Stop using your ISP's DNS

https://www.xda-developers.com/please-stop-using-your-isps-dns/

"...  if you're still using the DNS servers that your ISP or cellular provider set up when you first got service, ... those plaintext queries get stored and sold to advertisers and anyone else who might want to get their hands on the information they hold."

"In no particular order, each of these DNS providers will be more secure and private than your ISP's:

• Cloudflare (1.1.1.1): Runs a large chunk of the internet, known for not blocking sites unless known as a threat
• Quad9 (9.9.9.9): Encrypted DNS, also known for not blocking sites without them serving malware or other threats
• Control D (76.76.2.2): No logging, various encryption methods, and works on Apple devices
• AdGuard Public DNS: Anonymized, uses some filtering, has Apple profiles."

"But self-hosting gives you more control - You get ad-blocking, locally resolved domains, and more":

" Self-hosting a DNS server is deceptively simple to do these days, whether you choose from any of the options, including Unbound, AdGuard Home, PowerDNS, or my personal favorite, Technitium. You'll still want to have some queries sent to an external DNS server in an encrypted manner for fallback, but having your own local DNS server making its own encrypted requests will increase the security and privacy of your home network and the devices using that DNS server."

The comments are interesting also.

Start a Hyper-V virtual machine (VM) automatically on boot-up

From MS Search Assistant:
"To start a Hyper-V virtual machine automatically on boot, open Hyper-V Manager, select the VM, go to Settings, and under 'Automatic Start Action', choose 'Always start this virtual machine automatically'. Make sure to apply the changes for each VM you want to start automatically. woshub.com redmondmag.com

Configuring Automatic Startup for Hyper-V VMs:
To ensure your Hyper-V virtual machines (VMs) start automatically when your host system boots up, follow these steps:

Setting Automatic Start Action:
    Open Hyper-V Manager:
        Launch Hyper-V Manager from your Windows system.

    Select the VM:
        In the left pane, select the Hyper-V host.
        In the middle pane, choose the virtual machine you want to configure.

    Access VM Settings:
        Click on "Settings" in the right "Actions" pane.

    Configure Automatic Start Action:
        Navigate to Automatic Start Action in the settings menu.
        Choose Always start this virtual machine automatically.

Additional Options:
    Startup Delay: You can set a delay for the VM to start after the host boots. This helps manage the boot order if you have multiple VMs.

    PowerShell Configuration: You can also use PowerShell to set the automatic start action. For example:

powershell:
    Set-VM -VMName "YourVMName" -AutomaticStartAction Start

Verifying Hyper-V Services:
Ensure that the necessary Hyper-V services are set to start automatically:

•     Hyper-V Virtual Machine Management: Should be set to Automatic.
•     Hyper-V Host Compute Service: Also set to Automatic.

Conclusion:
By following these steps, your Hyper-V VMs will automatically start when your host system boots up, streamlining your virtualization management."

Hyper-V: Configuring Automatic Startup and Boot Order of VMs:
https://woshub.com/hyper-v-vm-automatic-startup-boot-order/

How to make Hyper-V virtual machine launch automatically at startup:
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/make-hyper-v-virtual-machine-launch-automatically-at-startup
"Hyper-V mainly offers three launch options:
   *  Nothing: If you choose this option, Hyper-V won't start the virtual machine when you start your computer.
   *  Automatically start if it was running when the service stopped: At times, we restart our computer suddenly when it freezes or hangs a lot. If Hyper-V was running when you restarted the computer, Hyper-V will run the virtual machine automatically when you start your PC.
  *  Always start this virtual machine automatically: If you choose this option, Hyper-V will start the virtual machine automatically at startup. Whether it was running when you restarted your PC or not, Hyper-V will start the selected virtual machine without any prior permission."
"It is also possible to delay the start of the virtual machine. This helps when you want it to start automatically but wait for a few moments first. It is possible to set this up with the help of the Hyper-V Manager as well as PowerShell."

Hyper-V VMs start on same host after restart:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/812263/hyper-v-vms-start-on-same-host-after-restart
"You can view and change the automatic startup and shutdown settings of your Hyper-V virtual machines using PowerShell.

Display the current startup and shutdown settings of all VMs:

Get-VM –VMname * | Select-Object VMname,AutomaticStartAction,AutomaticStartDelay,AutomaticStopAction "

#Virtual Environment, #VM, #Server, #Automation

Home Assistant open-source software for home automation.

Home Assistant:  https://www.home-assistant.io/

• Getting started:  https://www.home-assistant.io/installation/
• Documentation:  https://www.home-assistant.io/docs/
• Integrations:  https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/?brands=featured -
• X10:  https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/x10/ -
• HEYU - X10 Automation for Linux, Unix, and Mac OS X:  https://www.heyu.org/

Home Assistant:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Assistant
"Home Assistant is free and open-source software used to enable centralized home automation. It is a smart home controller that serves both as a smart home hub (sometimes called a "smart gateway") and an integration platform designed for interoperability, allowing users to have a single point of control and enable automating different smart home devices from a central location regardless of manufacturer or brand."
"The Home Assistant software application is commonly run on a computer appliance with "Home Assistant Operating System" that will act as a central control system for home automation (commonly called a smart home hub/gateway/bridge/controller), that has the purpose of controlling IoT connectivity technology devices, software, applications and services from third-parties via modular integration components, including native integration components for common wired or wireless communication protocols and standards for IoT products such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, EnOcean, and Thread/Matter (used to create either local personal area networks or direct ad hoc connections with small smart home devices using low-power digital radios), or Wi-Fi and Ethernet connected devices on a home network / local area network (LAN)."

"Home Assistant supports controlling devices and services connected via either open and proprietary ecosystems or commercial smart home hubs/gateways/bridges as long they provide public access via some kind of open API or MQTT interface to allow for third-party integration over either the local area network or Internet, which includes integrations for Alexa Smart Home (Amazon Echo), Google Nest (Google Home), HomeKit (Apple Home), Samsung SmartThings, and Philips Hue."

"Home Assistant has its operating system implementation and is compatible to be installed directly on many hardware platforms including single-board computers (for example Intel NUC (mini-PC)), Raspberry Pi and Hardkernel ODROID, as well as virtual machines and most Network-Attached Storage systems. Installing the Home Assistant Operating System image on such other officially recommended hardware platforms just requires installing or flashing a corresponding system image onto a local storage from which the Home Assistant OS can boot from. Optionally it is possible to install the Home Assistant container on other operating systems like Linux, macOS, or Windows (under Windows Subsystem for Linux), but it then it is not possible to install addons and other features that is built-into the supervised operating system so will not get the same experience."

