Tag: mint

How To Clear Apt Cache In Ubuntu, Debian, And Linux Mint

Posted on by Kernel

Last Updated on March 22, 2023 by itsubuntu

How To Clear Apt Cache In Ubuntu, Debian, And Linux Mint

In this tutorial, we will show you the easy way to clear Apt Cache in Ubuntu, Debian, and Linux Mint. apt (Advanced Package Tool) is a command-line package manager used in Debian-based Linux distributions?  It is used to manage software packages on a Linux operating system. apt is used to install, update, upgrade, and remove packages from the system with a simple command-line interface.

Generally, packages are stored in the Cache folder being installed on the system. Most of the packages are stored in the Cache directory which is located at ‘/var/cache/apt/archives’. Apt stored packages in the cache for future usage as the other software might need to use it.

But as the system gets older, a lot of packages get stored in the Cache occupying the space. So, it’s better to practice clearing Apt Cache and clearing the storage.

How To Clear Apt Cache In Ubuntu, Debian, And Linux Mint

There are multiple ways to clear Apt Cache in Ubuntu, Debian, and Linux Mint-based operating systems.

Apt Autoclean Command

Run the following command to remove the packages from Cache.

sudo apt autoclean

Apt Clean Command

Run the following command to delete the apt-cache.

sudo apt clean

 

If you run ‘apt clean‘ with a parameter called ‘–dry-run‘, then it will show you the directories from which packages will be deleted, and will not actually delete the packages.

 sudo apt clean --dry-run

Linux Kernel 6.2 Released! How to Install in Ubuntu 22.04 / Linux Mint 21

Posted on by Kernel

Linux Kernel 6.2 was release this Sunday. Linus Torvalds announced it at lkml.org:

So here we are, right on (the extended) schedule, with 6.2 out.

Nothing unexpected happened last week, with just a random selection of small fixes spread all over, with nothing really standing out. The shortlog is tiny and appended below, you can scroll through it if you’re bored.

Wed have a couple of small things that Thorsten was tracking on the regression side, but I wasn’t going to apply any last-minute patches that weren’t actively pushed by maintainers, so they will have to show up for stable. Nothing seemed even remotely worth trying to delay things for
…

What’s New in Kernel 5.16

  • Initial support for NVIDIA RTX 30 “Ampere” GPU accelerated graphics with Nouveau open-source driver.
  • Intel Arc graphics support being stable and enabled out-of-the-box!
  • Raspberry Pi 4K @ 60Hz display support.
  • New PlayStaion driver with Sony DualShock 4 controller support.
  • Added OneXPlayer senser and fan driver.
  • Dell Data Vault WMI driver.
  • Google Chrome OS Human Presence Sensor support
  • RealTek RT1318 and Rockchip RK3588 support.

If you want to learn more features about Kernel 6.2, read this blog post.

How to Install Kernel 6.2 in Ubuntu 22.04+/Linux Mint 21

NOTE: The Mainline Kernel packages are not appropriate for production use. Only install it for testing purpose or for specific drivers.

The Mainline Kernel PPA has built the packages for Ubuntu and  its based systems with modern 64-bit (amd64), arm64/armhf mobile, ppc64el and s390x CPU architecture types support.

User can select download the packages from the link page below:

Download Kernel 6.2 (.deb)

For modern 64-bit PC/laptop, they are:

  1. linux-headers-6.2.0-060200-xxxxxx_all.deb
  2. linux-headers-6.2.0-060200-generic_xxx_amd64.deb
  3. linux-modules-6.2.0-060200-generic_xxx_amd64.deb
  4. linux-image-unsigned-6.2.0-060200-generic_xxx_amd64.deb

After downloading them, right click on blank area in Downloads page and select “Open in Terminal”. Finally, install the kernel packages via command:

sudo apt install ./linux*.deb

Alternatively you can download and install the kernel packages via terminal commands ( open terminal via Ctrl+Alt+T):

cd /tmp/

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v6.2/amd64/linux-headers-6.2.0-060200-generic_6.2.0-060200.202302191831_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v6.2/amd64/linux-headers-6.2.0-060200_6.2.0-060200.202302191831_all.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v6.2/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.2.0-060200-generic_6.2.0-060200.202302191831_amd64.deb

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v6.2/amd64/linux-modules-6.2.0-060200-generic_6.2.0-060200.202302191831_amd64.deb

sudo dpkg -i *.deb

Once installed, restart your computer and verify by running uname -a command in terminal!

