch_Deki/Download

SYSCTL.conf

Has anyone tweaked their sysctl.conf lately to get the best desktop performance?

I've been playing with it for the last couple months. Thought I would pass on my sysctl.conf and see if anyone has any suggestions to improve it. It's rather long but I think if it helps anyone out get better performance or if anyone has any input on how I can make it better than what the hell.

Here it is :

#
# /etc/sysctl.conf - Configuration file for setting system variables
# See sysctl.conf (5) for information.
#

#kernel.domainname = example.com

# the following stops low-level messages on console
kernel.printk = 4 4 1 7

# enable /proc/$pid/maps privacy so that memory relocations are not
# visible to other users. (Added in kernel 2.6.22.)
kernel.maps_protect = 1

# Increase inotify availability
fs.inotify.max_user_watches = 524288

# protect bottom 64k of memory from mmap to prevent NULL-dereference
# attacks against potential future kernel security vulnerabilities.
# (Added in kernel 2.6.23.)
vm.mmap_min_addr = 65536

##############################################################3
# Functions previously found in netbase
#

# Comment the next two lines to disable Spoof protection (reverse-path filter)
# Turn on Source Address Verification in all interfaces to
# prevent some spoofing attacks
net.ipv4.conf.default.rp_filter=1
net.ipv4.conf.all.rp_filter=1

# Uncomment the next line to enable TCP/IP SYN cookies
# This disables TCP Window Scaling (http://lkml.org/lkml/2008/2/5/167)
#net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies=1

# Uncomment the next line to enable packet forwarding for IPv4
#net.ipv4.ip_forward=1

# Uncomment the next line to enable packet forwarding for IPv6
#net.ipv6.ip_forward=1


###################################################################
# Additional settings - these settings can improve the network
# security of the host and prevent against some network attacks
# including spoofing attacks and man in the middle attacks through
# redirection. Some network environments, however, require that these
# settings are disabled so review and enable them as needed.
#
# Ignore ICMP broadcasts
#net/ipv4/icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts = 1
#
# Ignore bogus ICMP errors
net/ipv4/icmp_ignore_bogus_error_responses = 1
#
# Do not accept ICMP redirects (prevent MITM attacks)
net/ipv4/conf/all/accept_redirects = 0
# _or_
# Accept ICMP redirects only for gateways listed in our default
# gateway list (enabled by default)
# net/ipv4/conf/all/secure_redirects = 1
#
# Do not send ICMP redirects (we are not a router)
net/ipv4/conf/all/send_redirects = 0
#
# Do not accept IP source route packets (we are not a router)
net/ipv4/conf/all/accept_source_route = 0
#
# Log Martian Packets
#net/ipv4/conf/all/log_martians = 1
#
# Always defragment packets
#net/ipv4/ip_always_defrag = 1
# Controls the System Request debugging functionality of the kernel
kernel.sysrq = 0

# Controls whether core dumps will append the PID to the core filename.
# Useful for debugging multi-threaded applications.
kernel.core_uses_pid = 0

########## MY #######################
# Enable ignoring ping request
net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_all = 0

# Enable ignoring broadcasts request
net.ipv4.icmp_echo_ignore_broadcasts = 1

# Disables IP source routing
net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_source_route = 0
net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_source_route = 0

# Enable TCP SYN Cookie Protection
net.ipv4.tcp_syncookies = 1

# Disable ICMP Redirect Acceptance
#net.ipv4.conf.all.accept_redirects = 1
#net.ipv4.conf.default.accept_redirects = 1

# Enable bad error message Protection
net.ipv4.icmp_ignore_bogus_error_responses = 1

# Enable IP spoofing protection, turn on Source Address Verification
# Controls source route verification
net.ipv4.conf.default.rp_filter = 1

# Log Spoofed Packets, Source Routed Packets, Redirect Packets
net.ipv4.conf.all.log_martians = 0
net.ipv4.conf.default.log_martians = 0
net.ipv4.conf.eth0.log_martians = 0

