Daniel Wayne Armstrong

Hello! I'm Daniel.

I love free/libre software and hardware and think a good book paired with a cup of coffee is a little piece of Heaven.

Public Key

npub10mfvwmp6ptat908xhrpf9ygkrgu8r5t0d7twu3t9lx30tykwvx2qju0gkd

NIP-05 Address

dwarmstrong@fosstodon-org.mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs8a5k8dsaq474jhnnt3s5jjytp5wr369hkl9hwg4jlngh4jt8xr9qpz3mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujuerpd46hxtnfduqs6amnwvaz7tmwdaejumr0dsw4mp6h

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relay.damus.io

nos.lol

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npub10mfvwmp6ptat908xhrpf9ygkrgu8r5t0d7twu3t9lx30tykwvx2qju0gkd

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Last Notes

2026-08-06 15:08:32 UTC

Updated post to mark the release of NetBSD 11.0!
For my install I wanted to include disk encryption to protect personal data in case the device is lost or stolen. Its not enough to simply encrypt home directories. Passphrases and sensitive data can linger and be extracted from locations such as system logs and swap memory. There is a trade-off to be made between how much to encrypt, the convenience of operating the system, and the ability to boot.
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/netbsd-encrypt-install/
#NetBSD #RunBSD

2026-07-03 16:50:31 UTC

New blog post!
Set up a stack of virtualization tools on a Void Linux host for creating and managing virtual machines (VMs):
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/void-libvirt/
#Virtualization #KVM #Qemu #Libvirt #VoidLinux #Linux

2026-06-29 20:54:27 UTC

New post!
I've only used it for a few weeks, however I've quickly come to ❤️ Void Linux.
I show the choices I make to create an encrypted Root-On-ZFS minimal Linux system with "just enough" to provide a solid foundation to build upon further: whether that be setting up a desktop, laptop, or server.
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/void-linux-install-zfs/
#VoidLinux #ZFS #ZFSBootMenu #Runit #Linux

2026-06-26 21:40:19 UTC

Neat program of the day: bat
"A cat(1) clone with wings."
https://github.com/sharkdp/bat
Adds the built-in ability to colorize and format terminal output with a number of options. Multi-line output uses `less`.
For the fish shell... To setup colorized man pages with a percent displayed/total lines indicator, I added to my `config.fish`:
# Strip terminal backspaces before piping to bat
set -gx MANPAGER "sh -c 'col -bx | bat -l man -p'"
set -gx LESS "-M +Gg"
#FishShell #RunBSD #Linux

2026-06-16 17:10:42 UTC

New blog post!
Do you like Lego? Do you like Linux? I think I've found the most Lego-ish Linux of the bunch: Gentoo Linux!
Using the Gentoo minimal install image and Reading The Fine Manual, I show the choices I make to create an encrypted Root-On-ZFS minimal Linux system with "just enough" to provide a solid foundation to build upon further: whether that be setting up a desktop, laptop, or server.
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/gentoo-install-zfs/
#Gentoo #Linux #ZFS #ZFSBootMenu

2026-05-20 14:18:03 UTC

Last night I finished "The Rise of Endymion" by Dan Simmons... the final book in his "Hyperion Cantos".
Its incredible (even if I didn't like the very last bit). A vision of a possible future for humanity in space the likes of which I've never read anywhere else. Even a future Dalai Lama is a character! Buddhism is a strong element in the book and the ideas it raises are so intriguing that I just picked up "Buddhism: A Journey Through History" by Donald S. Lopez Jr.
#Books #SciFi #Buddhism
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/607/318/863/681/653/original/87bebabb9187c3ad.jpg

2026-05-16 14:01:50 UTC

Installed Foot terminal this week along with the Sway wayland compositor and love the key-combo "Open URL mode" where all the URLS are underlined and assigned a letter code, which upon entry opens the URL in the browser. Cool!

