Trimming the fat

[Durhammer]

Since I did my research prior to doing my lightweight installation of MX 23.5 Fluxbox edition (using IceWM) on my little HP Stream 13 notebook (the one with 2GB baked-in, non-upgradeable, RAM), I've become more conscious of trying to "trim the fat" and use lighter tools (like lxterminal instead of xterm or xfce4-terminal, or parcellite rather than xfce4-clipman, etc., etc.) and eliminate running things I don't need or that don't need to be running.

Please don't tell me I shouldn't be concerned about such things. It's now in my blood.

One of the things I see in my F-box system here (and probably is on my Xfce systems as well) is ModemManager.

If I understand it properly, I only need that to interact with cell radio signals, which I don't do (fiber and wifi only).

How do I get rid of it, and are there other things that are not really really necessary and if so, how do I get rid of them?

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-30-amd64 [6.1.124-1] arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.1.0-30-amd64 root=UUID=<filter> ro quiet splash
  Desktop: Fluxbox v: 1.3.7 info: tint2 vt: 7 dm: LightDM v: 1.32.0 Distro: MX-23.5_fluxbox_x64
    Libretto September 15 2024 base: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: SAMSUNG product: RF511/RF411/RF711 v: 10HX serial: <superuser required>
    Chassis: type: 9 serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: SAMSUNG model: RF511/RF411/RF711 v: 10HX serial: <superuser required>
    UEFI: American Megatrends v: 10HX.M034.20110426.SSH date: 04/26/2011
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT1 charge: 35.1 Wh (79.1%) condition: 44.4/48.8 Wh (90.9%) volts: 10.9 min: 11.1
    model: SAMSUNG Electronics type: Li-ion serial: N/A status: not charging
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech ERGO M575 Trackball serial: <filter> charge: 100%
    rechargeable: yes status: discharging
CPU:
  Info: model: Intel Core i7-2630QM bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Sandy Bridge gen: core 2 level: v2
    built: 2010-12 process: Intel 32nm family: 6 model-id: 0x2A (42) stepping: 7 microcode: 0x2F
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 4 tpc: 2 threads: 8 smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB
    desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 6 MiB desc: 1x6 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 967 high: 1100 min/max: 800/2900 scaling: driver: intel_cpufreq
    governor: ondemand cores: 1: 906 2: 928 3: 1008 4: 1005 5: 1100 6: 1000 7: 800 8: 989
    bogomips: 31929
  Flags: avx ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: VMX disabled
  Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT vulnerable
  Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
  Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Unknown: No mitigations
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Retpolines; IBPB: conditional; IBRS_FW; STIBP: conditional; RSB
    filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics vendor: Samsung Co
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-6 code: Sandybridge process: Intel 32nm built: 2011 ports:
    active: LVDS-1,VGA-1 empty: DP-1,HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:0116 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: NVIDIA GF108M [GeForce GT 540M] vendor: Samsung Co driver: N/A alternate: nouveau
    non-free: series: 390.xx+ status: legacy-active (EOL~late 2022) arch: Fermi code: GF1xx
    process: 40/28nm built: 2010-16 pcie: speed: Unknown lanes: 63 link-max: gen: 6 speed: 64 GT/s
    bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0df4 class-ID: 0302
  Device-3: Silicon Motion WebCam SCB-1100N type: USB driver: uvcvideo bus-ID: 1-1.1:3
    chip-ID: 2232:1008 class-ID: 0e02
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 driver: X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa
    dri: crocus gpu: i915 display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1600x2820 s-dpi: 97 s-size: 421x742mm (16.57x29.21") s-diag: 853mm (33.59")
  Monitor-1: LVDS-1 pos: primary,bottom model: ChiMei InnoLux 0x1733 built: 2012 res: 1600x900
    hz: 60 dpi: 106 gamma: 1.2 size: 382x215mm (15.04x8.46") diag: 448mm (17.6") ratio: 16:9
    modes: 1600x900
  Monitor-2: VGA-1 pos: top model: Dell P2214H serial: <filter> built: 2015 res: 1080x1920 hz: 60
    dpi: 102 gamma: 1.2 size: 268x477mm (10.55x18.78") diag: 547mm (21.5") ratio: 16:9 modes:
    max: 1920x1080 min: 720x400
  API: OpenGL v: 3.3 Mesa 22.3.6 renderer: Mesa Intel HD Graphics 3000 (SNB GT2)
    direct-render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio vendor: Samsung Co 6
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 3-1:2 bus-ID: 00:1b.0 chip-ID: 1130:1620
