This week in our forums…
Key Stats
In the past week, our Linux forums had the following activity and key statistics:
Total New Posts: 72
Total New Topics: 7
Top Members
@hydn: 17 posts, 22 likes
@J_J_Sloan: 4 posts, 11 likes
@vipuser: 11 posts, 9 likes
@toadie: 7 posts, 9 likes
@Brian_Masinick: 10 posts, 8 likes
@MarshallJFlinkman: 4 posts, 7 likes
@sarcutus: 3 posts, 6 likes
@debian-user: 2 posts, 3 likes
@tmick: 4 posts, 2 likes
Interesting Topics
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In Linux Support, @vipuser asked how to keep a RAM-mounted APT cache clean in Can i automatically clean cache of apt archives?. A solution was accepted that uses a small apt.conf.d snippet to enable automatic cleaning after installs. Members also shared handy aliases for manual control and tips for memory pressure troubleshooting.
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@vipuser started a practical thread in Linux Support about migrating a setup between machines in How to clone Ubuntu. @toadie suggested Clonezilla and Rescuezilla and clarified running on different hardware, while @hydn linked a step-by-step guide. The discussion also touched on UUIDs and whether machine-id needs changes after cloning.
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In Linux Support, @vipuser followed up with performance tuning in ZRAM setup (a little non standard situation). The thread covers how ZRAM interacts with tmpfs, whether to adjust vm.swappiness, and how much RAM to allocate. It is a good primer for adding compressed swap without reintroducing disk writes.
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@debian-user opened a driver support question in Linux Support with Nvidia for Linux Mint (LMDE). Resources for safe driver installation were shared, and @tmick added experience about enabling the correct components and when to use the nvidia-driver packages.
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In Linux Support, @vipuser looked for a sensible way to share one external disk for two different systems in Use same SSD for Timeshift for 2 different Linux systems. @MarshallJFlinkman proposed a simple folder renaming workflow to avoid collisions, while @toadie noted possible pitfalls with this approach.
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A privacy focused question landed in Linux Support with Should i disable TPM for more privacy?. The thread invites experiences about balancing measured boot, disk encryption workflows, and personal privacy preferences.
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New hardware hiccups showed up in Linux Support with Fingerprint reader for Mint. @GC67 described a reader that initially worked on Linux Mint but later stopped. The group is exploring diagnostics and alternative tooling for better reliability.
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@J_J_Sloan shared test results in General Discussions in Linux vs FreeBSD Disk I/O: Why Is FreeBSD Faster?. The post highlights how Linux peaked earlier under load while FreeBSD scaled more evenly, and outlines plans for an apples-to-apples dual boot test on identical hardware with ZFS to firm up absolute numbers.
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In Articles & guides, @Brian_Masinick followed up on a recent incident in Cloudflare outage on Nov 18, 2025 - Waking up to a broken internet. He reported stability returning and shared context he received from a respected admin about Cloudflare’s strong reputation in bot protection and what the outage taught us about platform dependencies.
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A solved Linux Support thread, KVM\QEMU fails to connect to the “default” connection, saw a practical networking perspective from @MarshallJFlinkman. The recommendation to rely on a Linux kernel bridge with virtio networking and avoid finicky QEMU networking saved a lot of time for others working with virtualization.
Activity by the @staff Group
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In Linux Support, @hydn posted the accepted solution in the APT cache thread, using apt.conf.d to enable automatic cleanup after installs and upgrades. See the solution here: post. He also shared a convenience update alias and a note on cache-dropping for those who prefer manual control: post.
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On memory tuning, @hydn clarified that ZRAM does not require a disk-backed swap and suggested enabling it where available, addressing swappiness and how ZRAM plays alongside tmpfs mounts: post.
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In cloning and migration help, @toadie offered straightforward paths via Clonezilla and Rescuezilla, which was helpful for moving an Ubuntu setup across different hardware: post.
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For NVIDIA tooling on Debian-based systems, @tmick added experience-based advice on driver selection and when the metapackage can cause GUI issues, complementing package references shared earlier: post.
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On the Cloudflare post-mortem discussion, @hydn reflected on mitigation options like temporarily pausing Cloudflare during outages and asked about replacing ISP hardware to reduce friction: post.
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In a security-focused thread, @hydn emphasized that restricting shred does not prevent data loss if permissions are lax, and urged tightening file and directory permissions instead of targeting tools: post.
Best Reply or Topic of the Week
The most actionable reply this week goes to @MarshallJFlinkman for this clear, time-saving virtualization tip in a solved thread: KVM\QEMU fails to connect to the “default” connection — use a Linux kernel bridge with virtio networking. It concisely sidesteps fragile configurations and points to a robust setup that many can replicate.
Before we wrap up, here’s this week’s leaderboard ranking.
Community Leaders
- @hydn — 22 Cheers
- @J_J_Sloan — 11 Cheers
- @vipuser — 9 Cheers
- @toadie — 9 Cheers
- @Brian_Masinick — 8 Cheers
- @MarshallJFlinkman — 7 Cheers
- @sarcutus — 6 Cheers
- @debian-user — 3 Cheers
- @tmick — 2 Cheers
Thanks for reading. See you again next week! 
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