2026-05-06 12:48:33 UTC

I'm thinking of re-installing FreeBSD on my Thinkpad T480s (Intel iGPU) and exploring Sway as my Wayland compositor. What is the state of Wayland support in FreeBSD?
#AskFedi #FreeBSD #Wayland #Sway

2026-05-03 19:54:41 UTC

I explored the immutable Bluefin Linux on my mini pc for a week. Very solid project!
Even more so than a Linux aimed at developers, I could see it being a great *first* Linux for someone with the pre-installed Flatpak software centre, automatic updates, atomic read-only system images, and rollbacks if things go wonky.
But I'll be putting Chimera back on the box. I guess I'm just a mutable "read-write" kind of guy. 🙂
#Bluefin #Linux

2026-04-15 16:20:22 UTC

A detailed read about zswap and zram "myths". I will be rethinking how I setup swap memory in future Linux installs.
Very useful!
https://chrisdown.name/2026/03/24/zswap-vs-zram-when-to-use-what.html
#Linux

2026-04-14 18:20:17 UTC

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@nprofile…y6zh Not that I'm aware.

2026-04-12 14:29:28 UTC

Updated post!
For my NetBSD install I wanted to include disk encryption to protect personal data in case the device is lost or stolen. Its not really enough to simply encrypt home directories. Passphrases and sensitive data can linger and be extracted from locations such as system logs and swap memory. There is a trade-off to be made between how much to encrypt, the convenience of operating the system, and the ability for the system to boot.
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/netbsd-encrypt-install/
#NetBSD #RunBSD

2026-04-02 20:10:22 UTC

Finished reading _Smilla's Sense of Snow_ by Peter Høeg.
Loved it. Not only a whodunnit but an even stronger whydoit? Right until the end I was left wondering "What is in Greenland?!" Smilla is the character up to the task for finding out.
#Books #Mystery #Denmark #Greenland
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/336/921/204/373/772/original/f1ef4a7673fe4b8f.jpg

2026-03-31 21:59:29 UTC

Chimera Linux does things differently: the distro is built from scratch, musl instead of glibc, init is dinit, FreeBSD userland, ...
Fresh install on my Thinkpad using OpenZFS and ZFSBootMenu. Curious to explore further. I'm thinking of a setup where Chimera is my desktop and FreeBSD on a home server.
#ChimeraLinux #musl #dinit #FreeBSD #ZFS #ZFSBootMenu
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/326/025/849/891/357/original/e5ed093aa7acf7bd.png

2026-03-20 00:48:39 UTC

Updated post for FreeBSD 15.0-RELEASE.
After the first boot of my new FreeBSD installation, these are some extra steps I like to make right away to get a system off to a good start!
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/freebsd-after-install/
#FreeBSD #RunBSD

2026-03-20 00:13:33 UTC

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@nprofile…jknr I'm editing that post right now in the terminal. 🙂

2026-03-18 21:42:34 UTC

Updated post for FreeBSD 15.0-RELEASE.
After performing a few FreeBSD installs, these are my personal notes of steps taken and choices made. A “short and sweet” version of the FreeBSD Handbook. :freebsd:
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/freebsd-install/
#FreeBSD #RunBSD

2026-03-05 01:14:57 UTC

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@nprofile…42mr Good stuff!You've given me lots to think about. And I need to pull out my copy of Tuchman's _The March of Folly_ for a refresher.

2026-03-04 23:52:18 UTC

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@nprofile…ytzy Good to hear! Its like a box of Linux Lego.

2026-03-04 15:32:04 UTC

Gentoo Linux on my mini PC: Encrypted root + BTRFS with subvolumes + OpenRC + Limine bootloader. Its a start! ✅
Distro-hopping now on pause. Month of March is all about Gentoo. Plan is to take this base system and build it up to a lightweight desktop with Wayland + TBD window manager.
Next up: Learn more about Portage/emerge.
#Gentoo #Linux #BTRFS #OpenRC #Limine
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/171/612/882/698/700/original/8193d5a6850ee0b9.png

2026-03-04 14:59:08 UTC

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@nprofile…del5 Thanks! I have it installed now on the mini pc. ✅

2026-03-03 16:00:11 UTC

I was going to swap out OpenRC for SystemD for my Gentoo install, but Alpine introduced me to OpenRC and I think I'm going to run with it a bit.
#Gentoo #Linux #OpenRC #SystemD

2026-03-03 15:54:06 UTC

I've been having so much fun exploring Gentoo Linux these past few days! :gentoo:
I now having a working configuration of Gentoo (in a VM) with a combination of root encryption + BTRFS + OpenRC + Limine bootloader. ✅
Next up is bare metal install.
Onward!
#Gentoo #Linux #BTRFS #OpenRC #Limine

2026-03-01 20:57:26 UTC

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@nprofile…d0wl First attempt proved too ambitious for this Gentoo newbie: Encrypted root + BTRFS + systemd + Limine bootloader. Upon reboot got as far as the Limine boot menu then... boom.
Second attempt I tried a few different things and swapped out Limine for GRUB, reboot, and ended up in the emergency shell.
Third attempt I went with bog standard defaults: no encryption + OpenRC + GRUB.

