 DistroWatch Weekly |
| DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 92, 21 March 2005 |
Welcome to this year's 12th issue of DistroWatch Weekly! Two "newbie-friendly" distribution releases appeared on the scene last week - one of them a very nicely designed product with superb usability and great, innovative features (Linspire 5.0), while the other is a promising new product, which is let down by a poor installer, obvious bugs and lack of polish (Ark Linux 2005.1). On the BSD front, a new initiative to create a BSD certification programme is under way. Happy reading!
Content:
Two "newbie-friendly" releases - Linspire 5.0 and Ark Linux 2005.1
 Two new "newbie-friendly" distributions were released last week - Linspire 5.0 and Ark Linux 2005.1. Linspire (formerly LindowsOS) is already a well-known name on the Linux distribution scene, but the new version represents a substantial step forward. Linspire 5.0 is a very pretty distribution with a clear message that a substantial amount of work has gone into the product's usability features. This is not just some cheap Debian knock-off put together by retrieving DEB packages from one of that distribution's repositories - on the contrary, Linspire 5.0 comes with a huge number of enhancements not seen in any other Linux distribution before. The company's software engineers and usability experts have seemingly combined into one soul to produce what surely is one of the biggest ever reasons to get away from Windows. You will be able to read a more detailed account of my experiences with Linspire 5.0 later this week in the distribution section of Linux Weekly News.
Linspire 5.0 - one of the most beautiful and usable Linux-based operating systems ever produced.
(full image size: 590kB)
* * * * *
 After having had very positive experiences with Linspire 5.0, I expected to be pleasantly surprised by the first stable release of Ark Linux, a community project designed specifically for those converting to Linux from other operating systems. Disappointingly, Ark Linux 2005.1 feels like a beta release in a desperate need of further testing. The installation program is the most dumbed-down and inflexible of any distribution I have seen (you still cannot install it on a pre-existing partition or specify which hard disk to take over), so I had to physically disconnect the first hard disk to let it take over the second one (otherwise it threatened to take over both!).
After the first boot, neither the network, nor the USB mouse would work (the solution to the USB problem is to press "Alt+F1", launch "System" --> "Command Line Interpreter - Super User Mode" by selecting it with your arrow keys, then type "modprobe uhci-hcd" in the Konsole), and the screen resolution was set too low for what the monitor was capable of. As a result, my first impressions were highly negative. Nevertheless, the distribution has potential - the developers have implemented some interesting ideas that do away with the need of a superuser account, and the package set comprising the release is highly up-to-date. All it needs now is a better installer and more thorough testing to eliminate the glaring bugs.
Ark Linux 2005.1 - the project's first "stable" release is marred by glaring bugs and lack of polish
(full image size: 523kB)
* * * * *
 There is no end to the discussion about the Vancouver proposal, still taking place on the Debian developer's mailing list. This is one of those famous, never ending flames that everybody has an opinion about and nobody wants to give way. Yet, the proposal to "relegate" minor processor architectures into a "second class citizen" repository seems like a positive step on the way to recover some of the Debian's credibility by producing stable releases more often than just once every few years. On the other hand, Debian was one of the very few distributions that stubbornly continued supporting even marginal architectures, in sharp contrast with most commercial distributions for which such support would make no financial sense. Nevertheless, it is important to realise that the less common architectures will continue being developed, even if the Vancouver proposal is accepted. The only difference is that they might not be released as "stable" and will not be carried by the main Debian download server.
* * * * *
 It is always nice to report that a commercial Linux company is doing well financially, something rarely heard of a few years ago. Turbolinux, on the verge of a collapse at one stage, has seen booming business in Japan and China and has achieved profitability for the first time ever: "Turbolinux Inc. achieved profitability in Japan and China for the first time last year and is now looking to expand its operations in India, Mitsunobu Okada, the company's chief financial officer, said Wednesday. ... A push by several governments around the world, including those of Japan and China, to encourage the use of open-source software has helped the credibility of Linux, he said. Turbolinux has benefited by winning contracts from the Chinese and Japanese governments." Well done! The success of Turbolinux shows that Linux is doing well and is increasingly accepted as a solid computing platform by users and companies around the world!
