Talk is cheap. Show me the code.

System Benchmarking

Posted on 2020-04-19 by Viliam Pucik

Using OpenBenchmarking.org and Phoronix Test Suite for system benchmarking and online result comparison.

Registering an account on OpenBenchmarking.org

Download and install the latest Phoronix Test Suite:

wget https://github.com/phoronix-test-suite/phoronix-test-suite/archive/v9.6.0m3.tar.gz
tar xvf v9.6.0m3.tar.gz
cd phoronix-test-suite-9.6.0m3/
sudo ./install-sh

In case of Raspbian or Ubuntu running on Raspberry Pi, install also additional packages:

sudo apt install php-cli php-xml php-curl php-zip

Pair your (future) benchmarks with your OpenBenchmarking.org account:
```
phoronix-test-suite openbenchmarking-login
```

Useful commands to list available test suites, test profiles, search tests and estimate test runtime:

phoronix-test-suite list-available-suites
phoronix-test-suite list-available-tests
phoronix-test-suite search mp3
phoronix-test-suite estimate-run-time pts/video-encoding

Run a single or multiple benchmarks in interactive mode:

phoronix-test-suite benchmark pts/smallpt
phoronix-test-suite benchmark pts/encode-flac pts/encode-mp3 pts/vpxenc pts/x264 pts/x265

Run a benchmark in non-interactive mode against a previously uploaded test result. Useful for running the same test on a new system to compare the results:
```
phoronix-test-suite batch-setup
phoronix-test-suite batch-benchmark 2004190-V110-RPIENCO26
```

Posted in General | Leave a comment

Raspberry Pi DNS Caching

Posted on 2020-04-19 by Viliam Pucik

Enable DNS caching on Raspbian:

	sudo apt install dnsmasq
	sudo tee -a /etc/dnsmasq.conf > /dev/null <<'EOF'
	listen-address=::1,127.0.0.1
	cache-size=1000
	no-negcache
	EOF
	sudo systemctl restart dnsmasq

view raw raspbian-dns-caching.sh hosted with ❤ by GitHub

Posted in General | Tagged Raspberry Pi | Leave a comment

Raspberry Pi Storage Benchmark

Posted on 2020-04-19 by Viliam Pucik

Benchmark Raspberry Pi (microCD card) storage and compare it with published results on https://storage.jamesachambers.com/

	wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/TheRemote/PiBenchmarks/master/Storage.sh
	chmod +x Storage.sh
	sudo ./Storage.sh

view raw rpi-storage-benchmark.sh hosted with ❤ by GitHub

Posted in General | Tagged Raspberry Pi | Leave a comment

Raspberry Pi Headless

Posted on 2020-04-19 by Viliam Pucik

Setting up Raspberry Pi 4B in headless mode with static IP and disabled Bluetooth on Raspbian:

	# Unmount mounted microSD card partitions, just in case
	sudo umount /dev/mmcblk0p1
	sudo umount /dev/mmcblk0p2

	# Download the latest Raspbian and upload it to microSD card: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/installation/installing-images/linux.md
	wget https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/raspbian_lite_latest
	unzip -p 2020-02-13-raspbian-buster-lite.zip \| sudo dd of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=4M conv=fsync status=progress
	sync

	sudo partprobe /dev/mmcblk0
	sudo mkdir /tmp/rpi
	sudo mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /tmp/rpi
	# Enable SSH at startup by creating "/boot/ssh" file: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/remote-access/ssh/
	sudo touch /tmp/rpi/ssh
	# Disable Bluetooth: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/uart.md
	sudo tee -a /tmp/rpi/config.txt > /dev/null <<'EOF'
	dtoverlay=disable-bt
	EOF
	# Optionally disable PWR (red) LED
	sudo tee -a /tmp/rpi/config.txt > /dev/null <<'EOF'
	dtparam=pwr_led_trigger=none
	dtparam=pwr_led_activelow=off
	EOF
	sudo umount /tmp/rpi
	sudo mount /dev/mmcblk0p2 /tmp/rpi
	# Set static IP for eth0: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/tcpip/
	sudo tee -a /tmp/rpi/etc/dhcpcd.conf > /dev/null <<'EOF'
	interface eth0
	static ip_address=192.168.1.254/24
	static routers=192.168.1.1
	static domain_name_servers=9.9.9.9
	EOF
	sudo umount /tmp/rpi
	sudo rmdir /tmp/rpi

	# Boot RPi from microSD card
	ssh pi@192.168.1.254
	#raspberry
	passwd
	# Disable Bluetooth service: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/uart.md
	sudo systemctl disable hciuart

