Skype and VLC cannot use v4l2loopback video device

I'm playing around with using DSLR cameras as webcams with gphoto (CLI to cameras over USB) and v4l2loopback (dummy video devices), which works with OBS but neither Skype nor VLC which will either show a black image or fail with an error message. Running VLC in verbose mode and digging a bit around showed that … Continue reading Skype and VLC cannot use v4l2loopback video device →

Constant disk access with ext4 caused by kmmp

I don't know how I never noticed this, but the mechanical hard disks in the perfect NAS emit a clicking noise at regular intervals that never stops. The NAS runs Ubuntu 18.04 server, an md software RAID 6 with dmcrypt on top, formatted with ext4. Disk I/O is way too low to show anything useful … Continue reading Constant disk access with ext4 caused by kmmp →

First write operation to large ext4 file system is slow

I'm running a large (>20TB) ext4 file system and noticed that the first substantial write operation after mounting is very slow and involves plenty of drive activity. The reason seems to be some memory structure initialisation as described here: https://linux-ext4.vger.kernel.narkive.com/SUFNE520/ext4-slow-performance-on-first-write-after-mount The workaround is thankfully as simple as running this command in a script after mounting … Continue reading First write operation to large ext4 file system is slow →

Ubuntu on the Acer Nitro 5

[updated June 2021] [June 2021] New chapter about Ubuntu 20.04 The Acer Nitro 5 is an interesting breed; decent computing power, a mid-range SSD, a large screen with high contrast, a decent and solid keyboard with good haptics at an ok price - but will it run Ubuntu 18.04? (yes, it will - also with … Continue reading Ubuntu on the Acer Nitro 5 →

Resetting a PCI device

The Wi-Fi adapter on my VivoBook 17 has been acting up under Ubuntu 18.04 LTS insofar that at a random point in time, possibly accelerated by power saving features, the Wi-Fi will stop working with suspicious syslog entries: ath10k_pci 0000:03:00.0: failed to wake target for read32 at 0x0003a028: -110 The usual tricks (suspend/resume, reload driver, … Continue reading Resetting a PCI device →