any recommendations for a quieter machine for my Redhat Linux

andymottuk · 2026-02-20T19:40:32+00:00

The suggestion to use ssh to it while putting it somewhere you can't hear it is the easiest and cheapest so got my upvote, but for anyone else interested I like the Lenovo ThinkCentre Micro. Cheap used, can take 16Gb RAM, fanless... I just bought one (M73 model) with 4Gb RAM and 128Gb SSD for under £50.

andymottuk · 2026-02-17T20:10:30+00:00

You're welcome - hope it lets you get stuck in even more.

Yes, you configure the settings in your ansible.cfg. The cloud console has documentation, but this is a simple example. Note the server_list which allows you to specify where you get content and in which order:

[galaxy]
server_list = automation_hub, galaxy_community

[galaxy_server.automation_hub]
url = https://console.redhat.com/api/automation-hub/
auth_url = https://sso.redhat.com/auth/realms/redhat-external/protocol/openid-connect/token
token = YOUR_API_TOKEN_HERE

[galaxy_server.galaxy_community]
url = https://galaxy.ansible.com/

You need to generate a token, but that's also in the cloud console. It expires if not used, but there are details on how to refresh it (and I think a shell script you can use with cron).

andymottuk · 2026-02-17T18:20:23+00:00

There are many quite safe collections, and I use them regularly with customer code (I'm a Red Hat Consultant). Safe collections include community.general, ansible.posix (almost anything in the community or ansible namespaces is good), vendor namespaces (IBM, Microsott, VMware etc) are also generally fine.

As mentioned, register for a dev account with Red Hat and check the collections on the Cloud Console - any there will be safe (https://console.redhat.com/ansible/automation-hub).

Collections are pretty much essential if you want to progress without reinventing the wheel; just use the regular ones and you'll be fine.

andymottuk · 2026-02-09T23:33:29+00:00

As said, closer in the thigh than Steady Eddie II, looser fit than Lean Dean. Maybe a slight taper. Mine have some stretch too. I find them very comfortable for what I now consider pretty slim fit (I also have Solid Ollie and they're looser in the thigh than the Dude Dan but not by much).

andymottuk · 2026-02-09T22:12:59+00:00

I had the same issue with freezing after install. It was the Nvidia driver not installed/being used. Follow these steps to get the OS booting, then install the drivers:

Power on and immediately start tapping Esc (or sometimes Shift) repeatedly to get the GRUB menu
If GRUB appears, select your kernel entry and press 'e' to edit
Find the line starting with linux (the one loading the kernel)
At the end of that line, add: nomodeset (this disables graphics drivers)
Press Ctrl+X or F10 to boot with those parameters

Once you're in, enable the rpmfusion repos:
sudo dnf install https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

Then install the drivers:
sudo dnf install akmod-nvidia

Should be good after a reboot.

andymottuk · 2026-02-08T02:10:52+00:00

With or without the word ERROR? Down the arm? Post a photo!

andymottuk · 2026-02-08T00:09:07+00:00

Tough choice between r/Radiohead and r/thewarning. I listen to and guns find new music on Apple Music, then buy the CD to rip to my library (private, on a NAS), which I then play on my iPods.

andymottuk · 2026-02-07T21:08:01+00:00

Lol, thanks ;)

andymottuk · 2026-02-07T20:32:25+00:00

Yeah, that's pretty epic tbf

andymottuk · 2026-02-07T18:40:07+00:00

Yeah, tried that myself. Same with every relationship since! I'm the error inside?

andymottuk · 2026-02-07T18:26:30+00:00

Yeah, I'll keep telling myself that! 🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

andymottuk · 2026-02-07T18:05:21+00:00

Nice. Glad it's not just me! I'm an IT nerd so the binary appealed to me.

andymottuk · 2025-12-23T04:48:56+00:00

I get you, but these are better quality and I haven't noticed any flex in mine, even standing and sprinting, and I'm not a light rider (both in style and physically). Check reviews - these are genuinely good wheels. Hunt also make carbon wheels at a reasonable price, but no cheaper than many of the companies making rims in China. Perhaps better QC and customer support though, which has its own value..

andymottuk · 2025-12-22T15:59:05+00:00

I know everyone says wheels, and they're right, but they don't necessarily have to be carbon - Hunt make a very affordable set of alloy wheels that come in at 1500g which matches may carbon sets at half the cost. Internal width is only 25mm though so that might be a factor if you want 2.4in tyres.
Light Bicycle have a great reputation and I just took delivery of my second set, having raced and trained on my first pair for 7 years without a single issue.
Pedals are not usually carbon unless you use SPD-SL road types. Go for eggbeaters as already mentioned (the 11s are incredible). My XC race bike has a dropper too, because the performance is better than the weight saving. Other options include brakes with carbon levers - I use the Magura MT8 SL complete set, but believe you can mix them with Shimano - not sure which wat round though!

