Linux

Introduction to Disk Space Reclamation

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve run into issues with package managers leaving behind unnecessary files on my Linux systems. This can happen due to incomplete package removals, failed updates, or simply because the package manager didn’t clean up after itself. In my experience, this is more common than you’d think, especially when using less popular packages or experimenting with different distributions.

Identifying the Problem

To start reclaiming disk space, you first need to identify where the unnecessary files are located. A good starting point is to use the find command, which allows you to search for files based on various criteria such as size, modification time, and permissions. For example, to find all files larger than 100MB in the /usr directory, you can use the following command:

Introduction to Log Management

As a Linux user, you’re probably familiar with the importance of logs. I’ve seen this go wrong when trying to debug an issue or monitor system performance - duplicate logs can be overwhelming. In this article, we’ll explore how to remove duplicates using uniq, sort, and jq.

Understanding the Problem

Duplicate logs can come from multiple sources: multiple instances of the same service, redundant logging mechanisms, or simple configuration mistakes. The real trick is to identify the cause and develop a strategy for removing duplicates. Don’t bother with trying to manually sift through logs - that’s a surefire way to waste time and miss important trends.

Introduction to CPU Usage Spikes

I’ve had my fair share of CPU usage spikes on my home server, and I’ve learned that they can be caused by a variety of factors, including resource-intensive applications, misconfigured services, or even malware. The real trick is to identify the root cause of the spike and take corrective action. In my experience, using systemd and ps can be a powerful way to manage CPU usage spikes.

Introduction to External Drive Management

I’ve been using Linux for years, and one thing that’s always been a bit of a pain is managing external drives. Whether it’s a USB flash drive, an external hard drive, or an SSD, keeping track of these devices can be a chore. I’ve seen this go wrong when you’ve got multiple drives connected and you’re not sure which one is which. In practice, this can lead to a lot of confusion and wasted time. That’s why I’ve started using udev rules and automounting to manage my external drives.

Introduction to Apt Pinning

I’ve seen this go wrong when you’re managing a small Debian server and dependencies become a challenge. That’s where apt pinning comes in – a feature that lets you control the version of packages installed on your system. On Debian-based systems, apt is the package manager of choice, providing a robust way to manage dependencies and install software. However, when you need to ensure a specific package version is used, apt pinning is your friend.

Introduction to My Linux Migration

I’ve been an Ubuntu user for years, but after the 2025 release, I figured it was time to try something new. Fedora’s been on my radar, and as someone who’s always tinkering with Linux, I thought, why not? In this article, I’ll share my experience of ditching Ubuntu for Fedora on my laptop, including the tweaks and surprises I encountered along the way.

Preparing for the Migration

Before making the switch, I backed up all my important files using rsync to an external hard drive - don’t bother with anything less, you never know when you’ll need it. I also made a list of the packages I had installed on Ubuntu, so I could easily reinstall them on Fedora. To get a feel for the Fedora environment, I created a virtual machine using virt-manager and played around with the distribution before committing to a full installation. This is where people usually get burned, so take your time and test things out.

Introduction to Self-Hosting

I’ve spent years running my own Linux servers, and over time, I’ve experimented with a bunch of self-hosted services. Recently, I decided to take a step back and simplify my setup. This involved figuring out what actually works for me and what I’d self-host again on Linux.

Choosing the Right Services

It’s easy to get carried away with all the services available for self-hosting. I’ve seen this go wrong when people try to host too many services at once. The real trick is to prioritize what’s truly necessary. For me, that includes a personal wiki, a photo gallery, and a Git server. These services are crucial for my daily workflow and personal projects.

In the world of modern software, efficient search and analytics capabilities are essential to ensure that users can quickly retrieve relevant data and gain insights. OpenSearch is an open-source, distributed search and analytics engine that provides real-time indexing and search capabilities for large-scale applications. Originally derived from Elasticsearch, OpenSearch is designed to be a community-driven project that offers full compatibility with Elasticsearch 7.x and Kibana 7.x.

In this post, we’ll explore the key features of OpenSearch, its benefits, and its use cases. Whether you’re building an enterprise-level search solution or analyzing logs for security and monitoring, OpenSearch can meet your needs with its powerful features and flexibility.

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) servers are essential components for sending and routing emails across the internet. For Linux users, open-source SMTP servers provide robust, flexible, and cost-effective solutions for handling email delivery.

This post explores some of the most popular open-source SMTP servers available for Linux, their features, and the scenarios in which they shine.

What is an SMTP Server?

An SMTP server is a specialized software application responsible for sending, receiving, and relaying outgoing mail between email clients and destination mail servers. SMTP servers work in tandem with POP3 or IMAP servers, which handle email retrieval.

Dovecot is one of the most popular open-source mail servers for handling IMAP and POP3 protocols on Linux. Known for its security, speed, and ease of configuration, it is widely used for hosting email services, whether for personal use or large-scale enterprise deployments.

This post explores the key features of Dovecot, its architecture, and how to set it up for handling mail on a Linux server.

What is Dovecot?

Dovecot is an IMAP/POP3 server designed with a strong focus on security, performance, and ease of administration. It provides a reliable way for users to access their email from mail clients like Thunderbird, Outlook, or webmail applications.