Laysan: Difference between revisions
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Laysan is my current desktop computer. | Laysan is my current desktop computer. | ||
I originally intended to build a server, then it got turned into my desktop instead. | |||
The server ended up being built later. See [[Dart]]. | |||
I | Virtual machines are now how I do things. It's EASIER, whether it's [[Vagrant]] for testing and development (here on Laysan and on [[Plover]]) or just day-to-day work on [[VirtualBox]] on Linux or [[Parallels]]. | ||
On Laysan, I run Debian (Jessie) + Cinnamon on a big SSD. | |||
Then in virtual machines I install whatever I need to get the job done - Ubuntu or Windows or whatever. | |||
The "hypervisor" stays relatively untouched, just the basics of a desktop are installed in the host operating system. | |||
All the real work on Laysan now takes place in VMs. | |||
With Linux I set up machines as needed with Vagrant and then throw them away when I am done with them. | |||
With Windows I keep the configuration in VirtualBox because it stays around permanently. | |||
I still have Windows 8.1 installed on a separate hard drive; at one point I intended to have ArcGIS installed there and during the big move back to California ended up using my Mac [[Plover]] as my ArcGIS workstation. That worked so well that it continues to stick that way. Windows 8.1 is useless to me. I should just bite the bullet and reuse that SSD. I wonder if I can suck THAT into a virtual machine. | |||
== Hardware == | == Hardware == | ||
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Drives: | Drives: | ||
* /dev/sda Samsung 840 Pro 256GB | * /dev/sda Samsung 840 Evo 750GB ended up here when [[Stellar]] died on me. Life is too short to keep VMs on spinning media. | ||
* /dev/sdb Samsung 840 Pro 256GB | |||
* /dev/sdb Data storage on a 2 TB WDC Caviar Black (SATA 2) WD2001FASS-0 SerialNo=WD-WMAY00310595 | * /dev/sdb Data storage on a 2 TB WDC Caviar Black (SATA 2) WD2001FASS-0 SerialNo=WD-WMAY00310595 | ||
DVD burner: TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-222BB | DVD burner: TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-222BB | ||
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This is the only component in this build that I would change; I would get a high end gaming board instead of a low end workstation board. | This is the only component in this build that I would change; I would get a high end gaming board instead of a low end workstation board. | ||
Monitor: Acer 23" and Starlogic 15" | Monitor: Acer 23" and Starlogic 15" | ||
Keyboard: IBM PS/2 Model M SpaceSaver (built in 1987) and Apple Bluetooth Keyboard | Keyboard: IBM PS/2 Model M SpaceSaver (built in 1987) and Apple Bluetooth Keyboard | ||
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Audio: This motherboard has no integrated audio so I use a | Audio: This motherboard has no integrated audio so I use a | ||
NuForce UDAC 2 and a pair of | NuForce UDAC 2 and a pair of Yamaha powered speakers. | ||
Other: bT878 video capture card, an Osprey 210, see [[Digital Video]]. | Other: bT878 video capture card, an Osprey 210, see [[Digital Video]]. | ||
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=== Operating system === | === Operating system === | ||
2015-Mar-14 Upgraded from Ubuntu 13.04 to Xubuntu 14.10, then added Cinnamon | 2016-Jan-19 Installed Debian 8.2 on the 750GB SSD, all in one partition. Cinnamon is now an initial installer option! | ||
''To boot from this drive I had to change the controller from IDE to AHCI mode.'' | |||
I also had to repartition the SSD to remove the Macintosh GPT partitioning. I booted in rescue mode then used "mktable" command in parted. I wrote an msdos mode table to the drive, rebooted and '''reinstalled'''. (grrr!) GPT has been a pain. Might be "better" on a Mac but does not work for me as a Linux boot drive. I think it's because I have not changed to using UEFI yet on Laysan. | |||
Partitioning: | |||
sda1 40GB / | |||
sda2 32GB swap | |||
sda3 about 678GB (the rest) /home | |||
2015-Mar-14 Upgraded from Ubuntu 13.04 to Xubuntu 14.10, then added Cinnamon. I keep trying it but I still hate Unity. | |||
