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Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

I've been trying to do the following, with my Artix install (Framework 16 -- AMD):
 - remove unnecessary packages
 - install missing firmware/driver packages

I'm using OpenRC as the init and Xfce for the desktop environment. After doing (trizen -Qet), I received the following list of packages:

Code: [Select]
acpi
acpid-openrc
alsa-firmware
amd-ucode
android-file-transfer
artix-branding-base
artix-grub-theme
artix-gtk-presets
artix-qt-presets
aurutils
b43-fwcutter
base
bluez-openrc
copyq
cronie-openrc
cryptsetup-openrc
cups-openrc
dhclient
dhcpcd-openrc
dmraid
ecryptfs-utils
ffmpegthumbs
gparted
grub
hardinfo2
haveged-openrc
intel-ucode
inxi
kdesu
libva-vdpau-driver
lightdm-openrc
lsb-release
lvm2-openrc
man-pages
mdadm-openrc
memtest86+
metalog-openrc
mission-center
mkinitcpio-openswap
moonlight-qt
nano
nbd
nemo-fileroller
nemo-share
network-manager-applet
networkmanager-l2tp
networkmanager-openvpn
nfs-utils-openrc
notepadqq
openntpd-openrc
openrc-settingsd
openssh-openrc
pacman-static
pinta
powertop
qalculate-qt
qt5-imageformats
raw-thumbnailer
rsync-openrc
scrot
syncthing-openrc
sysfsutils
terminology
terminus-font
trizen
ttf-inconsolata
ttf-roboto-mono
ungoogled-chromium
vi
vkd3d
vlc
vmware-workstation
wpa_supplicant-openrc
xdg-user-dirs
xf86-input-vmmouse
xf86-video-amdgpu
xf86-video-ati
xf86-video-dummy
xf86-video-fbdev
xf86-video-intel
xf86-video-nouveau
xf86-video-sisusb
xf86-video-vesa
xf86-video-vmware
xf86-video-voodoo
xfce4-appfinder
xfce4-artwork
xfce4-battery-plugin
xfce4-cpufreq-plugin
xfce4-cpugraph-plugin
xfce4-dict
xfce4-diskperf-plugin
xfce4-eyes-plugin
xfce4-fsguard-plugin
xfce4-genmon-plugin
xfce4-mailwatch-plugin
xfce4-mount-plugin
xfce4-mpc-plugin
xfce4-netload-plugin
xfce4-power-manager
xfce4-pulseaudio-plugin
xfce4-screenshooter
xfce4-sensors-plugin
xfce4-session
xfce4-settings
xfce4-smartbookmark-plugin
xfce4-systemload-plugin
xfce4-time-out-plugin
xfce4-timer-plugin
xfce4-verve-plugin
xfce4-wavelan-plugin
xfce4-weather-plugin
xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin
xfce4-xkb-plugin
xfdesktop
xfwm4-themes

Many of these look like packages that aren't really candidates for removal. However, I would like to get the community's opinion on which ones I could potentially do without.

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #1 –
base is in the list so, if it's what you are asking, no you can't delete that list of packages. (I know there’s a lot more but that one jumped out!)

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #2 –
amd-ucode
intel-ucode

Well about that... If you're running modern consumer Ryzen CPU, you can remove amd-ucode package, because AMD only provides CPU microcode "loadable/injectable by system (either Windows or Linux)" to prosumer HEDT or enterprise EPYC platforms. So for example if you're running either R5 1600AF or R9 9900X3D, your microcode is ONLY loaded from UEFI provided by OEM motherboard manufacturer. As for Intel's microcode, it won't be used at all. It's just a waste of space/compression time on your boot partition.

You can read more here: https://github.com/divestedcg/real-ucode
https://old.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/15xvpfg/updating_your_amd_microcode_in_linux/
And here's a more concerning piece about this entire shitshow:
https://bughunters.google.com/blog/5424842357473280/zen-and-the-art-of-microcode-hacking
https://xcancel.com/taviso/status/1897333770644336774

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #3 –
Quote from: gripped – on
base is in the list so, if it's what you are asking, no you can't delete that list of packages. (I know there’s a lot more but that one jumped out!)

*removes the Linux kernel package next*

jk

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Shoun2137 – on
amd-ucode
intel-ucode

Well about that... If you're running modern consumer Ryzen CPU, you can remove amd-ucode package, because AMD only provides CPU microcode "loadable/injectable by system (either Windows or Linux)" to prosumer HEDT or enterprise EPYC platforms. So for example if you're running either R5 1600AF or R9 9900X3D, your microcode is ONLY loaded from UEFI provided by OEM motherboard manufacturer. As for Intel's microcode, it won't be used at all. It's just a waste of space/compression time on your boot partition.

