Category Archives: Tutoriale Linux
3 Simple, Excellent Linux Network Monitors | Linux.com
You can learn an amazing amount of information about your network connections with these three glorious Linux networking commands. iftop tracks network connections by process number, Nethogs quickly reveals what is hogging your bandwidth, and vnstat runs as a nice lightweight daemon to record your usage over time.
iftop
The excellent iftop listens to the network interface that you specify, and displays connections in a top-style interface.
This is a great little tool for quickly identifying hogs, measuring speed, and also to maintain a running total of your network traffic. It is rather surprising to see how much bandwidth we use, especially for us old people who remember the days of telephone land lines, modems, screaming kilobits of speed, and real live bauds. We abandoned bauds a long time ago in favor of bit rates. Baud measures signal changes, which sometimes were the same as bit rates, but mostly not.
If you have just one network interface, run iftop with no options. iftop requires root permissions:
$ sudo iftop
When you have more than one, specify the interface you want to monitor:
$ sudo iftop -i wlan0
Just like top, you can change the display options while it is running.
- h toggles the help screen.
- n toggles name resolution.
- s toggles source host display, and d toggles the destination hosts.
- s toggles port numbers.
- N toggles port resolution; to see all port numbers toggle resolution off.
- t toggles the text interface. The default display requires ncurses. I think the text display is more readable and better-organized (Figure 1).
- p pauses the display.
- q quits the program.
When you toggle the display options, iftop continues to measure all traffic. You can also select a single host to monitor. You need the host’s IP address and netmask. I was curious how much of a load Pandora put on my sad little meager bandwidth cap, so first I used dig to find their IP address:
$ dig A pandora.com [...] ;; ANSWER SECTION: pandora.com. 267 IN A 208.85.40.20 pandora.com. 267 IN A 208.85.40.50
What’s the netmask? ipcalc tells us:
$ ipcalc -b 208.85.40.20 Address: 208.85.40.20 Netmask: 255.255.255.0 = 24 Wildcard: 0.0.0.255 => Network: 208.85.40.0/24
Now feed the address and netmask to iftop:
$ sudo iftop -F 208.85.40.20/24 -i wlan0
Is that not seriously groovy? I was surprised to learn that Pandora is easy on my precious bits, using around 500Kb per hour. And, like most streaming services, Pandora’s traffic comes in spurts and relies on caching to smooth out the lumps and bumps.
You can do the same with IPv6 addresses, using the -G option. Consult the fine man page to learn the rest of iftop’s features, including customizing your default options with a personal configuration file, and applying custom filters (see PCAP-FILTER for a filter reference).
Nethogs
When you want to quickly learn who is sucking up your bandwidth, Nethogs is fast and easy. Run it as root and specify the interface to listen on. It displays the hoggy application and the process number, so that you may kill it if you so desire:
$ sudo nethogs wlan0 NetHogs version 0.8.1 PID USER PROGRAM DEV SENT RECEIVED 7690 carla /usr/lib/firefox wlan0 12.494 556.580 KB/sec 5648 carla .../chromium-browser wlan0 0.052 0.038 KB/sec TOTAL 12.546 556.618 KB/sec
Nethogs has few options: cycling between kb/s, kb, b, and mb, sorting by received or sent packets, and adjusting the delay between refreshes. See man nethogs, or run nethogs -h.
vnstat
vnstat is the easiest network data collector to use. It is lightweight and does not need root permissions. It runs as a daemon and records your network statistics over time. The vnstat command displays the accumulated data:
$ vnstat -i wlan0
Database updated: Tue Oct 17 08:36:38 2017
wlan0 since 10/17/2017
rx: 45.27 MiB tx: 3.77 MiB total: 49.04 MiB
monthly
rx | tx | total | avg. rate
------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------
Oct '17 45.27 MiB | 3.77 MiB | 49.04 MiB | 0.28 kbit/s
------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------
estimated 85 MiB | 5 MiB | 90 MiB |
daily
rx | tx | total | avg. rate
------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------
today 45.27 MiB | 3.77 MiB | 49.04 MiB | 12.96 kbit/s
------------------------+-------------+-------------+---------------
estimated 125 MiB | 8 MiB | 133 MiB |
By default it displays all network interfaces. Use the -i option to select a single interface. Merge the data of multiple interfaces this way:
$ vnstat -i wlan0+eth0+eth1
You can filter the display in several ways:
- -h displays statistics by hours.
