Sanitation Guide: Fast Restoration Method (Labtix)

Labdoo recommends installing by cloning images with the free installation tool Labtix, developed by Labdoo helpers. As you could see in the video tutorial, there are numerous setting and selection options to adapt Labtix to your requirements. Labtix 1 runs on 32-bit, Labtix 2 on 64-bit (recommended). Labtix is regularly further developed. Please check our FTP server regularly for updates http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/Labtix/.

version until Ubuntu 20.04 LTS Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and higher
Labtix 1
Labtix 2

Note for advanced users: Labtix has a persistence mode, i.e. you can make your own changes to Labtix and save them. You act as root user in fact. The password (only needed if you "get stuck" in the terminal when booting ) is "labdoo". But beware - as root you can destroy Labtix or bloat it by too many changes. Labtix fits on a CD when delivered. The tool ISO-snapshot also allows you to create a new ISO-file that takes over possible changes to the system.

Labtix comes with various tools and installation tools https://platform.labdoo.org/en/content/preinstalled-tools-labtix.

Die meisten findet ihr direkt auf dem Desktop. Welches Tool für euch am Besten passt, müsst ihr selber entscheiden:

  • Labdoo installer: with a graphical user interface.
  • "2-click" installer - clone images from the file manager SpaceFM (up to Labtix 1.02) / zzzFM (from Labtix 2.0) with 2 clicks. Starting with Labtix 2.0, the default installation method.
  • Auto deploy and content installer: complete and terminal-based installation tool that also automates the deployment of additional content to multiple languages.
  • Labdoo Installer - app with graphical user interface (only for Labtix 1)

On the Labtix desktop you will find a Docs folder in which manuals are in PDF format. However, we recommend that you first watch the individual steps and tools as a YouTube video tutorial.

Sometimes you have to select certain settings in the boot menu because of the hardware, e.g. often failsafe mode in netbooks, etc. Otherwise it can happen that Labtix does not start up, gets stuck at terminal level (the desktop does not appear) or the monitor remains dark. Then try the options in Failsafe Mode or Safe Video Mode. This is also explained in the YouTube tutorial mentioned above.

All video-tutorials are on our YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/LabdooDACH/playlists and on our FTP server http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/Public/videos/for-technicians/.

Labtix 2 Desktop

Labtix release information

All Labtix versions can be downloaded from the FTP server
current version: http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/
older version (archive): http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/archive/Labtix_former_releases/

Labtix 2 (from 2022)

Since its launch in 2017, Labtix has become the most popular installer and remover tool within the Labdoo project. Labtix Release 1 is based on a 32-bit Antix 17 (2017) kernel. Labtix 2 is based on a 64-bit Antix 21 (2021) kernel.

Don't put Labtix 1 too far away as this "old" version works well with "old" hardware. And the new Labtix version 2 fits the more modern your donated laptop is, which requires current drivers that are only available in 2. And cloning images of 22.04 LTS and higher Labtix 2 is mandatory.

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS introduced a new boot partition format (grub2 core.img). Labtix 1 and also older Clonezilla versions do not know this format and therefore cannot clone current images on Ubuntu 22.04 and higher! Please try whether Labtix 2 starts with a setting such as failsafe or safe graphics if there is a problem. Then there would be Parted Magic as another installation tool on the web. Or you would have to take Labtix 1 and an image based on 20.04 LTS.

However, we recommend using Labtix 2 by default as it comes with many improvements and features:

  • Labtix 2 is based on Antix 21 and is only available in a 64-bit version. There is no longer a 32-bit version (sorry). Users who require a 32-bit version must use the earlier Labtix 1.
  • The images provided by Labdoo on our FTP server can be processed with either Labtix 1 or Labtix 2.
  • You need for Labtix 2
    • At least one 2GB USB key (recommended) or DVD to install and run Labtix 2 on. It is not possible to install Labtix 2 on a CD or a 1GB stick (too small).
    • min. 1.5 - 2 GB RAM in the computer to be installed.l
  • Labdoo team has changed the user interface as little as possible, so you don't need long training. Some changes were mandatory, e.g. Labtix 2 comes with the file manager zzzFM (Fork of SpaceFM). And 4 years of software development have passed...
  • UEFI: The number of IT donations with UEFI will increase. Normally you turn off UEFI and Secure Boot in the BIOS and enable Legacy Boot. However, there may be reasons why this is not possible (e.g. BIOS locked by unknown password; no legacy support implemented, etc.). There was already a manual UEFI procedure in Labtix 1, in Labtix 2 it is now largely automated. Labtix shows which mode (Legacy or UEFI) was booted in and you select the appropriate installation script in the 2-click installer in the file manager. If you select the UEFI Sprit, this happens: On the installation medium, the folder /UEFI with the UEFI image must be in the top folder. This small UEFI image is automatically installed first, followed by the actual image you want. After the installation, the UUID of the 2nd partition is entered in the grub file so that the computer starts up correctly. Labdoo had to decide to either maintain 2 complete sets of images (UEFI and legacy), which would have taken a lot of time and storage space on our servers. Or to have only one set of images (legacy) with the above solution, which is still started correctly in connection with an upstream UEFI image. Sounds more complicated than it is, everything is set automatically during installation.
  • Improved user support and more tools available:
    • Remaining battery capacity: Labtix shows the percentage (%) of the remaining battery capacity (life cycle), e.g. 20% means that only ⅕ of the original battery capacity is available and a new battery should be considered.
    • Better support for SSDs
    • New driver for current hardware (graphics card, interfaces, LAN/WiFi etc.).
    • Additional tools: Speaker test, Live USB Maker, Avahi network scan, StressCPU (°C/°F check), DiskCheck and much more.
  • Images for Cloning:
    • A new set of images for cloning based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS will be made available and uploaded to our FTP server in mid-2022,
    • the 20.04 LTS based images are moved to the /archives directory on the FTP server,
    • The 18.04 LTS images need to be removed from the FTP server due to the capacity of the FTP server (those were the last images that could run on a 32-bit CPU; thus ending the 32-bit range for the Labdoo project) .

    Any image release can be processed with any Labtix release, fully compatible.

Labtix 1 (2017 - 2021)

Based on Antix 17 (2017) you get a complete set of refurbishment and installation tools. Labtix 1 runs on 32-bit and 64-bit CPUs. The drivers included in Labtix 1 work best on older hardware (approx. 2008 - 2018, difficult to define exactly, it's best to try it).

  • You need 1
  • for Labtix

    • At least one 2GB USB stick or CD to install and run Labtix 1 on.
    • 1GB RAM.

    Review of a donated laptop

    Check the hardware with Labtix
    To start, you should check a donated computer. After all, it makes no sense to send a laptop to hot countries that already overheats in cool regions. Or if the hard drive is already "crumbling", how is it supposed to survive transport and operation in hot regions? That's why Labtix comes with useful tools to check not only the hard drive, but also speakers, temperature sensors under load and much more. more to check, if necessary to clean fan, to renew thermal paste or foil.

    BIOS settings
    Some laptops require changing BIOS settings:

    BIOS settings Comment
    Secure Boot Must always be off (disabled). Sometimes an administrator password must first be set in order to disable Secure Boot. The admin password can then be removed again.
    Trusted Platform Module (TPM) TPM is a security chip that secures a computer. In connection with Linux, however, TMP should always be switched off (deactivated). With some laptops, an administrator password must first be set in order to be able to deactivate the TPM. The admin password can then be removed again.
    UEFI Up to Ubuntu 20.04 LTS It is recommended to turn off UEFI and enable Legacy/CSM. However, there is also a concept for an UEFI-based installation for 20.04 LTS developed by Labdoo helpers.
    From Ubuntu 22.04 LTS a separate concept was developed for Ubuntu so that both UEFI and Legacy/CSM installations are possible. Note: Labtix starts on some computers and the installation of the image runs smoothly. But when you restart the laptop, you get notices like "Invalid Partition table!" or similar and the laptop won't boot. Then please set the UEFI mode or both (UEFI and Legacy) in the BIOS.
    In very stubborn cases, the tool uses SuperGrub2Disk https://www.supergrubdisk.org.

    Recommended hardware checks

    Tool Check
    GSmart Please check the status of the target disk (sda) with the tool GSmartControl. The more "red" notes or icons and the darker they are, the sooner the hard drive should be replaced.
    StressCpu / psensor The maximum temperature should be around 55 to 65°C under normal load, depending on the CPU / GPU type and the ambient temperature. To load the CPU, the "Stress CPU" script starts on the desktop (triggers "stress --cpu -8" in a terminal). Observe the temperature display of the CPU sensors in psensor. Stress CPU starts after 10 seconds and runs at full CPU load for 60 seconds so as not to damage the CPU and cooling system.