BSD Certification Group launched
 The first ever BSD certification programme was launched last week by the BSD Certification Group: "Today, thousands of companies use BSD based systems and software. BSD systems run some of the busiest sites on the Internet, including Yahoo, New York Internet, Pair Networks, and others. BSD systems have proven remarkably stable, some recording 'uptimes' (time since last reboot) in years, rather than weeks or months. Use of this freely available software has skyrocketed since its beginning and has continued to grow steadily. Companies large and small want to protect their investment in BSD systems by employing system administrators, users, programmers, network specialists and others with demonstrated proficiency in using and understanding these systems. BSD Certification provides these companies with a clear path to hiring qualified individuals." These are early days and a set of standards is still being drafted. Once done, a BSD certification has a potential to become a valuable entry on any system administrator's Curriculum Vitae.
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| Released Last Week |
Auditor Security Linux 120305
Auditor Security Linux is a KANOTIX-based live CD with a collection of tools for system auditing and forensic analysis. A new version was announced today: "The new version is finished and distributed already on some of the usual mirrors. First of all, it is a major rewrite. Switched over to Kanotix which is much nicer than regular Knoppix. I guess most of you are interested in the new bluetooth and wireless stuff: for the bluetooth section, you have all the needed tools for a proof of all known bluetooth attacks; in the wireless section you will find new versions of Cowpatty, File2air and aireplay as well as Wellenreiter and Kismet; new card types are supported now and a lot of fine-tuning was done." You can find much more information in the release announcement and changelog.
White Box Enterprise Linux 3.0 Respin 2
The developers of White Box Enterprise Linux have released an updated set of ISO images which include all the erratas and security patches released to-date by Red Hat: "White Box Enterprise Linux 3.0 Respin 2 is now available. This release is purely a maintenance release to pick up the accumulated errata since Respin 1 in June 2004. It includes all errata issued from upstream through the end of February 2005, with the exception of the kernel. The kernel is the older one issued with Red Hat, Inc.'s Update 4 so that binary driver discs made available by 3rd party hardware vendors should be compatible with this rebuild release." The release announcement.
Lineox Enterprise Linux 4.0 (x86_64)
The 64-bit edition of Lineox Enterprise Linux 4.0 has been released: "Lineox has released today Lineox Enterprise Linux 4.0 x86_64 edition. Lineox has replaced some graphics files and changed or replaced some other files mainly because of trademark issues while retaining full compatibility. This release includes also updated packages. Yumex, a graphical front-end to yum package management system was added to x86_64 version because apt doesn't properly support multiple architecture packages. Lineox Enterprise Linux 4.0 x86_64 has only i386 versions of OpenOffice.org and HelixPlayer. Also many browser plug-ins are available only as x86 versions, so Lineox Enterprise Linux 4.0 x86_64 version has many x86 libraries." The release announcement.
Parsix GNU/Linux 0.46
A new version of Parsix GNU/Linux, an Iranian live CD with support for Persian input, has been released: "Another version of Parsix GNU/Linux is available for public download. Parsix 0.46 is our special Nowrooz gift. Nowrooz is Iranian new year holiday that starts from first day of spring. This version contains a lot of fixes and updates. All packages are synchronized with Debian Sarge repository (2005-03-01), added dhcp-client and pppoeconf (both missing in 0.45), added gnome-audio, gnome-games, emacs21, gxmms and vim-gtk, fixed autofs and a new wallpaper (Castle of BAAM) by N. Kasraian. We replaced Ctrl+Shift keyboard shortcut key with Alt+Shift to fix some conflicts. Now it is possible to install Parsix GNU/Linux into your hard disk." Read more in the release announcement.
Berry Linux 0.54
Berry Linux has been updated to version 0.54; the most important change is the inclusion of a current beta release of OpenOffice.org 2.0 (1.9.79). From the changelog: "Berry Linux 0.54. Based on Fedora Core 3, Knoppix 3.7, kudzu 1.1.111. hwdata 0.152. Fluxbox 0.9.10 (Fedora Core 3); OpenOffice 2.0beta (Japanese and English); GIMP Version 2.2.4 (Gnu Image Manipulation Program); Firefox 1.0.1 (Japanese and English); Whiz 0.49 (Monoceros) + SCIM 1.2.1; Timidity++ 2.13.2. Removed Konatsu 20040901."
