Dell's Linux support is a major disappointment

I saw a lot of posts in this subreddit hailing Dell for putting Linux on their machines. After doing some research, I decided to dive in and bought a Dell Precision 7540 with Ubuntu 18.04 pre-installed.

The Precision was pricey but I loved it's upgrade-ability and I hoped that this would be a computer I could rely on for a long time. Additionally, I am a relative Linux newbie (Apple refugee) and I hoped that the system would be adequately supported by Dell if I ran into trouble.

Things went downhill quickly. The computer I received had several issues, including that it would frequently not wake up from a suspend state and if it did, it would often start a fresh session after logging in (e.g. no apps or documents open). Additionally, before the login screen would appear, I often could see my desktop for a few seconds as though I were already logged in – obviously a big security risk.

After a call to Dell Pro support, I realized that their approach to any issues on a Linux system is basically to reinstall the system. Their Pro technicians are not trained to support Linux...at all. Their internal support documentation is so poor that during one of my calls when I managed to fix the issue I had called in about, the technician asked me to provide a detailed denoscription of how I solved it so he could use that solution for future calls. I was happy to, but then I realized that he should have already had this kind of documentation on hand.

Eventually, Dell support decided to replace my unit, but when the replacement arrived it had Windows instead of Ubuntu Linux installed. I had to wait another 10 days to get a third replacement and guess what...it also had Windows installed.

This is my work machine and the process has cost me several hours. I am also a freelancer, so those lost hours equate to money lost. I requested a return and refund and I will never buy from Dell again let alone recommend their services.

If you bought a Dell XPS, did you have a better experience? Were my expectations unreasonable?

https://redd.it/f2ccl8
@r_linux

Btrfs highlights in 5.5: 3-copy and 4-copy block groups
https://kdave.github.io/btrfs-hilights-5.5-raid1c34/

https://redd.it/f25rk5
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Restic sftp: "Permission denied" (SSH_FX_PERMISSION_DENIED)

I'm trying to use backup my data with restic over ssh from my main machine macos to the raspberry pi 3 with ssd drive. ssh works fine but when I'm trying to use sftp with restic I get this error:

Fatal: create repository at sftp:hostname@ipaddress:/mnt failed: sftp: "Permission denied" (SSH\_FX\_PERMISSION\_DENIED)

command I'm trying to exe: restic -r sftp:hostname@ipaddress:/mnt init

How to fix this?

https://redd.it/f2dww8
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Running Linux Programs as Unikernels on macOS
https://dev.to/eyberg/running-linux-programs-as-unikernels-on-macos-9dd

https://redd.it/f2cp2i
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iptables not doing it's job?

Hi, so I'll try to be short.

​

I've been using google cloud for a while now. I have Ubuntu and I'm using VNC to access and host some online game rooms for my friends and I.

​

I often get locked out of VNC (can't connect due to too many failed authentications). Later I found out there have been brute force attacks every 2 or so hours mostly from Ukraine.

​

I had the iptables set so the port 5901 which I use will only let my IP connect, so how is it locking me out?

​

Later I tried setting the google cloud firewall for my account and that did work, but I just want to know if iptables are actually not preventing this issue.

​

Also, is there a way to reset failed authentications, so I don't have to close the instance and open it again to access it (I would have to rehost all the rooms again if I did that)?

​

Edit : this is what i've been using so far :

​

sudo iptables -S

sudo iptables -F INPUT

sudo iptables -I INPUT -p tcp -s myip --dport 5901 -j ACCEPT

sudo iptables -A INPUT -p tcp -s myip --dport 5901 -j DROP

sudo iptables -S

https://redd.it/f2fqtb
@r_linux

Chob - a cli helper tool for searching applications across platforms (Flathub, Snapcraft and AppImage)
https://github.com/MuhammedKpln/chob

https://redd.it/f2fhpx
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Rob Landley about the /usr split
https://blog.w1r3.net/2018/01/06/rob-landley-about-usr-split.html

https://redd.it/f2hhcn
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PSA, Logitech has removed Hardware H.264 Encoder from some WebCams

Recently got a Logitech C920 at work for working remotely, with Linux. When attempting to set up a remote streaming solution, i shocked to find that the newer ones no longer have hardware H.264 encoder.

This is the official Logitech wbepage declaring the removal of this feature from C920, C922 and BRIO models: [SAY GOODBYE TO IN-CAMERA HARDWARE ENCODING](https://www.logitech.com/en-us/video-collaboration/resources/think-tank/articles/article-logitech-and-h264-encoding.html)

For comparison, below are the output from my "v4l2-ctl", which shows the camera having only 2 pixel formats: **RAW** (YCbCr 4:2:2) and **MJPEG**

$ v4l2-ctl --info --list-formats
Driver Info (not using libv4l2):
Driver name : uvcvideo
Card type : HD Pro Webcam C920
Bus info : usb-0000:00:14.0-11
Driver version: 5.0.21
Capabilities : 0x84A00001
Video Capture
Metadata Capture
Streaming
Extended Pix Format
Device Capabilities
Device Caps : 0x04200001
Video Capture
Streaming
Extended Pix Format
ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT
Index : 0
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'YUYV'
Name : YUYV 4:2:2

Index : 1
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'MJPG' (compressed)
Name : Motion-JPEG

From [an old page](http://oz9aec.net/software/gstreamer/using-the-logitech-c920-webcam-with-gstreamer) ([archive.org link just in case](https://web.archive.org/web/20190219151509/http://oz9aec.net/software/gstreamer/using-the-logitech-c920-webcam-with-gstreamer)), this was someone else's output with the C920 WebCam. It showed 3 formats: **RAW** (YCbCr 4:2:2), **H.264** and **MJPEG**

# v4l2-ctl --list-formats
ioctl: VIDIOC_ENUM_FMT
Index : 0
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'YUYV'
Name : YUV 4:2:2 (YUYV)

Index : 1
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'H264' (compressed)
Name : H.264

Index : 2
Type : Video Capture
Pixel Format: 'MJPG' (compressed)
Name : MJPEG

With various pages, you see instructions about specifying the pixel format to be "h264" for taking advantage of its HW encoder for streaming. Those instructions would not work with the newer versions of this WebCam.

