Linux Mint Forums

What programs should be deleted and the work must be stopped to consume fewer resources? The desktop is the MATE.

What is your primary focus, memory or CPU/power usage? You can disable some services if you don't need them, but it will mostly only save you some memory as services you already didn't use consume a negligible amount of CPU/power.

Here's a list to get started, probably there are some more services you could remove. This is from my quick-wins list Noting that I think it is a good idea these services are enabled by default, giving average users the best out-of-the-box experience (connectivity wise).

Some obvious services to disable to win some memory, if you aren't using them.

• Open Startup Applications in the menu, disable services you aren't using. For example from this list:
  • Bluetooth Manager - only needed if you have bluetooth devices
  • Desktop Sharing - only needed if you share your desktop with others
  • mintUpload - only needed if you use it to upload files to servers
  • Print Queue Applet - only needed if you have a real printer, not for print-to-file
  • User folders update - only needed if you switch languages, and want your personal folders to be renamed each time you switch to a another language
  • Visual Assistance - only needed if you have a vision disability
  • Xhost + - only needed for making your X server (screen + keyboard + mouse) usable by other X clients, such as a program running on somebody else's computer showing output on your screen and reading input from your keyboard and mouse
  • Zeitgeist Datahub - GNOME's built-in spyware, or at least I don't know what other function it serves but to track what you do on your own computer
• Samba + Avahi - Samba needed for file and printer sharing with other computers on the local network, Avahi for auto-discovery of services on the local network. You can disable either or both, if you aren't using those features: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 78#p476278
• Modemmanager - only needed if you have a (USB) modem: http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=101010&f=42
• Dnsmasq - only needed if you use VPN: disable by editing the file /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf:

  Code: Select all

  sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf

  and put a "#" in front of the line "dns=dnsmasq", so that it reads

  Code: Select all

  #dns=dnsmasq

  Ctrl+O followed by Enter key to save the file, Ctrl+X to exit. Then do:

  Code: Select all

  sudo restart network-manager

Thanks

That was an enlightening post, thanks. I did the same thing on Windows XP, disabling about a dozen unnecessary services to free up resources. So I looked for info on how to do the same on what I view as the natural successor to Windows XP, Linux Mint.

Great post, Vincent! I had already disabled most of those startup applications.

I couldn't get online anymore (WiFi) after commenting out dnsmasq. Removed the hashmark and restarted network-manager and it works fine again.

For further optimization, I'm wondering if compiling a custom kernel would be worth it.

If you're running debian, you can use the liquorix kernel, but I don't know if it works with Ubuntu.

Edit: there's some other stuff on this list - http://www.datamation.com/open-source/g ... ips-1.html