2026-03-01 19:29:23 UTC

Third install attempt was the charm!
#Gentoo #Linux
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/116/155/567/435/658/744/original/951d87afa1d12977.png

2026-03-01 16:36:58 UTC

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@nprofile…vf35 Always forward. I wish you both a return to better days! 🌞

2026-02-25 19:39:29 UTC

Starting to Read The Fine Manual. :gentoo:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Handbook:AMD64
#Gentoo #Linux

2026-02-22 13:53:56 UTC

New blog post!
Using the Arch Linux installation image and working my way through the excellent installation guide, I show the choices I make to create an encrypted, minimal Linux system with “just enough” to provide a solid foundation to build upon further: whether that be setting up a desktop, laptop, or server:
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/archlinux-install/
#ArchLinux #Linux #LUKS #BTRFS

2026-02-06 01:53:47 UTC

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@nprofile…ytzy Hooray!

2026-02-06 01:42:48 UTC

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@nprofile…ytzy From my notes when I setup on Chimera:
Load module:
doas modprobe zram
Create a configuration file for the `zram0` device:
cat << EOF | doas tee /etc/dinit-zram.conf > /dev/null
[zram0]
size = 4G
algorithm = lz4
format = mkswap -U clear %0
EOF
Add swap to `fstab`:
echo "/dev/zram0 none swap defaults 0 0" | doas tee -a /etc/fstab > /dev/null
Enable the service:
doas dinitctl enable zram-device@zram0

2026-02-01 17:14:19 UTC

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@nprofile…gjz8 I will. I'm taking notes as I go. 🙂

2026-01-19 23:35:11 UTC

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@nprofile…fr69 Happy learning!

2026-01-19 22:12:46 UTC

Big fat snowflakes outside. Inside its a mug of hot chocolate and a manual, minimal install of Arch Linux. Its been a few years since the last install. Too long! ❄️ :cupofcoffee: :arch: :linux:
#archlinux #linux

2025-12-18 19:31:50 UTC

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@nprofile…jqam Preach it! 🙂

2025-12-15 23:38:19 UTC

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@nprofile…0tmw Thank you! Indeed a good idea for a continuation of the project if I pick it up again.

2025-12-07 13:39:12 UTC

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@nprofile…3u5w Sounds good!

2025-12-07 01:09:30 UTC

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@nprofile…3u5w Successfully installed Nixbook/NixOS 25.05 in a VM using the Nixbook test installer.
Onward!
.
.
.
NOTE
FYI... First tried installing Nixbook on 25.11 using the NixOS iso for the initial install, then following the steps post-install in the Nixbook README. Upon reboot, it presents the command line login (no Cinnamon desktop).
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/115/675/600/362/936/094/original/81af19beafe70393.png

2025-12-06 00:33:38 UTC

There is a lot to love here with this project of giving new life to old laptops. Courtesy of a custom configuration of NixOS by @nprofile…3u5w ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NKd3JAzMdI
Perhaps this will replace my default choice of LMDE for family and friends? It even includes Cinnamon as its desktop. I've never tried NixOS before... Going to give it a whirl!
#Nixbook #NixOS #Linux

2025-12-01 21:19:18 UTC

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@nprofile…dp44 Indeed!

2025-11-30 21:28:33 UTC

I think Chimera Linux is an intriguing mix of components: Linux kernel, FreeBSD userland, apk package manager, (non-systemd) dinit. I checked it out briefly last year. Now I want to take a second, closer look.
Installed Chimera Linux with Root-on-ZFS with ZFS native encryption and ZFSBootMenu as bootloader on a VM. Time to explore!
#ChimeraLinux #Linux #FreeBSD #apk #dinit #ZFS #ZFSBootMenu
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/115/640/760/731/630/924/original/a1e83f8f61526654.png

2025-11-22 16:06:57 UTC

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@nprofile…emek The cost of shipping to Canada ($47.34US) is more than the cost of the book?!

2025-11-19 23:14:08 UTC

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@nprofile…4sw2 Thanks... I will check it out!

2025-11-19 14:36:59 UTC

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@nprofile…4sw2 Which of their desktops are you using?