2014-Apr-26 Installed Windows 8.1 on Samsung drive. Hmmm, if I run Linux I can use a linux fs on the Black drive but if I boot into Windows, I can't. | 2014-Apr-26 Installed Windows 8.1 on Samsung drive. Hmmm, if I run Linux I can use a linux fs on the Black drive but if I boot into Windows, I can't. | ||
2013-Sep-10 Installed Ubuntu Raring 13.04 MY OH MY UNITY IS STILL AWFUL | 2013-Sep-10 Installed Ubuntu Raring 13.04 MY OH MY UNITY IS STILL AWFUL | ||
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Operating system is split between a 256GB SSD and a 2TB HD. | Operating system is split between a 256GB SSD and a 2TB HD. | ||
I had a RAID 0 setup with 2 SSD's but the (considerable) speed bump was not worth the pain to configure and maintain it. | I had a RAID 0 setup with 2 SSD's but the (considerable) speed bump was not worth the pain to configure and maintain it. | ||
== Changes for SSD == | |||
The SSDs I have been buying lately seem to be pretty solid. I trust them more and am no longer afraid they will wear out before I upgrade them as prices continue to plummet. | |||
I still do a few tweaks that are not automatically done at install time to optimize the fact that I have | |||
the operating system installed on an SSD and that I have a lot of RAM. | |||
On RAM fs are /tmp, /var/tmp, /var/run, /var/lock | On RAM fs are /tmp, /var/tmp, /var/run, /var/lock | ||
Since the system has 16GB of RAM I am not worried about swap space. I | Since the system has 16GB of RAM I am not worried about swap space. I left it on the SSD in a 32 GB swap partition. I don't anticipate it will get used much (thus wearing out the SSD) but when/if it does kick in I want it to be as FAST possible. (I used to put a swapfile on the spinning hard drive. That was a bad idea.) | ||
echo vm.swappiness = 0 > /etc/sysctl.d/swappiness.conf | echo vm.swappiness = 0 > /etc/sysctl.d/swappiness.conf | ||
At the end of /etc/fstab | |||
# Move things to RAM DISK for speed | # Move things to RAM DISK for speed | ||
tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0 | tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0 | ||
| Line 94: | Line 93: | ||
=== Drivers === | === Drivers === | ||
The Nvidia driver has always a problem for me. Choices are: repositories or Nvidia web site. | |||
For Debian Jessie -- | |||
For previous Ubuntu install -- | |||
NVidia driver: This time around I successfully installed the driver directly from the Ubuntu Software Center. | NVidia driver: This time around I successfully installed the driver directly from the Ubuntu Software Center. | ||
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=== Packages === | === Packages === | ||
Here is what happened after I got Debian Jessie installed. | |||
apt-get update | apt-get update | ||
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google-talkplugin google-chrome-stable \ | google-talkplugin google-chrome-stable \ | ||
I had to adjust the Cinnamon theme settings to get it to look right, and I had to type in the command | |||
I had to adjust the theme settings to get it to look right, and I had to type in the command | |||
cinnamon-settings to get at the control panel for Cinnamon. I added a theme by unzipping it in ~/.themes. | cinnamon-settings to get at the control panel for Cinnamon. I added a theme by unzipping it in ~/.themes. | ||
I am using Elune. I selected the Humanity (Ubuntu) icons. | I am using Elune. I selected the Humanity (Ubuntu) icons. | ||
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=== Extras === | === Extras === | ||
* Adobe Flash | These can't be installed from the Debian packages. | ||
* Android SDK | |||
* Adobe Flash, Adobe no longer maintains the Linux installer, so I am currently avoiding this by not installing. | |||
* Android Studio and SDK | |||
* Eagle 6.5 ftp://ftp.cadsoft.de/eagle/program/latest/ | * Eagle 6.5 ftp://ftp.cadsoft.de/eagle/program/latest/ | ||
* Komodo http://activestate.com | * Komodo http://activestate.com | ||
* Makerware http://www.makerbot.com/support/new/Desktop/Using_MakerBot_Desktop/01-Getting_Started/How_to_Install_MakerBot_Desktop_for_Linux | * Makerware http://www.makerbot.com/support/new/Desktop/Using_MakerBot_Desktop/01-Getting_Started/How_to_Install_MakerBot_Desktop_for_Linux | ||
* Oracle Java in /opt/oracle/ | * Oracle Java in /opt/oracle/ | ||
Revision as of 19:02, 19 January 2016
Laysan is my current desktop computer.
