Linux Scripts

Linux utility scripts.

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elf_overview.sh

Purpose

Output a simple overview of an ELF executable through the calling file, readelf, hd, size, objdump, ldd, and strings. This is easier to run than remember the command-line switches, while some tools (objdump and readelf) can produce subtly similar outputs.

Another use of elf_overview.sh is to verify that files such as PDFs are authentic and not masquerading as executables.

Usage

    ./elf_overview.sh <file> | less

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OOM_protect.sh

Purpose

Protect a critical application from being killed first by the Linux kernel's OOM Killer.

Description

1. The critical app on a limited-budget web server might be MySQL.
2. A runaway PHP script, operating through an Apache process, triggers the OOM.
3. But MySQL – using the most memory – is ungracefully killed first, before Apache. The untimely death of MySQL creates database and sales problems.

OOM_protect.sh aims to stop the above happening.

(So might the database and web server residing on separate servers.)

Usage

1. chmod 700 OOM_protect.sh

2. set APP variable path in the script's CONFIG section.

3. sudo ./OOM_protect.sh

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icon_save

Purpose

Gnome / Nemo desktop icon position restore.

Description

A Python script to generate a bash script recording desktop icon positions. When desktop icon positions are lost, such as through connecting/disconnecting a second monitor or enacting 'Sort Desktop items by Name', executing the bash script restores the icon positions.

Usage

Place script in ~/Desktop folder.

Create bash script

    python3 icon_save

or

    ./icon_save

Restore icons from bash script

• ensure Desktop 'Auto-arrange' is off

    ./icon_restore

• show Desktop
• press F5

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License

Scripts are released under the GPL v.3.