# Allowed local port range
#net.ipv4.ip_local_port_range = 32768 61000

# Decrease the time default value for tcp_fin_timeout connection
net.ipv4.tcp_fin_timeout = 30

# Decrease the time default value for tcp_keepalive_time connection
net.ipv4.tcp_keepalive_time = 1800

# Enable packet forwarding
# Controls IP packet forwarding
net.ipv4.ip_forward = 0

# Improve file system performance
#vm.bdflush = 100 1200 128 512 15 5000 500 1884 2

# Improve virtual memory performance
#vm.buffermem = 80 10 60

# Improve and better control swapping into the system
#vm.freepages = 383 766 1149

# Increase swap bandwith system performance
#vm.kswapd = 1024 32 16

# Increase number of pages kernel reads in at once
vm.page-cluster = 10

# Improve files memory mapping and generic caching
#vm.pagecache = 50 80 100

# Improve number of page tables keeps in a per-proccessor cache
#vm.pagetable_cache = 45 75

# Improve the number of open files
fs.file-max = 16384
#fs.file-max = 8192

# Improve the number of inodes opened
#fs.inode-nr = 32768

#vm.max-readahead=128
#vm.min-readahead=64

#net.core.hot_list_length=256
net.ipv4.tcp_reordering=5
net.ipv4.tcp_fin_timeout=25
net.ipv4.route.flush=1
vm.swappiness=15

vm.vfs_cache_pressure=50
net.core.rmem_default = 524288
net.core.rmem_max = 524288
net.core.wmem_default = 524288
net.core.wmem_max = 524288
net.ipv4.tcp_wmem = 4096 87380 524288
net.ipv4.tcp_rmem = 4096 87380 524288
net.ipv4.tcp_mem = 524288 524288 524288
net.ipv4.tcp_max_tw_buckets = 1440000
net.ipv4.tcp_rfc1337 = 1
net.ipv4.ip_no_pmtu_disc = 0
net.ipv4.tcp_fack = 1
net.ipv4.tcp_ecn = 0
kernel.shmmax = 268435456
net.ipv4.ipfrag_high_thresh = 512000
net.ipv4.ipfrag_low_thresh = 446464

net.core.optmem_max = 57344

# tcp_window_scaling
net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling = 1

# tcp_sack
net.ipv4.tcp_sack = 1

# tcp_timestamps
net.ipv4.tcp_timestamps = 1

NY

Just got back from my vacation in NY.

Went to The ED Sullivan Theater :) Very cool.
Went to Angelo's Pizzeria - David Letterman mentions it sometimes on his show.
Saw Times Square, Central Park - walked up and down broadway and had dinner in China Town and Little Italy.

All in all it was a great time.

I flew an airline that I never tried before - Jet Blue. If you haven't used them before - you should - excellent. your pick of 7 snacks - including animal cracks :) water, juices, sodas included. Direct TV on everyone's chair, XM radio and the seats are leather and lots of room to relax. Free wifi in the terminals - Loved it.

Now that I am back in Chicago - will update my lava site and obviously catch up with all my Ubuntu brethren :)

Portable Linux - sorta

So I built a portable NX client that can be run from any windows machine and not require an install. The NX client is hard-coded to my development box running LAVA.

You can download zip file, extract, run the EXE and voila - you connect to a linux terminal server so you can test out linux software and run apps. Its sorta like Windows Terminal server and citrix without the licensing and without the configuring. I will keep a test account open for a day or so. Check it out.

http://newansotech.ansotech.com/download/LAVA.zip

Username: test
Password: test123

LAVA Plus 3.6 Build

So now that lava is built, I finished the PLUS edition.

Here are the additions to LAVA base

#FileSystem stuff
apt-get install fuseiso -y
apt-get install fusedav -y
apt-get install fusesmb -y
apt-get install gmailfs -y

#System Utils
apt-get install macchanger-gtk -y
apt-get install macchanger -y
apt-get install ubuntu-docs -y
apt-get install ttf-baekmuk -y
#apt-get install ttf-arphic-uming -y
apt-get install gnome-user-guide -y
#apt-get install ttf-kochi-gothic -y
apt-get install ttf-dejavu -y
apt-get install grsync -y
apt-get install readpst -y
apt-get install netpbm -y
apt-get install sbackup -y
apt-get install nrg2iso -y
apt-get install mdf2iso -y