What Is Home Assistant? And Why Isn't Everyone Using It?
https://www.howtogeek.com/what-is-home-assistant-and-why-isnt-everyone-using-it/
" *    Home Assistant works with everything so you can connect all of your smart devices, no matter which platforms they support or how obscure they are.
  *    Automate your smart home like a pro by building complex rules to make your smart home work for you.
  *    The platform is simple and easy to use, so anyone in your household can control your whole smart home without breaking a sweat."
"Being an open-source and free product, Home Assistant isn't tied to any specific brand, offering a flexible solution that seamlessly integrates diverse smart devices. Getting started is remarkably easy, with a range of installation options to suit your needs.
You can run Home Assistant on a dedicated device like a Raspberry Pi, which is how I've set it up. Alternatively, you can repurpose an old computer or home server or even opt for a pre-built Home Assistant device for a hassle-free experience."

From FB Home Assistant group:
"Beginner here, started 2 weeks ago.  First impression, a bit of a learning curve.  So between YouTube, members in different groups and heavy use of ChatGPT was able to get a working dashboard.  This is the path from start to finish.
1. Installed HA on VMware Player v17 successfully and was able to open ESPHome.
2. Had no smart devices so I made my own using an ESP32-Wroom.  Installed a new device (ESP32) and installed the YAML code to it by USB.  Base system.  Flashed fine and showed up in the system.
3.  Added a DHT22 to it and YAML code made by ChatGPT and installed via USB.  Compiled ok and could see the temperature and humidity in the scrolling text.
4. Added 2 gauges on the dashboard linked to the temp/humidity entity and worked fine.  Modified the YAML code to add a static IP so I could install wirelessly without worrying about DHCP changing my IP.
5. Added a new device, Arduino Esp32S3 then added a LDR (light dependent resistor). Again, ChatGPT to the rescue.  Some changes needed.  The data value increases with less light so had ChatGPT invert that and to change the gauge from using voltage to displaying 0-100%.  Added gauge to dashboard.
6. Added a BME280 temp/hum/pressure sensor entity and added to the dashboard successfully.
Decided I didn't want my workstation running HA 24/7 so I looked at standalone options.  Saw home assistant green/yellow, RPi and x86 (including mini PC).  Had an Intel NUC in storage that was used as a media center computer so dusted it off.
I Used the Ubuntu method to install HA on the NUC successfully.  Of course I lost most of my dashboard and entities so I started nearly from scratch to rebuild it.
Very basic dashboard but happy I got there in 2 weeks.
Photos:
1.  The ESP32-Wroom and ESP32S3 wired up.
2.  The Intel NUC with 11" monitor
3.  Phone display of the dashboard
4.  RedMi Pad 2 android tablet display"

"... maybe install HA inside PROXMOX or another Virtual Machine. Very light, speedy & useful for backup / snapshots !"

"I'm currently running it with Supervisor on a Pi 5, which I also use as a regular PC. When Supervisor support ends sometime around December, I'll probably switch to running HA OS in a virtual machine.
HACS is also a useful add-on. For example, there are integrations for cat feeders (Petkit), cameras (Tapo), themes (Material UI), and many other things that aren't part of the standard integrations.
I built my own outdoor weather station — it's cheaper that way. For the lights, I use a mix of Tapo and Emos (Tuya), but Nous should work well too. For sockets, I use Tapo . One motion sensor is Tapo, and the other one is also homemade, similar to the weather station, built from an RPI Pico (Arduino is too expensive). Then I also have the Tapo hub and a Tapo two-channel switch.
I have Starlink internet, though I haven't managed to get the integration working yet. I also use other HACS elements, like astronomical graphs. During setup, it even discovered my printer automatically, as well as the Nest Mini and maybe a few other devices."

"I think most folks doing HA are using premade devices for stuff like temp/humidity/etc - it's a lot simpler to set up compared to programming arduinos or esp32 devices. You can get decent temp/etc sensors for like $20 or so a pop that connect via zigbee. I quite like the Thirdreality branded stuff from Amazon
That said, arduinos and esp32's would still have a place for more niche uses that store bought devices don't cover. One I'll probably set up mine for, my electric provider's meter has an IR LED on the top that pulses every time a watt hour is consumed. I'll set up an arduino or something with an IR receiver so I can collect electricity usage data"

"Add Google drive backup, it's fantastic and free. One day something will go bonkers and everything will be gone if you don't.
Keep having fun, rule #1."

Avoid HDD deals that are too good to be true

"Counterfeiters are using intricate methods to pass off used desktop drives from Seagate, WD, and Toshiba as high-capacity surveillance drives. With fake drives permeating all sales channels, here's what you can do to protect yourself." 

https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-spot-counterfeit-hdd/

Use Nextcloud to create a private cloud at home. Docker @ home also

Nextcloud is a suite of client-server software for creating and using file hosting services.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nextcloud

Among other systems, it can be installed on Raspberry Pi micro-computers.

What Is Nextcloud and How Does It Work?

https://dhabaka.com/what-is-nextcloud-and-how-does-it-work/

"If you use a Nextcloud server and its online office suite, you get a safe and easy way to store, share, and work together on your files. It works with both desktop and mobile devices."

"For first-time installations, Docker containers are invaluable. They streamline setup by bundling dependencies into isolated packets. This supports multi-platform configurations, whether it's on Windows or Linux."

Docker: https://docs.docker.com/get-started/#foundations-of-docker

Setting Up Docker in a Home Lab: 

https://mattadam.com/2025/07/02/setting-up-docker-in-a-home-lab-your-simple-guide-to-getting-started/

"Picture your application working perfectly on your system. However, when you attempt to move it to another platform, it fails. That is where Docker steps in. Docker "wraps" apps with whatever they require to execute—code, libraries, and config—so that they will execute the same everywhere.
It's like placing your app in a neat little box. Where you put that box is where it's going to do just what you want it to do."

How I Run My Entire Homelab on Docker (And Why You Should Too):

https://www.howtogeek.com/how-i-run-my-entire-homelab-on-docker-and-why-you-should-too/

•    "Docker containers are lightweight, self-contained virtual systems for running services in minimal space & resources.
•     Docker simplifies setting up, managing, updating, and uninstalling a variety of services with ease.
•     I run over 30 services in my homelab, which fully operates on Docker, showing just how flexible it is and its ease of use."

Best 5 Home Server Projects to start learning Docker:

https://www.virtualizationhowto.com/2025/01/best-5-home-server-projects-to-start-learning-docker-in-2025/

MS Hyper-V Server Freeware

Hyper-V Server: is a freeware edition of Windows Server with limited functionality and the Hyper-V component:. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-hyper-v-server-2012-r2 -  

2012 Download Link: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=2196267&clcid=0x409&culture=en-us&country=us

See also: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-hyper-v-server-2016

                https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-hyper-v-server-2019

"Microsoft Hyper-V Server is a dedicated stand-alone product that contains the hypervisor, Windows Server driver model, virtualization capabilities, and supporting components such as failover clustering, but does not contain the robust set of features and roles as the Windows Server operating system. As a result, Microsoft Hyper-V Server produces a small footprint and requires minimal overhead."