You can read more here: https://github.com/divestedcg/real-ucode
https://old.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/15xvpfg/updating_your_amd_microcode_in_linux/
And here's a more concerning piece about this entire shitshow:
https://bughunters.google.com/blog/5424842357473280/zen-and-the-art-of-microcode-hacking
https://xcancel.com/taviso/status/1897333770644336774


I'll be sure to keep that in mind  :D My laptop is running a Ryzen 7 7840HS (not an OEM or Pro model iirc.), so I think it falls under the consumer Ryzen. But feel free to correct me if I'm wrong in this assumption.

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #5 –
So far, here are the packages that I'm considering removing:
Code: [Select]
amd-ucode
b43-fwcutter
bluez-openrc
cryptsetup-openrc *
dmraid
ecryptfs-utils
intel-ucode
kdesu
libva-vdpau-driver *
lightdm-openrc *
mdadm-openrc
openssh-openrc
qt5-imageformats *
raw-thumbnailer *
scrot
vi
xf86-input-vmmouse
xf86-video-ati
xf86-video-fbdev
xf86-video-intel
xf86-video-nouveau
xf86-video-sisusb
xf86-video-vesa *
xf86-video-vmware
xf86-video-voodoo
xfce4-dict
xfce4-weather-plugin

Packages with an * next to them are ones that I may be reluctant to remove.

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #6 –
Going to try a restart now...
Code: [Select]
➜  Workspace trizen -Rns - < newPKGlist.txt
:: Pacman command: /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/pacman -Rns b43-fwcutter bluez-openrc cryptsetup-openrc dmraid ecryptfs-utils intel-ucode kdesu libva-vdpau-driver mdadm-openrc openssh-openrc qt5-imageformats raw-thumbnailer scrot vi xf86-input-vmmouse xf86-video-ati xf86-video-fbdev xf86-video-intel xf86-video-nouveau xf86-video-sisusb xf86-video-vesa xf86-video-vmware xf86-video-voodoo xfce4-dict xfce4-weather-plugin
checking dependencies...
:: gdk-pixbuf2 optionally requires libopenraw: Load .dng, .cr2, .crw, .nef, .orf, .pef, .arw, .erf, .mrw, and .raf
:: tumbler optionally requires libopenraw: RAW thumbnails

Package (30)          Old Version                 Net Change

kpty                  6.15.0-1                     -0.16 MiB
libmng                2.0.3-4                      -0.66 MiB
libopenraw            0.3.7-2                      -3.08 MiB
libutempter           1.2.3-1                      -0.03 MiB
libxvmc               1.0.14-1.1                   -0.09 MiB
b43-fwcutter          019-6                        -0.04 MiB
bluez-openrc          20210506-1                    0.00 MiB
cryptsetup-openrc     20240225-1                   -0.01 MiB
dmraid                1.0.0.rc16.3-15              -0.32 MiB
ecryptfs-utils        111-9                        -0.52 MiB
intel-ucode           20250512-1                  -27.03 MiB
kdesu                 6.15.0-1                     -0.23 MiB
libva-vdpau-driver    0.7.4-7                      -0.08 MiB
mdadm-openrc          20210505-2                    0.00 MiB
openssh-openrc        20210505-1                    0.00 MiB
qt5-imageformats      5.15.17+kde+r2-1             -0.20 MiB
raw-thumbnailer       0.2.1-7                      -0.01 MiB
scrot                 1.12.1-1                     -0.13 MiB
vi                    1:070224-6                   -0.31 MiB
xf86-input-vmmouse    13.2.0-2                     -0.04 MiB
xf86-video-ati        1:22.0.0-2.1                 -0.47 MiB
xf86-video-fbdev      0.5.1-1                      -0.03 MiB
xf86-video-intel      1:2.99.917+939+g4a64400e-1   -2.18 MiB
xf86-video-nouveau    1.0.18-1                     -0.21 MiB
xf86-video-sisusb     0.9.7-5                      -0.08 MiB
xf86-video-vesa       2.6.0-2                      -0.04 MiB
xf86-video-vmware     13.4.0-4                     -0.08 MiB
xf86-video-voodoo     1.2.6-2                      -0.03 MiB
xfce4-dict            0.8.9-1                      -0.79 MiB
xfce4-weather-plugin  0.12.0-2                     -4.58 MiB

