Parallella Speed Up Ubuntu
This is a how to guide to speed up the official Ubuntu for Parallella, this is only for ubuntu-lxde-14.03.06-p16g1.img. Do not apply these tips to another version.
Please apply these instructions without altering them.
Each configuration is carefully constructed and is interdependence, so if you alter something, it may get even worse.
By applying these tips, you will get,
- Better desktop performance
- Boot up stability
- Sound output from HDMI
- USB devices (e.g. webcam, USB stick)
Apply all the tips at once.
Contents
Fix the permission of .gconf
sudo chown -R linaro:linaro ~/.gconf
ALSA configuration
nano ~/.asoundrc
(copy, paste and save)
pcm.!default { type rate slave { pcm "hw:0" rate 48000 } converter "samplerate" }
Disable PCManFM Desktop mode
rm -f ~/.config/lxsession/LXDE/autostart sudo nano /etc/xdg/lxsession/LXDE/autostart
Delete the line "@pcmanfm --desktop --profile LXDE".
Append this line to the bottom of the file.
@feh --bg-fill /usr/share/lxde/wallpapers/parallella.png
Select from Menu -> Preferences -> Desktop Session Settings, uncheck "GNOME Settings Daemon", [OK]
Speed up Firefox
Launch Firefox, Type "about:config" in the URL bar, Type "browser.cache.disk.enable" in the "Search:" bar, Change the value true->false by double-clicking.
Type "mousewheel.acceleration.start" in the "Search:" bar, Double click, set [2].
Speed up SSH login
Disable sshd hostname look-up.
sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config
Append this line to the bottom of the file.
UseDNS no
Remove xscreensaver
xscreensaver causes freeze on X startup. So remove it.
sudo apt-get purge xscreensaver
Note: It is insufficient to disable xscreensaver by "Screensaver" configuration. We have to "apt-get purge" to completely disable xscreensaver.
Make Leafpad the default editor
Right-click a text file on PCManFM, select Properties->General->Open with: Select Leafpad
Install fake-hwclock
sudo apt-get install fake-hwclock
Clear persistent-net.rules
sudo rm /etc/udev/rules.d/70-persistent-net.rules
Force screen resolution to 1280x720 and enable devtmpfs
Create device node of the SD card.
sudo mknod -m 660 /dev/mmcblk0 b 179 0 sudo mknod -m 660 /dev/mmcblk0p1 b 179 1 sudo mknod -m 660 /dev/mmcblk0p2 b 179 2
Install device-tree-compiler.
sudo apt-get install device-tree-compiler
Mount partition1 of the SD card.
sudo mount /dev/mmcblk0p1 /mnt cd /mnt
Create devicetree.dts from devicetree.dtb.
sudo cp devicetree.dtb devicetree.dtb.bak sudo dtc -I dtb -O dts -o devicetree.dts devicetree.dtb
Edit devicetree.dts.
sudo nano devicetree.dts
(Search(Ctrl-W) and Edit the "bootargs" line then save)
bootargs = "root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rw rootfstype=ext4 rootwait video=HDMI-A-1:1280x720";
Compile it to dtb to enable it.
sudo dtc -I dts -O dtb -o devicetree.dtb devicetree.dts
Configure Xorg.
sudo nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
(copy & paste and save)
Section "Device" Identifier "Card0" Driver "modesetting" Option "ShadowFB" "True" Option "SWCursor" "True" Option "HWCursor" "False" EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "Screen0" Device "Card0" SubSection "Display" #---- Uncomment your preferred mode ---- #Modes "1920x1200" #Modes "1920x1080" Modes "1280x720" #Modes "640x480" EndSubSection EndSection
The preferred resolution is 1280x720, however you can set another resolution.
To check the available resolutions, type this command on a terminal. (with HDMI connected, on native X Window, not in ssh)
cat /sys/class/drm/card0-HDMI-A-1/modes
Or, type this command on a terminal. (with HDMI connected, on native X Window, not in ssh)
xrandr -q
Note: The resolution settings of the xorg.conf (Modes "1280x720") must match with the bootargs settings (video=HDMI-A-1:1280x720).
I strongly recommend 1280x720, not 1920x1080, because too high resolution makes everything slow. But if you prefer the default resolution of the monitor, try these settings. bootargs = "root=/dev/mmcblk0p2 rw rootfstype=ext4 rootwait"; And comment out all of the "Modes" line in xorg.conf.
Reboot
sync sudo reboot
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