How to Install and Configure Free Hyper-V Server 2019 / 2016:

https://woshub.com/install-configure-free-hyper-v-server/

"Hyper-V Server 2019 is suitable for those who don't want to pay for a hardware virtualization operating system. The Hyper-V has no restrictions and is completely free. Key benefits of Microsoft Hyper-V Server:

• Support of all popular OSs. There are no compatibility problems. All Windows and modern Linux and FreeBSD operating systems support Hyper-V;
• A lot of different ways to backup virtual machines: simple scripts, open-source software, free and commercial versions of popular backup programs;
• Although Hyper-V Server doesn't have a Windows Server GUI (graphical management interface), you can manage it remotely using a standard Hyper-V Manager console or Windows Admin Center web interface;
• Hyper-V Server is based on a popular Windows Server platform, familiar and easy to work with;
• You can install Hyper-V on a pseudoRAID, for example, Inter RAID controller, or Windows software RAID;
• You do not need to license your hypervisor, it is suitable for VDI or Linux VMs;
• Low hardware requirements. Your processor must support software virtualization (Intel-VT or VMX by Intel, AMD-V/ SVM by AMD) and second-level address translation (SLAT) (Intel EPT or AMD RV). These processor options must be enabled in BIOS/UEFI/nested host. You can find full system requirements on the Microsoft website;
• It is recommended to install Hyper-V on hosts with at least 4 GB RAM."

You can download the Hyper-V Server 2019 ISO install image here: 
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-hyper-v-server-2019. 

System requirements for Hyper-V on Windows and Windows Server:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/host-hardware-requirements?pivots=windows

Microsoft has officially phased out the free version of Hyper V with Windows Server 2025.

https://www.starwindsoftware.com/blog/windows-server-2025-and-free-hyper-v-dream/

#Virtual Environment, #VM, #Server

Kubuntu - Wikipedia

A version that runs well on smaller systems …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kubuntu

Ubuntu Budgie - Wikipedia

Another flavor to try …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Budgie

Ubuntu MATE - Wikipedia

A version Windows users may prefer …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_MATE

15 Best Free and Open Source Linux Webcam Tools - LinuxLinks

To view security cameras?
https://www.linuxlinks.com/webcam/

3D printed cases for home computer projects

I'm building a media server out of leftover PC parts and a 3D printed case -

A little time and a lot of filament!

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/live/3d-printed-media-server

This futuristic 3D-printed cyberdeck has two swiveling touchscreens — and it's powered by a Raspberry Pi 5:

https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/this-futuristic-3d-printed-cyberdeck-has-two-swiveling-touchscreens-and-its-powered-by-a-raspberry-pi-5

" The biggest design feature that caught our attention was the implementation of dual screens, lending to the need for a unique 3D printed case design. These screens are touchscreens and measure 9 inches across."

You can now 3D print your own NAS bay — the N5 Mini supports five drives and even has customizable faceplates:

https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/you-can-now-3d-print-your-own-nas-bay-the-n5-mini-supports-five-drives-and-even-has-customizable-faceplates

"Like the original Minisforum N5, this 3D printable version has five bays, supporting up to five separate drives."

Build your Own Firewall (#2)

How to Build your Own Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) at Home:
https://www.zenarmor.com/docs/network-security-tutorials/how-to-build-ngfw-for-home
"You can install the whole software virtually to any x86 based PC, mini-PC, or even to any virtualization platform on which a standard FreeBSD/Linux Operating system can natively run on, like KVM, VirtualBox, VMware, Proxmox, etc.
Next-generation firewalls for home use can be installed onto retired PCs, workstations, or servers. The only thing that needs to be kept in mind is that at least 8 GB of memory is required to be able to generate faster reports."
"... we strongly recommend installing OPNsense which has a robust and powerful next-generation firewall software plugin known as Zenarmor (Sensei)."

I'm done with building my own hardware firewalls (another option):
https://www.xda-developers.com/use-prebuilt-hardware-firewall-instead-of-making-one/
"With the Firewalla, everything from Parental Controls to the robust Active Protect system that's constantly being updated is all included in the original purchase cost. I don't know about you, but I'd rather pay upfront than be locked into a service subscription for the features I wanted to use."
"The biggest issue with networking gear is that many consumer-level devices use Realtek Ethernet controllers, or NICs, and those have major issues with Linux. Intel NICs are more compatible, but the low-powered devices sold as routers and firewall replacements often have other hardware components that have similar issues or quirks."

Building a budget 10gbe router/firewall with pfSense from scratch (much more speed than needed at home in 2025, but some interesting ideas):
https://drakeor.com/2021/04/14/setting-up-pfsense-as-a-router/

• "To function as a router, we want one port to talk to the internet (WAN) while the other ports are part of the same LAN network.
• We want the LAN devices to be able to talk to each other.
• We want the LAN devices to be able to connect to the internet."

"If you only have one NIC attached to your virtual machine and forego attaching any others when you install pfSense, pfSense will not configure a Lan port. This will not seem like a big deal at first (since you can just add the interfaces and configure LAN yourself later), but things start to get weird.
...
If using virtualization, remember to attach ALL your NICs and configure a LAN port on initial setup!"
"Although reinstalling pfSense was a lot easier in a VM than bare metal, the performance was pretty subpar, especially in the realm of OpenVPN. This is the biggest reason I've decided to go with bare metal. Keep in mind that at the time of this writing, the hardware I'm using is about 7-8 years old so more modern machines will likely give you much better performance if you virtualize pfSense."

How to build your own firewall with pfSense -
Create your own physical or virtual appliance with this free-to-use open source software:
https://www.itpro.com/security/firewalls/355328/how-to-build-your-own-firewall-with-pfsense
"... pfSense, an open source enterprise firewall based on FreeBSD that offers features comparable to many of the most expensive big-name options on offer, along with a wide range of packages available to extend its capabilities. The best part is, as an open source solution, pfSense is completely free, and all of its features are available without any commercial licensing requirements."
"... pfSense requires a CPU with a base frequency of 600Mhz, at least 512MB RAM, one or more compatible network interface cards (NICs), a bootable USB drive or CD/DVD-ROM for initial installation, and at least 4GB of available storage - either on a hard disk, or a flash device such as an SD card."

Build Your Own Gateway Firewall:

https://www.instructables.com/Build-your-own-gateway-firewall/

"Through the use of open-source software (OSS), outdated PC hardware, and a little know-how, you can build a cheap and highly effective gateway firewall to protect your SOHO LAN."

