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#llm.claude-opus-4 (Private)

Optimizing Ubuntu VM in GNOME Boxes

Understanding the Integration Tools

Before optimizing, let's understand what each tool does:

SPICE Guest Tools Explained

spice-vdagent (Video Display Agent):

  • Purpose: Enables dynamic display resolution, clipboard sharing, and smooth mouse integration
  • How it works: Runs as a service in the guest OS, communicating with the host through SPICE protocol
  • Benefits:
    • Automatic resolution adjustment when resizing VM window
    • Seamless mouse movement (no capture/release needed)
    • Copy/paste between host and guest
    • Drag-and-drop file transfers

spice-webdavd (WebDAV Daemon):

  • Purpose: Enables folder sharing between host and guest
  • How it works: Creates a WebDAV server for file sharing over SPICE channel
  • Benefits: Access host folders from within the VM

qemu-guest-agent:

  • Purpose: Provides host-guest communication for VM management
  • How it works: Allows the host to query guest information and perform operations
  • Benefits:
    • Proper VM shutdown/reboot from host
    • Guest system information visibility
    • Time synchronization

Step 1: Install Essential Guest Tools

Open a terminal in your Ubuntu VM and run:

# Update package list
sudo apt update

# Install SPICE guest tools
sudo apt install spice-vdagent spice-webdavd

# Install QEMU guest agent
sudo apt install qemu-guest-agent

# Install build essentials for potential driver compilation
sudo apt install build-essential dkms

Step 2: Enable and Start Services

# Enable SPICE VDAgent service
sudo systemctl enable spice-vdagentd
sudo systemctl start spice-vdagentd

# Enable QEMU guest agent
sudo systemctl enable qemu-guest-agent
sudo systemctl start qemu-guest-agent

# Verify services are running
systemctl status spice-vdagentd
systemctl status qemu-guest-agent

Step 3: Graphics and Display Optimization

Install Graphics Drivers

# Install Mesa utilities for 3D acceleration
sudo apt install mesa-utils

# Install video acceleration libraries
sudo apt install va-driver-all vdpau-driver-all

# Verify 3D acceleration is working
glxinfo | grep "direct rendering"
# Should output: "direct rendering: Yes"

# Check OpenGL version
glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Configure Display Settings

  • In Ubuntu Settings → Displays
  • Set appropriate resolution
  • Enable fractional scaling if needed (may impact performance)

Step 4: System Performance Tuning

CPU Governor Settings

# Install CPU frequency utilities
sudo apt install cpufrequtils

# Check current governor
cpufreq-info | grep "governor"

# Set to performance mode (temporary)
sudo cpufreq-set -g performance

# Make performance mode permanent
echo 'GOVERNOR="performance"' | sudo tee /etc/default/cpufrequtils
sudo systemctl restart cpufrequtils

Reduce Swappiness

# Check current swappiness
cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness

# Reduce swappiness (default is 60, reduce to 10)
echo 'vm.swappiness=10' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf

# Apply immediately
sudo sysctl vm.swappiness=10

Enable TRIM for Virtual Disk

# Enable periodic TRIM (helps with disk performance)
sudo systemctl enable fstrim.timer
sudo systemctl start fstrim.timer

# Verify it's scheduled
systemctl status fstrim.timer

Step 5: Memory Optimization

Configure zRAM (Compressed RAM)

# Install zRAM tools
sudo apt install zram-tools

# Configure zRAM (creates compressed swap in RAM)
echo -e "ALGO=lz4\nPERCENT=50" | sudo tee /etc/default/zramswap
sudo service zramswap restart

Step 6: Ubuntu-Specific Optimizations

Disable Unnecessary Services

# Disable printer service if not needed
sudo systemctl disable cups
sudo systemctl stop cups

# Disable Bluetooth if not needed
sudo systemctl disable bluetooth
sudo systemctl stop bluetooth

Reduce Visual Effects

  1. Install GNOME Tweaks: sudo apt install gnome-tweaks
  2. Open Tweaks → Appearance → Animations → OFF
  3. Settings → Accessibility → Reduce Animation → ON

Disable Search Indexing (if not needed)

# Disable file indexing for better performance
sudo systemctl mask tracker-store.service tracker-miner-fs.service
sudo systemctl mask tracker-extract.service tracker-miner-apps.service
sudo systemctl mask tracker-writeback.service

Step 7: Boot Optimization

Configure GRUB for Faster Boot

# Edit GRUB configuration
sudo nano /etc/default/grub

# Change these lines:
GRUB_TIMEOUT=2
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

# Update GRUB
sudo update-grub

Performance Verification

Check Resource Usage

# Monitor system resources
htop  # Install with: sudo apt install htop

# Check disk I/O
iotop  # Install with: sudo apt install iotop

# Monitor GPU/3D acceleration
glxgears  # Should show smooth animation

Benchmark (Optional)

# Install benchmark tools
sudo apt install hardinfo sysbench

# Run simple CPU benchmark
sysbench cpu --cpu-max-prime=20000 run

# Run memory benchmark
sysbench memory run

Tips for Best Performance

  1. Allocate Enough Resources: Give the VM at least 2 CPUs and 4GB RAM
  2. Keep Host System Light: Close unnecessary applications on Pop!_OS
  3. Regular Updates: Keep both host and guest systems updated
  4. Restart After Optimization: Reboot the VM after applying these changes
  5. Monitor Performance: Use system monitor to ensure optimizations are working

Quick Performance Check Script

Create a script to verify all optimizations:

#!/bin/bash
echo "=== Ubuntu VM Optimization Check ==="
echo "3D Acceleration: $(glxinfo | grep "direct rendering")"
echo "SPICE Agent: $(systemctl is-active spice-vdagentd)"
echo "QEMU Agent: $(systemctl is-active qemu-guest-agent)"
echo "CPU Governor: $(cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/scaling_governor)"
echo "Swappiness: $(cat /proc/sys/vm/swappiness)"
echo "TRIM Timer: $(systemctl is-active fstrim.timer)"
echo "==================================="

Save as check-vm-optimization.sh, make executable with chmod +x, and run to verify all optimizations are active.

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