9 minutes ago, Kilrah said:

That's unlikely to ever happen, you'll have to manually put your packages in /boot/extra.

Ah thanks for the headsup.
It seems there are alternatives for my usecase!

Namely for tmux I installed "Tmux Terminal Manager (TTM)" and for the qbit mover script I use from TRaSH Guides I installed "python 3 for unraid"

On 1/6/2025 at 12:29 AM, shinji257 said:

Since this plugin is depreciated I've started to build my own Slackware packages using SlackBuild scripts.  They are being uploaded to a github repository for anyone to use.  Send me a message if you want the link as I do not know if I can post it here.  Requests are accepted.

 

I'm also going to rebuild the packages from NerdTools so they are as up to date as SlackBuild has them. 

 

Pardon my ignorance but prior to removing the plugin I had more to up to date packages than what is provided in the Slackware respositories (https://slackware.pkgs.org/15.0/slackware-x86_64/)...

After a bit of searching I found your github repository but I haven't had much luck with those packages as installpkg <pkg> results in "gzip: stdin: not in gzip format"

But the bigger issue I see here that without something like Nerdtools to maintain the current versions, we are putting ourselves at risk with potentially unmaintained versions of these packages. Again there is much about that process I don't fully understand so maybe I'm missing something but without us manually checking for new versions on a regular basis we are opening the door to unpatched vulnerabilities. On this note, couldn't we implement some sort of script we could throw a list of packages at and do the same magic Nerdtools was doing, just minus a pretty GUI.

With all that being said, thank you for work on this. I'm sure what you're doing is helping push this forward, despite my lack of understanding.

 

Click the file then download the raw link. What you probably saved was the GitHub page that basically says it is a binary file. 

Edited January 12, 20251 yr by shinji257

26 minutes ago, shinji257 said:

Click the file then download the raw link. What you probably saved was the GitHub page that basically says it is a binary file. 

Yeah, sorry I know better. smh

 

@shinji257  vim please? 🙏

EDIT: nm, located via https://pkgs.org/ Seems to work fine.

Edited January 12, 20251 yr by BrandonG777
Located

I am moving off of NerdTools, but finding a pigz package is not easy.  The reason I want it is "pigz, which stands for Parallel Implementation of GZip, is a fully functional replacement for gzip that exploits multiple processors and multiple cores to the hilt when compressing data." and I use it for making backups of my boot directory and appdata directory.

I had relied on nerdtools for v6, but can understand the reasoning why it's going away.

 

Please help me with my logic moving forward.

I have learned from this thread that I can download packages from pkgs.org.  Let's use vim for an example.
 

https://pkgs.org/search/?q=vim

wget https://slackware.uk/slackware/slackware64-15.0/patches/packages/vim-9.0.2127-x86_64-1_slack15.0.txz

save it to /boot/extra

installpkg vim-9.0.2127-x86_64-1_slack15.0.txz

 

Now I can use vim within Unraid.  I think I'm good in this instance. 

 

Where I am a little lost is from these two:

On 12/29/2024 at 3:04 PM, bmartino1 said:

I’d suggest creating a LXC/Docker container instead of using a plugin

 

On 12/29/2024 at 3:04 PM, bmartino1 said:

set up a VM with the current Slackware version

 

I have several VMs running Debian, RHEL, alpine, etc.  I have several dockers, mp3tag, musicbrainz, aaaars, emby, onedrive, etc.   I do have dockers/vm setups with passing shares.

 

How do I install vim on a docker or a VM to use with either Unraid gui terminal or ssh to Unraid? 

 

vim is a generic example, but a more realistic use case for me would be mediainfo. 

Does it come down to making a VM  with *nix, sharing at a high / root level (NOT accessible via the Internet), and install mediainfo on that *nix instance, and not really use Unraid terminal or Unraid ssh?

Edited January 13, 20251 yr by footkaput

1 minute ago, footkaput said:

I had relied on nerdtools for v6, but can understand the reasoning why it's going away.

