X(60)treaming Tunes All Around

Happily chugging and streaming Spotify for the masses.

Took the HDD from the dying T60, slapped it into the X60 boot it and up & running we go!
Gotta love Debian, dude.

Budgie Briefly

Installed Budgie Desktop on the T60 today, just for kicks, giggles and shit.
Along side my beloved XFCE, of course.
I did not like it, not my cup of tea... Just like GNOME 3, everything looks gigantic.
Going back to my trusted and loved XFCE.
Installed Budgie on Devuan typing this:

apt install budgie-desktop budgie-indicator-applet

It pulls about 200 packages, some 110 MB and it expands to 320 MB.

Devuan Once Again

And so, just like that, it was time to go back to Devuan.
Selected the always trusty T60 and as usual, XFCE as the Desktop (onto of an encrypted setup).
The install went smooth as silk, and the system works A Ok, but that was what I was expecting, overall, I'd say that it feels just a little bit snappier than Debian on the same T60.

A Weekend With The Boys

Nothing more than a Saturday afternoon burning some CPU cycles with the boys.

Debian For Old Computers

No matter how many Linux or BSD distros or version I try, I always go back to Debian.
By far the snappiest of all the ones I've tested.

FreeBSD 12.1 on The Thinkpad T60 (2)

Finally last Friday got a little time around to play a bit more with the FreeBSD install I did on the trusty T60.
Installed (via pkg) XFCE -as usual- as my Desktop Environment- things went really smooth and fast, matter of fact, took less time to install XFCE than xorg, everything thru pkg, go figure way... Maybe the XFCE packages were stored on a nearby cache of my ISP?

Disk usage right after the base install:

Filesystem            Size    Used   Avail Capacity  Mounted on

zroot/ROOT/default    287G    433M    286G     0%    /

And after installing:

pkg install xorg xfce firefox emacs-nox

HDD usage climbed to:

Filesystem            Size    Used   Avail Capacity  Mounted on

zroot/ROOT/default    286G    2.4G    284G     1%    /

The systems feels snappy, specially compared with the same setup running OpenBSD, and, it doesn't have those pesky problems I was having (WiFi drops & XFCE crashes),
Will see if next week I have time to configure things the hell up on this FreeBSD/ XFCE setup and see if this is a daily driver.

Isotop on Thinkpad T60

Installed it on the little lappie last Friday, against my usual practices, on an un-encrypted HDD, just to take a look at it; another part of the ongoing OpenBSD tests I'm performing on my Thinkpads.
The Isotop install went smooth, it is basically a script that pulls and configures a bunch of stuff.
It looks rather cool out of the box, only thing I've noticed, it runs with a high load all the time... Haven't used it much, and I'm not sure I'll continue to run it, but that really caught my attention.

A Puffy Christmas

Spent great part of today (other than finishing a few chores and some stuff from work) playing a bit with OpenBSD on the T60.
Yeap, the quest goes on and on...
This time exclusively running CWM and taking Firefox for a spin, the thing still doesn't cut it for me.

Thinking in giving FreeBSD a complete run on the T60, that is, finishing the Base Install I did, with XFCE and all the whistles.

OpenBSD Configs

My configs, or dot files, as the cool kids call them, from the OpenBSD setup I've made last week.

My .profile file:

## ----------------------------------------------
## $HOME/.profile from Thinkpad T60 - OpenBSD 6.6
## ----------------------------------------------

# $OpenBSD: dot.profile,v 1.5 2018/02/02 02:29:54 yasuoka Exp $
#
# sh/ksh initialization

PATH=$HOME/bin:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/X11R6/bin:/usr/local/bin:\
/usr/local/sbin:/usr/games
export PATH HOME TERM

## --------------------------------

ENV="$HOME/.kshrc" export ENV

## --------------------------------

## EoF ##

The K Shell config file:

## --------------------------------------------

## $HOME/.kshrc from Thinkpad T60 - OpenBSD 6.6

## --------------------------------------------

alias df='df -h'

alias du='du -sh'

alias j='jobs -l'

alias lsa='ls -lasht'

export VISUAL=mg

export EDITOR=$VISUAL

export PAGER=less

HISTSIZE=500

HISTFILE="$HOME/.ksh_history"

HISTEDIT=$EDITOR

set -o ignoreeof

set -o emacs

# Put the current directory and history number in the prompt

PS1='$_pwd [!]\$ '

## EoF ##

The Micro Emacs clone that ships with the Base install:

## --------------------------------------------

## $HOME/.mg from Thinkpad T60 - OpenBSD 6.6

## --------------------------------------------

## Create dir $HOME/.mg.d to store backups in one place

## Repeat this for root user

backup-to-home-directory

## EoF ##

The xsession file:

