.

Speed Up 9.10 by Disabling Services [KARMIC KOALA BIBLE #11]

Faster Boot with System Efficiency

2 Nov
ubuntu karmic koala

For speed freaks out there, let's look at how we may tune the PC to load only those system services that we need, disabling unnecessary ones. Not only does this give a faster boot time but can also shore up potential security risks.

When you install Windows, unless you've got a PC crammed full of resource, one of the first things you would ideally do is to disable all those generally useless services, some of which are only there as legacies from prehistoric versions when Bill was practically poor and wearing those windows-sized glasses. (I hear Windows 7 is better, or at least the spectacles have improved.)

Set Up & Enhance Ubuntu 9.10 .. KARMIC KOALA BIBLE

In simple copy/paste steps .. from zero to hero.

Scroll down for the full series index.

Wake up and smell the Ubuntu! Hope it helps. the_guv

With Ubuntu Karmic, so toned a system it is, there aren't that many services one can disable but, if you really want the barest possible Koala - and everyone likes a Koala bear - saving on startup time a tad, here's how.

Disabling Services using BUM

Get the friendly GUI application, Ubuntu BootUp Manager or BUM for short (hey, no wise cracks):-

sudo aptitude install bum

Kick it up. Have to be root for this one:-

sudo bum

Or alternatively, navigate the menu:-

System > Administration > BootUp-Manager

.. either way, after giving your admin password, it'll take a little while to start the first time, while the programme scans your system.

One nice feature with BUM is the addition of a human-friendly description to each somewhat cryptic service name, to help identify what you may or may not wish to enable or kill.

To deactivate a service, simply uncheck the box next to the service item.

Otherwise, BUM benefits more advanced users with powerful run level editing functionality. At the bottom of the app's dialogue box, check the Advanced tab and a couple of tabs appear - Services and Startup and Shutdown Scripts: with these you can edit run levels, which basically means you can set whatever services to operate under different system conditions (maybe just for the root administrator, else for everyone, and more .. although run levels are not the point of this tutorial so, er, Google that.)

Disabling Services using sysv-rc-conf

An alternative method is using sysv-rc-conf, which is essentially the same but that works only from the terminal, and that misses the human-friendly service descriptions.

Download it:-

sudo aptitude install sysv-rc-conf

And, again as root, open it up:-

sudo sysv-rc-conf

Disabling Services using Command Line Syntax

The quickest way to deactivate services is by running the update-rc.d script from the terminal.

Let's say, for example, that you want to disable cron, the service that schedules tasks:-

update-rc.d -f cron remove

Like I say, I'm not getting into run levels here, but you can use update-rc.d to alter these too, as well as to start and stop services, and to prioritise them. To find out more, including examples:-

man update-rc.d

List of Services to Consider Disabling

Requirements vary, sure, but these are typical suspects to off-load.

avahi-daemon
Service Description
apmd for laptops and/or if you use UPSi
apport notifies the ubuntu makers of your pc errors
printer/scanner service
bluetooth for bluetooth
brltty for accessability
cups for printing
dns-clean dial-up modems
hotkey setup laptop thing
laptop-mode laptop thing
pcmciautils laptop thing
ppp-dns for old ADSL modems
rsync remove
samba for windows lan
saned for scanners
windbind for samba
wpa-ifupdown for wifi

Human-Readable Descriptions of init Scripts

For a handy list of services, coupled with their user-friendly descriptions, take a look at this page on the Ubuntu wiki.

Install & Perfect Ubuntu 9.10 .. KARMIC KOALA BIBLE

Set up Koala .. tweak it to perfection .. & maximize productivity .. for work & play.

That's what the Karmic Koala Bible does, stepped out in easy copy/paste guides.

From Linux initiates to intermediates, here's what you need.

  1. Intro: Install & Perfect Ubuntu 9.10
  2. Ubuntu Desktop vs Server Edition?
  3. Plan Hard Drive Partition Strategy
  4. HOW-TO Install Ubuntu 9.10
  5. UPGRADE Jaunty 9.04 to Ubuntu 9.10
  6. apt-get v aptitude v Synaptic v Software Ctr
  7. Terminal Alias Shortcuts with bashrc
  8. Add The Best Software Repositories
  9. Safe-Upgrade 9.10 System & Packages
  10. Update Latest 9.10 Hardware Drivers
  11. Speed Up 9.10 by Disabling Services
  12. Speed Up 9.10 Boot & Personalise GRUB
  13. Optimise 9.10 SWAP with Swappiness
  14. Restore 9.10 'home' Folder from Backup
  15. SAVE TIME! Permanent Partition Mount
  16. TWEAK File Management Preferences
  17. Custom Keyboard Application Shortcuts
  18. Use Windows Key with Ubuntu 9.10
  19. HACK-PROOF 9.10 Anti-Virus & Firewall
  20. HOW-TO Disable Annoying System Beep
  21. Top 9.10 Software Picks by Category
  22. Add Application Launcher to Panel
  23. Set Preferred Startup Applications
  24. Remember Running Applications on Reboot
  25. Emulate Virtual OSes with VirtualBox

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Posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009
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  1. Chris November 3rd, 2009 at 8:19 am

    Hy,

    I tried to install sysvconfig, but in fact, it isnt in the 9.10 repository :(

  2. Chris November 3rd, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    Try sysv-rc-conf instead ;)

  3. Hendy Irawan (Soluvas) November 3rd, 2009 at 4:21 pm

    sysvconfig is no longer available in Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala.

  4. the_guv November 3rd, 2009 at 4:54 pm

    @Chris & Hendy .. tx for that .. tssk, typical .. so that involves run levels and whatnot .. will adapt this post to reflect the change tomorrow.

    Essentially though, with the change:-

    Download and install it:-
    sudo aptitude install sysv-rc-conf

    And fire it up as root:-
    sudo sysv-rc-conf

  5. the_guv November 6th, 2009 at 6:13 pm

    POST UPDATED!

    You know what, I just wasn't happy with this post, so I rewrote it. It now explains BUM, which is the most noob-friendly way to cull services, as well as the update-rc.d script, which is the fastest.

    Strikes me, both these methods merit the rewrite.

    I've not gone into run levels because, really, I don't think they're that relevant to the purpose of this post and would probably confuse more than help.

    Hope that's useful anyhow.

  6. Chris November 6th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    Much better ;) Thx

  7. the_guv November 11th, 2009 at 3:41 pm

    cool beans Chris, thank you.

  8. » Deixando o Ubuntu 9.10 mais rápido - OxenTI » Blog Archive December 10th, 2009 at 1:04 am

    [...] http://guvnr.com/pc/ubuntu-disable-services/ [...]

  9. Techs Palace January 11th, 2010 at 2:30 pm

    I always prefer,

    sudo update-rc.conf service_namde disable 2345

    Regards

  10. the_guv January 13th, 2010 at 1:22 pm

    @Techs Palace, tx for that. Nice.

    Adding a bashrc entry:-

    # Change run levels
    alias runlev="sudo update-rc.conf"

    .. one could make life even easier, spose, so that only the service name, action and required new levels need be remembered, with a command somat like:-

    runlev serviceName disable 2345

    Then again, balls, huh! Truth is, just wanted to plug my fave file, the bashrc .. here's a top terminal shortcut tutorial:-

    Edit bashrc for a User-Friendly Command Line Shell .. (Yup, For Real!)

  11. Surja May 25th, 2010 at 3:30 am

    BUM was just what I was looking for. Very useful indeed. Thank you for the useful guide :)

  12. the_guv May 30th, 2010 at 7:49 pm

    @Surja .. splendid, thank you

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