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This document is a WORK IN PROGRESS.
This is just a quick personal cheat sheet: treat its contents with caution!

Misc

Table of contents

Gentoo Kernel Asus Laptop Extras

If you are using an Asus laptop, consider activate "Asus Laptop Extras": https://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/laptops/asus-laptop.txt

It might enable the following:

  • Fn key combinations
  • Bluetooth enable and disable
  • WLAN enable and disable
  • GPS enable and disable
  • Video output switching
  • Ambient Light Sensor on and off
  • LED control
  • LED Display control
  • LCD brightness control
  • LCD on and off

Modify your kernel config like so: 

$ cd /usr/src/linux
# make nconfig # or `# make menuconfig`

    > Device driver --->
    >     [*] X86 Platform Specific Device Drivers---> # Symbol: X86_PLATFORM_DEVICES [=y]
    >         <*> Asus Laptop Extras # Symbol: ASUS_LAPTOP [=n]

After configuring the kernel don't forget to do a kernel make and rebuild!

Gentoo Kernel Cool n Quiet / PowerNow / SpeedStep features

See https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/AMD64/FAQ#How_do_I_use_Cool.27n.27Quiet.2FPowerNow.2FSpeedStep_features.3F

Driver tip

If you are looking for a hardware driver to activate in the kernel but you don't know which driver, run: 

$ hwinfo | less
and look for the driver lines...

Install BEAR on Artix without packaged grpc

Reference(s)

How to install bear from AUR without the gprc dependency already installed (typically because the Artix gprc package is not available)? The following method will allow gprc to be cloned and build locally (this can be long): 

$ git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/bear.git
$ cd bear
$ vi PKGBUILD
    > ...
  ~ > #depends=('grpc' 'fmt' 'spdlog')
  + > depends=('fmt' 'spdlog')
    > ...
$ makepkg
$ sudo pacman -U bear-*-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

Server tricks

  • Disable graphic card (on my server), but not unpowered: 

    # echo -n "auto" > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/0000:1d:00.0/power/control
# echo -n "0000:1d:00.0" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/amdgpu/unbind

  • Enable graphic card (on my server): 

    # echo -n "0000:1d:00.0" > /sys/bus/pci/drivers/amdgpu/bind

Other

Tip

  • Set a shared directory for multiple Linux users (see https://www.tecmint.com/create-a-shared-directory-in-linux/): 

    $ sudo groupadd groupname # create a group called "groupname" for the shared folder
$ sudo usermod -a -G groupname user1 # add user1 to the group (he might need to logback in)
$ sudo usermod -a -G groupname user2 # add user2 to the group (he might need to logback in)
$ sudo chgrp -R groupname /path/to/shared/folder/ # apply the group to the shared folder
$ sudo chmod -R 2775 /path/to/shared/folder/ # gives rwx permissions for owner and group, rx for others

  • Commands to launch from time to time: 

    $ fstrim -av # see <https://www.linuxtricks.fr/wiki/optimiser-linux-pour-un-pc-portable#paragraph_activer-trim-sur-un-ssd>

  • Hardware detection (https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Hardware_detection): 

    $ lspci
$ lsusb
    For example: 
    $ lspci | grep -i VGA

  • Play a video in ASCII art mode: 

    $ CACA_DRIVER=ncurses mpv videotest.mkv --vo=caca

  • Print big lolcat style: 

    $ man man | figlet | lolcat

  • Print weather: 

    $ curl wttr.in/Paris

  • Hide files into images: https://www.ostechnix.com/hide-files-inside-images-linux/

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