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--- rocky_linux_9_migration_notes [2024/05/13 14:44] – juckins
+++ rocky_linux_9_migration_notes [2025/06/29 08:24] (current) – juckins
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==== Rocky Linux 9 Migration Notes ====
-----
+__2025-06-25__
+Upgrade to Rocky Linux 9.6 initially failed on test VM with package errors.
+  Trying these steps on a test VM:
+  dnf remove vlc totem gstreamer1-plugins-bad-free gstreamer1-plugins-ugly-free
+  dnf update
+  dnf install vlc totem
+Then reinstall VBox Guest Additions.
+Got message ''/var/log/vboxadd-setup.log to find out what went wrong'' (Building the modules for [current] kernel failed).
+Rebooted and then tried installing kernel-debug-devel but same problem.
+Upgraded host computer's VirtualBox to version 7.1-7.1.10 (was running 7.1.4)
+Now can upgrade from 9.5 to 9.6 on VirtualBox VMs but Xfce logs in for 1 second, a black screens appears, and then the sytem logs out.
+<color #ed1c24>The fix is to choose a different window manager on the main login screen (upper right, choose "GNOME Classic on Wayland").  After logging in successfully, log out and then go back to the main screen and choose the "Xfce Session".</color>
+For my non-virtual, primary Rocky Linux 9 machine the upgrade from 9.5 to 9.6 worked without issue but upon reboot, I got the following error:
+''VirtualBox can't operate in VMX root mode. Please disable the KVM kernel extension, recompile your kernel and reboot (VERR_VMX_IN_VMX_ROOT_MODE).''
+Using a [[https://www.google.com/search?q=VirtualBox+can%27t+operate+in+VMX+root+mode.+Please+disable+the+KVM+kernel+extension%2C+recompile+your+kernel+and+reboot+(VERR_VMX_IN_VMX_ROOT_MODE).&oq=VirtualBox+can%27t+operate+in+VMX+root+mode.+Please+disable+the+KVM+kernel+extension%2C+recompile+your+kernel+and+reboot+(VERR_VMX_IN_VMX_ROOT_MODE).&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCTYzNTVqMGoxNagCCLACAfEFCfv4GIhBFt3xBQn7-BiIQRbd&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8|Google Search]], the temporary fix was to do the following {{ :0:virtualbox-vmx-problem.pdf|see PDF}}:
+  # lsmod | grep kvm
+Verified the following output:
+  kvm_intel             446464  0
+  kvm                  1404928  1 kvm_intel
+Disabled the KVM temporarily:
+  # modprobe -r kvm_intel
+Verified nothing was returned with the following command:
+  # lsmod | grep kvm
+Was then able to start up the VMs using the VirtualBox GUI successfully.
+Need to reboot machine and see if fix stays.  Otherwise, the permanent fix is the following:
+  Create a file named kvm-blacklist.conf in /etc/modprobe.d/
+Add the blacklist entry: Add the appropriate line to the file:
+  blacklist kvm_intel
+-or-
+  blacklist kvm_amd
+Reboot to apply the changes.
+__2024-11-25__
+Old news, but LibreOffice no longer supported by RedHat.  Get the latest LibreOffice from https://www.libreoffice.org/download/download-libreoffice/
+Unpack the tar and verify you see individual RPMs.  Then:
+  dnf localinstall *.rpm
+You can then start an application like this:
+  libreoffice24.8 --calc test.csv
+Make a .bashrc alias for shortcuts.
+__2024-11-21__
+Upgrade to Rocky Linux 9.5:
+Had to run the following due to package problems (which will break 'vlc')
+  dnf remove compat-ffmpeg4 ffmpeg-libs vlc
+  dnf update
+  dnf install vlc gstreamer1-plugin-openh264
+Then security cameras running vlc and totem worked correctly.
+__2024-05-13__
+Upgrade to Rocky Linux 9.4:
+Had to run ''dnf remove gnome-applets'' to allow upgrade to proceed.
+After the upgrade the test Rocky Linux 9.3 VM would not start X with Xfce.  Tried a bunch of things like reinstalling all RPMs, getting list of matching RPMs against another VM that upgraded OK but X still would not start.  ''/var/log/messages'' just kept showing the X server was crashing.