Uninstall Linux Kernel 6.2:

Restart your machine and select boot with the previous kernel in boot menu under ‘Grub2 -> Advanced Option for Ubuntu’. Then run command to remove Linux Kernel 6.2:

sudo apt remove --autoremove linux-headers-6.2.0-060200 linux-modules-6.2.0-060200-generic

How to check your SSD health in Ubuntu 22.04 / Linux Mint 21

Posted on by Kernel

This simple tutorial shows how to easily check your SSD health in Ubuntu and/or Linux Mint desktop.

I’ve been running Ubuntu Linux on my old laptop for about 7 years. Everything works well, but it recently refuses to boot sometimes when pressing on the physical power button. Not sure what’s the problem, but I guess it’s something to do the data reading issue from SSD drive.

In Windows 10, I prefer to use CrystalDiskInfo which is super easy to understand for beginners. For Linux, there’s a tool GSmartControl available for choice.

1. First, the tool is available in most Linux’s system repositories. User can just search for and install it from system package manager. For Ubuntu, it’s available to install via Ubuntu Software app:

For those familiar with Linux command can run a single command in terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) to install it:

sudo apt install gsmartcontrol

2. After that, search for and launch it from start menu (or Activities overview). It will list your SSD drive in the app window.

By double-clicking on the disk icon or go menu “Device -> View Details” will open the information dialog that you need.

Things are not so easy to read for beginners. But it will highlight something that is not going well with red text font or background.

By moving mouse cursor over any item in the app window, there will be a tool-tip pop-over that explain with detailed information. As the screenshot below shows, it shows you:

  • power-on time.
  • total disk read and write.
  • read error rate.
  • temperature and other information.

For those prefer a percentage value of the device life, go “Statistics” tab and check the value of Percentage Used Endurance Indicator. In my case as the screenshot shows, there should be still 93% left.

And you can click on “View Output” button to view all the info as text, copy and paste them into online forums to ask for help! Or, run a “Self-Tests” manually to see if there’s any error.

How To Install VMware Workstation 17 Player On Linux Mint 21

Posted on by Kernel

Tutorial to Install VMware Workstation 17 Player on Linux Mint 21
VMware Workstation 17 player is the latest version available at the moment of this blog writing. This is the step-by-step guide to installing the VMware Workstation player on Linux Mint 21.

How To Install VMware Workstation 17 Player On Linux Mint 21

First, we need to download VMware Workstation 17 player on Linux Mint 21. To download the VMware Workstation 17 Player installer, Click on this link  Download VMware Workstation Player

After downloading the installation file, it’s time to prepare your Linux Mint 21. Run the following command to update your Linux Mint 21.

sudo apt update

Now, run the following command to install the necessary build tools and kernel headers on Linux Mint 21. It will take a while to complete.

sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

To confirm the action, You need to press Y and then press <Enter>.

Now, Browse ~/Downloads directory:

cd ~/Downloads

You need to assign execute permission to the VMware Workstation 17 Player installer file:

chmod +x VMware-Player-Full*.bundle

Now, Install VMware Workstation 17 Player with the following command. It will take time to complete the installation.

sudo ./VMware-Player-Full-17*.bundle

To open VMware Workstation 17 Player, search with the keyword VMware on the Application Menu of Linux Mint 21. You will see the icon and start using it by clicking on it. You need to follow the onscreen instruction for the first time.

Linux Mint 21.1 Released! New Cursor Icons & Better Flatpak Support

Posted on by Kernel

The first point release of Linux Mint 21 is out! Code-name ‘Vera’, Kernel 5.15, Ubuntu 22.04 package base, and Cinnamon 5.6, MATE 1.26, XFCE 4.16 for each desktop edition.

The default theme for mouse pointer in Linux Mint 21.1 now is Bibata-Modern-Classic, a modern black and rounded edge bibata cursors. Though, user can easily choose another one from System Settings -> Themes. For those like it, the cursor theme is available in the github page.

New default Bibata Modern Classic cursor theme

The default icon theme Mint-Y now has always yellow folders with different accent colors. The previous default icons are now Mint-Y-Legacy available in Themes selection page. The accent colors are also revamped in this release, compare to the legacy ones they look more vibrant.

New default Icons

The release also improved the Flatpak package format support. Update Manager utility can now update Flatpak applications as well as the run-time libraries just like classic .deb packages. And, Software Manager now provides an option to choose between Flatpak and Deb if an app is available to install in both formats.