I originally intended to build a server, then it got turned into my desktop instead. The server ended up being built later. See Dart.
Virtual machines are now how I do things. It's EASIER, whether it's Vagrant for testing and development (here on Laysan and on Plover) or just day-to-day work on VirtualBox on Linux or Parallels.
On Laysan, I run Debian (Jessie) + Cinnamon on a big SSD. Then in virtual machines I install whatever I need to get the job done - Ubuntu or Windows or whatever. The "hypervisor" stays relatively untouched, just the basics of a desktop are installed in the host operating system. All the real work on Laysan now takes place in VMs.
With Linux I set up machines as needed with Vagrant and then throw them away when I am done with them. With Windows I keep the configuration in VirtualBox because it stays around permanently.
I still have Windows 8.1 installed on a separate hard drive; at one point I intended to have ArcGIS installed there and during the big move back to California ended up using my Mac Plover as my ArcGIS workstation. That worked so well that it continues to stick that way. Windows 8.1 is useless to me. I should just bite the bullet and reuse that SSD. I wonder if I can suck THAT into a virtual machine.
Hardware
Motherboard: ASUS P8B-M LGA 1155 Intel C204 Micro ATX Server Motherboard
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 Sandy Bridge 3.2GHz LGA 1155 80W Quad-Core Server Processor BX80623E31230
RAM: 8GB x 2 Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) ECC Unbuffered Server Memory Model KVR1333D3E9SK2/8G
Drives:
- /dev/sda Samsung 840 Evo 750GB ended up here when Stellar died on me. Life is too short to keep VMs on spinning media.
- /dev/sdb Samsung 840 Pro 256GB
- /dev/sdb Data storage on a 2 TB WDC Caviar Black (SATA 2) WD2001FASS-0 SerialNo=WD-WMAY00310595
DVD burner: TSSTcorp CDDVDW SH-222BB
Video: PNY VCQ2000D-PB Quadro 2000D 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 Workstation Video Card I wanted a workstation video card, as I want to do some OpenGL programming, and I work with ArcGIS software. This is the only component in this build that I would change; I would get a high end gaming board instead of a low end workstation board.
Monitor: Acer 23" and Starlogic 15"
Keyboard: IBM PS/2 Model M SpaceSaver (built in 1987) and Apple Bluetooth Keyboard Yes, 2 keyboards... one keyboard for BIOS and one for every day.
Audio: This motherboard has no integrated audio so I use a NuForce UDAC 2 and a pair of Yamaha powered speakers.
Other: bT878 video capture card, an Osprey 210, see Digital Video.
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini Black Micro ATX Silent PC Computer Case w/ USB 3.0 support and 2 x 120mm Fractal Design Silent Fans
Power supply: SeaSonic S12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Software
Operating system
2016-Jan-19 Installed Debian 8.2 on the 750GB SSD, all in one partition. Cinnamon is now an initial installer option! To boot from this drive I had to change the controller from IDE to AHCI mode.
I also had to repartition the SSD to remove the Macintosh GPT partitioning. I booted in rescue mode then used "mktable" command in parted. I wrote an msdos mode table to the drive, rebooted and reinstalled. (grrr!) GPT has been a pain. Might be "better" on a Mac but does not work for me as a Linux boot drive. I think it's because I have not changed to using UEFI yet on Laysan.