2025-10-03 19:42:26 UTC

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https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/115/311/935/020/759/988/original/3b276b7d5307cee3.png

2025-10-03 19:39:31 UTC

NetBSD is (re-)installed on the Thinkpad X230 and digging into the NetBSD Guide this weekend. Onward! :netbsd:
https://www.netbsd.org/docs/guide/en/
#NetBSD #RunBSD #Thinkpad

2025-08-01 15:54:01 UTC

Updated post!
A friend of mine is willing to give Linux a try, so I'm going to set her up with Linux Mint (Debian Edition). :linuxmintnew: :debian:
In preparation for this new install, I cleaned up my HOWTO on using the LMDE installer in "expert-mode" to create encrypted root + home partitions, and ran through an install on my old 'n trusty Thinkpad T430s.
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/lmde-install-expert-mode/
#LMDE #Debian #Linux #Thinkpad

2025-07-28 20:55:02 UTC

New post!
The NetBSD Guide has an extensive chapter on installing NetBSD that covers a wide range of scenarios. Its an invaluable resource maintained by volunteer contributors.
After performing a few installs, these are my personal notes of steps taken and choices made. My short and sweet version. 🙂
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/netbsd-install/
#NetBSD #RunBSD

2025-07-26 13:15:31 UTC

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@nprofile…9vmp This is something I was wondering about... If I install NetBSD on a remote VPS, should I do the "Full installation" option including the X11 sets?

2025-07-17 20:30:04 UTC

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@nprofile…htmr Thanks for the tip. I'll probably install stable/release on an old Thinkpad and poke around a bit, before taking a look at -current.
I imagine if you've been using -current the whole time its proven to be stable in daily use?

2025-07-17 20:05:58 UTC

Just downloaded the Slackware64 15.0 install iso. The download speeds are certainly faster than they were in 2000! 🙂
https://mirrors.slackware.com/slackware/slackware-iso/slackware64-15.0-iso/
#Slackware #Linux

2025-07-16 13:10:24 UTC

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@nprofile…4fe8 I'm interested in trying a split keyboard. Would you recommend that Kinesis Freestyle2 keyboard in the photo?

2025-07-10 01:30:25 UTC

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@nprofile…axfx Good stuff!
On FreeBSD you can also redirect the command's output to a file, then I imagine feed it back to the command to re-install using `cat` or `xargs` (haven't tried it myself yet).

2025-07-09 21:52:03 UTC

On FreeBSD if you want to list only the packages you explicitly specified to install (excluding packages that were pulled in as dependencies), run:
$ pkg prime-list
This can be useful for duplicating the list of packages installed on another machine.
Source: https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/ports/#pkgng-autoremove
#FreeBSD #RunBSD

2025-06-27 13:15:55 UTC

We have the materials, experience, and technology to build a made-in-Canada car. As we transition to EV vehicles this is a tremendous opportunity! 🇨🇦 🚗
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6812918
#EV #Auto #Canada

2025-06-25 16:12:01 UTC

PROBLEM: I'm seeing this error showing up in dmesg and my daily security mailing on my FreeBSD system:
hdacc1: Unexpected unsolicited response with tag 63: ffffffff
Its related to attaching an external monitor to the HDMI port of my laptop.
FIX: Add to /boot/loader.conf:
compat.linuxkpi.i915_disable_power_well="0"
Reboot. Issue resolved.
See: https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=229190#c15
#FreeBSD

2025-06-18 21:54:39 UTC

For ages I used `bash` simply because its the default shell on most Linux distributions. Now that I'm exploring FreeBSD I thought to myself, why not also consider alternative shells?
I briefly used the FreeBSD default `sh`, then spent a few weeks with `oksh` (portable version of OpenBSD `ksh`). Inspired by @nprofile…6m2n 's "Reasons I still love the fish shell" I decided to give the aforementioned shell I try... 🐟
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/fish-shell/
I ❤️ it and its my new interactive shell.
#FishShell #Shell

2025-06-14 16:24:54 UTC

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@nprofile…setd These older Thinkpads make cheap and cheerful BSD (and Linux) laptops. ❤️
I also have the Thinkpad T480s, and last month I wiped the drive clean and explored #31DaysOfFreeBSD a bit every day.
This month I've switched to using this laptop as my daily driver. More exploring to do!