For 3rd repositories, Linux Mint 21.1 now follows Debian’s (rather than Ubuntu’s) new policy! When adding an Ubuntu PPA, it automatically install the key into ‘/etc/apt/keyrings‘ and adds signed-by section in source file, so the GPG key can only be used for that PPA repository.

Other changes in Linux Mint 21.1 include:

  • Hide Home, Computer, Trash and Network icons from desktop by default.
  • New sounds come from Material Design V2
  • New icons pre-installed: Breeze, Papirus, Numix, Yaru
  • Replace ‘Show Desktop’ panel applet with Microsoft Window style button in bottom right corner.
  • Add dummy hardware device, dummy packages in Drive Manager for debugging.
  • Add right-click menu option to verify ISO file checksum (sha256sum).

Get Linux Mint 21.1:

For the release note, as well as download link for the new ISO images, go to Linux Mint website:

Linux Mint Blog

For Linux Mint 21 user, it’s possible to upgrade to new 21.1 release via ‘Update Manager’ utility.

HPLIP 3.22.10 Released with Linux Mint 21, RHEL 9, Manjaro 21.3 Support

Posted on by Kernel

HPLIP, the open-source HP printer and scanner driver for Linux, released version 3.22.10 today with new Linux distributions support.

The installer script for the new release is now working on Manjaro 21.3, Suse 15.4, RHEL 9, Linux Mint 21.0, Mx Linux 21.2.

The release does not include any new HP printer and scanner support. Meaning you can just skip this release if the last HPLIP 3.22.6 was installed on your system. And for Ubuntu 22.10, the 3.22.6 release is available to install in system repository.

Download & Install HPLIP 3.22.10

The installer script for the new release is available to download at the link below:

Download HPLIP

Just grab the ‘hplip-3.22.10.run’ installer. Then, you may start installing it via the steps below:

  1. Right-click blank area in the folder that you saved the ‘.run’ installer (usually ‘Downloads’ folder). Then, select ‘Open in Terminal‘.
  2. When terminal opens, run command to add executable permission for the HPLIP package: 
    chmod u+x hplip-3.22.10.run
  3. Finally, run it to start installing the driver: 
    ./hplip-3.22.10.run

During installing process, it automatically detects your system, asks you to type user password, select install mode.

When done installing driver, it will ask to plug or re-plug your printer/scanner and start a graphical wizard for easily setting up your device. And, you can print a test page in last step to see if your device works.

As well, HPLIP has an indicator in system tray allowing to easily manage events and configure device settings.

Install XFCE In Linux Mint 21

Posted on by Kernel

Install XFCE In Linux Mint 21

XFCE desktop environment is one of the popular desktop environments for the Linux-based operating system. XFCE desktop environment is a lightweight desktop environment. In this tutorial, we will show you the methods to install XFCE in Linux Mint 21.

Install XFCE In Linux Mint 21

Go through the following steps to install the XFCE desktop environment in Linux Mint 21.

Step 1:

Run the update command so that your Linux Mint 21 is updated.

sudo apt update

Step 2:

Now, run the following command to install the  XFCE Desktop on Linux Mint 21

sudo apt install xfce4

Step 3:

Now, run the following command to switch your desktop environment from your current DE to the XFCE desktop environment. You can switch the XFCE environment by executing the following command shown below:

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target

Now, you are ready to use the XFCE desktop environment on Linux Mint 21. Meanwhile, if you want to remove the XFCE desktop environment from your Linux Mint 21 then run the following command.

sudo apt-get purge --autoremove xfce4

Linux Mint 21 “Vanessa” Is Now Available for Download

Posted on by Kernel

Linux Mint 21 “Vanessa” Is Now Available for Download

There is no official announcement yet but you can download the final ISO images of the Linux Mint 21 “Vanessa” operating system right now from the following download link.

Linux Mint 21 Vanessa will have a long-term support plan till 2027.

Download Linux Mint 21 “Vanessa” Cinnamon ISO

Download Linux Mint 21 ” Vanessa”  Xfce ISO

Download Linux Mint 21 MATE ISO

 

What’s New On Linux Mint 21

  • In Linux Mint 21 Blueman replaces Blueberry.
  • In Linux Mint 21, you can find the improved file browser thumbnails.
  • The Sticky Notes application now has the ability to duplicate notes.
  • Impoved process monitor
  • Timeshift is now maintained as an XApp
  • Printing and Scanning improvements.