    The temperatures often rise to over 70°C under full load, less would be better. Many manufacturers indicate an acceptable maximum temperature (CPU under full load) of 75 degrees. If the temperatures rise to 80°C or higher under load, Stress CPU immediately stops to avoid damage to the processor and cooling system. Then the cooling system needs to be revised (e.g. cleaning the fan or replacing the cooler paste/cooling pads). An overheated cooling system can also be recognized by the fact that the copper-colored heat conductor has turned bluish.

    • Unscrew the cover from the fan area. Shine using a lamp inside and check whether you can see the light well from the outside through the fan. Then the air can also get through :) If not, the fan and ventilation system should be cleaned.
    • Sometimes it's enough to blow through the ventilation slits from outside in. The fan should be blocked with a nail or screwdriver to prevent it from rotating. In addition, dust flakes can be removed with a curved needle or soft brush through the suction hole..
    • If necessary, the thermal paste/foil on the CPU cooler must be renewed.

    For some devices with Intel i3/5/7 processors, it is helpful to switch off the "Intel Turbo Boost" (may have a different name for some devices!) in the BIOS/UEFI in order to get the temperature below 75°C under full load.

    Speaker Test Alternately checks the left and right speakers.

    Preparation for the Fast Installation Methods

    If you already have a bootable CD or USB Stick with our Labtix installation environment and Laboo Images for cloning, you can skip this chapter.

    Thanks to the Labtix tool (LiveCD), all pre-installed learning content in labdoo systems can be "cloned" quickly and easily to new computers using the so-called images.
    These images are available in 4 languages (English, Spanish, German, French). So you can select the language in the target country of the IT donation depending on the language and manually upload further learning contents in further languages.

    You need two things for that:
    Labtix bootable media: this can be a CD or USB stick, that you use to boot the Laptop you want to have restored, into the Labtix einvironment.
    External USB hard drive: to store the cloning images and other learning content from our FTP server (Labdoo also provides an already prepared USB Drive to the volunteers, please contact your local Hub).


    Labtix: The Labdoo installation environment

    To be able to install older and newer computers with a license-free tool, Labdoo.org has a small solution (live-image) based on the Linux-Version Antix which we have called Labtix (a combination of Labdoo and Antix).

    In Labtix you will find everything you need to delete old data on a donated computer or laptop, for fast and automated installation proceses in order to obtain a ready-to-ship computer. Additionally, Labtix provides many tools to diagnose hardware, to analyze and solve problems (CPU/processor, temprerature problems, damaged hard drives, etc.)

    You can download the iso file for Labtix from our FTP server
    here (MD5SUM).

    Once you have downloaded the file, you can create a boot media (CD or USB) from the iso file, which you will use to start and prepare (Sanitation process) donated computers

    Creating a bootable USB or CD/DVD from the Labtix ISO

    The next thing to do is to convert the ISO file into a bootable CD or USB bootstick (simple copying is not enough!). This often works with file managers of your favorite operating system or with additional tools. For further questions consult the web (search for "cd / USB stick create ISO" and your operating system).

    A blank 750 MB CD is sufficient for one CD (DVD is not necessary), USB sticks go from 1 GB (but usually 4 GB is the smallest size you can get). Note for technicians: Labtix has a persistence mode, with which you can save your desired configuration. However, this takes up more space, therefore 4 GB or more is better.

    WINDOWS:
    - Download and run a program for creating bootable media. For example, Rufus: https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/releases/download/v3.4/rufus-3.4p.exe (link is external) or another alternative https://alternativeto.net/software/rufus/
    (link is external)
    - Run Rufus, select the USB device, click on the "Select" button and select the labtix.iso file, then click on ''Start''.

    LINUX:
    you will find many useful tools for Linux in the following link: https://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/Brennprogramme/
    (link is external)

    But the easiest and fastest way is using dd. Once you know the device path to your USB key (in the example /dev/sdb) run:
    dd if=Labtix.iso of=/dev/sdb bs=1M; sync
    (see details explained under: https://antixlinux.com/forum-archive/writing-antix-iso-image-on-usb-flas...)