How to Build a Hardware Firewall with IPFire -
Firewall your home with IPFire, a Linux distro dedicated to keeping your network ports safe.
https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/build-hardware-firewall-ipfire
"IPFire is a dedicated Linux distro for firewalls or other network appliances. You don't need any particularly special hardware to run a firewall; an old PC or a Raspberry Pi is fine (you can find ISOs on IPFire's downloads page)., but note that at least two network adapters are required."
"If you want to use a VM for IPFire, you can use the 32-bit ISO from the IPFire/ directory on the disc. For a small installation, virtualization is unlikely to make any difference — memory requirements are low, but don't try it for a larger and more complex setup. VPN traffic encryption/decryption requires a fair bit of CPU power, so if you're planning on allowing lots of data-hungry access to your VPN, be aware of this."
"You can route your entire home network through IPFire (by setting it as the default gateway on your home router and shifting settings) or, if other users don't like the idea of sending all their traffic through the hardware firewall, you can just route selected machines through IPFire"
"If you want a VPN, you can set it up via OpenVPN with just a few clicks. Two configurations are offered — the appropriately apocalyptic sounding Roadwarrior, and the more descriptive Net-to-Net."

Host an offline Wikipedia on a Raspberry Pi

https://www.xda-developers.com/raspberry-pi-host-offline-wikipedia/

What sort of GPU do you need to run local AI

More VRAM is better - and expensive ...

" AI needs horsepower and Ollama needs GPUs, but you don't have to run out and hand over your life savings to get an RTX 5090, either."

https://www.windowscentral.com/artificial-intelligence/just-what-sort-of-gpu-do-you-need-to-run-local-ai-with-ollama-the-answer-isnt-as-expensive-as-you-might-think

"The RTX 3060 is something of a darling of the AI community because of its 12GB of VRAM and its relatively low cost. Memory bandwidth is significantly lower, but so is the TDP at just 170W. You could have two of these and match the TDP and total VRAM of an RTX 3090, while spending much less."

How to Install Ubuntu 24.04 or 22.04 Linux on Windows with Hyper-V

After install, I had to reboot the virtual machine once and then Ubunutu was happy.

https://linux.how2shout.com/how-to-install-ubuntu-22-04-linux-on-windows-with-hyper-v/

The install seemed pretty slow on a Win-10 Pro system with 16GB of RAM and a Core i5 - the 

Hyper-V machine has 4GB of RAM and a 200GB virtual disc drive.

Using an old PC as a Terminal for Linux

Review this and clean up later ...

Option 1 - use WSL (probably requires Win-10 or higher): 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/terminal/

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install

https://auth0.com/blog/convert-windows-pc-to-linux-ubuntu-dev-environment/

Option 2 -  Using old computers as thin clients to connect to a Terminal server

https://community.spiceworks.com/t/using-old-computers-as-thin-clients-to-connect-to-a-terminal-server/657926

Option 3 -  Ubuntu desktop as terminal server

https://askubuntu.com/questions/1143542/ubuntu-desktop-as-terminal-server

"For "terminal" access you'll need a OpenSSH Server installed on your PC."

Option 4 - SSH from Windows

https://www.linuxbabe.com/linux-server/ssh-windows

A couple of lightweight Linux distributions (MX Linux & antiX)

MX Linux  -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MX_Linux
"MX Linux is a Linux distribution based on Debian stable and using core antiX components, with additional software created or packaged by the MX community.[2] The development of MX Linux is a collaborative effort between the antiX and former MEPIS communities."
"Xfce is a fast and medium-low resource usage desktop environment of Xfce version 4.20 offered in 32-bit and 64-bit ISOs.[30]
Fluxbox is a window manager with very low resource usage. This edition was first released on 21 October 2021.[31] 32-bit and 64-bit versions are available."
...
MX Xfce and MX Fluxbox are available in 32-bit variants of those releases."

Download Links: https://mxlinux.org/download-links/
–Xfce (our flagship desktop) - MX-23.6_386, containing a 32 bit PAE 6.1 kernel from Debian Stable, suitable for systems that are 32 bit only.

–Fluxbox -  MX-23.6_386 Fluxbox, featuring the 32 bit 6.1 Debian stable kernel and a customized fluxbox environment -
"The result is a lightweight and fully functional system that has many unique features:"
"This OS functions as well on older low-capacity machines as on fast modern ones."

MX-23 Users Manual:  https://mxlinux.org/manuals/


MX Linux:  https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/linux-unix/mx-linux/
"MX Linux is a good selection if you are in search of a Linux distribution that is simple, stable, and lightweight. With its roots in Debian Stable, it is fast and efficient as well. As such, it is geared towards people who prefer a customizable, low-maintenance operating system. And no matter if you have contemporary or older hardware, MX Linux is tailored to perform optimally without compromising on user interface design simplicity and ease of use.

MX Linux stands apart from other distributions through its MX Tools, which is a robust set of utilities that make the processes of system configuration, management, and troubleshooting easy. This distribution has support for several desktop environments: Xfce (default), KDE Plasma, and Fluxbox, so the users can change it based on their needs and preferences."

MX/antiX Technical Documentation Wiki: https://mxlinux.org/wiki/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

antiX:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AntiX
"a Linux distribution, originally based on MEPIS, which itself is based on the Debian stable distribution.[4] antiX initially replaced the MEPIS KDE desktop environment with the Fluxbox and IceWM window managers, making it suitable for older, less powerful x86-based systems."
"antiX comes with a default desktop built on top of the ROX or Zzzfm file managers, with the GTK library and using IceWM as the window manager.[10] antiX-full and antiX-base include these stacking window managers:

    Lightweight: Rox-IceWM (default), IceWM and ZzzFM-IceWM
    Minimalist: Rox-Fluxbox, Fluxbox and ZzzFM-Fluxbox
    Very minimalist: Rox-JWM, JWM[11] and ZzzFM-JWM

Running the ROX or Zzzfm variants provides desktop icons and a drag-and-drop function. Conky provides system monitor availability."
antiX23.2:  https://antixlinux.com/
"antiX is a fast, lightweight and easy to install systemd-free and elogind-free linux live CD distribution based on Debian Stable for Intel-AMD x86 compatible systems. antiX offers users the "antiX Magic" in an environment suitable for old and new computers. So don't throw away that old computer yet!"
Downloads:  https://antixlinux.com/download/
"If you don't know or care about init systems, choose the sysVinit version."
"The iso images can be written and booted live from a cd, frugal install via hdd, from usb, etc. To make the most of using the antiX live system, particularly from a usb, it is recommended to use the antiX/MX live usb maker or Rufus ..."
Documents:  https://antixlinux.com/documents/

Fwd: 10 features recently added that you probably didn't notice on Windows 10

Some of these like the "Manage mobile devices feature" may be worth checking out for Win-10 & 11:

https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/windows-11/10-features-recently-added-that-you-probably-didnt-notice-on-windows-10

"...  in the newer version of the operating system, you can access other features, such as the ability to manage your phone storage from File Explorer, use your phone camera as a webcam, and more."

The "Windows Backup with file transfer to new PC" feature may also be useful when upgrading.

