Security(keys, passwords), drag/drop, file sharing, virtual machine setups, backup, Linux applications: specific issues(differences), Linux and CPU bugs(Meltdown, Spectre)

One of the problems with a migration to Linux is Internet material that is obsolete or incomplete. That's the reason for all of these tricks and tips. I have avoided providing links that are older than a couple of years, unless they were really good and still useful.

Passwords and security: in Linux you can't generally copy/paste passwords. Which means you will generally use short passwords which is not desirable or use key files and at least in the case of FileZilla the key files can't use a passphrase. This issue is not a problem in some specific applications like FireFox and some others, as copy/paste does work.

FileZilla will complain about key files with passphrases and will ask to remove the passphrase, which will work just fine.

FireFox won't show the paste option when right clicking the mouse, but ctrl-v will paste the clipboard into the box.

Copy/Paste can be implemented with dual copies of AnyDesk, one on Windows and the other on the Linux machine.

Clipboard Sharing

CPU bugs Meltdown and Spectre

AMD processors are reported safe from Meltdown but not Spectre and it's variants. I have included a link to this topic. But, most of what I could find is confusing, and out of date. Here is a video.

Here is my reasoning regarding these bugs and Intel versus AMD processors. Microsoft Windows is less likely than the Linux Kernel to be patched, especially for older processors, to fix these bugs or for that matter any new ones that crop up. Intel processors are more expensive than AMD ones and it is easier to change or upgrade processors in the case of AMD using Linux operating systems. An argument can be made that these are just assumptions, but if you were wondering what mine are, there you have it.

Monday May 21, 2018 a variant of Spectre, # 4 was announced.

Programs being used that are available both in Windows and Linux

Thunderbird, Firefox, Filezilla, KeePass, AnyDesk.

Programs with serious problems being migrated or substituted

ResilioSync, TortoiseGit.

A page with summary of why migrate and to what Linux.

Machines that I have migrated from Windows to Linux and summary of the results:

Three desktop and one Laptop, with links to special pages to Laptop issues.

Virtual Machine Systems

OpenSuse supports KVM and Xen, installed from Yast.

VMware Player ( I prefer VMWare Player) has to be installed by hand.

Install of VM Player, won't compile due to kernel header issue. The headers have to be installed by Yast then the player can be installed. Reboot Linux after installing the headers.

Warning: OpenSuse 15 would not build VM Player and work. I used Oracle VirtualBox.

Oracle VirtualBox requires installation of kernel headers and the VB package. It ran a virtual machine built under the VMware Workstation Player without any apparent problem.

VirtualBox
Install vbox, then the kernel development, add user to vboxusers group.
Use Yast, search for VirtualBox. Install all four vb, vb kernel mods(2), vb-qt.

Virtual Machine Issues and Windows 7

Backing UP

Tar

FreeFileSync

File Sharing

Sharing

Disk Issues

Program Specific Tips

Video, install extra codecs  OpenSuse 

DLNA. After installing, have to add it the appropriate group. Be sure the firewall is open on 8200(TCP), 1900(UDP). Modify the config file to point to the path to the videos.

MultiMedia

Universal Media Server

AnyDesk: install anydesk. Get the rpm from anydesk. Install gtkglext in yast.(not gdk glext)
then sudo rpm -i anydesk-version num, etc. ".rpm"

FireFox:

Leap 15 installed the latest Firefox.

Leap 42.3: Firfox had problems with major differences between verions 59 on Windows and 52 on linux.
Installed firefox from web.

42,x Ended up with FF 59, but not the latest Windows 60. In Yast - > ONLINE UPDate: set firefox to never update.

To get your old Firefox profile: copied the places.sqlite stuff over to linux. Had to put them in a shared folder.
Everything seems ok, history, bookmarks, etc.

TortoiseGit issues:

FileZilla:
Key files are supported, but not password protected ones.
Edit-Settings-Connection-SFTP. Add key file.
Your account in Site Manager has to have Normal logon type with empty password and then the key should get tried automatically.
FileZillaKeyFiles

Thunderbird DKIM issues:
Make TB default email:
KDE's "Configure Desktop": Under "Personal" you'll find "Default Applications".