    MAC OS:
    You can use the following procedure: [https://osxdaily.com/2015/06/05/copy-iso-to-usb-drive-mac-os-x-command ]
    (Here we refer to Internet and search engines).



    Labdoo-Cloning images method and additional content

    For the Fast Restoration method, you need to clone the Labdoo Images. For cloning, you have to download the images first. Images are copies of a complete, pre-installed system (of already sanitized laptops). Linux has a great feature that other operating systems don't have. You can transfer a system from computer A to computer B - and it runs!

    You will find these images online in our Labdoo FTP server http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/.
    You can also download these images from the web browser by selecting the image you want to download, right-click on it, and then select "save link as".

    This does not work for folders or for many files! These have to be downloaded individually and of course, this is a lot of work.
    Simple methods for downloading multiple files for all common operating systems can be found at https://www.labdoo.org/de/content/zugang-zum-ftp-server

    Images are large and the download takes a long time, so If you are familiar with FTP clients, we recommend downloading them directly via FTP (sftp, userlabdoo and password labdoo).

    Labdoo Images for Cloning

    When deciding what image is best for you, you should consider the following aspects:

    • The CPU/processor architecture of the computer you are currently working on (32 bit or 64 bit). You can easily figure this out with the Labtix environment. It will be displayed in the upper right corner of your desktop (see also the video above).
    • The target language you want to install.
    • The size of the hard disk in the computer to be refurbished. This size is displayed e.g. in the BIOS or after booting Labtix.

    The name of an image on the FTP server shows:

    imagesThe French and Spanish images occupy 80 GB because they already have the learning content in these languages (Wikis, OER Open Educational ressources,...). The German image is additionally played with German courses, dictionaries in many refugee languages etc..

    The English images of 80 Gbs as well, but the larger images (160,250 Gbd) include even more learning contents

    Additional learning content

    Additional learning content can be added after the installation process if you are not using the autodeploy.sh method that allows you to add additional content during installation. We will come back to this later...

    External USB hard disk preparation (1+ TB)

    The downloaded images are already unpacked and ready to use. Copy them to an external hard drive or a local server. The USB disk must be formatted to store large files. For example, FAT32 is not possible because FAT32 can only handle files smaller than 4GB. NTFS is the recommended filesystem for an external hard disk.

    The automated installation scripts require to be saved to an external hard disk without a parent directory, as they are stored on the FTP server. For further details please refer to the manual http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/labdoo%20autodeploy%20and%20...

    Connecting to the Labdoo FTP server

    The Labdoo FTP server allows users to download files and images for Labdoo devices for free. Here are some simple ways to connect to the FTP server. Pick the one that suits you best. For security reasons, Labdoo does not allow unsecured FTP protocol, only the secured SFTP protocol (no ftp, only sftp).

    Keep in mind again, that if this all takes too long or is too much work for you, especially for a one-time installation, then give your IT donation into the hands of Labdoo Hubs and helpers!

    Note: Labdoo is not responsible for third-party software.


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    1. Accessing the server through your browser

    Open the URL http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/ in a browser and navigate via the links (Make sure the URL begins with “http://” and not “ftp://). Here you can download all files for free.
    To download a file, click on a link with the right button of your mouse, then click "Save target as" (name can be different depending on your browser and opperating system).
    This method's advantage is that you can access without a password, but on the other hand files can only be downloaded individually.


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    2. Access data to connect to the FTP server

    It is more convenient to connect your PC or server directly to the FTP server. Depending on your operating system there are several tools below. We created a user on the FTP server: labdoo with the password labdoo and read permissions (no write permissions), which is available to you for this purpose. If you need write permissions, please contact contact@Labdoo.org (EN) or Labdoo-DACH@Labdoo.org (DE).

    Protocol = sftp (sftp is safer than ftp, so only sftp is available)
    Server = sftp.labdoo.org
    Username = labdoo
    Password = labdoo
    Path = /


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    3. Integrate into the file manager (Windows, Swish)

    Windows does not offer its own way to connect the file manager to an FTP server via the sftp protocol. ftp would be possible, but we do not offer this for security reasons. However, you can use additional programs sftp, e.g. the Swish Add-on for the Windows file manager http://www.swish-sftp.org/(link is external) .