#APPS
apt-get install ekiga -y
apt-get install openclipart-openoffice.org -y
apt-get install openoffice.org-starter-guide -y
apt-get install openprinting-ppds-extra -y
apt-get install gnucash -y
apt-get install gnucash-docs -y
apt-get install gnome-backgrounds -y
apt-get install gnome-games-extra-data -y
apt-get install inkscape -y
apt-get install comix -y
apt-get install scribus -y
apt-get install scribus-template -y
apt-get install blender -y
apt-get install blender-ogrexml -y
apt-get install xaralx -y
apt-get install xaralx-svg -y
apt-get install checkgmail -y
apt-get install gtk-recordmydesktop -y
apt-get install planner -y
apt-get install gnotime -y
apt-get install gnome-art -y
apt-get install gimp-data-extras -y
apt-get install gimp-dimage-color -y
apt-get install gimp-gnomevfs -y
apt-get install gimp-help-common -y
apt-get install gimp-helpbrowser -y
apt-get install gimp-help-en -y
apt-get install gimp-refocus -y
apt-get install gimp-texturize -y
apt-get install gimp-ufraw -y
apt-get install gtkam-gimp -y
apt-get install gimp-libcurl -y
apt-get install gimp-plugin-registry -y
apt-get install icc-profiles -y
apt-get install flegita-gimp -y

apt-get install gimp2.0-quiteinsane --force-yes
apt-get install gimp-resynthesizer -y
apt-get install pandora -y
apt-get install gnomescan -y
apt-get install gnome-photo-printer -y
apt-get install icc-profiles -y
apt-get install gphoto2 -y
apt-get install gimp-gap -y
apt-get install nzb -y
apt-get install gpar2 -y
apt-get install pidgin-extprefs -y
apt-get install pidgin-guifications -y
apt-get install pidgin-plugin-pack -y
apt-get install wallpaper-tray -y
apt-get install create-resources -y


#Video / Sound
apt-get install ardour -y
apt-get install audacity -y
apt-get install avidemux -y
apt-get install acidrip -y
apt-get install easytag -y
apt-get install exaile -y
apt-get install gtkpod-aac -y
apt-get install gpixpod -y
apt-get install python-gpod -y
apt-get install gaupol -y
apt-get install hydrogen -y
apt-get install hydrogen-drumkits -y
apt-get install brasero -y
apt-get install devede -y
apt-get install tovid -y
apt-get install tovidgui --force-yes -y


#Needs an ICON Created
apt-get install dir2ogg -y
apt-get install drip -y
apt-get install dvd95 -y
apt-get install dvd-slideshow -y
apt-get install mplayer -y
apt-get install mplayer-skins -y
apt-get install mplayer-skin-blue -y
apt-get install mplayer-fonts -y
apt-get install mencoder -y
apt-get install oggconvert -y
apt-get install ogmrip --force-yes -y
apt-get install pitivi -y
apt-get install qdvdauthor -y
apt-get install soundconverter -y
apt-get install soundkonverter -y
apt-get install streamtuner -y
apt-get install streamripper -y
apt-get install thoggen -y
apt-get install transcode -y
apt-get install audacious -y
apt-get install audacious-crossfade -y
apt-get install audacious-plugins -y
apt-get install audacious-plugins-extra -y
apt-get install gopchop -y
apt-get install ogmtools -y
apt-get install gocr-gtk -y
apt-get install gocr -y
apt-get install gocr-doc -y



#KDE Apps
apt-get install kino -y
apt-get install k3b -y
apt-get install k9copy -y
apt-get install libk3b2-extracodecs -y

#Emulators
apt-get install dgen -y
apt-get install dosbox -y
apt-get install fceu -y
apt-get install gfceu -y
apt-get install gsnes9x -y
apt-get install snes9express -y
apt-get install pcsx -y
apt-get install snes9x-opengl -y
apt-get install vbaexpress -y
apt-get install stella -y
apt-get install visualboyadvance -y
apt-get install xmame-sdl -y
apt-get install xmame-gl -y
apt-get install mednafen -y
apt-get install psemu-input-omnijoy -y