 

Please help me with my logic moving forward.

I have learned from this thread that I can download packages from pkgs.org.  Let's use vim for an example.
 

https://pkgs.org/search/?q=vim

wget https://slackware.uk/slackware/slackware64-15.0/patches/packages/vim-9.0.2127-x86_64-1_slack15.0.txz

save it to /boot/extra

installpkg vim-9.0.2127-x86_64-1_slack15.0.txz

 

Now I can use vim within Unraid.  I think I'm good in this instance. 

 

Where I am a little lost is from these two:

 

 

I have several VMs running Debian, RHEL, alpine, etc.  I have several dockers, mp3tag, musicbrainz, aaaars, emby, onedrive, etc.   I do have dockers/vm setups with passing shares.

 

How do I install vim on a docker or a VM to use with either Unraid gui terminal or ssh to Unraid? 

 

vim is a generic example, but a more realistic use case for me would be mediainfo. 

Does it come down to making a VM  with *nix, sharing at a high / root level, and install mediainfo on that *nix instance, and not really use Unraid terminal or Unraid ssh?

 

Certain applications and features previously available through the NerdTools plugin don’t need to be installed directly on the host system. Instead, a VM, LXC container, or Docker container can be used to provide that functionality in a supported and secure manner.

 

Some applications rely on Slackware build scripts. Since Unraid is based on Slackware Linux, you can set up a Slackware VM to build and update these applications following Slackware's update cycles and build scripts.

For instance, if you need a text editor like Vim, you can use a Docker container based on an image like Ubuntu with Vim pre-installed.

 

While this container won’t have direct host-level access, you can pass a path to the container, allowing you to edit files within a defined scope. This method aligns with Unraid’s supported practices, prioritizing security. By default, Unraid doesn’t include Vim because it already ships with Nano, a lightweight text editor, and aims to minimize space usage on its flash drive-based architecture.

 

When you install a third-party application like Vim directly onto Unraid, you assume responsibility for its maintenance. This includes monitoring for CVEs, updates, feature changes, and manually downloading and updating the package. Additionally, third-party installations may conflict with Slackware's core packages or functionality. This is why Unraid discourages host-level installations of third-party software.

 

Using Docker, LXC, or VMs offers a safer and more modular approach. Most user data is located in /mnt/user, so a lightweight Docker image with Vim installed and mapped to that path is the recommended solution. While Unraid provides the flexibility to install third-party applications, doing so is entirely at your own risk.

You can make your own dockers too.

 

Example:

https://dev.to/greenteabiscuit/installing-vim-in-a-docker-container-15i6

 

 

cd /mnt/user/appdata
mkdir vim
cd vim
touch dockerfile
nano dockerfile

inset:

# Use a lightweight base image
FROM ubuntu:latest

# Set maintainer info (optional)
LABEL maintainer="[email protected]"

# Update package list and install Vim
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y vim && apt-get clean

# Set the default command to Vim
#CMD ["vim"]

Build the docker:

docker build -t vim-container .

 

run the 3rd party docker:

docker run -it --rm -v /mnt/user:/mnt/user vim-container

Congrats, you made your first docker and can console into it and run the vim command...

 

open a web terminal connect to the vim docker:
docker exec -it <container_name_or_id> /bin/bash

example:

docker exec -it vim-container /bin/bash
cd /mnt/user
ls
cd appdata
vim test.txt

Terminal console into your docker
 

OR pull from someone else containerized version:

https://github.com/antoniopantaleo/docker-vim

 

docker pull ghcr.io/antoniopantaleo/vim:latest

and make a unraid docker template using their repo....

 

not may application need host/root access to unraid. VIM may not be as hard of and example like the implementation of python or borg backup...

Edited January 13, 20251 yr by bmartino1
data - typo

The explanations are very much appreciated.  I guess I didn't quite figure in that a non-Unraid tool could break all of Unraid... I essentially using nerdtools for convenience instead. 