- -d displays statistics by days.
- -w and -m displays statistics by weeks and months.
- Watch live updates with the -l option.
This command deletes the database for wlan1 and stops watching it:
$ vnstat -i wlan1 --delete
This command creates an alias for a network interface. This example uses one of the weird interface names from Ubuntu 16.04:
$ vnstat -u -i enp0s25 --nick eth0
By default vnstat monitors eth0. You can change this in /etc/vnstat.conf, or create your own personal configuration file in your home directory. See man vnstat for a complete reference.
You can also install vnstati to create simple, colored graphs (Figure 2):
$ vnstati -s -i wlx7cdd90a0a1c2 -o vnstat.png
See man vnstati for complete options.
Learn more about Linux through the free “Introduction to Linux” course from The Linux Foundation and edX.
NixOS Linux Lets You Configure Your OS Before Installing | Linux.com
I’ve been using Linux for a very long time. Over the years, I’ve been incredibly happy with how the open source landscape has evolved. One particular area that has come quite a long way is the installation of various distributions. Once upon a time, installing Linux was a task best left to those who had considerable tech skills. Now, if you can install an app, you can install Linux. It’s that simple. And that, my friends, is a very good thing—especially when it comes to drawing in new users. The fact that you can install the entire Linux operating system faster than a Windows user can run an update says quite a bit.
But every so often, I like to see something different—something that might remind me from where I came. That’s exactly what happened when I came into NixOS. To be quite honest, I had assumed this would be just another Linux distribution that offered the standard features, with the KDE Plasma 5 interface.
Boy was I wrong.
After downloading the ISO image, I figured up VirtualBox and created a new virtual machine, using the downloaded image. Once the VM booted, I found myself at a Bash login instructing me that the root account had an empty password and how to start a GUI display manager (Figure 1).
“Okay,” I thought, “let’s fire this up and see what happens.”
Once the GUI was up and running (KDE Plasma 5), I didn’t see the usual “Install” button. Turns out, NixOS is one of those fascinating distributions that has you configure your OS before you install it. Let’s take a look at how that is done.
Pre-install configuration
The first thing you must do is create a partition. Since the NixOS installer doesn’t include a partition tool, you can fire up the included GParted application (Figure 2) and create an EXT4 partition.
With your partition created, mount it with the command mount /dev/sdX /mnt (Where sdX is the location of your newly created partition).
You now must generate a configuration file. To do this, issue the command:
nixos-generate-config --root /mnt
The above command will create two files (found in the /mnt/etc/nixos directory):
Issue the command nano /mnt/etc/nixos/configuration.nix. Within this file, we need to take care of a few edits. The first change is to set the option for the boot loader. Look for the line:
# boot.loader.grub.device = “/dev/sda”; # or “nodev” for efi only
Remove the # sign at the beginning of the line to uncomment this option (making sure /dev/sda is the name of your newly created partition).
Within the configuration file, you can also set your timezone and add packages to be installed. You will see a commented out sample for package installation that looks like:
# List packages installed in system profile. To search by name, run: # nix-env -aqP | grep wget # environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [ # wget vim # ];
If you want to add packages, during installation, comment out that section and add the packages you like. Say, for instance, you want to add LibreOffice into the mix. You could uncomment the above section to reflect:
# List packages installed in system profile. To search by name, run: nix-env -aqP | grep wget environment.systemPackages = with pkgs; [ libreoffice wget vim ];
You can find the exact name of the package by issuing the command nix-env -aqP | grep PACKAGENAME (where PACKAGENAME is the name of the package you’re looking for). If you don’t want to issue the command, you can always search the NixOS packages database.
After you’ve added all the necessary packages, there is one more thing you must do (if you want to be able to log into the desktop. I will assume you’re going to stick with the KDE Plasma 5 desktop. Go to the bottom of the configuration file and add the following before the final } bracket:
services.xserver = { enable = true; displayManager.sddm.enable = true; desktopManager.plasma5.enable = true; };
You can find out more options for the configuration file, within the NixOS official documentation. Save and close the configuration file.
