Linux pros only question

Discussion in 'all things UNIX' started by mattdocs12345, Jun 22, 2014.

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  1. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Will re-installing and uninstalling crap slow down my Debian stable? Or make it less stable?

    The reason Im asking is because for the past 6 months I have been experimenting with the right set of applications. Most come from the default repositories but others are downloaded online such as virtualbox, kingsoft, softmaker, etc...
    Most I uninstalled via synaptics package manager but very few others via terminal and maybe not completely.

    So far I am having no problems but since my heart and mind has been set on Windows XP era, I do wonder sometimes if my system is a bit less stable or slower.
     
  2. Gullible Jones

    Gullible Jones Registered Member

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    [Disclaimer: I work with Linux professionally, but don't consider myself a true expert at this point. Don't assume I know what I'm talking about.]

    No, it shouldn't slow the OS down. The worst you'll get from that is some filesystem fragmentation, and that can be reduced with proper partitioning. Your system should not be perceptibly slower, and definitely won't be less stable.

    (Re partitioning: basically you keep your / and /home on separate partitions, with / usually being smaller, maybe 40 GB or so. This keeps most of the system in a relatively small area, separate from your data. You can go further with partitioning setups, but it's generally not necessary or advisable on desktops.)

    Actually installing/uninstalling lots of stuff should not slow down WinXP either, unless your filesystem ends up fragmented. Key words "should not." In practice who knows, the OS is a proprietary black box; I only use it for pentesting these days...
     
  3. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Nah I like keeping everything in one cluster so I have only one partition.

    Off topic: I still use XP as well. I just use bare bone set up for Microsoft Office XP (my favorite office suite).
     
  4. NGRhodes

    NGRhodes Registered Member

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    Only if there is something wrong with the packages. In general if its something experimental/unknown that I am evaluating, it gets tested on a spare box or a VM. Pro's know to test first before being put into production/productive use.
    Sometimes some packages of services won't un-install properly until you stop the service, usually the trick is to reinstall, then stop the service and un-install again. Even then did not cause any noticeable slow-down.
     
  5. Veeshush

    Veeshush Registered Member

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    I've found with any OS after a set time you'll want to just do a format and reinstall every couple of years (not that you ALWAYS have to, but). Linux distros kind of make that a must depending on their release cycle.

    I'd be weary of updates though. Though Debian seems stable so far to me as well, I know I have had distros where updates have broken something.
     
  6. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    Other useful steps:

    Code:
    sudo apt-get -f
    sudo apt-get autoclean 
    The "-f" option fixes broken dependencies, and "autoclean" removes cruft from the local repository.

    Sometimes I remove annoying packages using:

    Code:
     sudo apt-get [package] purge 
    That removes config files as well as packages.
     
  7. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Thanks mirimir
     
  8. mirimir

    mirimir Registered Member

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    :)

    "apt-get -f" is awesome. Let's say that you install some random package ...

    Code:
    sudo dpkg -i foo.deb
    ... and get a bunch of ...

    Code:
    foo depends on bar (baz); however: Package bar is not installed
    Just run ...

    Code:
    sudo apt-get -f
    ... and all is well (most of the time, anyway).
     
  9. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    No, it will not slow your system down. In the worst case, you might have garbage on your disk.
    Unless, as Nick pointed, something goes terribly wrong, but normally, no.
    Mrk
     
  10. WeAreAllHacked

    WeAreAllHacked Registered Member

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    Most software is somewhat stable so removing "that software" or at least disabling it might not make any noticeable difference for you.
    But just because a million people isn't having troubles with the Bluetooth drivers that can't work as a guarantee that it will be stable in your case (or that when next update come it won't crash your system), removing it could possible prevent future crashes and server environments would care for these potential crashes (and attack vectors).

    General recommendation is keeping junk to a minimum if your aim is maximum stability/security. Debian (just like "all" other Linux distros such as redhat) say the same, "don't add junk":
    https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/securing-debian-howto/ch3.en.html#s3.6
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2014
  11. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Cool so the concensus seems that i don't have to re-install my Debian just because I installed and uninstalled a bunch of software. Sweet, cause I don't remember how I set it up in the first place. Lol.
     
  12. keithpeter

    keithpeter Registered Member

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    COUGH *clonezilla* COUGH

    (unless you are using encrypted hard drive)
     
  13. mattdocs12345

    mattdocs12345 Registered Member

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    Yeah but I didn't back up all the perks that I did because I did them over a period of several weeks. I only have basic customized clonezilla copy.
     
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