+Discovered that if you select the "Standard (Wayland display server)" option on the login page, let the system start its display and log out, then you can login with Xfce successfully.
+Very odd but that seems to be the workaround for this upgrade.
+----
 NOTE 1: The fresh install instructions below were tested on Rocky Linux 9.3
@@ Line 35: / Line 130: @@
   * Since Xfce will be installed by running the bash script noted above, you can copy in pre-existing configs from another machine that already has Xfce installed.
-    * Copy files in ''~/.config/xfce4/'' from another pre-configured machine to this machine
+    * Log out of the target machine
-    * ''cd .config/xfce4; rsync -avzn --delete --progress . XX.XX.XX.XX:~/.config/xfce4/''
+    * Copy files in ''~/.config/xfce4/'' from another pre-configured machine to the target machine
+    * ''cd .config/xfce4; rsync -avzn --delete --progress . XX.XX.XX.XX:~/.config/xfce4/''
+    * Copy files in ''~/.config/Thunar/'' from another pre-configured machine to the target machine
+    * ''cd .config/Thunar; rsync -avzn --delete --progress . XX.XX.XX.XX:~/.config/Thunar/''
+    * Reboot the target machine
     * See {{:xfce.png?linkonly|Xfce Desktop image 1}} or {{:xfce_desktop_layout.png?linkonly|Xfce Desktop image 2}} for suggested icons, placement, etc.
       * [[https://itsfoss.com/install-themes-xfce-xubuntu/|Notes for installing additional Xfce themes]]
@@ Line 42: / Line 141: @@
   * Disable screensaver and power management
   * If necessary, disable WiFi LAN connection as root: ''nmcli radio wifi off''
+  * If necessary, keep WiFi LAN enabled but install Intel WiFi drivers if needed
+    * ''dnf install iwl6000g2b-firmware.noarch''
+    * Reboot and enable Wifi in task bar (the WiFi choice may be grayed out at first). Check that the wifi switch on the laptop needs to be turned on (keyboard toggle).
+    * http://linuxwireless.sipsolutions.net/en/users/Drivers/iwlwifi/
+    * https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005511/wireless.html
   * [[https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/152691/how-to-disable-beep-sound-in-linux-centos-7-command-line|Disable bell]]
@@ Line 126: / Line 230: @@
     * Check httpd logs for errors
   * Restore and test crons for each user
+    * At the top of each user's cron file, add something like ''[email protected]'' so that emails sent to localhost are actually delivered to the sys admin
+      * Alternatively, look at /etc/aliases and have ''root'' send email to my actual email address
     * Check that each cron job runs and the specified log directory exists
     * Modify ''/etc/environment'' to include ''LC_TIME="en_GB.UTF-8"'' for 24-hour clock used by cron jobs
@@ Line 150: / Line 256: @@
     * Use option settings to make it the default printer and use 600x600 DPI quality
     * Test using enscript filename.txt (old a2ps command)
+    * **When using evince to print out PDFs, it seems you need to choose "Print to "LPR".**
+      * Otherwise the output does not fit the page.
+      * Note that Libre Office can print to the printer name "Brother_HL-2170W" without a problem.
     * See if printer is default with ''lpstat -p -d'' and/or set it with ''lpoptions -d PRINTER_NAME''
     * ''lpstat -d'' should now show the new printer as the default
@@ Line 159: / Line 268: @@
   * Check any remaining ''/etc/yum.repos.d/*'' configuration setup
     * For example, [[https://www.speedtest.net/apps/cli|Ookla Speedtest CLI]]
+      * If Ookla becomes a graphical output, might need to consider ''dnf install speedtest-cli''
   * Mount /disk2 (see [[adding_a_second_hard_drive]])
   * Install [[https://github.com/pwsafe/pwsafe/releases?q=non-windows&expanded=true|PasswordSafe for Linux]]
@@ Line 186: / Line 296: @@
   * Fix date [[https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/553679/set-clock-to-24-hour-format-for-all-users|to show 24 hour clock]]
     * Setting should be in .bashrc
+  * If you have slow dnf updates, add these 2 lines to '/etc/dnf/dnf.conf':
+    * ''fastestmirror=1''
+    * ''max_parallel_downloads=8''
 __Other Notes__