Tag Archives: Linux

How to pair a Bluetooth device on a dual-boot system (Windows + Linux)

Pairing a Bluetooth device with two operating systems on the same computer can be tricky. The problem is that the Bluetooth adapter of the computer has the same MAC address on both OSes. As a result, every time you pair the device the existing configuration (MAC address / key pair) will be overwritten. One solution is to use the same pairing key on both systems.

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Useful Tools and Commands for Linux Users

I have composed a small cheat sheet with useful commands for Linux users. The document contains a variety of basic commands, tools, and hints for beginners but also includes information that might be useful for advanced users. Note that some of the commands are only available on Ubuntu- / Debian-based systems.

[last update: 2023-03]

How to migrate a Linux partition to a new PC

Last week I got new hardware and therefore, I was faced with the task to move all my data to the new PC. Well, the clean way would be to start from scratch, i.e. install the operating system and all the applications that I need, then copy all my data. This of course takes a lot of time and sometimes you would prefer to continue right where you left off.
Now the fast – or lazy – way is to simply copy the whole partition from the old to the new PC, including the OS and all applications and settings.

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Raspberry Pi Server

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Since I had a spare Raspberry Pi 2 lying around, I figured I could use it as a webserver. The idea is to host a simple webpage and implement a functionality to wake and shutdown devices in the LAN from the Internet (Raspberry acts as an intermediary). Besides, the Raspberry shall also monitor the state of some devices in the network (e.g. my Synology NAS).

Due to the lack of computational power and fast memory, the Raspberry is certainly not suitable for services that require highspeed I/O capabilities such as large databases, but for personal use it will do just fine!

What makes the Raspberry Pi particularly interesting to be used as a server – apart from its affordable price tag – is the low power dissipation of just 2W. So even if you keep it always on, it won’t be heavy on your pocket. Besides, it is fanless and thus inaudible during operation.

Here is what you are going to need for the following tutorial:

  • a Raspberry Pi (obviously), I recommend the version 2 or 3
  • a micro USB power supply with at least 700mA
  • a micro SD card with at least 2GB
  • an Ethernet cable

You can get all of this for less than 50 bucks. Besides, you will need a monitor with HDMI and a keyboard for the initial setup.

Now let’s get started!

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