2025-06-11 15:38:05 UTC

!! Word of caution if anyone is thinking of upgrading FreeBSD 14.2->14.3 on a desktop machine !!
My first time trying to upgrade FreeBSD. Everything seemed OK but upon reboot no longer have working graphic card support:
$ dmesg | grep drm
KLD drm.ko: depends on dmabuf - not available or version mismatch
[...]
Quick preliminary search leads me to think I might need to build some packages from ports (another first).
An opportunity for troubleshooting! 🙂
#FreeBSD #RunBSD

2025-06-04 17:39:23 UTC

Installing and exploring a new operating system (FreeBSD) has led me to revisit an old and friendly window manager: Openbox
Its an excellent foundation for crafting a lightweight and delightful FreeBSD desktop just the way I like it!
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/freebsd-openbox/
#Openbox #FreeBSD #RunBSD

2025-05-30 13:52:08 UTC

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@nprofile…dvjg @nprofile…n97r @nprofile…sr9k I will check this out for managing clipboard history in Openbox.

2025-05-29 21:57:33 UTC

Day 29 of #31DaysOfFreeBSD :freebsd:
FreeBSD does not include a graphical user interface in its base system. This is how I install and set up the X Window System (X11) before installing my preferred window manager or desktop environment:
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/freebsd-x11/
#X11 #FreeBSD #RunBSD

2025-05-28 21:43:16 UTC

Day 28 of #31DaysOfFreeBSD :freebsd:
During the FreeBSD install on my Thinkpad, I chose to use ethernet for networking and it was configured successfully.
After first boot into the system, I manually configure the wireless adapter for an additional networking option. Finally, I combine the ethernet and wireless interfaces into a virtual interface to provide failover network capability should one of the interfaces become unavailable.
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/freebsd-network-laptop/
#FreeBSD #RunBSD #Thinkpad

2025-05-22 15:30:20 UTC

After the first boot of my new FreeBSD installation, these are some extra steps I like to make right away to get a system off to a good start! :freebsd:
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/freebsd-after-install/
#FreeBSD #RunBSD

2025-05-21 18:59:15 UTC

I've happily run various Linux distros for a number of years, but with little exposure to other Unix-like operating systems.
I want to explore different ways of doing things on a computer, and I'm curious about the BSD descendants. I've briefly looked at OpenBSD and NetBSD.
Now I'm trying FreeBSD with beginner's mind. :freebsd:
I'm using a Thinkpad T480s as my test rig, and will share my notes as I explore and figure things out.
Onward!
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/freebsd-laptop/
#FreeBSD #RunBSD #Thinkpad
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/114/547/332/760/693/636/original/37a0930da0c04b0a.png

2025-05-16 13:05:42 UTC

Beautiful...
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250516.html
When humanity gets its act together oh the Universe that is out there waiting for us! We will bring Life and Mind and love and laughter to the ends of Creation.
#APOD #Space

2025-05-11 22:54:07 UTC

Day 11 of #31DaysOfFreeBSD :freebsd:
Hello Openbox! Its been awhile. 🙂
I'm re-acquainting myself with the Openbox window manager on my new FreeBSD laptop. I was a happy user for a few years before moving to Linux Mint Debian and Cinnamon desktop.
Currently rethinking my config with help from this excellent HOWTO courtesy of @nprofile…ehlq ...
https://vermaden.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/freebsd-desktop-part-12-configuration-openbox/
#Openbox #Windowmanager #FreeBSD #RunBSD

2025-05-10 14:24:49 UTC

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@nprofile…q6gr If you still have that old Thinkpad I'd say give it a go! Just a little bit of exploring every day. Its got me reading (excellent) man pages again.

2025-05-09 20:16:24 UTC

Day 09 of #31DaysOfFreeBSD :freebsd:
The wired network interface was configured on my Thinkpad during installation. Today I set up the (Intel) wireless interface, and configured failover mode between the wired and wireless using the `lagg(4)` interface. (Dis)connect the ethernet cable, bring wireless up/down, and it Just Works. Good stuff!
https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/advanced-networking/#network-aggregation
#FreeBSD #RunBSD #Thinkpad

2025-05-04 14:10:25 UTC

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@nprofile…86d0 Interesting! Its the first I've heard of post-quantum key algorithms.