    After installing Swish, you have to set up the access to the FTP-Server:

    Login to the FTP server: Name - choose a name of your choice; server: sftp.labdoo.org; user: labdoo; path: /
    Security key: Save and connect - key remains permanently on the PC until changed; Simply connect - key is only saved for this session and will be queried again next time
    Enter the password labdoo, now you can use the FTP server like a drive on your PC.

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    4. Filezilla

    It is easy to connect your computer to the FTP server with special tools if you need to download massive files. The free FTP client Filezilla can be downloaded here https://filezilla-project.org/.. Also available for Apple (macOS) https://filezilla-project.org/download.php?platform=osx.

    The start path can be set in the settings under Advanced --> Default directory on the server. Then you don't always have to click through the whole file system.

    Enter the access data: Server - sftp://sftp.labdoo.org ; Username labdoo ; Password - labdoo ; Port - 22

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    5. Linux
    If you are using GNU/Linux, you can easily integrate the FTP server using the sftp protocol (secure FTP). Simply enter the path for the FTP folder → s_COPY13@ftp.labdoo.org:/ in your favorite file manager.


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    6. rsync

    More information about using rsync for Linux users can be found here https://wiki.ubuntuusers.de/rsync/.

    If you want to mirror the whole FTP server, you can do so with the following command rsync -avHe ssh labdoo@ftp.labdoo.org:/ (Attention: Several 100 GB!)

    If you want to mirror the subfolder /install-disk (installation disk), you can do this with the following command rsync -avHe ssh labdoo@ftp.labdoo.org:/install-disk (Attention: almost 1 TB!)


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    7.Connecting Apple (macOS and iOS) using Filezilla or iTransfer to an FTP server

    For Apple and (macOS ans iOS) you can install and use the free tools Filezilla or iTransfer.


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    8. recommended folders or links

    If you want you can mirror the whole FTP drive :) Maybe you should choose the content you really need? Here are some useful paths that might be of interest to you:

    All data necessary for an installation: http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/
    English documents: http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/documents/english/
    Graphics + logos: http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/documents/material/

    If you have any questions send an e-mail to Labdoo Global Support team wall and a Labdooer will get back to you.

    Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

    2 - Click Installation Method

    This section describes how to use the file manager SpaceFM (Labtix 1) or zzzFM (Labtix 2) to clone images with just 2 clicks.

    Labtix 2

    https://youtu.be/Q7WMvF1QXX8

    Labtix 1

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkmrV3tvt-U

    For Labtix 2: Sometimes the screen is very dark after booting and the screen cannot be brightened or darkened using the function keys. Then move the mouse to the upper left corner, if necessary "flying blind", click there and then tap on the arrow key to the right. Each time you press the arrow key, the monitor should get a little brighter.


    • Double-click to start the file manager SpaceFM (Labtix 1) oder zzzFM (Labtix 2).
    • Mount the drive on which the images for cloning are located.
      • für Labtix 1 und 2: For external USB drives: plug it in, the drive appears with a - in front of it, then click on the entry and the "-" becomes a "+".
      • Labtix 1: On a server: Plugins→MountShare→Scan and manually enter the IP address of the server, if necessary select Share from the list, User and Passwort→Mount.
      • Labtix 2: Connect to the network, via LAN it is sufficient to plug in the LAN cable, for WLAN with Connman system tray, then open file manager zzzFM → in the input area (preset /home/labdoo/) den Enter the path to the server, e.g. smb://192.168.1.1/install-disk, if necessary enter the password in the terminal window. smb is the protocol required for Windows servers.
        First it tries to establish a connection for the user guest, then for the user ladboo. Or you can enter a local user like this: smb://user@192.168.1.1/install-disk and then the password in the terminal window.
      • The drive / server is now mounted, i.e. the computer has access to it.
    • Open the folder with the images.
    • Right click on the folder containing the image to be installed.
    • Click the displayed functions list on
      • Labtix 1: Labdoo Image Installer
      • Labtix 2: labdoo-legacy-installer or labdoo-UEFI-installer (depending on system settings and boot)
    • in the next window
      • Labtix 1: leave the "shred sda" tick (disk will be overwritten 3 times) or remove it (disk will not be deleted),
      • Labtix 2: Enter the path to the target disk, e.g. sda, nvmep1n or similar → set the number of delete runs,
      • optional: enter the host ID if you already know it (otherwise it can be changed after the restart)
    • The image will now being copied to the internal hard disk sda.
    • At the end GParted opens for control to display the finished partition on sda. The whole hard disk should be available. Close GParted. In rare cases the automatic adjustment of the partition does not work. Then it can be adjusted manually.
    • The window with the installation's confirmation will appear, confirm with "ok" and close.
    • The installation will be confirmed in the terminal, then close with ''Enter''.
    • The installation is complete. Labtix can be shut down with "Poweroff" or "Save Poweroff" and the computer can be restarted.