dyne:bolic 1.4.1
An updated version of the dyne:bolic live CD is now available: "This release implements important stability fixes concluding the development of the 1.x series of dyne:bolic. Changes: OpenMosix automatic startup and discovery; Mozilla suite 1.7.5 (Firefox and Thunderbird dropped); Mail encrypted with Sylpheed 1.0.3, GpgME and Enigma; virtual keyboard for alternative access devices; nest now remembers xBox PAL/NTSC switch; wider PC laptop hardware support; updated software: Blender 2.36, Ardour 0.9-beta28, GIMP 2.0.6, Xine 1.0; fix to Rezound linkage to libFOX 1.2; various fixes and documentation updates; shiny new splash screen in GTK2." Read more in the release announcement.
IPCop Firewall 1.4.4
An updated version of IPCop Firewall has been released. From the release announcement: "This is the release version of V1.4.4. Number goes directly in 1.4.4 because update is split in two parts. As usual, this version can be installed as an update from previous v1.4.x versions or with a ready-to-go ISO for a fresh install. Short change summary: sound checkbox option for ip-up/ip-down; optional refresh for index.cgi; fix a bug that caused a fixed lease to always be enabled after being edited in dhcp.cgi; improve reload in the standard rc.local.firewall; add remark field in dhcp.cgi; fix external Access page for port ranges and include a remark field...."
YES Linux 2.2.1
A new build of YES Linux has been released: "Announcing YES Linux 2.2 Build 1 available now! YES Linux Release Team would like to announce the immediate availability of YES Linux 2.2 Build 1. This is the second build of the YES Linux 2.2 Version. This release features more updates to features than to new features such as bind-utils, PHP, OpenSSH, sudo, and mod_security (IDS). Two of the new features are the transparent integration of PGP to SquirrelMail and inclusion Hierarchical Token Bucket (HTB)." Read more in the official release announcement.
Linspire 5.0
Linspire 5.0, or Five-0 as they prefer to call it, has been released: "Linspire, Inc. today announced the release of its latest operating system, Linspire Five-0. More than a year in the making and with more than 1,200 improvements, the newest version of Linspire boasts enhancements in every core application and provides the most secure, reliable and easy-to-use desktop Linux experience available for home, business and school users. Highlights include a completely revised and streamlined graphical interface, improved laptop and hardware support, significant Internet optimization, and dozens of enhanced software applications to provide a complete user experience." Here is the full press release and a list of features.
Devil-Linux 1.2.4
Devil-Linux has been updated to version 1.2.4: "I'm proud to announce v1.2.4 of Devil-Linux. The changes include fixes for serial console support, various program updates and a few new perl modules. Changes: fixed logrotate not to rotate previously rotated log files (bs); change group membership of Heimdal's su to wheel; updated OpenSwan to 1.0.9; nss_ldap didn't get compiled; updated Cyrus to imapd-2.2.12...." See the release announcement and changelog for further details.
PaiPix 3.7-2005-03-16
A new release of PaiPix, a live DVD based on KNOPPIX, is now available. From the release notes: "It includes bug fixes for live DVD and hard disk installation and new packages: the development tools g++-4.0, gfortran (fortran 95), DDD, valgrind, jikes and Ant for Java; the computational packages scilab and GUI for R(Rcmdr); the pvm distributed system lib; the medical image (DICOM) viewers amide and xmedcon; the Zope www server including the plone module; the business system evaristo. Most services can now be started trough the PAIPIX-KNOPPIx menu."
UHU-Linux 1.2
UHU-Linux 1.2, Office edition, has been released. UHU-Linux is a complete and supported operating system with a collection of applications. It includes a graphical environment with intuitive Hungarian menus, which make the system easy to understand and learn. The application set is carefully selected to meet the requirements of most home and office users. Compared to other Linux distributions, the value of UHU-Linux is in its support of the Hungarian language, as well as in accommodating application preferences of most Hungarian users, based on their feedback. More information is available on the distribution's product page (in Hungarian).
