GNU/Linux and BSD Leftovers

posted by Roy Schestowitz on Aug 13, 2025

• Kernel Space

  • University of Toronto ☛ Implementing a basic equivalent of OpenBSD's pflog in Linux nftables

    OpenBSD's and FreeBSD's PF system has a very convenient 'pflog' feature, where you put in a 'log' bit in a PF rule and this dumps a copy of any matching packets into a pflog pseudo-interface, where you can both see them with 'tcpdump -i pflog0' and have them automatically logged to disk by pflogd in pcap format. Typically we use this to log blocked packets, which gives us both immediate and after the fact visibility of what's getting blocked (and by what rule, also). It's possible to mostly duplicate this in Linux nftables, although with more work and there's less documentation on it.

  • University of Toronto ☛ The 'nft' command may not show complete information for iptables rules

    Nftables has a native set type (and also maps), but, quite reasonably, the old iptables 'ipset' stuff isn't translated to nftables sets by the iptables compatibility layer. Instead the compatibility layer uses this 'xt match' magic that the nft command can only imperfectly tell you about. To nft's credit, it prints a warning comment (which I've left out) that the rules are being managed by iptables-nft and you shouldn't touch them. Here, all of the 'xt match "set"' bits in the nft output are basically saying "opaque stuff happens here".

• Applications

  • Ubuntubuzz ☛ List of Desktop Notes Applications on Ubuntu 24.04

    This listing collects desktop notes applications including sticky notes that we recommend for Ubuntu 24.04 Noble Numbat. We included here KNotes, which are well-known and full-featured, and also Affiche.app which just works but less-known, among others in order to promote them to more users (and open the opportunity for more people to get involved in the project). All applications are available in the official repository and no third-party sources required. Now, let's start exploring them!

• Distributions and Operating Systems

  • Debian Family

    • Freexian Collaborators: Debian Contributions: DebConf 25, OpenSSH upgrades, Cross compilation collaboration and more! (by Anupa Ann Joseph)

      Debian Contributions: 2025-07

      is made possible by organizations subscribing to our Long Term Support contracts

      and consulting services.

  • Canonical/Ubuntu Family

    • Ubuntu Fridge ☛ The Fridge: Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter Issue 904

      Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 904 for the week of August 3 – 9, 2025. The full version of this issue is available here.

  • Open Hardware/Modding

    • Fairphone’s new cables and chargers are better in every way

      Say hello to Fairphone’s all new line of USB long-life cables and fast chargers. With two models within each category, your charging experience has just become quicker, more powerful, and fairer than ever before. Here’s a quick overview. USB-C 3.2 Long Life Charging & Data Cable Charging outputs up to 240W.

    • CNX Software ☛ 4.3-inch touch display board features single ESP32-P4 + ESP32-C6 module, supports camera and speakers

      GUITION JC4880P433 is a 4.3-inch capacitive touch display development board built around the GUITION JC-ESP32P4-M3 ESP32-P4 and ESP32-C6 module, which we have also seen used in the JC-ESP32P4-M3-DEV board.