    Installed tools for Labtix

    Labtix comes with a number of useful tools preinstalled:
    (partly smaller deviations between the Labtix versions possible)

    Application Description
    Arandr A tool for configuring the screen layout. Very useful when your device has the internal monitor removed and an external display is connected.
    Audacious CD/DVD drive functionality test
    Avahi network scanner scans the network (please connect first) and shows e.g. the path to a server or similar.
    Backlight Brightness Sometimes the screen is too dark and cannot be made brighter with the keyboard (function keys). Then you can change the brightness with Backlight Brightness. Works most of the time, but not always.
    battery-plugin in the panel gives you information about the status of the battery when you mouse over it. The plug-in can be activated with a right mouse click and "Battery Monitor Settings", if not already done.
    Conky A tool for displaying system information on the desktop. The output window is in the upper right corner. The configuration file is in Labtix 1: /etc/conky/conky.conf, in Labtix 2: ~/conky.rc. In Labtix 2 with even more information, such as battery status, etc.
    Firefox esr is the "enterprise version" of Firefox, which is not updated as often. For example, Firefox can be used during installation to research the web. It can also display pdf files. By default it doesn't collect cookies and doesn't store data to avoid bloating Labtix with unnecessary data in persistence mode.
    Gparted a great tool for disk partitioning, file system repair and partition copying.
    Gsmartcontrol /
    DiskCheck
    a tool to read the S.M.A.R.T data from a hard drive to see if the hard drive is healthy. If yours is "red" in the registers, you should use a different hard drive.
    Tip: If a Seagate disk shows thousands of reallocation reallocation events in the Attributes tab, the drive is not damaged. These hard drives have different firmware specifically for Lenovo computers that uses the memory bit for reallocation events for other purposes.
    hard info gives you extensive information about the hardware and software of the computer.
    ISO Snapshot a tool to create an ISO snapshot of the system. All changes to the system are saved in the snapshot. While running ISO snapshot, mark the directories NOT to be added to the snapshot, except for the "Desktop" directory which contains the .desktop files. You should move existing snapshots to a directory that you do not want to include in the snapshot. The snapshot is saved in /home/snapshot. If the snapshot is created on a non-persistent system (e.g. boots from CD-ROM), it should be saved on another device. If there is not enough disk space to save the snapshot, the save path can be e.g. to another USB stick. The snapshot can be installed to a USB stick using UNetbootin or burned to a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM using the IG Burn Tool plugin in SpaceFM.
    Keyboard layout handler With the Keyboard Layout Handler on the right side of the panel you can change the keyboard layout with a left mouse click. To make a permanent change, right click and use the "Keyboard Layout Handler Settings". The top keyboard layout in the list is preassigned at startup. With a left mouse click you can go through the pre-installed keyboard layouts (German, US English, French, Spanish).
    Live USB Maker (Labtix 2) to copy Labtix to other USB sticks.
    Magnify Magnifier on/off
    Onboard show/hide monitor keyboard.
    SimpleScreenRecorder
    (Labtix 2 only)
    Tool to record videos of the session, e.g. for training purposes.
    Psensor A tool to control the temperatures of CPU, GPU and others.
    SpaceFM (Labtix 1) /
    zzzFM (Labtix 2)
    is a file manager for the usual file actions and for integrating external devices. It has plugins to e.g. mount shares and burn CDs or DVDs. SpaceFM/zzzFM is highly configurable and can be modified with additional plugins. The trash can is disabled to prevent accumulation of too much data in persistence mode. If required, the trash can can be added as a plugin. It should not be removed as it is part of the desktop environment!
    Speaker Test Speaker test right / left.
    UNetbootin (Labtix 1) a tool to create bootable USB sticks. Start Unetbootin, enable "Diskimage", select the ISO snapshot (should be in /home/snapshot) and select the target USB drive. The USB stick should be formatted with fat32 and it should be mounted (use SpaceFM for this). After installation on a thumbdrive, Gparted should be used to check if the boot flag is set correctly!
    wipefs Fast deletion of the file system (but does not replace overwriting with random numbers).
    Xfburn to burn Labtix from CDs/DVDs.