Upgrading to Windows 11 on an old PC could be easier than you think | PCWorld

There are tools mentioned that can help test old PCs for Windows-11 compatibility.
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2839398/upgrading-to-windows-11-on-an-old-pc-could-be-easier-than-you-think.html

NVMe SSDs - specifications & history

NVM Express (NVMe) or Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface Specification (NVMHCIS):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NVM_Express

" Architecturally, the logic for NVMe is physically stored within and executed by the NVMe controller chip that is physically co-located with the storage media, usually an SSD. Version changes for NVMe, e.g., 1.3 to 1.4, are incorporated within the storage media, and do not affect PCIe-compatible components such as motherboards and CPUs.^[3]"

M.2 (pronounced "M-dot-2"),^[1] formerly known as the Next Generation Form Factor (NGFF):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.2

"M.2 supports a variety of module sizes and interface types, offering greater flexibility for modern devices. It is widely used in compact systems such as ultrabooks and tablet computers, particularly for solid-state drives (SSDs)"

"M.2 modules can integrate multiple functions, including the following device classes: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, satellite navigation, near field communication (NFC), digital radio, WiGig, wireless WAN (WWAN), and solid-state drives (SSDs).^[7]"

What Else Is An M.2 WiFi Slot Good For? 

     https://hackaday.com/2023/01/19/what-else-is-an-m-2-wifi-slot-good-for/

"Many mainboards and laptops these days come with a range of M.2 slots, with only a subset capable of NVME SSDs, and often a stubby one keyed for 'WiFi' cards. Or that's what those are generally intended to be used for ... you can get a lot of alternate expansion cards for those slots that have nothing to do with WiFi."

"... includes adapter cards that add Ethernet (1 Gb, 2.5 Gb), USB 2.0 ports, SIM card (wireless adapter?), an SFP fiber-based networking adapter, multiple M.2 to 2+ SATA port adapters, tensor accelerator chips (NPUs) and even a full-blown M.2 to x16 PCIe slot adapter."

PuTTY: a free SSH and Telnet client

https://putty.software/

PuTTY  is an SSH client for Windows and Unix, including an xterm-style terminal emulator.

Main site:  https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/

Downloads:  https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html  32 & 64-bit versions

Available from MicroSoft: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/xpfnzksklbp7rj?hl=en-US&gl=US

"PuTTY is a communications tool for running interactive command-line sessions on other computers, usually via the SSH protocol. It can also communicate over a serial port, or speak various legacy Internet protocols such as Telnet."

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PuTTY

" PuTTY (/ˈpʌti/)^[4] is a free and open-source terminal emulator, serial console and network file transfer application. It supports several network protocols, including SCP, SSH, Telnet, rlogin, and raw socket connection. It can also connect to a serial port."

"PuTTY comes bundled with command-line SCP and SFTP clients, called "pscp" and "psftp" respectively, and plink, a command-line connection tool, used for non-interactive sessions.^[9]
PuTTY does not support session tabs directly,^[10] but many wrappers are available that do.^[11] "

Guide to installing PuTTY and making SSH connections:

    https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Putty-in-Windows

About PuTTY:  https://gizmodo.com/download/putty

"PuTTY serves as a popular terminal emulator that supports SSH, Telnet and serial communication needs. Network administrators, developers, and IT professionals typically use PuTTY for secure connections with remote systems along with server management and command execution needs in a protected space. PuTTY functions as a bridging tool that enables users to access remote computers along with network devices through encrypted connections instead of restricting itself to a single system like traditional command-line interfaces."

.41 Magnum Shot Loads Made (Fairly) Easy from 30-30 Brass

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?469878-41-Magnum-Shot-Loads-Made-%28Fairly%29-Easy-from-30-30-Brass&fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMMLRhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHg5X2b_hlqp2OLDDm6ne1wUPQcsGBjxA_gJpO4uRbtPDBcY9z1srGGBfwX86_aem_TuUWI02EJBT3pVVJH7dImQ

FreedomBox on Raspberry Pi: Host a Private Server Easily

https://raspberrytips.com/freedombox-raspberry-pi/

" FreedomBox is an innovative solution part of the Debian project which allows you to create a private server with minimal setup."

https://www.freedombox.org/

" FreedomBox is a private server for non-experts: it lets you install and configure server applications with only a few clicks. It runs on cheap hardware of your choice, uses your internet connection and power, and is under your control."

FreedomBox: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreedomBox

About FreedomBox:  https://www.freedomboxfoundation.org/

FreedomBox FAQ:  https://discuss.freedombox.org/t/frequently-asked-questions/1906

FreedomBox:  https://github.com/freedombox/FreedomBox

Running AI LLMs on older hardware

You Think You Need a Monster PC to Run Local AI, Don't You? — My Seven-Year-Old Mid-range Laptop Says Otherwise

https://www.windowscentral.com/artificial-intelligence/my-seven-year-old-mid-range-laptop-runs-local-ai

"...  while not what you'd call fast, it's usable. All three are still churning out responses significantly faster than I could type (and definitely faster than I can think). These were all with a 4k context length."

" You could be out and about with a laptop on battery and still getting stuff done. At home or in the office, hooked up to power, even older hardware can be fairly capable."

Make Your Own VPN

Some VPN alternatives:  https://thetechcrime.com/make-your-own-vpn/

" Unlike third-party services that may log your data or throttle your speeds, building your own VPN ensures you decide how your data is handled. This is especially critical in an age where privacy concerns are increasing."

3 Methods To Build Your Own VPN From Scratch:

https://www.technologytalker.com/3-methods-to-build-your-own-vpn-from-scratch/

1. Using the Cloud

2. Using Your Own Router (requires an OpenVPN-compatible router)
    "... not all routers have the same hardware features, nor can they all host VPNs."

3. Using a Different Device as a VPN Server (Windows PC, etc.)

"You'll also need to set up port forwarding on your router so that your server is accessible from the internet."

Make Your Own Home VPN – Step-by-step Guide (scroll down to this part)

https://www.addictivetips.com/vpn/make-your-own-vpn/

Uses an Ubuntu remote server($) with OpenVPN

"Test Your VPN:
Now that you've gone through this entire process, it's time to verify your VPN is working! All you have to do is disable your VPN, then go to DNSLeakTest (https://www.dnsleaktest.com/). It should display your current, real location. 

Now enable the VPN and refresh the page. A new IP address should appear, which means you're safe behind a wall of VPN encryption."

How To Make Your Own VPN Server:

https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/how-to-make-your-own-vpn-server/

Method 1: Router-Based VPN Server Setup

Method 2: Set Up a VPN Server on a Windows, Mac, or Other Devices - 

example is for OpenVPN (https://openvpn.net/community-downloads/)

Method 3: Cloud VPN Server Setup

How to create your own VPN? https://www.clrn.org/how-to-create-your-own-vpn/

Install OpenVPN and Easy-RSA on linux ...

