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Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:22 am
by Raymzap
Hi.
I ran the vrms (Virtual Richard Mathew Stallman) package and notice that both MX and antiX have many non-free packages installed by default. Is there a quick way to remove all but the actually needed ones? Or should I just uninstall all that I think I don't need (while being careful not to lose my wireless)?
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:23 am
by dolphin_oracle
I've never used that package, but if it provides a list, you could simple.
apt-get remove list_item1 list_item2 etc....
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:27 am
by Raymzap
dolphin_oracle wrote:I've never used that package, but if it provides a list, you could simple.
apt-get remove list_item1 list_item2 etc....
Hi DO.
I always use it. I will use non-free packages but only if absolutely needed (e.g. wireless drivers).
Here's an example of the output from vrms (apt get install vrms) on my old laptop with MX 16.
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Non-free packages installed on XXXXX
amd64-microcode Processor microcode firmware for AMD CPUs
atmel-firmware Firmware for Atmel at76c50x wireless networking chips.
bluez-firmware Firmware for Bluetooth devices
broadcom-sta-dkms dkms source for the Broadcom STA Wireless driver
firmware-amd-graphics Binary firmware for AMD/ATI graphics chips
firmware-atheros Binary firmware for Atheros wireless cards
firmware-bnx2 Binary firmware for Broadcom NetXtremeII
firmware-bnx2x Binary firmware for Broadcom NetXtreme II 10Gb
firmware-brcm80211 Binary firmware for Broadcom 802.11 wireless cards
firmware-intelwimax Binary firmware for Intel WiMAX Connection
firmware-ipw2x00 Binary firmware for Intel Pro Wireless 2100, 2200 and
firmware-iwlwifi Binary firmware for Intel Wireless cards
firmware-libertas Binary firmware for Marvell Libertas 8xxx wireless car
firmware-linux-nonfree Binary firmware for drivers in the Linux kernel (meta-
firmware-misc-nonfree Binary firmware for various drivers in the Linux kerne
firmware-myricom Binary firmware for Myri-10G Ethernet adapters
firmware-qlogic Binary firmware for QLogic HBAs
firmware-realtek Binary firmware for Realtek wired/wifi/BT adapters
firmware-zd1211 binary firmware for the zd1211rw wireless driver
intel-microcode Processor microcode firmware for Intel CPUs
nvidia-detect NVIDIA GPU detection utility
unrar Unarchiver for .rar files (non-free version)
zd1211-firmware transitional dummy package for firmware-zd1211
Contrib packages installed on XXXXX
b43-fwcutter utility for extracting Broadcom 43xx firmware
browser-plugin-freshplayer-pepperfl PPAPI-host NPAPI-plugin adapter for pepperflash
firmware-b43-installer firmware installer for the b43 driver
firmware-b43legacy-installer firmware installer for the b43legacy driver
freshplayerplugin dummy for upgrade to browser-plugin-freshplayer-pepper
iucode-tool Intel processor microcode tool
pepperflashplugin-nonfree Pepper Flash Player - browser plugin
ttf-mscorefonts-installer Installer for Microsoft TrueType core fonts
23 non-free packages, 1.3% of 1815 installed packages.
8 contrib packages, 0.4% of 1815 installed packages.
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:35 am
by dolphin_oracle
looks about right.
so I would take that report into a text editor, edit out the descriptions and get the package names you want to remove on one line, separated by spaces. then paste all that into the command line prompt.
I would probably keep the intel/amd-microcode package (whichever you need) given that bug fixes come down to the cpus that way.
***edit*** changed exasperated to separated...dang autocorrects! thanks skiddoo!
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:43 am
by Jerry3904
I didn't know that even existed, much less that it is installed by default in MX-17. Will add that to the list for the next Manual, thanks.
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:45 am
by Raymzap
dolphin_oracle wrote:looks about right.
so I would take that report into a text editor, edit out the descriptions and get the package names you want to remove on one line, exasperated by spaces. then paste all that into the command line prompt.
I would probably keep the intel/amd-microcode package (whichever you need) given that bug fixes come down to the cpus that way.