    For more information, please use the man pages of the help function in the terminal (e.g. "man gparted" or
    type "psensor --help" there and press (enter)) or use the Internet.

    Desktop Settings:
    The Labtix desktop environment is based on openbox with the additional lxpanel. If you right-click on the desktop, you can select "Desktop Settings" to make changes to the desktop. To install new program launchers on the desktop, copy them from /usr/share/applications to the desktop. To move icons on the desktop, use "Shift + Drag". Please note that in some cases SpaceFM moves the items out of the folder. If so, please copy it back.

    Helpful commands (shell, terminal)

    Helpful comnands (shell, terminal)

    To open a terminal click on the terminal icon in the menu bar or press the keys Ctrl and Alt and t.

    If access to a command is denied ("permission denied") or root rigts are needed, add "sudo" in front of the command to be used, e.g. "sudo zzzfm"

    For more information use the --help option e.g. "apt --help"

    ======================================================================
    acpi (-V) >> information about the powersystem like battery-state, battery-condition etc.

    ======================================================================
    (sudo) apt >> package manager

    Usage:

    sudo apt update >> create the needed package database
    sudo apt install mousepad >> installs the program "mousepad"

    Only usefull in the persistence mode. The device must be connected to the internet.

    ======================================================================
    eject -T >> ejects CDs or DVDs

    ======================================================================
    grep >> filters the output of commands

    acpi -V | grep -i battery >> shows only the lines of acpi -V wich contain the term "battery"

    ======================================================================
    (sudo) inxi >> system information

    sudo inxi -v 5 >> informations with verbosity level 5 (1-8 possible)
    inxi -B >> battery information
    sudo inxi -M >> informations about the system
    inxi -m >> informations about the memory

    Sudo is only needed if informations inxi gathers need root permissions

    ======================================================================
    iwconfig >> shows informations about wireless connections

    ======================================================================
    lsblk >> lists blockdevices like harddisks

    ======================================================================

    ======================================================================
    lspci >> lists all recognized pci-devices

    lspci | grep -i Network ( or Wireless or WLAN ) >> shows Wifi-devices

    ======================================================================
    lsusb >> lists all recognized USB-devices

    ======================================================================
    rfkill >> tool for radio devices

    rfkill list all >> lists the states of all radio devices
    rfkill unblock all >> unblocks all softblocked devices

    To unblock a hardblocked device:

    - look for a hardware switch
    - look for a keyboard function/binding
    - look if the device is blocked in the UEFI/BIOS

    ======================================================================
    (sudo) shred >> tool to securely delete devices or partitions

    Usage:

    sudo shred /dev/sdX -v -f -n 2 >> overwrites sdX 2 times

    Shred will overwrite each single byte of the target device, so it might take a long time.

    BE CAREFUL !!! BE SURE TO USE THE PATH TO THE DEVICE/PARTITION YOU REALLY WANT TO CLEAN !!!

    ======================================================================
    sudo >> command to get root permissions

    In labtix no sudo-password is installed, so typing in a password is not needed

    ======================================================================
    wipefs >> tool to delete filesystems

    Usage:

    sudo wipefs -a -f /dev/sdX >> wipes the filesystem of sdX

    BE CAREFUL !!! BE SURE TO USE THE PATH TO THE DEVICE / PARTITION YOU REALLY WANT TO CLEAN !!!

    This is not a secure method of deleting any devices, it's the quick and dirty solution if you want to get rid of an installed system. For safe deletions use the command "shred"

    ======================================================================
    xkill >> tool to kill windows that are not responsible

    Usage:

    Open a terminal, type "xkill" and press "Enter". The mousepointer will be shown as a skull. Leftclick with the skull inside the window you want to close. Xkill will only close windows. In some cases processes started by the killed window might still run in the background.

    Do not click on the Desktop, it is a window too !!!

    ======================================================================
    xrandr >> tool to manipulate the graphical-(x-)server

    xrandr --output eDP-1 --scale 0.5x0.5 >> reduces the height and width resolution of output eDP-1 by the factor 0.5 . Very useful if the screen has a very high resolution.