"Creating your own VPN offers unparalleled control and customization, but demands significant technical expertise and ongoing maintenance."

What is OpenVPN?  https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/vpns/what-is-openvpn

"OpenVPN is the ol' faithful of VPN protocols – and it still has use today"

"Put simply, OpenVPN allows two devices – no matter where they are in the world – to connect and communicate with each other in a protected manner. It defines how the data getting sent back and forth is encrypted, and how this information moves between servers and devices.
Part of the reason OpenVPN is such a popular VPN protocol is down to its compatibility with many operating systems. Along with that, it offers both security and flexibility to any VPN user."

"OpenVPN is also slower than some other VPN protocols, such as WireGuard. While they don't have as many features as OpenVPN does, they switch this out for both speed and efficiency. Not the end of the world, but worth keeping in mind if you're looking for the absolute top speeds out of your VPN.
Another place where protocols like WireGuard are better is when it comes to newer encryption protocols. OpenVPN doesn't support some of these newer versions."

"Alternative options such as WireGuard or Lightway are growing quickly in popularity but OpenVPN does remain a reliable option, despite its slower nature."

"OpenVPN (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenVPN) is a virtual private network (VPN) system that implements techniques to create secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities. It implements both client and server applications."

OpenVPN Connect for Windows (10 or 11):  https://openvpn.net/client/

https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/connect-for-windows.html

Linux Clients to Connect to an OpenVPN Server:

 https://openvpn.net/connect-docs/linux-clients.html 
"For Linux, you can use open-source Linux clients to connect to OpenVPN servers:

• For CloudConnexa: OpenVPN 3 Client for Linux with CloudConnexa.

• For Access Server: Tutorial: Connect to Access Server with Linux.

• For OpenVPN servers: OpenVPN 3 for Linux official site.
  

Make your own encrypted VPN server using Tailscale

Run Tailscale (https://tailscale.com/) on a spare home computer:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/30/how-to-make-your-own-encrypted-vpn-server-in-15-minutes/

" ... you can install Tailscale on your personal devices, such as your laptop or your phone. Install Tailscale, then log into your account. You'll see your computer running at home in the list of devices in your private network."

"When your devices use your home computer as their exit nodes, all internet traffic passes through that exit node."

"Without those private keys, there is no way for anyone else — including Tailscale — to decrypt the data that flows through your VPN tunnel. With this setup, you get all the benefits of an encrypted VPN connection without having to manually generate, distribute, and handle your public keys."

"... you may want to build yourself a dedicated Tailscale device and plug it into your router with an Ethernet cable.  In that case, you could buy a Raspberry Pi, a tiny, cheap, single-board micro-computer. We recommend a Raspberry Pi 4 or Raspberry Pi 5 ..."

As with other solutions, Tailscale can also be installed in a virtual environment ...

Build a firewall & router with OPNsense

Lots of online recommendations for this firewall:
https://www.pcworld.com/article/2548020/build-your-own-router-and-firewall-with-opnsense.html

NOTE: this can be run on a dedicated mini-PC or as a virtual machine ...

OPNsense is an open source, FreeBSD-based firewall and routing software developed by Deciso, a company in the Netherlands that makes hardware and sells support packages for OPNsense. 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPNsense

https://opnsense.org/

https://www.deciso.com/opnsense-25-7-visionary-viper-launches-with-smarter-security-and-faster-setup/

https://opnsense.org/get-started/

The recommended specifications to run all OPNsense® standard features ensure that every feature is functional and suitable for most use cases.

Type                                     Description
Processor                             1.5 GHz multi core cpu
RAM                                     ≥ 4 GB
Install method                       Serial console or video (vga)
Install target                          120 GB SSD

Firewall:   Stateful firewall with support for IPv4 and IPv6 and live view on blocked or passed traffic.

VPN:  Integrated support for IPsec (including route based), OpenVPN as well as pluggable support for Tinc (full mesh VPN) and WireGuard.

Motherboard Sizes Compared

E-ATX vs ATX vs mATX vs mITX

https://whatintech.com/motherboard-size-guide/

How To Set Up a VPN Gateway with Raspberry Pi: Easy Guide – RaspberryTips

Could also use another Linux computer.
https://raspberrytips.com/raspberry-pi-vpn-gateway/

Some XT IDE & CF card documentation for ISA bus PCs

https://minuszerodegrees.net/xtide/XT-IDE%20-%20Basics.htm

XTIDE Device Compatibility List | Vintage Computer Federation Forums

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/xtide-device-compatibility-list.73868/

xtide cf issues.....getting started | Vintage Computer Federation Forums

https://forum.vcfed.org/index.php?threads/xtide-cf-issues-getting-started.51967/

Hardware / XT-CF-Lite / XTIDE Universal BIOS // retrocmp / retro computing

https://www.retrocmp.de/hardware/xt-cf-lite/xt-cf-lite.htm

Lo-tech ISA XT CF Adapter rev. 3 - TexElec

An ISA card that lets you boot an older PC from a Compact Flash (CF) card and adds an IDE port for an internal hard drive.
https://texelec.com/product/isa-compactflash-adapter/

XT-IDE Deluxe - Bootable ISA CF+IDE Interface Card

A (sort of) hard drive for early ISA bus PCs:
https://monotech.fwscart.com/product/xt-ide-deluxe---bootable-isa-cf-ide-interface-card

Computer POST and Beep Codes

https://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

How to setup a Virtual Machine - Win-10

First, enable Hyper-V (Turn Windows Features On or Off).  This requires a restart.

Create a virtual machine in Hyper-V: 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/get-started/create-a-virtual-machine-in-hyper-v?tabs=hyper-v-manager

How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows 10: Step-by-Step Guide:

https://www.solveyourtech.com/how-to-create-a-virtual-machine-in-windows-10-step-by-step-guide/

"Summary:

1.     Enable Hyper-V
2.     Open Hyper-V Manager
3.     Create a new virtual machine
4.     Allocate resources
5.     Install an operating system"

How to Setup and Use Hyper-V in Windows 10 for OS Virtualization 

(more detailed):

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2087-hyper-v-virtualization-setup-use-windows-10-a.html

How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows 10  (different methods compared):

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-create-virtual-machine-windows-10-4770680

How to Create a VM Using Hyper-V Quick Create

How to Create a VM Using Hyper-V Manager

...

How to create RAID 10 in Windows 10

https://recoverhdd.com/blog/how-to-create-raid-10-in-windows.html

RAID:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID

What is the difference between a spanned volume and a striped volume?

https://hatchjs.com/spanned-vs-striped-volume/

• "Performance: A striped volume will offer better performance than a spanned volume, but it is also more susceptible to data loss in the event of a disk failure.
• Reliability: A spanned volume is more reliable than a striped volume, but it will offer lower performance.
• Cost: A striped volume will cost more than a spanned volume, because you need to purchase more disks."