2025-05-04 13:27:35 UTC

Day 04 of #31DaysOfFreeBSD :freebsd:
I've set up SSH keys on my fresh FreeBSD install for passwordless logins and posted my notes:
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/freebsd-ssh-keys/
Onward!
#SSH #FreeBSD #RunBSD

2025-05-03 12:32:11 UTC

Day 03 of #31DaysOfFreeBSD :freebsd:
After exploring `sh` for a bit, I downloaded and switched to `oksh` - the portable OpenBSD korn shell - as my interactive shell.
Now I have my `.kshrc` configured nicely with my coloured two-line prompt, functions, aliases, and history.
Source: https://gitlab.com/dwarmstrong/dotfiles/-/blob/master/.kshrc?ref_type=heads
#oksh #korn #shell #FreeBSD

2025-05-02 17:47:14 UTC

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@nprofile…fr5u Off exploring we go! 🚀

2025-05-01 16:20:49 UTC

Day 01 of #31DaysOfFreeBSD
The plan is to:
* Set aside a bit of time every day this month to explore FreeBSD.
* Set up and evaluate FreeBSD as a desktop OS.
Start Here: Installed FreeBSD 14.2 on my Thinkpad T480s with Root-on-ZFS and encryption.
#FreeBSD #RunBSD #ZFS #Thinkpad
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/114/433/478/159/769/442/original/b34949267affec3c.png

2025-04-15 22:36:05 UTC

The principles of permacomputing are:
* Care for life
* Care for the chips
* Keep it small
* Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
* Keep it flexible
* Build on solid ground
* Amplify awareness
* Expose everything
* Respond to changes
* Everything has a place
https://permacomputing.net/permacomputing/
#Permacomputing

2025-04-05 17:17:01 UTC

I've run various Linux distros, but with little exposure to other Unix-like operating systems. I want to explore different ways of doing things on a computer, and I'm curious about the BSDs. I've briefly looked at FreeBSD and NetBSD.
Now I'm giving OpenBSD a go with beginner's mind.
I use the OpenBSD install image to create an encrypted, console-only base configuration that can be customized further for various tasks.
This is how I do it...
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/openbsd-install/
#OpenBSD #RunBSD #Shoshin

2025-04-02 00:56:01 UTC

`man xterm` is... a very long read. 🙂
I haven't messed with xterm in years until today, and I used these posts to help bang it into shape on OpenBSD:
https://www.futurile.net/2016/06/14/xterm-setup-and-truetype-font-configuration/
https://www.futurile.net/2016/06/15/xterm-256color-themes-molokai-terminal-theme/
Though written in 2016, the information is still very relevant in 2025.
#OpenBSD #RunBSD

2025-03-31 01:57:56 UTC

Imagination creates the situation,
and then, the situation creates the
imagination.
It may, of course, be the other way
around:
Columbus was discovered by what he
found.
-- James Baldwin
#quote
https://cdn.fosstodon.org/media_attachments/files/114/254/559/270/153/732/original/48c3f2ebc2b6544e.webp

2025-03-30 13:20:49 UTC

Freezing rain outside. Cup of hot coffee and Sunday reading the OpenBSD FAQ inside. :cupofcoffee: :openbsd:
#OpenBSD

2025-03-30 12:54:23 UTC

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@nprofile…4jyn Thank you!

2025-03-29 14:26:57 UTC

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@nprofile…4jyn I like it! I also use Zola for my blog.

2025-03-28 19:34:05 UTC

A thought-provoking read courtesy of @nprofile…4ljj :
"What might a general purpose computing machine look like, one that's designed to last over a hundred years, one that would even be useful in some sort of post apocalyptic environment?"
https://thomashunter.name/posts/2025-03-23-post-apocalyptic-computing
Following links led me to the concept of "permacomputing" which seems like a whole new rabbit hole of discovery. :-)
https://permacomputing.net/permacomputing/
#PermaComputing

2025-03-26 20:36:28 UTC

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@nprofile…etd2 Hi! :openbsd: :openbsd:

2025-03-26 20:27:07 UTC

Puffy has landed (on the Thinkpad X220)!
#Thinkpad #OpenBSD #RunBSD
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2025-03-26 20:15:47 UTC

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@nprofile…fr5u That is a really sweet setup! :openbsd: :linux:

2025-03-25 21:50:25 UTC

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@nprofile…etd2 Will do!