	# Configure additional parameters: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/configuration/raspi-config.md
	sudo raspi-config

	# OS update: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/raspbian/updating.md
	sudo apt update
	sudo apt full-upgrade
	# Optional update to 5.4 kernel: https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=269769
	sudo BRANCH=next rpi-update

	# Firmware update: https://www.raspberrypi.org/documentation/hardware/raspberrypi/booteeprom.md
	sudo sed -ie 's/critical/stable/' /etc/default/rpi-eeprom-update
	sudo rpi-eeprom-update
	sudo rpi-eeprom-update -a

	# Reboot to apply the changes
	sudo reboot

view raw raspbian-headless.sh hosted with ❤ by GitHub

And on Ubuntu Server, where Bluetooth is disabled by default:

	# Unmount mounted microSD card partitions, just in case
	sudo umount /dev/mmcblk0p1
	sudo umount /dev/mmcblk0p2

	# Download the latest Ubuntu Server and upload it to microSD card: https://ubuntu.com/download/raspberry-pi
	wget http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/19.10.1/release/ubuntu-19.10.1-preinstalled-server-arm64+raspi3.img.xz
	xzcat ubuntu-19.10.1-preinstalled-server-arm64+raspi3.img.xz \| sudo dd of=/dev/mmcblk0 bs=4M conv=fsync status=progress
	sync

	sudo partprobe /dev/mmcblk0
	sudo mkdir /tmp/rpi
	sudo mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /tmp/rpi
	# Configure static IPs: https://netplan.io/examples#using-dhcp-and-static-addressing and https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-your-raspberry-pi#3-wifi-or-ethernet
	sudo tee /tmp/rpi/network-config > /dev/null <<'EOF'
	version: 2
	ethernets:
	eth0:
	# dhcp4: true
	addresses: [192.168.1.254/24]
	gateway4: 192.168.1.1
	nameservers:
	addresses: [9.9.9.9]
	optional: true
	wifis:
	wlan0:
	# dhcp4: true
	addresses: [192.168.1.253/24]
	gateway4: 192.168.1.1
	nameservers:
	addresses: [9.9.9.9]
	optional: true
	access-points:
	YOUR_WIFI_NAME:
	password: "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"
	EOF
	sudo umount /tmp/rpi
	sudo rm -rf /tmp/rpi

	# Boot RPi from microSD card
	ssh ubuntu@192.168.1.254
	#ubuntu

	# OS update
	sudo apt update
	sudo apt full-upgrade

	# Reboot to apply the changes
	sudo reboot

view raw ubuntu-headless.sh hosted with ❤ by GitHub

Posted in General | Tagged Raspberry Pi | Leave a comment

Fix Tearing and Flickering in Zoom Screen Sharing

Posted on 2020-04-02 by Viliam Pucik

Remove Intel driver and use the default modesetting driver instead. Optimally disable vertical sync for more smooth screen sharing experience.

view raw fix-tearing-and-flickering-in-zoom-screen-sharing.sh hosted with ❤ by GitHub

Posted in General | 2 Comments

Client Ranking of Arch Linux Mirrors

Posted on 2020-03-21 by Viliam Pucik

sudo bash -c 't=$(mktemp); reflector --country Slovakia --country Czechia --country Poland --country Hungary --protocol https --sort rate --age 24 > "$t" && rankmirrors -v "$t" | tee /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist; rm "$t"'

Posted in General | Tagged Arch Linux | Leave a comment

DNS over TLS using Quad9 in Windows

Posted on 2019-10-14 by Viliam Pucik

Download and install Unbound

As administrator edit C:\Program Files\Unbound\service.conf:

server:
	interface: 127.0.0.53

	# Log into Windows Application log
	verbosity: 0
	use-syslog: yes

	# Disable caching of negative DNS records
	cache-max-negative-ttl: 0
	neg-cache-size: 0

	# Globally enable DNS over TLS
	tls-win-cert: yes
	tls-upstream: yes

	# Forward all queries to Quad9
	forward-zone:
		name: "."
		forward-addr: 9.9.9.9@853
		forward-tls-upstream: yes

As administrator restart unbound service:
```
sc stop unbound
sc start unbound
```
Select the active network connection (Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network and Sharing Center) and in Properties -> Internet Protocol 4 (TCP/IPv4) -> Use the following DNS server addresses -> Preferred DNS server enter 127.0.0.53