Installation
Once you have your configuration exactly how you like it, issue the command (as the root user) nixos-install. Depending upon how many packages you’ve included for installation, the time it takes to complete this task will vary. When it does complete, you can then issue the command reboot and you will (when the reboot completes) be greeted by the KDE Plasma 5 login manager (Figure 3).
Post-install
One of the first two things you’ll need to do is give the root user a password (issue the command passwd to change the default) and add a standard user. This is done as you would with any Linux distribution. Log in as the root user and then, at a terminal window, issue the command:
useradd -m USER
Where USER is the name of the user you want to add. Next give the user a password with the command:
passwd USER
Where USER is the name of the user just added. You will be prompted to type and verify the new password. You can then log into NixOS as that standard user.
Once you have NixOS installed and running, you can then add new packages to the system, but not via the standard means. If you find you need to install something new, you have to go back to the configuration file (which is now located in /etc/nixos/), add the packages in the same location you did prior to installation, and then issue the command (as root):
nixos-rebuild switch
Once the command completes, you can then use the newly installed packages.
Enjoy NixOS
At this point, NixOS is up and running, with all the software you need and the KDE Plasma 5 desktop interface. Not only have you installed Linux, but you’ve installed a Linux distribution customized to meet your exact needs. Enjoy the experience and enjoy NixOS.
Linux Networking Hardware for Beginners: Think Software | Linux.com
Last week, we learned about LAN (local area network) hardware. This week, we’ll learn about connecting networks to each other, and some cool hacks for mobile broadband.
Routers
Network routers are everything in computer networking, because routers connect networks. Without routers we would be lonely little islands. Figure 1 shows a simple wired LAN (local area network) with a wireless access point, all connected to the Internet. Computers on the LAN connect to an Ethernet switch, which connects to a combination firewall/router, which connects to the big bad Internet through whatever interface your Internet service provider (ISP) provides, such as cable box, DSL modem, satellite uplink…like everything in computing, it’s likely to be a box with blinky lights. When your packets leave your LAN and venture forth into the great wide Internet, they travel from router to router until they reach their destination.
A router can look like pretty much anything: a nice little specialized box that does only routing and nothing else, a bigger box that provides routing, firewall, name services, and VPN gateway, a re-purposed PC or laptop, a Raspberry Pi or Arduino, stout little single-board computers like PC Engines…for all but the most demanding uses, ordinary commodity hardware works fine. The highest-end routers use specialized hardware that is designed to move the maximum number of packets per second. They have multiple fat data buses, multiple CPUs, and super-fast memory. (Look up Juniper and Cisco routers to see what high-end routers look like, and what’s inside.)
A wireless access point connects to your LAN either as an Ethernet bridge or a router. A bridge extends the network, so hosts on both sides of the bridge are on the same network. A router connects two different networks.
Network Topology
There are multitudes of ways to set up your LAN. You can put all hosts on a single flat network. You can divide it up into different subnets. You can divide it into virtual LANs, if your switch supports this.
A flat network is the simplest; just plug everyone into the same switch. If one switch isn’t enough you can connect switches to each other. Some switches have special uplink ports, some don’t care which ports you connect, and you may need to use a crossover Ethernet cable, so check your switch documentation.
Flat networks are the easiest to administer. You don’t need routers and don’t have to calculate subnets, but there are some downsides. They don’t scale, so when they get too large they get bogged down by broadcast traffic. Segmenting your LAN provides a bit of security, and makes it easier to manage larger networks by dividing it into manageable chunks. Figure 2 shows a simplified LAN divided into two subnets: internal wired and wireless hosts, and one for servers that host public services. The subnet that contains the public-facing servers is called a DMZ, demilitarized zone (ever notice all the macho terminology for jobs that are mostly typing on a computer?) because it is blocked from all internal access.
Even in a network as small as Figure 2 there are several ways to set it up. You can put your firewall and router on a single device. You could have a dedicated Internet link for the DMZ, divorcing it completely from your internal network. Which brings us to our next topic: it’s all software.