Yes, the only non-free packages I'd keep are Broadcom-related (also b43) & intel-microcode.
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:46 am
by Raymzap
Jerry3904 wrote:I didn't know that even existed, much less that it is installed by default in MX-17. Will add that to the list for the next Manual, thanks.
Hi Jerry.
What - vrms? I'm not sure if it was installed by default though. I thought that package was well known - think it's just for Debian/Ubuntu distros. It's a must for me.
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:14 am
by kmathern
Raymzap wrote:Jerry3904 wrote:I didn't know that even existed, much less that it is installed by default in MX-17. Will add that to the list for the next Manual, thanks.
Hi Jerry.
What - vrms? I'm not sure if it was installed by default though. I thought that package was well known - think it's just for Debian/Ubuntu distros. It's a must for me. :happy:
It (vrms) is installed by default.
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:14 am
by Jerry3904
Sure--I just don't pay attention to that issue, that's all, though I recognize a truly "free" operating system as a wonderful ideal.
And MX more generally is aimed toward average users, who have been repeatedly shown to just want everything to work!
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:24 pm
by skidoo
exasperated by spaces
{giggle}
Seriously, though...
get the package names you want to remove on one line, exasperated by spaces. then paste all that into the command line prompt.
(yeah, although the question was "Is there a quick way?")
I would not do that because, almost certainly (based on past observations), one or more of the packages slated for removal will lead to chain-reaction removal of other dependent packages. Yes, a prompt will advise "additional packages will be removed. Proceed? Y/n" ...but that leaves you with an all-or-nothing decision (and the prompt doesn't provide details explaining the dependency chain). So, I recommend performing the removals one-package-at-a-time ~~ from within synaptic, so that you can search names of "would also be removed" dependent packages and read their descriptions (toward making an informed choice regarding each prospective removal).
Code: Select all
nvidia-detect NVIDIA GPU detection utility
amd64-microcode Processor microcode firmware for AMD CPUs
bluez-firmware Firmware for Bluetooth devices
firmware-amd-graphics Binary firmware for AMD/ATI graphics chips
beyond "lose my wireless", be dang certain you're not fixin' ta cut off yer nose to spite yer face.
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:23 pm
by kmathern
RE: exasperated by spaces
This will remove all the non-free packages
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vrms | grep Contrib -B99999 | grep ^[a-z] | awk '{print $1}' | xargs sudo apt-get purge --force-yes -y -V --trivial-only
If you want to remove all the packages that vrms lists (both contrib & non-free), omit the first grep
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vrms | grep ^[a-z] | awk '{print $1}' | xargs sudo apt-get purge --force-yes -y -V --trivial-only
The commands posted above will stop short of actually removing the non-free and/or contrib packages, they'll show a summary instead.
Rerunning the command(s) again without the "--trivial-only" option will do it for real
(make sure you really want to do it).
As far as removal of additional dependent packages goes I'm only seeing that the ddm-mx and acroread-debian-files packages would be removed initially on my MX-16 install, several others though are listed as 'autoremovable'.
Re: Many non-free packages installed by default.
Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:57 am
by Raymzap
kmathern wrote:RE: exasperated by spaces
This will remove all the non-free packages
Code: Select all
vrms | grep Contrib -B99999 | grep ^[a-z] | awk '{print $1}' | xargs sudo apt-get purge --force-yes -y -V --trivial-only
If you want to remove all the packages that vrms lists (both contrib & non-free), omit the first grep
Code: Select all
vrms | grep ^[a-z] | awk '{print $1}' | xargs sudo apt-get purge --force-yes -y -V --trivial-only
The commands posted above will stop short of actually removing the non-free and/or contrib packages, they'll show a summary instead.
Rerunning the command(s) again without the "--trivial-only" option will do it for real
(make sure you really want to do it).
As far as removal of additional dependent packages goes I'm only seeing that the ddm-mx and acroread-debian-files packages would be removed initially on my MX-16 install, several others though are listed as 'autoremovable'.
Cheers kmathern, that's excellent. Thanks.