    chip-ID: 8086:1c20 class-ID: 0300 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: NVIDIA GF108 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie:
    speed: Unknown lanes: 63 link-max: gen: 6 speed: 64 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:0bea
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Tenx USB AUDIO type: USB driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
  Device-4: AKAI MPKmini2 type: USB driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid bus-ID: 3-2.2:4
    chip-ID: 2011:0715 class-ID: 0103 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-30-amd64 status: kernel-api tools: alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.0 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse status: active
    2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 4: pw-jack type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11bgn Wireless Network Adapter vendor: Askey driver: wl v: kernel
    modules: bcma pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 14e4:4727
    class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlan0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Samsung Co
    driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: b000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8168 class-ID: 0200
  IF: eth0 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Broadcom BCM2070 Bluetooth Device type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 2-1.3:3
    chip-ID: 0a5c:219c class-ID: fe01 serial: <filter>
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 1 state: up address: <filter> bt-v: 2.0 lmp-v: 3.0
    sub-v: 4203 hci-v: 3.0 rev: 274
  Info: acl-mtu: 1021:8 sco-mtu: 64:1 link-policy: rswitch hold sniff park
    link-mode: peripheral accept service-classes: rendering, capturing, audio, telephony
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 2.96 TiB used: 213.3 GiB (7.0%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO 1TB size: 931.51 GiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 2B6Q scheme: MBR
  ID-2: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 type: USB vendor: Seagate model: BUP Slim BK size: 1.82 TiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 0109 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 type: USB vendor: Sabrent model: SABRENT size: 238.47 GiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 0204 scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 100 GiB size: 97.87 GiB (97.87%) used: 11.25 GiB (11.5%) fs: ext4
    dev: /dev/sdc3 maj-min: 8:35
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 512 MiB size: 511 MiB (99.80%) used: 428 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sdc2 maj-min: 8:34
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 15 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 12 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 dev: /dev/sdc4
    maj-min: 8:36
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 54.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 2046 pm: dpkg pkgs: 2034 libs: 974 tools: apt,apt-get,aptitude,nala,synaptic pm: rpm
    pkgs: 0 pm: flatpak pkgs: 12
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/brave-browser-release.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/brave-browser-archive-keyring.gpg] https://brave-browser-apt-release.s3.brave.com/ stable main
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian-stable-updates.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm-updates main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.list
    1: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
    2: deb http://security.debian.org/debian-security bookworm-security main contrib non-free non-free-firmware
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mx.list
    1: deb http://mirror.math.princeton.edu/pub/mxlinux/mx/repo/ bookworm main non-free
Info:
  Processes: 245 Uptime: 1h 0m wakeups: 12 Memory: 7.67 GiB used: 1.7 GiB (22.2%) Init: SysVinit
  v: 3.06 runlevel: 5 default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 alt: 12
  Client: shell wrapper v: 5.2.15-release inxi: 3.3.26
Boot Mode: UEFI

[dolphin_oracle]

Please don't tell me I shouldn't be concerned about such things. It's now in my blood.

I don't care what you do

you can check removal of whatever you want with the -s parameter.

in this case

Code: Select all

apt remove modemmanager -s 

the -s will simulate a removal, and tell you what else, if anything, would get removed.

[Durhammer]

Super! Thanks, @dolphin_oracle! I just tried it and it looks like it's the only thing to be removed. I can do that. BUT...

Is there simply a way to disable it rather than removing it?

[CharlesV]

Because ModemManager is woven into the system in multiple places, I suspect the answer to that is really no. You *might* be able to rename the application in /usr/sbin ... but be VERY careful here.