2025-03-25 21:35:12 UTC

I've been gifted a Thinkpad X220 that's been lying dormant a number of years.
Instead of my usual Debian I _was_ going to install Arch, but now I'm thinking of making it a dedicated BSD machine. Going to give OpenBSD a go. :openbsd:
#Thinkpad #OpenBSD #RunBSD

2025-03-21 16:50:51 UTC

Free/libre software, hardware, and ideals is building the next Space Age. Here are this week's four free/libre space resources that are worth exploring:
https://www.dwarmstrong.org/foss-in-space-8/
#FOSS #Space

2025-03-16 12:54:25 UTC

The European Space Agency (ESA) operates a constellation of satellites known as the Copernicus Sentinels. Collectively the system generates terabytes of Earth Observation (EO) data daily. Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (CDSE) is a free, public platform that provides access to Copernicus data and a range of analysis and visualization tools. A talk delivered at FOSDEM 2025 dives into the details:
https://fosdem.org/2025/schedule/event/fosdem-2025-5112-unlocking-open-source-capabilities-in-the-copernicus-data-space-ecosystem/
#FOSS #Space #EarthObservation #Satellite #ESA #FOSDEM

2025-03-15 14:45:14 UTC

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@nprofile…4rk6 Or wanderlust? 🙂

2025-03-15 14:08:59 UTC

"If fish could think at our level of intelligence, back before humanity existed, and some fish were starting to venture up on land, a lot of them would be saying, just as we do now about space: 'Why would we want to go there? What's the point?' And they'd have literally no idea of what venturing onto land was going to mean."
— Frank White, _The Overview Effect_
#quote #space
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2025-03-07 14:35:20 UTC

2025-03-05 21:06:14 UTC

Lunar landers: Apollo 11 (July 1969) and Blue Ghost (March 2025) side by side photos (Courtesy of https://orbitalindex.com/archive/2025-03-05-Issue-308/ )
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2025-03-03 15:38:33 UTC

A CanSat is a simulated satellite design where all its major components (power, communications, payload) are designed to fit within the volume and shape of a regular pop can. Being inexpensive to build and something that can be taken from design to launch (into the air) in less than a year, it has a particular appeal to students (and me!) to try their hand at hacking on space technology. There are various CanSat competitions around the world:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CanSat
#CanSat #Satellite #Space
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2025-03-01 14:55:57 UTC

"[For building our space projects] we only use open source tools, because we think that if you want to publish something open source, the tools also need to be open source, because everyone will be able to access it."
— Manthos Papamatthaiou, _How to Hack Your Way to Space_
https://media.ccc.de/v/37c3-12327-how_to_hack_your_way_to_space
#FOSS #Space #LibreSpace

2025-02-25 16:15:36 UTC

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@nprofile…vcky I loved "Starship and the Canoe". I'm going to give it a re-read in March.

2025-02-23 14:13:08 UTC

An open-source hardware and software project for the amateur astronomy community, PiFinder is a Raspberry Pi-based all-in-one device that mounts on a telescope and combines positioning, search, chart display, and logging to help observers find and view astronomical objects. Use the online build guide to source components and build your own PiFinder, or purchase a kit or assembled unit:
https://www.pifinder.io/
#Astronomy #RaspberryPi #FOSS #Space
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2025-02-16 22:43:36 UTC

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@nprofile…mgtx I'm going to give BTRFS a second, closer look!
Three questions:
1. Do you also encrypt /boot?
2. Do you use the snapshots feature?
3. Do you use GRUB as your bootloader, or something else?

2025-02-16 21:13:47 UTC

I've waited a lifetime
for the Age of Wonder.
A place that I remember
in a splinter of time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF5mf4LV7Jw
#Music

2025-02-16 16:40:14 UTC

Which file system should I use for an encrypted root partition on Linux for a single disk?
I typically use LUKS + ext4.
I've also used encrypted BTRFS and ZFS (with ZFSBootMenu) but never worked with them to any extent beyond getting them setup. I see distros such as Fedora are now defaulting to using BTRFS.
For a Linux install on systems with 8GB-16GB RAM and a single disk (no RAID), I'm seeking some advice: Should I stick with ext4? Or use BTRFS? Or ZFS?
#AskFedi #ext4 #btrfs #zfs #linux

2025-02-15 16:32:21 UTC

"It’s kind of an open-source victory, because we’re flying an open-source operating system and an open-source flight software framework and flying commercial parts that you can buy off the shelf if you wanted to do this yourself someday."
— NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) senior engineer Tim Canham on the Mars Ingenuity Helicopter
Source: https://spectrum.ieee.org/nasa-designed-perseverance-helicopter-rover-fly-autonomously-mars
#FOSS #Mars #Space