 

I will move forward with using tools on another vm/docker/container instead of the main system....likely with an added benefit to save me from myself. 😀  I've been using my Unraid instance as it would always 'just work' without truly grasping I might have been putting my 15-drive array's contents in jeopardy.

 

Thank you!!

 

 

 

Edited January 13, 20251 yr by footkaput

Edit: okay I just saw that NerdTools is deprecated and won't work anymore? What about un-get? Could this work? What is the way to install things now? For borgbackup for example a Docker container?

 

Hey guys. Is anyone else with a problem regarding borgbackup? It worked well until I updated it to unRAID 7.0.0. Not sure what the reason is. I run the latest version available in NerdTools for borgbackup 1.2.7. My python version is 3.9.18.

The logs of my script:

 

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/archiver.py", line 37, in
from . import helpers
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/__init__.py", line 9, in
from .checks import * # NOQA
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/checks.py", line 4, in
from .errors import Error
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/errors.py", line 3, in
import borg.crypto.low_level
ImportError: libcrypto.so.1.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
Borg-Repository erzeugt unter ssh://xyz.repo.borgbase.com/./repo
Pruning der Archive --keep-within=1d --keep-daily=7 --keep-weekly=4 --keep-monthly=4.
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/archiver.py", line 37, in
from . import helpers
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/__init__.py", line 9, in
from .checks import * # NOQA
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/checks.py", line 4, in
from .errors import Error
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/errors.py", line 3, in
import borg.crypto.low_level
ImportError: libcrypto.so.1.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
Start der Sicherung Mon Jan 13 10:07:54 CET 2025.
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/archiver.py", line 37, in
from . import helpers
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/__init__.py", line 9, in
from .checks import * # NOQA
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/checks.py", line 4, in
from .errors import Error
File "/usr/lib64/python3.9/site-packages/borg/helpers/errors.py", line 3, in
import borg.crypto.low_level
ImportError: libcrypto.so.1.1: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory

 

Edited January 13, 20251 yr by sasbro97

5 hours ago, sasbro97 said:

What is the way to install things now? For borgbackup for example a Docker container?

Since the introduction of Docker in v6 the recommended way of installing things has been Docker > VM > Plugin. Since the addition of the LXC plugin i would suggest Docker > LXC > VM > Plugin.

Edited January 13, 20251 yr by primeval_god

Hi, Can anyone let me know what in nerdtools are already included with unraid and what we need to compile a docker to utilize? ty.

on version 7 nerd tools is incompatible, is there a newer version?

5 minutes ago, ijuarez said:

on version 7 nerd tools is incompatible, is there a newer version?

No. Review the previous page in this thread.

2 hours ago, trurl said:

No. Review the previous page in this thread.

Or the recommended post pinned at the top😁

Hello Community,

In preparation for the upcoming upgrade to Unraid 7 (from version 6), I’m wondering what’s the best way to uninstall the Nerd Tools plugin from the system.

Is it important and necessary to deactivate (delete) all active tools in the plugin before uninstalling the Nerd Tools plugin?

 

Best,
TLo

1 hour ago, tlo said:

Hello Community,

In preparation for the upcoming upgrade to Unraid 7 (from version 6), I’m wondering what’s the best way to uninstall the Nerd Tools plugin from the system.

Is it important and necessary to deactivate (delete) all active tools in the plugin before uninstalling the Nerd Tools plugin?

 

Best,
TLo

That's what I did. Uninstall each package that nerdtools installed and then remove the plugin. Or you could delete them from /boot/extras and reboot...

I suppose I should also mention that I did this AFTER upgrading to 7.0.0... I suppose I got lucky, as nothing seemed to really be a problem and I managed to do the removal without issue.