Think Software
You may have noticed that of the hardware we have discussed in this little series, only network interfaces, switches, and cabling are special-purpose hardware. Everything else is general-purpose commodity hardware, and it’s the software that defines its purpose. Linux is a true networking operating system, and it supports a multitude of network operations: VLANs, firewall, router, Internet gateway, VPN gateway, Ethernet bridge, Web/mail/file/etc. servers, load-balancer, proxy, quality of service, multiple authenticators, trunking, failover…you can run your entire network on commodity hardware with Linux. You can even use Linux to simulate an Ethernet switch with LISA (LInux Switching Appliance) and vde2.
There are specialized distributions for small hardware like DD-WRT, OpenWRT, and the Raspberry Pi distros, and don’t forget the BSDs and their specialized offshoots like the pfSense firewall/router, and the FreeNAS network-attached storage server.
You know how some people insist there is a difference between a hardware firewall and a software firewall? There isn’t. That’s like saying there is a hardware computer and a software computer.
Port Trunking and Ethernet Bonding
Trunking and bonding, also called link aggregation, is combining two Ethernet channels into one. Some Ethernet switches support port trunking, which is combining two switch ports to combine their bandwidth into a single link. This is a nice way to make a bigger pipe to a busy server.
You can do the same thing with Ethernet interfaces, and the bonding driver is built-in to the Linux kernel, so you don’t need any special hardware.
Bending Mobile Broadband to your Will
I expect that mobile broadband is going to grow in the place of DSL and cable Internet. I live near a city of 250,000 population, but outside the city limits good luck getting Internet, even though there is a large population to serve. My little corner of the world is 20 minutes from town, but it might as well be the moon as far as Internet service providers are concerned. My only option is mobile broadband; there is no dialup, satellite Internet is sold out (and it sucks), and haha lol DSL, cable, or fiber. That doesn’t stop ISPs from stuffing my mailbox with flyers for Xfinity and other high-speed services my area will never see.
I tried AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. Verizon has the strongest coverage, but Verizon and AT&T are expensive. I’m at the edge of T-Mobile coverage, but they give the best deal by far. To make it work, I had to buy a weBoost signal booster and ZTE mobile hotspot. Yes, you can use a smartphone as a hotspot, but the little dedicated hotspots have stronger radios. If you’re thinking you might want a signal booster, I have nothing but praise for weBoost because their customer support is superb, and they will do their best to help you. Set it up with the help of a great little app that accurately measures signal strength, SignalCheck Pro. They have a free version with fewer features; spend the two bucks to get the pro version, you won’t be sorry.
The little ZTE hotspots serve up to 15 hosts and have rudimentary firewalls. But we can do better: get something like the Linksys WRT54GL, replace the stock firmware with Tomato, OpenWRT, or DD-WRT, and then you have complete control of your firewall rules, routing, and any other services you want to set up.
Learn more about Linux through the free “Introduction to Linux” course from The Linux Foundation and edX.
4 Best Linux Distros for Older Hardware | Linux.com
One of the many great aspects of the Linux operating system is its ability to bring new life to old hardware. This is not only a boon for your bottom line but also an environmentally sound philosophy. Instead of sending that older (still functioning) hardware to the trash heap, give it a second lease on life with the help of Linux. You certainly won’t be doing that with Windows 7, 8, or 10. Linux, on the other hand, offers a good number of options for those wanting to extend the life of their aging machines.
And don’t think these distributions aimed at outdated hardware are short on features. Remember, when that hardware was in its prime, it was capable of running everything you needed. Even though times have changed (and software demands far more power from the supporting hardware), you can still get a full-featured experience from a lightweight distro.
Let’s take a look at four distributions that will make your aging machines relevant again.
Linux Lite
If you’re looking for a distribution that is fully functional, out of the box, Linux Lite might be your ticket. Not only is Linux Lite an ideal distribution for aging hardware, it’s also one of the best distributions for new users. Linux Lite is built upon the latest Ubuntu LTS release and achieves something few other distributions in this category can — it manages to deliver all the tools you need to get your work done. This isn’t a distro that substitutes AbiWord and Gnumeric for LibreOffice (not that there’s anything wrong with those pieces of software).