* [source 1](https://wiki.matthiasbock.net/index.php/Logitech_C920,_streaming_H.264)
* [source 2](https://medium.com/@petehouston/use-vlc-to-play-camera-with-different-formats-17cf839b72d0)
* [source 3](https://raspberrypi.stackexchange.com/questions/63798/get-h264-from-webcam-logitech-c922)
* [source 4](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30765700/ffserver-streaming-h-264-from-logitech-c920-without-re-encoding)

​

**TL;DR**, if you're looking for a WebCam with HW video encoder, the once-popular-model Logitech C920 (and C922) would no longer be an option. (especially important for Raspberry Pis, routers, or whatever system with limited resources for libx264)

https://redd.it/f2icry
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Linux desktop case for two clipboards
https://invidio.us/watch?v=kmInqyFILHI

https://redd.it/f2jjj2
@r_linux

Do people use LFS as a daily driver, if so, why?????

I was trying out this site called distrochooser and one of my results was LFS and the top thing about it was that it "Can be used for daily use" what????

​

https://preview.redd.it/jp8z1hapidg41.png?width=770&format=png&auto=webp&s=a8912c8c74a9f80979e4ffdb0baf52b9d0432be8

https://redd.it/f2gn72
@r_linux

Weekly Questions and Hardware Thread - February 12, 2020

Welcome to r/linux! If you're new to Linux or trying to get started this thread is for you. Get help here or as always, check out r/linuxquestions or r/linux4noobs

This megathread is for all your question needs. As we don't allow questions on r/linux outside of this megathread, please consider using r/linuxquestions or r/linux4noobs for the best solution to your problem.

Ask your hardware requests here too or try r/linuxhardware!

https://redd.it/f2l95m
@r_linux

This js my first time trying anything like this. For the past almost week ive been working the linux beta terminal on my chromebook and also crouton and both haven't worked so i thought that linux mint seemed to have a nice community so im trying to switch Chrome OS over to Linux with USB boot.
https://redd.it/f2lpu8
@r_linux

New Linux Distribution: Clear Linux by Intel

Hi there, I'm amazed!
I came across a new Linux Distribution developed entirely by Intel and Intel claims it can surpass in performance any Windows OS and any Linux Distribution nowadays.

With its software specially optimized for running in Intel hardware, even if it is very old Hardware (some web sites claim it works even better with AMD Ryzen CPU's) it's a must to any distro-tester out there to try.

It also has a brand new "package manager" to install software called "SWUPD", instead of "yum", "apt" or "dnf". And I say "package manager" in quotes because Intel says it does not install packages but bundles; saying that bundles is a better way to install software with all their dependecies included instead of installing and checking for separate dependecies in every installation (something like flatpak).

I give you the official webpage of the distribution:
[https://clearlinux.org/](https://clearlinux.org/)

And some information about SWUPD:
[https://docs.01.org/clearlinux/latest/guides/clear/swupd.html](https://docs.01.org/clearlinux/latest/guides/clear/swupd.html)

https://redd.it/f2flmb
@r_linux

Tails 4.3 is out
https://tails.boum.org/news/version_4.3/index.en.html

https://redd.it/f2nie6
@r_linux

Converting Telnet to SSH

Hi

I have a console server that only supports telnet. So if I want to connect to 3 devices console port I telnet to my console server on [10.0.0.10](https://10.0.0.10) port 2001-2003

How do I setup a SSH server that will automatically connects my SSH session to a telnet session?

I want to be able to SSH to SSHPROXY:2001, login and get the telnet of [10.0.0.10:2001](https://10.0.0.10:2001).

I have looked all over the internet but cannot find a good solution for this.

https://redd.it/f2nv9x
@r_linux

Remote Workstation with x2go and Manjaro Linux
https://webworxshop.com/remote-workstation-with-x2go-and-manjaro-linux/?pk_campaign=reddit-linux

https://redd.it/f2oc6h
@r_linux

An implementation of Git using (almost) entirely POSIX shell.
https://git.sr.ht/~sircmpwn/shit

https://redd.it/f2ouan
@r_linux

Top hacks for the YaCy open source (and distributed) search engine
https://opensource.com/article/20/2/yacy-search-engine-hacks

https://redd.it/f2p0en
@r_linux

Looking for a clipboard app with a specific feature

Maybe I'm really dumb, but google is not helping me to find this: I would like a clipboard app that, after copying 20 o 30 blocks of text, gives me the option to have a txt file with all of them pasted, one after each other. Does that app exist?

https://redd.it/f2q4c6
@r_linux

Godot Engine - The Vulkan renderer has been merged
https://godotengine.org/article/headsup-vulkan-merged-master-branch-unstable

https://redd.it/f2qzzv
@r_linux

"PostgreSQL is the Linux of databases"
https://twitter.com/lukaseder/status/1226804513069260800

https://redd.it/f2qtjd
@r_linux