1 hour ago, Gex2501 said:

I suppose I should also mention that I did this AFTER upgrading to 7.0.0... I suppose I got lucky, as nothing seemed to really be a problem and I managed to do the removal without issue.

same. also found all of the tools still worked... but if they're aren't being updated, that will be a problem sooner or later.

seems like a simple script could keep this stuff up to date and maybe even streamline the install process. I'd do it if I didn't already have too many irons in the fire and having to prioritize.

8 hours ago, tlo said:

Hello Community,

In preparation for the upcoming upgrade to Unraid 7 (from version 6), I’m wondering what’s the best way to uninstall the Nerd Tools plugin from the system.

Is it important and necessary to deactivate (delete) all active tools in the plugin before uninstalling the Nerd Tools plugin?

 

Best,
TLo

Depends on what you installed their have been some python issues with Borg backup, while they will be the older version I have not seen a issue updating with older 3rd party application. just keep in mind that those applications may refer to a Slackware lib that may have been changed with the lattest release, its a 50/50 chance thing.

I honestly would uninstall the plugin.

On 1/6/2025 at 12:29 AM, shinji257 said:

Since this plugin is depreciated I've started to build my own Slackware packages using SlackBuild scripts.  They are being uploaded to a github repository for anyone to use.  Send me a message if you want the link as I do not know if I can post it here.  Requests are accepted.

 

I'm also going to rebuild the packages from NerdTools so they are as up to date as SlackBuild has them. 

you ready for prime time where your willing to share the github repo?

On 1/13/2025 at 4:36 AM, bmartino1 said:

You can make your own dockers too.

 

Example:

https://dev.to/greenteabiscuit/installing-vim-in-a-docker-container-15i6

 

 

cd /mnt/user/appdata
mkdir vim
cd vim
touch dockerfile
nano dockerfile

inset:

# Use a lightweight base image
FROM ubuntu:latest

# Set maintainer info (optional)
LABEL maintainer="[email protected]"

# Update package list and install Vim
RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y vim && apt-get clean

# Set the default command to Vim
#CMD ["vim"]

Build the docker:

docker build -t vim-container .

 

run the 3rd party docker:

docker run -it --rm -v /mnt/user:/mnt/user vim-container

Congrats, you made your first docker and can console into it and run the vim command...

 

open a web terminal connect to the vim docker:
docker exec -it <container_name_or_id> /bin/bash

example:

docker exec -it vim-container /bin/bash
cd /mnt/user
ls
cd appdata
vim test.txt

Terminal console into your docker
 

OR pull from someone else containerized version:

https://github.com/antoniopantaleo/docker-vim

 

docker pull ghcr.io/antoniopantaleo/vim:latest

and make a unraid docker template using their repo....

 

not may application need host/root access to unraid. VIM may not be as hard of and example like the implementation of python or borg backup...

 

I understand that NerdTools had to be deprecated for security/stability reasons. I mostly use it for installing maintenance packages like vim, iotop and btop. This way if the WebUI is unreachable or the OS is unstable for some reason, I can ssh into my tower and do the required maintenance from there.

It's also quite handy to have the borgbackup package on hand just to mount/check my backups are working as intended every few months (my tower is a target borg repo). I fully agree that for actually creating backups to remote targets, using a borgmatic container is the way for sure.

 

However, I'd argue that creating & using a custom docker container just for running these command is far from perfect:

• Overall, this seems a bit overkill to create a custom docker container just to open vim. I can bear with it, but it remains unnecessarily tedious
• If for some reason Docker is unstable, I'm out of reach for these packages
• In the case of btop, it only shows the process running within the docker container, not the tower, which makes it basically useless.

Again, I fully agree that Unraid OS should remain pristine at all time to avoid any stability/security issues, but I still need these rather small packages which are really useful to do maintenance once in a while.

11 hours ago, IwishIcanFLighT said:

but I still need these rather small packages which are really useful to do maintenance once in a while.

Or you could get used to the built-in htop/nano...