Posted in General | Tagged DNS, Privacy | Leave a comment

DNS over TLS using Quad9

Posted on 2019-10-12 by Viliam Pucik

Configure systemd-resolved to use Quad9 – 9.9.9.9 as the preferred DNS resolver with DNS over TLS enabled. Also disable caching of negative DNS responses:

cat <<'EOF' >> /etc/systemd/resolved.conf
DNS=9.9.9.9
FallbackDNS=149.112.112.112 2620:fe::fe 2620:fe::9
DNSOverTLS=opportunistic
Cache=no-negative
EOF

sudo systemctl restart systemd-resolved

To always prefer the default, TLS encrypted DNS server, disable obtaining DNS servers from DHCP on Ethernet and Wireless interfaces and also remove “~.” – the default route domain from the interfaces using the helper script:

	#!/bin/sh
	INTERFACE=$1
	ACTION=$2

	# DNS modification makes sense for active (up and vpn-up) interfaces only
	[[ "${ACTION}" =~ up$ ]] \|\| exit 0

	# Disable DNS default route for all interfaces to prefer global DNS
	resolvectl default-route "${INTERFACE}" no

	DOMAINS=$(resolvectl domain "${INTERFACE}" \| cut -d: -f2)

	# Remove "~." route domain from all interfaces to prefer global DNS
	[[ "${DOMAINS}" =~ ~\. ]] \|\| exit 0
	DOMAINS="${DOMAINS//~.}"
	if [[ -z "${DOMAINS// }" ]]; then
	resolvectl domain "${INTERFACE}" ''
	else
	# Noting (route) domains are separate arguments and should be passed without enclosing double quotes
	resolvectl domain "${INTERFACE}" ${DOMAINS}
	fi

view raw prefer-global-dns.sh hosted with ❤ by GitHub

Place the script into /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/, enable NetworkManager-dispatcher service and restart NetworkManager to rerun the script:

curl -o /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/prefer-global-dns.sh https://gist.githubusercontent.com/viliampucik/caffddb1731a86518e4f393f1ebd0c0e/raw/c2a677661a59d3bd135149fcb597cd19f5b5f035/prefer-global-dns.sh
systemctl -now enable NetworkManager-dispatcher
systemctl restart NetworkManager

Posted in Linux | Tagged DNS, Privacy | Leave a comment

The Fastest Arch Linux Mirrors

Posted on 2019-10-12 by Viliam Pucik

Use reflector to get the fastest Arch Linux mirrors after the network is up and online or when pacman-mirrorlist package gets an upgrade:

yay -S reflector

cat <<'EOF' > /etc/systemd/system/reflector.service
[Unit]
Description=Pacman mirrorlist update
Wants=network-online.target
After=network-online.target

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=reflector --country Slovakia --country Czechia --protocol https --age 12 --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

[Install]
RequiredBy=multi-user.target
EOF

cat <<'EOF' > /etc/pacman.d/hooks/mirrorupgrade.hook
[Trigger]
Operation = Upgrade
Type = Package
Target = pacman-mirrorlist

[Action]
Description = Updating pacman-mirrorlist with reflector and removing pacnew...
When = PostTransaction
Depends = reflector
Exec = /bin/sh -c "reflector --country Slovakia --country Czechia --protocol https --age 12 --sort rate --save /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist; rm -f /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist.pacnew"
EOF

Posted in Linux | Tagged Arch Linux | Leave a comment

Random MAC

Posted on 2019-10-07 by Viliam Pucik

Use “stable” random MAC address for each Ethernet and wireless connection that changes with every reboot.

cat <<'EOF' > /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/00-macrandomize.conf
[device]
# "yes" is already the default for scanning
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=yes

[connection]
wifi.cloned-mac-address=stable
ethernet.cloned-mac-address=stable
# Generate random MAC for each connection and device combination
# that changes with every reboot
connection.stable-id="${CONNECTION}-${BOOT}-${DEVICE}"
EOF

systemctl restart NetworkManager

Posted in Linux | Tagged Networking, Privacy | Leave a comment

	# Remove "old" Intel driver in favor of the default modesetting driver
	sudo pacman -R xf86-video-intel

	# Disable vsync for Zoom for more smooth screen sharing experience
	sudo rm /usr/bin/zoom

	cat <<"EOF" > /tmp/zoom
	#!/bin/sh
	vblank_mode=0 /opt/zoom/ZoomLauncher "$@"
	EOF

	sudo install -m 0755 /tmp/zoom /usr/bin

Talk is cheap. Show me the code.

System Benchmarking

Raspberry Pi DNS Caching

Raspberry Pi Storage Benchmark

Raspberry Pi Headless

Fix Tearing and Flickering in Zoom Screen Sharing

Client Ranking of Arch Linux Mirrors

DNS over TLS using Quad9 in Windows

DNS over TLS using Quad9

The Fastest Arch Linux Mirrors

Random MAC

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