Linux Lite depends upon the Xfce Desktop Environment (Figure 1) and includes the likes of LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC, GIMP, GNOME Disks, and much more. With the use of Xfce and the inclusion of a full complement of software, Linux Lite makes for an outstanding distribution for new users, working with old hardware. That’s a serious win-win for businesses who want to save costs by distributing old hardware to temp employees and homes who want to hand down hardware to younger members of the family.
Don’t let the “Lite” moniker full you; this isn’t some stripped-down operating system. Linux Lite is a full-fledged distribution that just so happens to run well on lesser-powered machines.
The minimum system requirements for Linux Lite are:
-
700MHz processor
-
512mb RAM
-
VGA screen 1024×768 resolution
-
DVD drive or USB port (in order to install from the ISO image)
-
At least 5 GB free disk space
Bodhi Linux
Bodhi Linux has always held a special place in my heart. As the Enlightenment desktop was one of the first to pull me away from my beloved AfterStep, it was a breath of fresh air that a distribution was dedicated to keeping that particular desktop relevant. And what a masterful job the developers of Bodhi Linux have done.
Although the Enlightenment desktop isn’t exactly one that will have new users crying to the heavens, “Where have you been all my life?”, it is certainly a fan-favorite for many an old-school Linux user. But don’t think new users will have nothing but trouble with Enlightenment. For standard usage, it’s fairly straightforward. It’s when you want to begin customizing the desktop that you might encounter complexity. But if new users can get into the Enlightenment groove, they will find one of the most flexible desktops available.
Like Linux Lite, Bodhi is built upon the latest Ubuntu LTS release, but makes use of the Moksha Desktop (Figure 2) as its user interface. Moksha is a continuation of the Enlightenment E17 desktop and the Bodhi developers have done an outstanding job of bringing Enlightenment into the modern day (while retaining that which makes Enlightenment special).
The one caveat to Bodhi (besides the learning curve of Moksha) is that, out of the box, it doesn’t include much in the way of user-facing applications. You will find the Midori browser, ePad text editor, ePhoto image viewer, and not much more. Fortunately, Bodhi includes its own app store, called Appcenter, where users can easily install any number of software titles.
The minimum system requirements for Bodhi are:
-
500mhz processor
-
256MB of RAM
-
4GB of drive space
The recommended requirements are:
-
1.0ghz processor
-
512MB of RAM
-
10GB of drive space
Puppy Linux
No list of lightweight Linux distributions would be complete without Puppy Linux. Puppy is unique in that it isn’t a single Linux distribution, but a collection of distributions that share the same guiding principles and built with the same tool (Woof-CE). There are three categories of Puppy Linux:
-
The official Puppy Linux distributions. These are maintained by the Puppy Linux team and are targeted for general purpose.
-
The woof-built Puppy Linux distributions. These are developed to suit specific needs and appearances (while also targeting general purpose).
-
The unofficial derivatives (aka “puplets”). These are remasters, made and maintained by Puppy Linux enthusiasts, that target specific purposes.
Instead of a distribution based only on Ubuntu, Puppy offers releases based on Ubuntu and Slackware.
As you might expect, the tools offered on the Puppy Linux desktop (Figure 3) lean toward the minimal side of things (AbiWord, Gnumeric, mtPaint, Slypheed, Palemoon, etc.). Considering the size of the Puppy Linux ISO comes in at 224 MB, that is understandable. Along with this minimalist take on Linux, Puppy Linux is one of the best at making older hardware feel new again. Puppy Can work with a 333Mhz processor and 256MB of RAM and make it run smooth and fast.
According to the Puppy Linux developers, Puppy is “grandpa-friendly certified.”
Lubuntu
If you’re looking for a Ubuntu respin that will give life to that aging PC, Lubuntu is a winner. Lubuntu is part of the Ubuntu family and makes use of the LXDE desktop (Figure 4). This aging PC-friendly distribution includes a selection of lite applications that won’t ever bog down your machine. Like Puppy Linux, Lubuntu is incredibly easy to use and opts for slimmer applications (such as Abiword and Gnumeric). Lubuntu also includes Firefox (for web browsing) as well as Audacious and GNOME-Mplayer for multimedia playback.