As you say it's not something used commonly, shouldn't be that much of a deal to use another tool than your daily one the rare times they're needed.

Edited January 15, 20251 yr by Kilrah

14 hours ago, IwishIcanFLighT said:

 

I understand that NerdTools had to be deprecated for security/stability reasons. I mostly use it for installing maintenance packages like vim, iotop and btop. This way if the WebUI is unreachable or the OS is unstable for some reason, I can ssh into my tower and do the required maintenance from there.

It's also quite handy to have the borgbackup package on hand just to mount/check my backups are working as intended every few months (my tower is a target borg repo). I fully agree that for actually creating backups to remote targets, using a borgmatic container is the way for sure.

 

However, I'd argue that creating & using a custom docker container just for running these command is far from perfect:

• Overall, this seems a bit overkill to create a custom docker container just to open vim. I can bear with it, but it remains unnecessarily tedious
• If for some reason Docker is unstable, I'm out of reach for these packages
• In the case of btop, it only shows the process running within the docker container, not the tower, which makes it basically useless.

Again, I fully agree that Unraid OS should remain pristine at all time to avoid any stability/security issues, but I still need these rather small packages which are really useful to do maintenance once in a while.

 

For certain applications, it’s important to ensure they don’t disrupt the OS or interfere with Unraid's core services and libraries. This is why the extra folder (primarily for developers and plugins) and third-party Slack binary installations exist. However, proceed at your own risk—Unraid assumes no liability for issues arising from third-party packages used outside of its closed ecosystem. The base distro included in the release files is sufficient for most users. Running older software is also fine, provided you acknowledge the potential for CVEs or eventual attack vectors.

 

Consider the UniFi stack for their network—they’re still using MongoDB 3, which has been EOL for a while now. The saying "if it’s working, why fix it?" applies here. The focus should be on knowing how to protect your system and recover when something goes wrong. Some third-party installs can break the kernel or other core Unraid services. Applications like Borg Backup, for instance, should ideally run in a Python virtual environment or be rebuilt within a Docker container. Unraid is designed to be a lightweight, portable, mutable OS, so not every install will work seamlessly.

 

Vim is a good example. While it makes sense to install Vim directly on the host, the Docker solution proposed in the forum illustrates a move towards a supported, maintainable approach. On the other hand, installing and running tools like htop (already packaged with Unraid) in a Docker container doesn’t make much sense if your goal is to monitor host resources.

When I first encountered Nerd Tools, I mistakenly thought this plugin was required to install any third-party Slack packages on Unraid. However, as clarified in other posts, this is not the case. Nerd Tools has always been an unconventional third-party repository pulling prepackaged binary from Slack build scripts. For small, widely-used applications, a feature request to have LimeTech include them in Unraid might be a better solution.

 

Personally, I’ve experimented with reinstalling Slack’s package manager, enabling a trusted repository mirror, and using User Scripts at boot to automate Slack commands (similar to apt-get install in Debian). This approach involves setting up build scripts in the go file or User Scripts. However, the bigger challenges lie in how Unraid’s emhttp and .pages files interact—especially when dealing with plugins. The backend coding isn’t the issue; it’s the frontend integration within Unraid’s emhttp web server that gets tricky.

 

Additionally, much of the application build code doesn’t target Slackware. Most developers focus on Debian, Ubuntu, Arch, and RHEL. It’s surprising LimeTech hasn’t taken a more active role as a Slackware-side developer, creating a dedicated mirror for Unraid.

There’s definitely a learning curve, as I noted in my early posts on the forum and when working with old plugins from early v6. I recommend using supported methods whenever possible.

 

There’s nothing inherently wrong with running applications as third-party installations, as long as end users accept the associated risks. It’s great to see users like shinji257 supporting this effort by running build scripts and packaging binaries for third-party installations through their GitHub page. While it’s still a work in progress, the project is coming along nicely.

Edited January 16, 20251 yr by bmartino1
Typo