Many non-free packages installed by default.

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#1 Post by **Raymzap** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:22 am

Hi.

I ran the vrms (Virtual Richard Mathew Stallman) package and notice that both MX and antiX have many non-free packages installed by default. Is there a quick way to remove all but the actually needed ones? Or should I just uninstall all that I think I don't need (while being careful not to lose my wireless)?

#2 Post by **dolphin_oracle** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:23 am

I've never used that package, but if it provides a list, you could simple.

apt-get remove list_item1 list_item2 etc....

#3 Post by **Raymzap** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:27 am

dolphin_oracle wrote:I've never used that package, but if it provides a list, you could simple.

apt-get remove list_item1 list_item2 etc....

Hi DO.

I always use it. I will use non-free packages but only if absolutely needed (e.g. wireless drivers).

Here's an example of the output from vrms (apt get install vrms) on my old laptop with MX 16.

Code: Select all

               Non-free packages installed on XXXXX

amd64-microcode                     Processor microcode firmware for AMD CPUs
atmel-firmware                      Firmware for Atmel at76c50x wireless networking chips.
bluez-firmware                      Firmware for Bluetooth devices
broadcom-sta-dkms                   dkms source for the Broadcom STA Wireless driver
firmware-amd-graphics               Binary firmware for AMD/ATI graphics chips
firmware-atheros                    Binary firmware for Atheros wireless cards
firmware-bnx2                       Binary firmware for Broadcom NetXtremeII
firmware-bnx2x                      Binary firmware for Broadcom NetXtreme II 10Gb
firmware-brcm80211                  Binary firmware for Broadcom 802.11 wireless cards
firmware-intelwimax                 Binary firmware for Intel WiMAX Connection
firmware-ipw2x00                    Binary firmware for Intel Pro Wireless 2100, 2200 and
firmware-iwlwifi                    Binary firmware for Intel Wireless cards
firmware-libertas                   Binary firmware for Marvell Libertas 8xxx wireless car
firmware-linux-nonfree              Binary firmware for drivers in the Linux kernel (meta-
firmware-misc-nonfree               Binary firmware for various drivers in the Linux kerne
firmware-myricom                    Binary firmware for Myri-10G Ethernet adapters
firmware-qlogic                     Binary firmware for QLogic HBAs
firmware-realtek                    Binary firmware for Realtek wired/wifi/BT adapters
firmware-zd1211                     binary firmware for the zd1211rw wireless driver
intel-microcode                     Processor microcode firmware for Intel CPUs
nvidia-detect                       NVIDIA GPU detection utility
unrar                               Unarchiver for .rar files (non-free version)
zd1211-firmware                     transitional dummy package for firmware-zd1211

                Contrib packages installed on XXXXX

b43-fwcutter                        utility for extracting Broadcom 43xx firmware
browser-plugin-freshplayer-pepperfl PPAPI-host NPAPI-plugin adapter for pepperflash
firmware-b43-installer              firmware installer for the b43 driver
firmware-b43legacy-installer        firmware installer for the b43legacy driver
freshplayerplugin                   dummy for upgrade to browser-plugin-freshplayer-pepper
iucode-tool                         Intel processor microcode tool
pepperflashplugin-nonfree           Pepper Flash Player - browser plugin
ttf-mscorefonts-installer           Installer for Microsoft TrueType core fonts

  23 non-free packages, 1.3% of 1815 installed packages.
  8 contrib packages, 0.4% of 1815 installed packages.

#4 Post by **dolphin_oracle** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:35 am

looks about right.

so I would take that report into a text editor, edit out the descriptions and get the package names you want to remove on one line, separated by spaces. then paste all that into the command line prompt.

I would probably keep the intel/amd-microcode package (whichever you need) given that bug fixes come down to the cpus that way.

***edit*** changed exasperated to separated...dang autocorrects! thanks skiddoo!

#5 Post by **Jerry3904** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:43 am

I didn't know that even existed, much less that it is installed by default in MX-17. Will add that to the list for the next Manual, thanks.

#6 Post by **Raymzap** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:45 am

dolphin_oracle wrote:looks about right.

so I would take that report into a text editor, edit out the descriptions and get the package names you want to remove on one line, exasperated by spaces. then paste all that into the command line prompt.

I would probably keep the intel/amd-microcode package (whichever you need) given that bug fixes come down to the cpus that way.

Yes, the only non-free packages I'd keep are Broadcom-related (also b43) & intel-microcode.

#7 Post by **Raymzap** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:46 am

Jerry3904 wrote:I didn't know that even existed, much less that it is installed by default in MX-17. Will add that to the list for the next Manual, thanks.

Hi Jerry.

What - vrms? I'm not sure if it was installed by default though. I thought that package was well known - think it's just for Debian/Ubuntu distros. It's a must for me.

#8 Post by **kmathern** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:14 pm

Raymzap wrote:
Jerry3904 wrote:I didn't know that even existed, much less that it is installed by default in MX-17. Will add that to the list for the next Manual, thanks.
Hi Jerry.

What - vrms? I'm not sure if it was installed by default though. I thought that package was well known - think it's just for Debian/Ubuntu distros. It's a must for me. :happy:

It (vrms) is installed by default.

#9 Post by **Jerry3904** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:14 pm

Sure--I just don't pay attention to that issue, that's all, though I recognize a truly "free" operating system as a wonderful ideal.

And MX more generally is aimed toward average users, who have been repeatedly shown to just want everything to work!

#10 Post by **skidoo** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:24 pm

exasperated by spaces

{giggle}

Seriously, though...

get the package names you want to remove on one line, exasperated by spaces. then paste all that into the command line prompt.

(yeah, although the question was "Is there a quick way?")
I would not do that because, almost certainly (based on past observations), one or more of the packages slated for removal will lead to chain-reaction removal of other dependent packages. Yes, a prompt will advise "additional packages will be removed. Proceed? Y/n" ...but that leaves you with an all-or-nothing decision (and the prompt doesn't provide details explaining the dependency chain). So, I recommend performing the removals one-package-at-a-time ~~ from within synaptic, so that you can search names of "would also be removed" dependent packages and read their descriptions (toward making an informed choice regarding each prospective removal).

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nvidia-detect                       NVIDIA GPU detection utility
amd64-microcode                     Processor microcode firmware for AMD CPUs
bluez-firmware                      Firmware for Bluetooth devices
firmware-amd-graphics               Binary firmware for AMD/ATI graphics chips

beyond "lose my wireless", be dang certain you're not fixin' ta cut off yer nose to spite yer face.

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Many non-free packages installed by default.

Many non-free packages installed by default.

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