## -----------------------------------------------

## $HOME/.xsession from Thinkpad T60 - OpenBSD 6.6

## -----------------------------------------------

export ENV=$HOME/.kshrc

## Load X Window configurations

/usr/X11R6/bin/xrdb $HOME/.Xresources

## Sets the "wallpaper" as plain vanilla grey

## xsetroot -solid grey &

## Sets the "wallpaper" as a grey/ black/ white twatch

## xsetroot -gray &

xsetroot -cursor_name left_prt &

xclock -geometry 230x20-0-0 -fn 9x15 -strftime "%A %d %b %Y %H:%M" &

###################

## Window Managers:

###################

## Calm Window Manager

exec cwm

## Tab Window Manager

## twm

########

## XFCE:

########

## exec ck-launch-session startxfce4

## EoF ##

The Calm Window Manager config file, I picked this one from the internet, as it tries to mimics the way i3 works, specifically, its keyboard shortcuts: 

## --------------------------------------------

## $HOME/.cwmrc from Thinkpad T60 - OpenBSD 6.6

## --------------------------------------------

fontname "Ubuntu Mono:pixelsize=14"

gap 0 0 24 0

snapdist 4

moveamount 5

color activeborder "#4c7899"

color inactiveborder "#333333"

borderwidth 2

sticky yes

unbind-key all

bind-key CS4-q quit

bind-key CMS-r restart

bind-key 4-Return terminal

bind-key 4S-semicolon lock

bind-key 4S-Return window-hide

bind-key 4S-n window-menu-label

bind-key 4S-q window-delete

bind-key 4-1 group-only-1

bind-key 4-2 group-only-2

bind-key 4-3 group-only-3

bind-key 4-4 group-only-4

bind-key 4-5 group-only-5

bind-key 4-6 group-only-6

bind-key 4-7 group-only-7

bind-key 4-8 group-only-8

bind-key 4-9 group-only-9

bind-key 4S-1 window-movetogroup-1

bind-key 4S-2 window-movetogroup-2

bind-key 4S-3 window-movetogroup-3

bind-key 4S-4 window-movetogroup-4

bind-key 4S-5 window-movetogroup-5

bind-key 4S-6 window-movetogroup-6

bind-key 4S-7 window-movetogroup-7

bind-key 4S-8 window-movetogroup-8

bind-key 4S-9 window-movetogroup-9

bind-key 4-a group-toggle-all

bind-key 4-g window-group

bind-key 4S-f window-freeze

bind-key 4-s window-stick

bind-key 4-f window-fullscreen

bind-key 4S-m window-maximize

bind-key 4-equal window-vmaximize

bind-key 4S-equal window-hmaximize

bind-key 4s-v window-vtile

bind-key 4s-h window-htile

bind-key 4-d menu-exec

bind-key 4-slash menu-window

bind-key 4-Right group-cycle

bind-key 4-Left group-rcycle

bind-key 4-Down window-lower

bind-key 4-Up window-raise

bind-key 4-Tab window-cycle-ingroup

bind-key 4S-Tab window-rcycle-ingroup

bind-key 4CS-h window-resize-left

bind-key 4CS-j window-resize-down

bind-key 4CS-k window-resize-up

bind-key 4CS-l window-resize-right

bind-key 4S-h window-resize-left-big

bind-key 4S-j window-resize-down-big

bind-key 4S-k window-resize-up-big

bind-key 4S-l window-resize-right-big

bind-key 4C-h window-move-left

bind-key 4C-j window-move-down

bind-key 4C-k window-move-up

bind-key 4C-l window-move-right

bind-key 4-h window-move-left-big

bind-key 4-j window-move-down-big

bind-key 4-k window-move-up-big

bind-key 4-l window-move-right-big

bind-key 4-F1 window-snap-left

bind-key 4-F2 window-snap-down

bind-key 4-F3 window-snap-up

bind-key 4-F4 window-snap-right

bind-key 4S-F1 window-snap-up-left

bind-key 4S-F2 window-snap-down-left

bind-key 4S-F3 window-snap-up-right

bind-key 4S-F4 window-snap-down-right

bind-key 4C-w menu-exec-wm

unbind-mouse all

bind-mouse 4S-1 window-group

bind-mouse 4-1 window-move

bind-mouse 4-3 window-resize

bind-mouse 4-2 window-lower

bind-mouse 4S-3 window-hide

# External tools

command term "xterm"

## EoF ##

And this is the only configuration file that isn't on my $HOME...

I've edited in order to get rid of that pesky xconsole window that Xenocara starts by default

## -------------------------------------------------------------

## /etc/X11/xenodm/Xsetup_0 from from Thinkpad T60 - OpenBSD 6.6

## -------------------------------------------------------------

#!/bin/sh

# $OpenBSD: Xsetup_0,v 1.6 2019/06/29 13:33:06 espie Exp $

## 17/12/2019

## Comment to disable the permanent xconsole

## xconsole -geometry 480x130-0-0 -daemon -notify -verbose -fn fixed -exitOnFail

#  install package openbsd-backgrounds

#  then uncomment:

#

# if test -x /usr/local/bin/openbsd-wallpaper

# then

#       /usr/local/bin/openbsd-wallpaper

# fi

# sxpm OpenBSD.xpm &

OpenBSD on The Thinkpad T60 (2)

A little follow up.
The WiFi seems more robust, at least compared to how OpenBSD performed with the WiFi card of the T60p.
Played a bit with the Window Managers that come pre-installed 9or part of the base system), TWM, CWM & FVWM, but in the end installed XFCE.
The problems I had before, apps crashing are still here, even tho I've raised the limits on the "/etc/login/conf" file.
Also, and this might be small potatoes for some folks, but it is really annoying how the mouse cursor icons changes all the time while running XFCE on OpenBSD... It simply refuses to honor the way I've configured those, they keep changing to the .
A total and royal PITA.

