Key Stats
In the past week, our Linux forums had the following activity and key statistics:
Total New Posts: 71
Total New Topics: 6
Top Members
@hydn: 29 posts, 19 likes
@shybry747: 5 posts, 6 likes
@jwmullins: 9 posts, 5 likes
@Brian_Masinick: 3 posts, 3 likes
@tmick: 5 posts, 3 likes
@IronRod: 3 posts, 3 likes
@J_J_Sloan: 2 posts, 2 likes
@SteveTF: 2 posts, 2 likes
@system: 1 posts, 2 likes
@eylles: 1 posts, 1 likes
Interesting Topics
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In Linux Support, @jwmullins asked for help after installing Ubuntu 24.04 on a ThinkPad E431 and finding no Wi‑Fi devices. @shybry747 clarified the symptoms and @hydn guided through checking hardware and installing the Broadcom driver, plus the Additional Drivers tool. The OP ultimately reinstalled while on Ethernet and confirmed success. Read the resolution update here: Ubuntu 24.04 installed and can’t get wifi to connect.
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@hydn shared a quick, practical walkthrough in Showcase for setting up system observability in minutes with Netdata, and members added real-world impressions. @J_J_Sloan praised the out‑of‑the‑box dashboards, and @benowe1717 contrasted it with a Prometheus/Grafana stack and shared screenshots of custom metrics. Dive in: Netdata on a Mostly-Idle Home Server: Worth It.
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A fresh Showcase find from @hydn highlighted Niri, a Wayland scrolling window manager with a workflow-oriented take on space management. @toadie tried it earlier and liked it, but noted the learning curve. It sparked reflection on whether a new workflow makes other desktops feel awkward. See the intro: Niri (Scrolling Window Manager).
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In General Discussions, the nostalgia was strong as @sfrias described still‑running 3.5" units on Honeywell‑Bull servers and keeping 5.25" and 8" drives sealed as spares. @shybry747 asked about the realities of maintaining legacy hardware in production, and others chimed in with what still works in 2025. Join the thread: Who still has a working 3.5" or 5.25" floppy drive?.
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A thoughtful answer in Linux Support from @IronRod explained a clean approach to sharing one SSD among multiple systems for Timeshift backups by using dedicated partitions, and later clarified handling encryption and long‑term media reliability when @vipuser asked follow‑ups. Start with the extended reply: Use same SSD for Timeshift for 2 different Linux systems.
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In Articles & guides, @SteveTF offered a practical addition to battery care with a small GUI wrapper called TLP Battery Boost, making it simpler to toggle full charges when needed on ThinkPads while keeping day‑to‑day caps for longevity. Context and details here: Boost Battery Life on Your Linux Laptop with TLP.
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Workspace organization came up again in General Discussions as @shybry747 shared a DT video about tiling window managers and why workspaces matter more than tiling itself. The discussion ranged from i3 to switching to full DEs for comfort while keeping workspace discipline. See the video link and commentary: Fedora-KDE-43 review.
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In Community, @SteveTF provided grounded buying advice for Linux‑friendly printers. He shared consistent success with Epson on USB, caveats about Wi‑Fi scanning, and the importance of checking vendor driver availability beforehand. Helpful note here: Finding Linux Compatible Printers.
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Over in General Discussions, @J_J_Sloan showcased long‑term maintenance work on Maia Mailguard, modernizing it for PHP 8 and writing installers across Linux and FreeBSD. The profile and repo list are worth a look: Share your Github profile.
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A quick security‑minded nudge in General Discussions from @eylles, author of betterxsecurelock, explained the effort it takes to integrate a secure X11 locker with a modern user experience. If you care about workstation hygiene, this is for you: Do you lock your work computer or laptop when you leave your desk?.
Activity by the @staff Group
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@hydn provided clear, step‑by‑step guidance on Ubuntu Wi‑Fi troubleshooting, explaining the role of Additional Drivers and how to install Broadcom’s bcmwl package after gaining connectivity. See a key explanation: Ubuntu 24.04 installed and can’t get wifi to connect.
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In a companion thread to his workspace article, @shybry747 reinforced why strong workspace management is transformative, especially across multiple monitors, and why it keeps him on a tiling setup for daily driving. Read the perspective: Linux Desktop: Do we need better Workspace Management?.
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@toadie kept the home‑lab monetization chat going with questions about real‑world usage, which led to practical bandwidth and deployment notes for several services. The kickoff question: Self-hosted Projects That Earn (Make money from your Home lab).
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@ricky89 dropped a quick, useful note about XFCE’s built‑in clipboard manager as a straightforward alternative for those wanting simple history without extra tools. Tip here: Clipboard management help.
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@tmick welcomed a new member and helped keep the introductions flowing, asking about distro choice and pointing to wallpapers to get started. Say hello: Welcome! Please introduce yourself (3500 members).
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@system published last week’s digest to keep everyone current on trending threads and contributors. Catch the recap: Weekly Forum Summary.
Best Reply or Topic of the Week
- Best Reply: @IronRod’s clear, experience‑based guidance on using a single SSD for Timeshift backups across multiple systems, including partitioning strategy and a reality check on SSDs for long‑term storage. It’s concise, actionable, and broadly applicable: Use same SSD for Timeshift for 2 different Linux systems.
Thanks for reading. See you again next week! 
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