Striped Volume in Windows - Does it Help or Hurt?

https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/kr40yl/striped_volume_in_windows_does_it_help_or_hurt/

How to create & manage a Striped Volume in Windows 11:

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/how-to-create-manage-striped-volume-in-windows-7

Linux issues as Microsoft's Secure Boot UEFI bootloader signing key expires in September

"A new key was issued in 2023, but it might not be well-supported ahead of the original key's expiration."

"Secure Boot is part of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) that has replaced the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) on modern systems."

https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/microsoft-signing-key-required-for-secure-boot-uefi-bootloader-expires-in-september-which-could-be-problematic-for-linux-users

The Grep Command in Linux

"There are certain Linux commands that help make the open source operating system very usable, and with those commands, the sky's the limit to what you can accomplish.

One of those commands is grep."

https://thenewstack.io/the-grep-command-in-linux/

Coin collecting: Lincoln Memorial Pennies

📹 566K views · 9.2K reactions | Reel by Eric Miller facebook.com

23 Rare Lincoln Memorial Pennies You Should Be Looking For (Key Dates, Varieties, And Errors) coins.thefuntimesguide.com

65 Most Valuable Lincoln Penny Coins Worth Money (Full Lists) coinvaluechecker.com

GLP-1 Alternatives

Check claims with other sources.  Is this beneficial for Typew II Diabetes also?

https://healthinsider.news/md-in-endocrinology-reviews-the-top-5-supplements-to-get-the-weight-loss-benefits-gut-supplement-en/?

Some handy workshop tips

https://www.facebook.com/reel/712483578036465

How to Create a Virtual Machine in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide - Solve Your Tech

https://www.solveyourtech.com/how-to-create-a-virtual-machine-in-windows-11-a-step-by-step-guide/

Guide: Setting Up Windows as a NAS Operating System · TechHut

https://techhut.tv/run-windows-nas-home-server/

How to Install TrueNAS in VirtualBox – Windows 11 Host - Sysprobs

https://sysprobs.com/how-to-install-truenas-virtualbox-windows-host

Transform Windows 11 into a Home Server: 4 Easy Methods | Windows Forum

https://windowsforum.com/threads/transform-windows-11-into-a-home-server-4-easy-methods.348035/

Virtualizing your NAS is easy! Here's how to do it.

https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-virtualize-your-own-nas/

Best Kettle for Hard Water: Say Goodbye to Limescale - Stainless Steel Tea Kettles

https://stainlesssteelteakettles.com/best-kettle-for-hard-water/

How to Remove Clear Coat - At Home with Simple Equipment

https://www.vehiclescene.com/how-to-remove-clear-coat/

XT IDE disk controller - DP

Add an IDE port to an ISA bus PC:
http://dangerousprototypes.com/docs/XT_IDE_disk_controller

IBM 5150 (and other ISA bus PCs) IDE drive adapters, etc.

IDE cards for the ISA bus and other solutions:
https://minuszerodegrees.net/xtide/variations/XT-IDE%20and%20XT-CF%20variations.htm

IBM 5150 Hard Drive options

The O/S, the BIOS, and the power requirements all affect whether a hard drive can be used …
https://minuszerodegrees.net/5150/hdd/5150_hard_drive_support.htm

AnduinOS: a Ubuntu-based Linux for folks who want a Windows-like desktop

AnduinOS is a custom Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that aims to facilitate developers transitioning from Windows to Linux by maintaining familiar operational habits and workflows.  https://www.anduinos.com/
"The ISO is just 2.0GB in size. Similar to Ubuntu, it is simple to install and can meet your daily needs without additional configuration or complicated operations."

AnduinOS:  https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=anduin
"AnduinOS is an Ubuntu-based distribution which provides a GNOME desktop which has been themed and styled to resemble Windows 11. The project provides a smaller ISO file than its parent with each supported language split into a separate ISO. Snap support, which is included in Ubuntu, has been removed from AnduinOS."

AnduinOS 1.3.3: https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/anduinos.html
"AnduinOS is a free, Ubuntu-based Linux distro that's tailor-made for folks who want a Windows-like desktop without Microsoft breathing down their neck. It's lightweight (around 2 GB), privacy-respecting (no telemetry), and works great on bare metal or in a virtual machine. Runs on pretty much any modern x86-64 machine."

"On a USB stick: Use Rufus if you're on Windows. Linux folks can fire up dd. It's a regular ISO, nothing tricky."

"In a VM: Installation on our VMWare Workstation was super easy and took about 10 minutes. Runs well in VirtualBox or VMware. Set the VM type to Ubuntu 64-bit, give it 2 GB of RAM and at least 20 GB of disk space, then mount the ISO. One heads-up: once the installation finishes and you reboot, make sure you remove the ISO from the virtual drive. If you don't, it will try to boot the installer again or hang. The same goes for physical installs; unplug that USB before restarting."

"Dual-booting with Windows: You'll need to prep a little. Make sure Windows is using UEFI, then disable Fast Boot and Secure Boot in the BIOS. Shrink your Windows partition, boot into AnduinOS, and let the installer take care of the rest. The GRUB bootloader usually handles things well, but always backup first, just in case."

AnduinOS:  https://github.com/Anduin2017/AnduinOS
"AnduinOS is a custom Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that aims to facilitate developers transitioning from Windows to Linux by maintaining familiar operational habits and workflows"

 Want to ditch Windows? This Linux distro makes that transition easy - If you're looking to make the leap from Windows to Linux and would like to stick with something familiar, AnduinOS has your back:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/want-to-ditch-windows-this-linux-distro-makes-that-transition-easy/
"I discovered there was no way to easily share a folder over my home network. ... which means sharing folders over the network would require you to install a few pieces of the puzzle."

"To anyone developing a Linux distribution to ease the transition from Windows to Linux, I would say: Consider adding the following software:

    LibreOffice
    Slack
    Spotify
    A cloud-based note-taking app (such as Standard Notes)
    A cloud sync app (such as Insync)
    Geary or Evolution (email app)

I realize some of the above are proprietary, but they have become the standard, especially for work, so unless your distribution is marketed as 100 percent FOSS (free, open-source software), there's no reason to ignore such apps."

Free and Open-Source Artificial Intelligence Software (2025)

The Best 7 Free and Open-Source Artificial Intelligence Software:
https://www.goodfirms.co/artificial-intelligence-software/blog/best-free-open-source-Artificial-Intelligence-software
"TensorFlow is an open-source artificial intelligence software that helps you develop and train Machine learning models. It presents the library for high-performance numerical computation. Across a variety of platforms (CPUs, GPUs, TPUs) this free AI software allows easy deployment of computation due to its flexible architecture.
...
You will find the primary use of this software in voice/sound recognition, text-based applications, image recognition, video detection, and time-series data. The time series algorithms of TensorFlow are mainly used in the field of finance, accounting, and enterprise /resource planning."