OpenBSD on The Thinkpad T60

So, yes... I want another round.
Installed OpenBSD again, this time on the T60, with a full disk encryption, once again too.
The install process was flawless, except for a little annoyance, the builtin WiFi card, a Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG, needed a firmware in order to use it, so, made the installation using a PCMCIA Atheros card, and then simple remove it (something I've done before).

FreeBSD 12.1 on The Thinkpad T60

Last Thursday installed FreeBSD, that old friend mine, on the T60, mostly to give it a shot, since I had a lot of problems with OpenBSD.
This are some notes I took along the installation:

- Set Keyboard as: US - Left Caps Lock as Ctrl
- Distribution Select: Choose optional system components to install: NONE
- Network Installation: Setup wpi0 (Wireless)
- Regdomain/ country: No
- WiFi Setup: Fixed IPv4 Address on my LAN
- Mirror Selection: Brazil #3
- Partitionig: Auto (ZFS)
- ZFS Configuration: Encrypt Disks? Yes
- ZFS Configuration: Stripe - No Redundancy
- ZFS Configuration: Select HDD
- ZFS Configuration: Set passphrase
- ZFS Configuration: Init Encryption
- Connect to Server... Fetching Distribution (Base & Kernel)
- Set root passwd
- Set UTC -> No
- Setup Time Zone
- System Configuration: Services started at boot: All of them
- System Hardening: Hardening Options: All of them
- Setup regular user (Add user to wheel group)
- Exit installer and reboot

287K and counting!

Ok, yes, another thousand up.
The habit took me back, even tho I was a bit hesitant to do so... But the last week started once again to hear a shit load of music once again.

Not Sid Anymore (2)

And this time it was the turn for the beloved T60.
Changed the HDD and then made a Buster net install with XFCE, bye i3, thanks for all the tiling, most definitively not my cup of tea.
A first one this time, tho... Had a IP address conflict that prevented downloading all of the necessary packages to finish the installation, so I had to go back on the installer, and setup a fixed IP address for the T60 (on the Ethernet port, since the WiFi card of the lappie isn't recognized by the plain vanilla installer, it needs the non-free drivers added)

XFCE + i3 (on Sid & LM 19)

So, installed i3 on both Sid and on Linux Mint 19, as an add on of XFCE, just as an experiment and to see how things how.
I do have a full i3 lappie, the glorious T43, but I wanna see how everything goes running i3 along XFCE... There are a couple of site on the internet with instructions, but those are sort of "Xubuntu centrist" and they also give you advise regarding installing third party PPAs, but I don't want to do that.
What I did was to install a "minimal i3", like this:

sudo apt install i3 --no-install-recommends

After that, simply disabled (set to Never) "xfwm4" and "xfdesktop" on Session and then on Application Autostart, add an entry to start i3.

Logout and back in and you are done.

Or almost...

On Debian Sid:
You can use the Windows key as the $modifier.

On Linux Mint 19 (XFCE):
You have to use Alt as the $modifier. or all Hell breaks loose.

On both of them:
Edit the "~/.config/i3/config" file and comment the 'bar' entry, it is at the end of the file, if you don't you'll have the i3 Status bar (printing an error) as well as the XFCE Panel.

Kernel Woes on Linux Mint 19.1

I'm having problems with the latest kernel released on Linux Mint 19, it seems to boot, but I get no video at all, not even on a TTY.
The kernels that aren't working are:

4.15.0-48
4.15.0-50

Currently booting an older kernel (4.15.0-47) with which everything works A Ok.
The same thing happens with the T60 and the T60p.
Annoying as hell.

Juggling RAM Around (4)

Ok, yeah.. It is time for another round of "some gain a little, and some loose a lot"...
Got a 2GB module from the MacBook White and put it on the T60 and a 1GB module from the T60 and shove it on the MacBook White...
The T60 got an extra 1GB, while the Macbook lost it.
Tested, just for shit and giggles, if possible to use it on the T60... It simply refuses to even boot with that module.

The Current Debian Desktop

Another screenshot, love theming this Debian setup.
Only thing that drives me nut of this one is the WiFi icon on the Panel, that refuses to switch to a dark version.

The Current Debian Desktop

The current situation on the T60, with its newest SSD drive, running Debian.
Damn if don't love this setup... Everything looks and feels amazing, even the again T60 seems kinda snappy, except for Chromium.

With a sort of look a like Xubuntu theme going on, but not really.
The theme on this one is CobiBird, as opposed to Greybird.

In SSD We Trust

Thursday afternoon changed the HDD on the T60 to an SSD, the regular one was getting mighty hot and we aren't even on Spring yet...