Total Removed Size:  41.45 MiB

:: Do you want to remove these packages? [Y/n] y
:: Processing package changes...
( 1/30) removing xfce4-weather-plugin                                                                                                    [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
( 2/30) removing xfce4-dict                                                                                                              [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
( 3/30) removing xf86-video-voodoo                                                                                                       [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
( 4/30) removing xf86-video-vmware                                                                                                       [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
( 5/30) removing xf86-video-vesa                                                                                                         [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
( 6/30) removing xf86-video-sisusb                                                                                                       [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
( 7/30) removing xf86-video-nouveau                                                                                                      [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
( 8/30) removing xf86-video-intel                                                                                                        [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
( 9/30) removing libxvmc                                                                                                                 [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(10/30) removing xf86-video-fbdev                                                                                                        [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(11/30) removing xf86-video-ati                                                                                                          [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(12/30) removing xf86-input-vmmouse                                                                                                      [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(13/30) removing vi                                                                                                                      [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(14/30) removing scrot                                                                                                                   [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(15/30) removing raw-thumbnailer                                                                                                         [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(16/30) removing libopenraw                                                                                                              [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(17/30) removing qt5-imageformats                                                                                                        [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(18/30) removing libmng                                                                                                                  [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(19/30) removing openssh-openrc                                                                                                          [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(20/30) removing mdadm-openrc                                                                                                            [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(21/30) removing libva-vdpau-driver                                                                                                      [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(22/30) removing kdesu                                                                                                                   [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(23/30) removing kpty                                                                                                                    [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(24/30) removing libutempter                                                                                                             [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(25/30) removing intel-ucode                                                                                                             [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(26/30) removing ecryptfs-utils                                                                                                          [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(27/30) removing dmraid                                                                                                                  [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(28/30) removing cryptsetup-openrc                                                                                                       [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(29/30) removing bluez-openrc                                                                                                            [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(30/30) removing b43-fwcutter                                                                                                            [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/6) Reloading device manager configuration...
(2/6) Updating linux initcpios...
==> Building image from preset: /etc/mkinitcpio.d/linux.preset: 'default'
==> Using default configuration file: '/etc/mkinitcpio.conf'
  -> -k /boot/vmlinuz-linux -g /boot/initramfs-linux.img
==> Starting build: '6.15.2-artix1-1'
  -> Running build hook: [base]
  -> Running build hook: [udev]
  -> Running build hook: [autodetect]
  -> Running build hook: [microcode]
  -> Running build hook: [kms]
  -> Running build hook: [modconf]
  -> Running build hook: [block]
  -> Running build hook: [keyboard]
  -> Running build hook: [keymap]
  -> Running build hook: [consolefont]
==> WARNING: consolefont: no font found in configuration
  -> Running build hook: [resume]
  -> Running build hook: [filesystems]
  -> Running build hook: [fsck]
==> Generating module dependencies
==> Creating zstd-compressed initcpio image: '/boot/initramfs-linux.img'
  -> Early uncompressed CPIO image generation successful
==> Initcpio image generation successful
==> Building image from preset: /etc/mkinitcpio.d/linux.preset: 'fallback'
==> Using default configuration file: '/etc/mkinitcpio.conf'
  -> -k /boot/vmlinuz-linux -g /boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img -S autodetect
==> Starting build: '6.15.2-artix1-1'
  -> Running build hook: [base]
  -> Running build hook: [udev]
  -> Running build hook: [microcode]
  -> Running build hook: [kms]
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'ast'
  -> Running build hook: [modconf]
  -> Running build hook: [block]
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'qla2xxx'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'qla1280'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'bfa'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'qed'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'wd719x'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'aic94xx'
==> WARNING: Possibly missing firmware for module: 'xhci_pci_renesas'
  -> Running build hook: [keyboard]
  -> Running build hook: [keymap]
  -> Running build hook: [consolefont]
==> WARNING: consolefont: no font found in configuration
  -> Running build hook: [resume]
  -> Running build hook: [filesystems]
  -> Running build hook: [fsck]
==> Generating module dependencies
==> Creating zstd-compressed initcpio image: '/boot/initramfs-linux-fallback.img'
  -> Early uncompressed CPIO image generation successful
==> Initcpio image generation successful
(3/6) Probing GDK-Pixbuf loader modules...
(4/6) Updating icon theme caches...
(5/6) Displaying openrc service help ...
	==> Remove a service from runlevel:
	rc-update del <service> <runlevel>
	==> Start/stop/restart a service:
	rc-service <service> <start/stop/restart>
(6/6) Updating the desktop file MIME type cache...
➜  Workspace trizen -Qdttq
cmake
➜  Workspace trizen -Syu
:: Pacman command: /usr/bin/sudo /usr/bin/pacman -Syu
:: Synchronizing package databases...
 system                                                                                                      256.4 KiB   185 KiB/s 00:01 [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
 world                                                                                                         5.1 MiB  1991 KiB/s 00:03 [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
 galaxy                                                                                                      891.2 KiB   565 KiB/s 00:02 [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
 omniverse is up to date
 extra                                                                                                         7.8 MiB  3.63 MiB/s 00:02 [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
 custom is up to date
:: Starting full system upgrade...
resolving dependencies...
looking for conflicting packages...

