Subj : Re: Rpi considerations
To   : Daniel
From : Knute Johnson
Date : Sat Jun 08 2024 16:22:24

On 6/8/24 13:52, Daniel wrote:
> Hey guys
>
> In an effort to simplify the computing setup in my den - historically
> the hottest room in the house - the current consideration is in the
> deployment of a few rpis. Never used them before and this would be a new
> venture.
>
> My current home-computing habits are 90% on the linux CLI. My perosnal
> laptop runs a debian install without a windowing system, which suits
> me.
>
> My desktop workhorse, in the den, is a very old first gen Intel I3 with
> 8gb or ram. When I obtained it, the device was being resold at a mom&pop
> computer shop after it was purchased from a government auction. It had
> been retired after a PC refresh. The thing is showing its age. Initially
> it was running kubuntu, then I transitioned it to Xubuntu. This extended
> its life a few years. But now the machine is showing signs of
> instability. It's connected on a KVM and I switch to my work laptop
> since I"m a permanent remote employee.
>
> Current xwindows use cases: libreoffice, qt designer, light browser (no
> streaming), light printing.
>
> What I'm considering:
>
> A headless Rpi4 as a VM server and setup a VM with the latetest Kubuntu
> LTS. Connect my external HDD and flash drives via a 16 port USB hub to
> access all my files - which I currently do with my workstation.
>
> My desktop PC would be replaced by a Rpi4 running Debian CLI (like my
> roaming laptop). I considered the Pi400 but I would need a second
> keyboard for my work laptop when I kvm over, not a deal breaker but
> inconvenient. Too bad, because the 400 is quite compelling for my uses.
>
> In your collective experience, would this provide sufficient stability
> to run a VM server with my light use case? Or woauld XFCE make more
> sense? I'd consider the Rpi5 if it were fanless, but people on IRC
> insist that it takes a major performance hit without active cooling.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Daniel

I've got a Pi5 8GB with a Pimoroni NVME Base, a 250GB NVME SSD and a
RaspberryPi Active Cooler.  RPi has a M.2 HAT now that would work fine
too but I don't know if the Active Cooler will work with it.  The active
cooler is almost silent and unless I do something really CPU intensive
it never speeds up to a speed where I can hear it (that could partially
be because of 40 years of jet engines too :-)

It is running RPi OS bookworm.  It is a light weight GUI similar to XFCE
that I have on my desktop.  It's really pretty snappy, much better than
a Pi4.  You can run Wayland or X11 if it matters to you.

Not sure why you would want a VM without multiple OSs installed?  In any
case if I want a full screen command line it is just <CTRL><ALT>F1 and
the screen switches.  You can set it up to boot into the command line if
you want and then start the windowing system if you need it.

The Pi5 is almost to the point of really being a desktop replacement.
Maybe when the Pi6 comes out.

--

Knute Johnson

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