Chat with AI without privacy concerns -
Jan is an open source ChatGPT-alternative that runs 100% offline.
https://jan.ai/


The best open-source AI models: All your free-to-use options explained:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-best-open-source-ai-models-all-your-free-to-use-options-explained/
"Running open-source Gen AI models requires specific hardware, software environments, and toolsets for model training, fine-tuning, and deployment tasks."


free AI training from IBM:  
https://www.zdnet.com/article/this-free-ai-training-from-ibm-could-boost-your-resume-in-10-hours/


Open Source Windows Artificial Intelligence Software:
https://sourceforge.net/directory/artificial-intelligence/windows/


Jarvis - Personal Assistant for Linux, macOS, & Windows:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/jarvis-personal-assist.mirror/
"Jarvis is a simple personal assistant for Linux, MacOS and Windows which works on the command line. He can talk to you if you enable his voice. He can tell you the weather, he can find restaurants and other places near you. He can do some great stuff for you. In order to start Jarvis just clone this repository and run python installer. Run Jarvis from anywhere by command Jarvis. You can start by typing help within the Jarvis command line to check what Jarvis can do for you. Plugins may be modified using the decorators @alias, @require and @complete."


GPT-4/o1 AI Assistant - Open Source, Personal Desktop AI Assistant for Linux, Windows, and Mac with Chat, Vision, Agents, Image generation, Tools and commands, Voice control and more.
https://pygpt.net/
"Desktop AI Assistant for Linux, Windows and Mac, written in Python.
Works similarly to ChatGPT, but locally (on a desktop computer).
11 modes of operation ..."
"PyGPT supports a wide range of AI models, including o1, o3, GPT-4, GPT-4o, GPT-4 Vision, GPT-3.5, and DALL-E 3. It also integrates models via LlamaIndex, and Ollama—like Llama 3, Mistral, Google Gemini, xAI Grok, DeepSeek, Bielik, and Anthropic Claude. With internet search, speech synthesis and recognition, customizable prompts, conversation history, and plugin support, it provides a comprehensive AI toolkit for diverse tasks."

How to Install WSL on Windows 11 for Seamless Linux Application Integration | Windows Forum

https://windowsforum.com/threads/how-to-install-wsl-on-windows-11-for-seamless-linux-application-integration.371132/

How to run any Linux distro alongside Windows 11 | Windows Central

https://www.windowscentral.com/software-apps/windows-11/how-to-run-any-linux-distro-alongside-windows-11

7 Things Nobody Tells You About Dual Booting Linux and Windows

https://www.howtogeek.com/things-nobody-tells-you-about-dual-booting-linux-and-windows/

Password Manager Reviews 2025

The best password managers in 2025:
https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-password-managers,review-3785.html#section-the-best-password-manager-overall
Best for iPhone:  "NordPass is a password manager with a simple, intuitive design from the company behind NordVPN. It's still a relatively new password manager compared to the competition but it has added a number of new features like a web vault, a standalone browser extension and biometric login support across all platforms in an effort to catch up.
...
In addition to its individual and family plan with support for up to six people, there's also a free tier. NordPass free allows you to store an unlimited number of passwords and it also comes with autofill capabilities, passkey support, secure notes and multifactor authentication. However, the free tier only allows you to stay logged in on one device at a time. NordPass' paid plans are a bit more expensive than the competition but frequent discounts can cut the cost of a subscription significantly."
58% off - NordPass Premium - 2 Years - $1.29/mth
43% off - NordPass Premium - 1 Year   - $1.69/mth
https://go.nordpass.io/aff_c?offer_id=507&aff_id=39632&url_id=26900


The Best Password Managers for 2025:  https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-password-managers#
"Best Premium Password Manager  - NordPass

FEATURED DEAL  -  Best Form-Filling Capabilities - RoboForm
Get 60% off Premium: just $0.99 per Month! at RoboForm

Best Free Password Manager  -  Proton Pass
$2.49 Per Month (50% Off 1 Year Pass Plus Plan) at Proton

Best for Frequent Travelers  -  1Password

Best Security Features  -  Dashlane"


Best Password Managers for the USA:  https://us.cybernews.com/lp/best-password-managers-us/

Open Source - Bitwarden - CNET  Best Password Manager in 2024
"Bitwarden is currently CNET's top pick for the best password manager... Bitwarden is a solid choice if you want a well-rounded premium password manager that's secure, transparent, budget friendly and easy to use -- or if you want a legitimately unlimited password management solution for free."

Also recommended for Ubuntu.

Best Cars for Road Trips in 2025 – Road & Track Expert Picks

There are some surprises here:
https://www.roadandtrack.com/rankings/g64772570/best-cars-for-road-trips/

GitHub - cyningstan/TinyBASIC: TinyBASIC interpreter and compiler

Check this out …
https://github.com/cyningstan/TinyBASIC

Linux: Open-Source KVM Backend For VirtualBox

https://www.phoronix.com/news/KVM-Backend-For-VirtualBox

https://github.com/cyberus-technology/virtualbox-kvm

Win 11 - Sandisk bug

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/windows-11-24h2-updates-are-still-failing-on-western-digitals-sn770-despite-the-fact-that-a-fix-came-out-8-months-ago-heres-what-to-do-if-youre-stuck?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLCHkZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHiweZhDBEq_Mvheg1iTvJbYR2wTAcgTUC8bt7G8yPuzVlK4OzZD_IFh7728P_aem_F_F-F_XQitq5EQXwk1nJWQ

Best Wood Lathe for Beginners: Tips to Buy and Our Picks - American Rotary

https://www.americanrotary.com/blog/best-wood-lathe-for-beginners/

The Coolest Cars of All Time

https://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/g93/the-100-hottest-cars-of-all-time/

M.2 Slot Types & Sizes

What Is M.2 Slot | M.2 Slot Types & Sizes:  https://www.electronicshub.org/m-2-slot-types/

" The most common M.2 key types are M, B, and B+M, and they differ in the number and position of the notches on the connector."

Types of M.2 Drives & Slots: https://www.cgdirector.com/types-m2-drives-slots/

"Nowadays, you can purchase SSDs in one of two form factors: 2.5" drives that are connected through the SATA interface or, alternatively, M.2 ones that are much smaller, require no cabling, and can achieve far greater read and write speeds."

" NVMe SSDs are the fastest you can buy these days and they almost always come in the M.2 format."

M.2 vs. NVMe: What is the difference when it comes to SSDs?  

    https://www.digitalcitizen.life/m2-vs-nvme-ssd/

"M.2 is a form factor that spells out the physical size and shape of the card that can be plugged into an M.2 slot."

"... if you see an SSD being described as NVMe, do not assume that it is automatically using the M.2 form factor. Also, if you see an SSD described as being M.2, don't assume that it is using NVMe."