Package (1)   Old Version  New Version  Net Change  Download Size

system/gnupg  2.4.7-3      2.4.8-1        0.05 MiB       2.77 MiB

Total Download Size:    2.77 MiB
Total Installed Size:  10.03 MiB
Net Upgrade Size:       0.05 MiB

:: Proceed with installation? [Y/n] y
:: Retrieving packages...
 gnupg-2.4.8-1-x86_64                                                                                          2.8 MiB  8.04 MiB/s 00:00 [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(1/1) checking keys in keyring                                                                                                           [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(1/1) checking package integrity                                                                                                         [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(1/1) loading package files                                                                                                              [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(1/1) checking for file conflicts                                                                                                        [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
(1/1) checking available disk space                                                                                                      [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
:: Processing package changes...
(1/1) upgrading gnupg                                                                                                                    [-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------] 100%
:: Running post-transaction hooks...
(1/1) Updating the info directory file...
:: No AUR updates found...

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #7 –
Quote from: TopHatProductions115 – on
[...]

I'll be sure to keep that in mind  :D My laptop is running a Ryzen 7 7840HS (not an OEM or Pro model iirc.), so I think it falls under the consumer Ryzen. But feel free to correct me if I'm wrong in this assumption.
Yes it's consumer CPU. Essentially amd-ucode will only work for PRO, Threadripper and EPYC CPUs.
MAYBE for custom embedded style CPUs like those in steamdeck-esque devices, but I'm not really sure about that. If you need fresh microcode, you should check your laptop manufacturer's page for UEFI updates. If your OEM provides old microcode, you can check that real-ucode repo for more info.

For example, I have R5 1600AF (CPUID 800F82) that runs on AsRock B450 Pro4 rev 1.0 which has it's latest BIOS file at dated 09-04-25 ver: 10.41 [Beta] which includes microcode at version 800820E dated 15-08-24, while official amd-ucode provides microcode at version 800820D dated 16-04-19, but as I said, even if I were using older microcode from IDK 2017, amd-ucode would NOT load/inject this 800820D file, because due to market segmentation it'd ONLY work for... prosumer/enterprise CPUs. So this package is useless from 2 entirely different angles - it's including outdated (by design) microcode and won't load "fresh" microcode if you're using "wrong" CPU.

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #8 –
Had to reinstall intel-ucode from chroot, but I'm back. I'll work on removing that one later...

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Shoun2137 – on
amd-ucode
intel-ucode

Well about that... If you're running modern consumer Ryzen CPU, you can remove amd-ucode package,



FWIW - that wasn't my experience.  The kernel refused to boot without amd-ucode

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #10 –
Since it's a blob added to the boot image, you need to first remove the package and rerun mkinitcpio -P

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Shoun2137 – on
Since it's a blob added to the boot image, you need to first remove the package and rerun mkinitcpio -P


remove what package?

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #12 –
Quote from: mrbrklyn – on
Quote from: Shoun2137 – on
Since it's a blob added to the boot image, you need to first remove the package and rerun mkinitcpio -P
remove what package?
...amd-ucode (and intel-ucode)? You're losing context of the discussion or what? We were talking about those. Let me reiterate:
Those two packages inject binary blobs directly into the kernel image, this is why removing them as is with pacman caused you problems, after removing those packages you have to run
Code: [Select]
mkinitcpio -P
to regenerate fresh boot image without those binary microcode blobs. I think pacman hook retriggers mkinitcpio either way so there shouldn't be any problem with removing those, alas it might depend on your configuration/hardware.

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #13 –
Quote from: Shoun2137 – on
...amd-ucode (and intel-ucode)? You're losing context of the discussion or what?

Topic: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install (Read 893 times)


That was the context.

As for the question:
sudo pacman -F amd-ucode ?

You want to remove this:
sudo pacman -Q amd-ucode
amd-ucode 20250627-1


Also he removed the intel blog and his machine failed to start.

Re: Cleaning Up a Relatively New Install

Reply #14 –
Quote from: mrbrklyn – on
[...]
FWIW - that wasn't my experience.  The kernel refused to boot without amd-ucode
Are you like, obtuse on purpose? I was talking about your experience and what needs to be done. At this point I'm done with your trolling, you're just wasting everyone's time.
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