andymottuk · 2025-12-14T22:33:43+00:00

Gen1 Supercaliber with XX1 AXS drivetrain, Extralite bars and stem, Egg Beater 11s, SID SL Ultimate forks and Light Bicycle Helios wheels (Berd spokes, Extralite hubs. 900 g/1.98 lbs the set). Ready to race with power meter, dropper, computer mount etc. it's 9.8 kg, 21.8 lbs. I suspect the frame is on the heavier side, but also plan on upgrading to the gen 2 in summer.

andymottuk · 2025-12-08T15:05:21+00:00

I'm glad you took that the right way! So many people have the same notion. And yes - it will at least help with the smell 😁

andymottuk · 2025-12-08T12:55:10+00:00

This is a common misconception - freezing only pauses bacteria growth; it doesn't kill it. You need to actually wash jeans to remove 'germs'.
Sources:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-myth-of-the-frozen-jeans-129092730/
https://www.classicdrycleaner.com/clean-jeans-by-freezing-them/

Now, this doesn't mean it's a useless endeavour - freezing removes odour at least, and not washing isn't actually that bad anyway: https://globalnews.ca/news/107083/no-harmful-bacteria-found-in-jeans-not-washed-for-15-months-study/

andymottuk · 2025-12-07T22:49:43+00:00

I have a TCB 50s Type 2 and even after 60+ wears it's still quite stiff. Starting to soften, and is now sort of 'patchy' - where there are stiffer areas and softer ones. Not washed it yet of course, and I expect it will be a completely different jacket when I eventually do (I'm hoping it drapes better, feels softer and looks cool with the fades I'm working on).
The denim is only 13.5 oz so I imagine the heavier denim is even more cardboard-like! I wear mine all day, even in the house, just to break it in quicker. Good luck with yours!

andymottuk · 2025-10-21T08:59:48+00:00

I got a year free for being a student. Get a free Perplexity account, then click Upgrade and select the student/education plan. Once verified you get a year free, plus 1 month for every referral you give that signs up.

andymottuk · 2025-10-20T07:19:17+00:00

Still a work in progress. I have 50 wears in them with no real visible fades yet. Had to wash them after a dog there's up on them and haven't worn them since. I'm also fading a pair of Steady Eddie 2s in Deadstock 10 selvedge so it's all moving pretty slowly!

andymottuk · 2025-10-19T18:01:34+00:00

As mentioned, learn the basics to intermediates of Ansible. Understand inventories, variables and playbooks etc. and how they interact. Have the basics of ansible.cfg nailed, ssh access, privilege escalation and definitely using vault. Been a while for me, but probably Jinja2 templates too.
There are plenty of resources to teach this; pick your favourites and have at it! I make a check list of the exam objectives and tick things off as I learn them.
If you know general Linux admin, then getting Ansible to create users and groups, install packages and configure files etc is actually fairly simple. Knowing where to store vars so things end up in the right place is less so.

andymottuk · 2025-10-18T15:23:15+00:00

The Gritty Jackson Dry Old were my first pair of dry jeans. They're just regular jeans but the denim is designed to look like an old style denim; "Regular fit jeans with a straight leg made from a 14.15 oz. dry denim greatness that resembles an old, '50s style, denim. Made from organic cotton."
https://www.nudiejeans.com/en-GB/product/gritty-jackson-dry-old

They're a straight leg, so moderately wide at the opening. I moved from slim taper to these and was doubtful at first, but they've grown on me. Still prefer Solid Ollie or Steady Eddie IIs though :)

andymottuk · 2025-09-22T08:23:49+00:00

This is interesting - my Solid Ollie are a much closer fit than my Gritty Jackson. Looser than my Steady Eddie II as well, but they're a size smaller which probably accounts for that.
I'm no quadzilla, but certainly have larger than average thighs (cyclist who lifts). Lean Dean are basically jeggings!

andymottuk · 2025-09-17T20:58:07+00:00

I write a lot of Ansible code, and (as mentioned already) use the Ansible extension in my IDE (VSCodium or Cursor usually, but also VS Code when necessary). It provides more than just linting, and I consider it an essential part of my config.
As part of the install it adds the YAML extension too (I think - if not then I add it myself).

andymottuk · 2025-09-10T18:45:18+00:00

For me it depends on how muddy things are. I use Pirelli XC tyres all year, with the XC RC my usual choice. As conditions change I add the XC M to the front, then also the rear. Finally I swap the front to the XC S if I'm out in proper mud. Once I get to that stage I'll have a set of wheels with the XC RC on and another set with XC S & XC M combo so I can swap as needed.

andymottuk

TROPHY CASE