Lubuntu is a lightweight distribution, but not nearly as lightweight as, say, Puppy Linux. Lubuntu can work on computers up to around ten years old. The minimum requirements for this particular desktop Linux are:
-
CPU: Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8
-
For local applications, Lubuntu can function with 512MB of RAM. For online usage (Youtube, Google+, Google Drive, and Facebook), 1GB of RAM is recommended.
Lubuntu also includes the Synaptic package manager; so if those base applications aren’t enough, you can always install whatever you need. New users will greatly appreciate the simplicity of the desktop.
There is next to zero learning curve involved with LXDE. Combine the ease of LXDE and the inclusion of the lightweight apps, you cannot go wrong with Lubuntu. If you’re concerned you will miss out (using the likes of Abiword), some of these tools are capable of working with more standard formats. Take, for instance, Abiword — this tool can save as .doc, .rtf, .txt, .epub, .pdf, .odt, and more. What’s best about the included apps is that they are lightning fast and reliable. The default software list, included with Lubuntu, offers quite a bit more than your average lightweight Linux distribution. You’ll find:
If you’re looking for an official Ubuntu flavor, that can breath life into that old hardware, Lubuntu is a great call.
The choice is yours
There are quite a number of other lightweight Linux distributions, but the four I’ve listed here offer the most variety, reliability, and capability, all the while performing like champs on older hardware. Give one of these a shot and see if those old desktops can’t be given new life without too much work.
Learn more about Linux through the free “Introduction to Linux” course from The Linux Foundation and edX.
4 Best Linux Distros for Older Hardware | Linux.com
One of the many great aspects of the Linux operating system is its ability to bring new life to old hardware. This is not only a boon for your bottom line but also an environmentally sound philosophy. Instead of sending that older (still functioning) hardware to the trash heap, give it a second lease on life with the help of Linux. You certainly won’t be doing that with Windows 7, 8, or 10. Linux, on the other hand, offers a good number of options for those wanting to extend the life of their aging machines.
And don’t think these distributions aimed at outdated hardware are short on features. Remember, when that hardware was in its prime, it was capable of running everything you needed. Even though times have changed (and software demands far more power from the supporting hardware), you can still get a full-featured experience from a lightweight distro.
Let’s take a look at four distributions that will make your aging machines relevant again.
Linux Lite
If you’re looking for a distribution that is fully functional, out of the box, Linux Lite might be your ticket. Not only is Linux Lite an ideal distribution for aging hardware, it’s also one of the best distributions for new users. Linux Lite is built upon the latest Ubuntu LTS release and achieves something few other distributions in this category can — it manages to deliver all the tools you need to get your work done. This isn’t a distro that substitutes AbiWord and Gnumeric for LibreOffice (not that there’s anything wrong with those pieces of software).
Linux Lite depends upon the Xfce Desktop Environment (Figure 1) and includes the likes of LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, VLC, GIMP, GNOME Disks, and much more. With the use of Xfce and the inclusion of a full complement of software, Linux Lite makes for an outstanding distribution for new users, working with old hardware. That’s a serious win-win for businesses who want to save costs by distributing old hardware to temp employees and homes who want to hand down hardware to younger members of the family.
Don’t let the “Lite” moniker full you; this isn’t some stripped-down operating system. Linux Lite is a full-fledged distribution that just so happens to run well on lesser-powered machines.
The minimum system requirements for Linux Lite are:
-
700MHz processor
-
512mb RAM
-
VGA screen 1024×768 resolution
-
DVD drive or USB port (in order to install from the ISO image)
-
At least 5 GB free disk space
Bodhi Linux
Bodhi Linux has always held a special place in my heart. As the Enlightenment desktop was one of the first to pull me away from my beloved AfterStep, it was a breath of fresh air that a distribution was dedicated to keeping that particular desktop relevant. And what a masterful job the developers of Bodhi Linux have done.
Although the Enlightenment desktop isn’t exactly one that will have new users crying to the heavens, “Where have you been all my life?”, it is certainly a fan-favorite for many an old-school Linux user. But don’t think new users will have nothing but trouble with Enlightenment. For standard usage, it’s fairly straightforward. It’s when you want to begin customizing the desktop that you might encounter complexity. But if new users can get into the Enlightenment groove, they will find one of the most flexible desktops available.