#Games
apt-get install billard-gl -y
apt-get install beneath-a-steel-sky -y
apt-get install bomberclone -y
apt-get install bzflag -y
apt-get install wesnoth -y
apt-get install wesnoth-ei -y
apt-get install wesnoth-httt -y
apt-get install wesnoth-music -y
apt-get install wesnoth-trow -y
apt-get install wesnoth-tsg -y
apt-get install wesnoth-ttb -y
apt-get install wesnoth-utbs -y
apt-get install freeciv-client-gtk -y
apt-get install frozen-bubble -y
apt-get install gltron -y
apt-get install glob2 -y
apt-get install gnome-breakout -y
apt-get install lbreakout2 -y
apt-get install lincity-ng -y
apt-get install ltris -y
apt-get install madbomber -y
apt-get install moon-lander -y
apt-get install neverball -y
apt-get install pouetchess -y
apt-get install pingus -y
apt-get install scummvm -y
apt-get install supertuxkart -y
apt-get install trackballs -y
apt-get install trackballs-music -y
apt-get install tremulous -y
apt-get install torcs -y
apt-get install tuxkart -y
apt-get install uqm -y
apt-get install warsow -y
apt-get install warzone2100 -y
apt-get install widelands -y
apt-get install xscorch -y
apt-get install tmw -y
apt-get install tmw-data -y
apt-get install tmw-music -y

Built new version of deb assaultcube from website and added to iso.

apt-get install enigma -y
apt-get install enigma-level-previews -y
apt-get install flight-of-the-amazon-queen -y
apt-get install orbital-eunuchs-sniper -y
apt-get install tecnoballz -y
apt-get install vectoroids -y
apt-get install vegastrike -y
apt-get install vegastrike-music -y

#Joystick Support
apt-get install joy2key -y
apt-get install xserver-xorg-input-joystick -y
apt-get install jscalibrator -y

#Add Multimedia codecs and DVDstuff
apt-get install ffmpeg -y
apt-get install flac -y
apt-get install libk3b2-mp3 -y
apt-get install libdvdcss2 --force-yes -y
apt-get install ffmpeg -y
apt-get install libavformat0d -y
apt-get install libavcodec0d -y
apt-get install libpostproc0d -y
apt-get install libdvdcss2 -y
apt-get install gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse -y
apt-get install python-opengl -y
apt-get install python-gtkglext1 -y

apt-get install miro -y
apt-get install dvgrab -y
apt-get remove gnochm -y
apt-get autoremove gnochm -y
apt-get install kchmviewer -y
apt-get install tunapie -y
apt-get install blogtk -y
apt-get install autotrace -y
apt-get install potrace -y
apt-get install thunderbird -y
apt-get install thunderbird-gnome -y
apt-get install lightning-extension -y
apt-get install mail-notification -y
apt-get install prism -y
apt-get install gobby -y
apt-get install evolution-rss -y
apt-get install feed2imap -y
apt-get install gnome-splashscreen-manager -y
apt-get install gok -y

apt-get install ruby -y
apt-get install hwinfo -y

manually built latest cairo-dock and cairo-dock-plugins, spicebird, thunderbird, ruby, added mp4ize and added a right click to convert videos to mp4.

Added numerous extensions to nautilus via the right click script menus.

Added a bunch of thunderbird extensions and some themes. Tweaked Thunderbird and Spicebird to be more like I like them. Specll check before sending, send in html, timezone change in calendar extensions to chicago.

Also updated firefox extensions to latest versions.

Tweaked audacious to do on screen, tweaked streamripper to use audacious instead of xmms.

Manually configured mp4, mp3, pls, wmv, wma, mpg, mpeg, mov, avi to play in vlc.
Adjust vlc to some common setting I like, repeat play, OSD, etc.

Tweaked Cairo-dock to have my favorite apps already on launch bar and set default theme.

Configured compiz with cube/rotation, 3d windows, window preview, 6 virtual windows, and changed minimize to burn, etc.

Adjust GTK menus to run faster.
Removed openoffice splash screen
Added gnome-do to sessions startup so its loaded in the background when you get to your desktop.


I'll upload the iso sometime before the weekend end.

Late Ride 2008

So I am off tomorrow to pick up the tickets for my McDonald's L.A.T.E. Ride 2008. In case you are not familiar with the Bike Ride, it's a 25 Mile ride that is being held this Saturday. It features 10,000 bicyclists and benefits Friends of the Parks. It's a 33-year-old not-for-profit parks advocacy group whose mission is to protect and improve Chicago's parks and forest preserves in Cook County. If you are not doing anything or want to come cheer me on, you can get more info here: http://www.lateride.org/

I'll be the one with the Linux penguin T-shirt reading - "I'm cheap and Fun!"