    To get the name of the actual output:

    xrandr | grep primary

    ======================================================================

    UEFI Boot only or BIOS locked and UEFI set

    [This page explains a solution in case a donated computer can only boot with UEFI or the BIOS is locked (password unknown) and UEFI is set as the boot option. If your computer can boot in legacy mode, you can skip this page].

    Back in 2013/2014, there was a technical and legal discussion about SecureBoot and UEFI. The manufacturers argued that only UEFI boot on their computer provides security and therefore must only be used. However, the EU and NGOs went to court and the judges decided that the computer manufacturers had to re-open the BIOS settings so that users could choose whether to use the UEFI boot, the legacy boot (the "old" boot) or both as boot options. Computers that were produced before the "UEFI only" decision and after the old flexibility decision have no problem installing with Labtix and prepared Labdoo images.

    However, if the computer was manufactured in the "UEFI only" period in 2013/2014, this may cause problems when installing a Lubuntu-based installation. Our Labdoo images are set up for legacy boot, not for UEFI boot (although Lubuntu could). We have described a solution for these specific UEFI-only machines here.

    Another use case is a locked BIOS. A computer has been donated, but a BIOS password has not been removed and is unknown. If the boot option in the BIOS is set to "UEFI / Secure Boot Only" and cannot be switched to "Legacy Boot" because of the password lock, you can run the installation process described below and then use the computer for Labdoo.

    If our solution is too difficult for you, please contact Labdoo helpers or hubs in your country / region and ask them for support.

    You can use the installation tool Labtix (recommended, supports UEFI-Boot) or Parted Magic. PXE is not possible because you have to select certain options during the installation process and PXE does not allow access to these settings.

    The installation sequence is rough:

    • First install a small Xubuntu based image via cloning in a partition (Xubuntu is able to UEFI boot); a prepared image is available on FTP server http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/special_images/,
    • Next ,install in a second partition of one of our Labdoo images with slightly different settings than usual.
    • Change the grub boot file.
    • After that, the system will boot and a user will not even notice that this is a special "UEFI only" laptop.
    • This solution only works for 80 GB disc-drives or bigger.

    So here are the steps in details:

    1. Download the special UEFI-Boot image, available on our FTP-Server http://ftp.labdoo.org/download/install-disk/special_images/ and copy it to a local USB-drive or any local server.
    2. Start Labtix, run the Clonezilla tool (icon on the Labtix desktop) and make the drive with the special UEFI image available - Important: Use "expert mode" and "restoredisk", mark the option -icds . For experts: Or install Xubuntu (I think all other UEFI based * buntu do it too) in UEFI mode on the device.
    3. If you use the prepared UEFI image, the size of the partition sda2 is set to 80 GB by default. A Labdoo image for 80 GB fits. If you want to install an image for a 160 GB or 250 GB hard drive, you have to enlarge the partition sda2 with GParted.
    4. Shut down the computer and restart it with Labtix.
    5. Start Clonezilla to replace sda2(!) of the installed UEFI-Boot image / Xubuntu by replacing "restoreparts" with sda1 of the Labdoo-image you want to install. Make sure you choose the target-partition sda2 when asked and the "-icds"-option in "Clonezilla advanced extra parameters". Make sure the option "-k Do NOT create a partition table..." is checked.
    6. After installing sda2, use GParted to maximize sda2. Check if the "boot"- and "esp"-flags are set to sda1. To retrieve the UUID of sda2 right-click on it and select "Information". Mark the UUID and copy it with "Ctrl" + "C" to the clipboard.
    7. Edit /EFI/ubuntu/grub.cfg in the EFI-bootpartition ( usually sda1, the small partition with 512MB ) with the editor Geany and replace the given UUID with the UUID of sda2 you copied by GParted. E.g. open SpaceFM -> sda1 -> navigate to /EFI/ubuntu/grub.cfg -> right mouse click -> open > Geany editor -> in line 1 you will see a UUID -> mark and paste the new UUID from the clipboard. Don't forget to save the file before closing Geany editor.
    8. Shut down and restart the computer. Now it should start in UEFI mode and users will see the Labdoo login after a short time.

    This description is very technical, but it works. If you know a simpler solution, please feel free to contact us.
    A special thank you goes to helpers from hub Rhein-Ruhr (Germany) for noticing and solving this specific problem.