Like Linux Lite, Bodhi is built upon the latest Ubuntu LTS release, but makes use of the Moksha Desktop (Figure 2) as its user interface. Moksha is a continuation of the Enlightenment E17 desktop and the Bodhi developers have done an outstanding job of bringing Enlightenment into the modern day (while retaining that which makes Enlightenment special).
The one caveat to Bodhi (besides the learning curve of Moksha) is that, out of the box, it doesn’t include much in the way of user-facing applications. You will find the Midori browser, ePad text editor, ePhoto image viewer, and not much more. Fortunately, Bodhi includes its own app store, called Appcenter, where users can easily install any number of software titles.
The minimum system requirements for Bodhi are:
-
500mhz processor
-
256MB of RAM
-
4GB of drive space
The recommended requirements are:
-
1.0ghz processor
-
512MB of RAM
-
10GB of drive space
Puppy Linux
No list of lightweight Linux distributions would be complete without Puppy Linux. Puppy is unique in that it isn’t a single Linux distribution, but a collection of distributions that share the same guiding principles and built with the same tool (Woof-CE). There are three categories of Puppy Linux:
-
The official Puppy Linux distributions. These are maintained by the Puppy Linux team and are targeted for general purpose.
-
The woof-built Puppy Linux distributions. These are developed to suit specific needs and appearances (while also targeting general purpose).
-
The unofficial derivatives (aka “puplets”). These are remasters, made and maintained by Puppy Linux enthusiasts, that target specific purposes.
Instead of a distribution based only on Ubuntu, Puppy offers releases based on Ubuntu and Slackware.
As you might expect, the tools offered on the Puppy Linux desktop (Figure 3) lean toward the minimal side of things (AbiWord, Gnumeric, mtPaint, Slypheed, Palemoon, etc.). Considering the size of the Puppy Linux ISO comes in at 224 MB, that is understandable. Along with this minimalist take on Linux, Puppy Linux is one of the best at making older hardware feel new again. Puppy Can work with a 333Mhz processor and 256MB of RAM and make it run smooth and fast.
According to the Puppy Linux developers, Puppy is “grandpa-friendly certified.”
Lubuntu
If you’re looking for a Ubuntu respin that will give life to that aging PC, Lubuntu is a winner. Lubuntu is part of the Ubuntu family and makes use of the LXDE desktop (Figure 4). This aging PC-friendly distribution includes a selection of lite applications that won’t ever bog down your machine. Like Puppy Linux, Lubuntu is incredibly easy to use and opts for slimmer applications (such as Abiword and Gnumeric). Lubuntu also includes Firefox (for web browsing) as well as Audacious and GNOME-Mplayer for multimedia playback.
Lubuntu is a lightweight distribution, but not nearly as lightweight as, say, Puppy Linux. Lubuntu can work on computers up to around ten years old. The minimum requirements for this particular desktop Linux are:
-
CPU: Pentium 4 or Pentium M or AMD K8
-
For local applications, Lubuntu can function with 512MB of RAM. For online usage (Youtube, Google+, Google Drive, and Facebook), 1GB of RAM is recommended.
Lubuntu also includes the Synaptic package manager; so if those base applications aren’t enough, you can always install whatever you need. New users will greatly appreciate the simplicity of the desktop.
There is next to zero learning curve involved with LXDE. Combine the ease of LXDE and the inclusion of the lightweight apps, you cannot go wrong with Lubuntu. If you’re concerned you will miss out (using the likes of Abiword), some of these tools are capable of working with more standard formats. Take, for instance, Abiword — this tool can save as .doc, .rtf, .txt, .epub, .pdf, .odt, and more. What’s best about the included apps is that they are lightning fast and reliable. The default software list, included with Lubuntu, offers quite a bit more than your average lightweight Linux distribution. You’ll find:
If you’re looking for an official Ubuntu flavor, that can breath life into that old hardware, Lubuntu is a great call.
The choice is yours
There are quite a number of other lightweight Linux distributions, but the four I’ve listed here offer the most variety, reliability, and capability, all the while performing like champs on older hardware. Give one of these a shot and see if those old desktops can’t be given new life without too much work.
Learn more about Linux through the free “Introduction to Linux” course from The Linux Foundation and edX.