Partitioning:
sda1 40GB / sda2 32GB swap sda3 about 678GB (the rest) /home
2015-Mar-14 Upgraded from Ubuntu 13.04 to Xubuntu 14.10, then added Cinnamon. I keep trying it but I still hate Unity.
2014-Apr-26 Installed Windows 8.1 on Samsung drive. Hmmm, if I run Linux I can use a linux fs on the Black drive but if I boot into Windows, I can't.
2013-Sep-10 Installed Ubuntu Raring 13.04 MY OH MY UNITY IS STILL AWFUL
up to Sept 9, it was Linux Mint 15, an excellent choice
Operating system is split between a 256GB SSD and a 2TB HD. I had a RAID 0 setup with 2 SSD's but the (considerable) speed bump was not worth the pain to configure and maintain it.
Changes for SSD
The SSDs I have been buying lately seem to be pretty solid. I trust them more and am no longer afraid they will wear out before I upgrade them as prices continue to plummet.
I still do a few tweaks that are not automatically done at install time to optimize the fact that I have the operating system installed on an SSD and that I have a lot of RAM.
On RAM fs are /tmp, /var/tmp, /var/run, /var/lock
Since the system has 16GB of RAM I am not worried about swap space. I left it on the SSD in a 32 GB swap partition. I don't anticipate it will get used much (thus wearing out the SSD) but when/if it does kick in I want it to be as FAST possible. (I used to put a swapfile on the spinning hard drive. That was a bad idea.)
echo vm.swappiness = 0 > /etc/sysctl.d/swappiness.conf
At the end of /etc/fstab
# Move things to RAM DISK for speed tmpfs /tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0 tmpfs /var/tmp tmpfs defaults,noatime,mode=1777 0 0
Drivers
The Nvidia driver has always a problem for me. Choices are: repositories or Nvidia web site.
For Debian Jessie --
For previous Ubuntu install --
NVidia driver: This time around I successfully installed the driver directly from the Ubuntu Software Center. Much easier than downloading it from NVidia and installing manually.
Unfortunately it does not work in Makerbot Desktop. Updating drivers DID NOT HELP.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO INSTALL DRIVER FROM Nvidia site. Instead follow instructions found here to get a version that is newer.
http://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2014/12/install-nvidia-340-65-ubuntu-1504/
add-apt-repository -y ppa:xorg-edgers/ppa apt-get update apt-get install nvidia-349
As of 2015 April 09 Version 349 is a beta driver! More exciting. Oh go for it! I did 'apt-cache search nvidia' to find it.
I don't want to talk about what happened with the NVIDIA version (from nvidia.com). Well. Cinnamon crashed. The monitor resolution for the 15" was forced to 640x480. I could not force in the correct resolution.
Packages
Here is what happened after I got Debian Jessie installed.
apt-get update apt-get dist-upgrade apt-get remove empathy abiword apt-get install build-essential qgit subversion \ emacs virtualbox nvidia-current \ qgis gpsbabel-gui \ synaptic nautilus-dropbox \ pidgin python-xmpp \ gimp inkscape libreoffice \ openscad
Did not find these in 14.10
google-talkplugin google-chrome-stable \
I had to adjust the Cinnamon theme settings to get it to look right, and I had to type in the command cinnamon-settings to get at the control panel for Cinnamon. I added a theme by unzipping it in ~/.themes. I am using Elune. I selected the Humanity (Ubuntu) icons.
Extras
These can't be installed from the Debian packages.
- Adobe Flash, Adobe no longer maintains the Linux installer, so I am currently avoiding this by not installing.
- Android Studio and SDK
- Eagle 6.5 ftp://ftp.cadsoft.de/eagle/program/latest/
- Komodo http://activestate.com
- Makerware http://www.makerbot.com/support/new/Desktop/Using_MakerBot_Desktop/01-Getting_Started/How_to_Install_MakerBot_Desktop_for_Linux
- Oracle Java in /opt/oracle/