Personally, any tweaking like this (including removing 'base files / applications' I would run up a VM and tweak away seeing how it all works before doing it on a live system.

And Timeshift will be your friend here !!! take timeshift snapshots before all tweaks and be ready to restore ;-/

[Durhammer]

No worries, @CharlesV -- I have multiple backup installs should one go la-la. ModemManager allegedly is only for WWAN/2G/3G/4G/5G signals, so I don't think I or MX will miss it.

Now to continue the quest to find anything else that isn't really needed. Got any suggestions?

[CharlesV]

Cool. Well.. the obvious is:
Games
Multimedia ( most of it )

Then if you really want to look... MX Package Installer, change to the Enabeled tab and then change All Packages in the upper right to Installed. Walk that list slowly... and I would use the description column... lots of stuff there... lots of stuff will break ya... so be careful. (I usually tell people - "if you dont know what it is... dont remove it!") So I would make a list of suspects...and then figure out what everything on the suspect is and if it will hurt ya!

[Durhammer]

Thanks again @CharlesV ! I'm actually targeting things that run in the background, not things I willingly can start and stop. Sometimes silly little things like using parccellite (~9.8 MB) rather than xfce-clipman (~18.1 MB) and dunst rather than the Xfce (or other) notifier. I look at the output of ps_mem.py to see what can maybe be trimmed. That's where I noticed ModemManager. I've removed it now. Yes, I also do look at things I start and stop manually, such as using lxterminal instead of xfce4-terminal or xterm or other such apps. I've tested quite a few out, and lxterminal is da bomb. Unless I try using it on Q4OS Trinity Desktop Environment, where it gets hosed if I try to resize the window. :( Ditto for file managers -- I use xfe, which is insanely light and comes with its own very light text editor (among other things); it does take some getting used to, but so did Thunar and Dolphin and whatever else I've used. I cannot stand a lot of the K* stuff, however, whether or not they might be lighter (I HAVE to use Konsole on TDE bcz of the aforementioned issue with lxterminal). ModemManager might just be about the only thing I can trim here, but I'll keep researching!

[CharlesV]

Ah gotcha. and good choice! I typically use htop to see whats running. That and service ( sudo service --status-all )

A cool thing about htop is you can sort by process or ram etc and quickly see what is chewing you up ;-/

[siamhie]

Cool. Well.. the obvious is:
Games

fluxbox doesn't come with games but I've suggested adding kgames to MXFB-25.

Code: Select all

apt-cache show kgames
Package: kgames
Version: 2.3-1
Installed-Size: 2123
Maintainer: Keith Packard <keithp@keithp.com>
Architecture: amd64
Provides: xmille
Depends: libc6 (>= 2.33), libcairo2 (>= 1.6.0), libfontconfig1 (>= 2.12.6), libglib2.0-0 (>= 2.12.0), librsvg2-2 (>= 2.14.4), libx11-6, 
libxaw7 (>= 2:1.0.14), libxft2 (>> 2.1.1), libxmu6 (>= 2:1.1.3), libxrender1, libxt6
Description-en: Venerable selection of Xaw-based games
 These are a selection of various games that use the Xaw toolkit. They
 are all from the 80's and 90's and look the part. As a result, they
 are also very lightweight. There are a bunch of solitaire (patience)
 variants, mille bournes, cribbage and dominos.
Description-md5: 31f4ba8a21f49a639e6e35099ecc6c93
Homepage: https://keithp.com
Section: games
Priority: optional
Filename: pool/main/k/kgames/kgames_2.3-1_amd64.deb
Size: 439412
MD5sum: 0019a2f037fa2e06c71a0c5ff8af2e0e
SHA256: 05aaa622684f953c12ae9023afa957a0dee35d82b6eb83137ee334a3d81d0118

[Durhammer]

fluxbox doesn't come with games but I've suggested adding kgames to MXFB-25.

Thanks! I install my own batch of regularly-played simple games. I tried out some of the K-games and still just preferred old G-versions for they playability and options. I start and stop these, so size isn't so much an issue (and don't have multiples open at once). One of my faves is Warble, which is only available as a F-pack, and is quite heavy.