Linux+ Live 2.2
A new version of the Linux+ Live DVD has been released: "Hello folks. Today I'm proud to announce a new version of Linux+ Live. It comes with the April edition of Linux+ and Linux+DVD magazines. With tons of new features and enchantments, the new version includes: better hardware support; totally new kernel with many patches; X.org 6.8.1 with a lot of patches; QDVD and DVD Author for creating your own DVDs with movies; MPlayer, Xine and others multimedia programs; Skype and a special edition of Psi (with more than 50 extra patches); new instant messengers; some great tools: Konserve 0.10.3, QtParted 0.4.4...." More details in the release announcement.
Ark Linux 2005.1
The first ever stable version of Ark Linux has been released: "After 3 years of development and testing, the first stable release of Ark Linux - Ark Linux 2005.1 - has been released. The goal of Ark Linux is to build the easiest-to-use Linux distribution for people converting from That Other Operating System, while keeping it technically sane. Ark Linux 2005.1 is built around the latest desktop technologies, including KDE 3.4, OpenOffice.org 1.1.4 (a preview of 2.0 is also available on the Ark Extra Software CD), glibc 2.3.4, X.Org 6.8.2, and kernel 2.6.11. The base install CD of Ark Linux contains everything the average desktop user will need." Find more details in the release announcement.
Magic Linux 1.2
After nearly one year of beta testing, Magic Linux 1.2 has been released. Magic Linux is a Chinese desktop distribution based around the RPM package management system. The latest version is built on top of the stable kernel 2.6.9 with the Con Kolivas patch set and other small changes. In terms of hardware support, there have been major improvements, and SATA drives, sound and network cards, USB storage devices, as well as MP3 and other common file formats can be used without any difficulties. The addition of udev has made the management of hardware more convenient, although some users might experience problems on occasion. More details can be found in the release announcement (in Chinese).
Magic Linux 1.2 - a Chinese desktop Linux distribution with RPM package management.
(full image size: 182kB)
Development and unannounced releases
- Fedora Core 4-test1, the release announcement
- Mandrakelinux 10.2-beta2 (x86_64), the beta information page
- Turkix Linux 10.0-alpha, the release announcement
- Mandrakelinux 10.2-rc1 (ppc), the release announcement and release notes
- Mandrakelinux 10.2-rc1 (x86), the release announcement and on the beta information page
- Ubuntu Linux 5.04-array7, the release announcement
- Kubuntu 5.04-preview, the release announcement
- QiLinux 1.2-pre1, the release announcement
- Beyond Linux From Scratch 6.0-pre1, the release announcement
- Pingwinek 1.0-pre1, the release announcement
- m0n0wall 1.2-beta7, the release notes
- FreeBSD 5.4-BETA1, the release announcement
- eduKnoppix 2.1.1
- R.I.P. 12.0
- JoLinux 2.2
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| Upcoming Releases and Announcements |
FreeBSD 5.4
The FreeBSD project has published a preliminary release schedule of FreeBSD 5.4. It seems to be somewhat out of touch with reality since 5.4-BETA1 has appeared on FreeBSD mirrors over the weekend, but the schedule expected the 5.4-RC1 in the middle of last week. FreeBSD 5.4-RELEASE is scheduled for 4 April, though it is likely to be delayed. See FreeBSD 5.4 Release Process for more information.
QiLinux 1.2
The developers of QiLinux have published a roadmap leading towards the stable release of QiLinux 1.2 on 29 April 2005. The beta testing phase is now in progress. Find out more in the announcement.
* * * * *
Summary of expected upcoming releases
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| Web Site News |
New distributions addition
- Kubuntu. Kubuntu is an Ubuntu-derived distribution. The Kubuntu CDs are made up of Ubuntu's base plus KDE. You can get exactly the same effect by installing Ubuntu and adding the KDE packages from the Ubuntu archives.
Kubuntu 5.04 - a KDE-centric sub-project of the increasingly popular Ubuntu Linux
(full image size: 188kB)
New on the waiting list
- Admelix. Admelix is a Chilean Linux distribution based on Ubuntu Linux.
- Arabian Linux. Arabian Linux is a bootable CD, based on Kurumin Linux, containing the Linux operating system. The goal of the project is to build a simple desktop-oriented Arabic distribution that can run from a CDROM or hard drive.
- Asterisk Live! Asterisk PBX is Linux-based, open source PBX software that provides voice over IP in three protocols and is interoperable with most standards-based telephony equipment using comparatively inexpensive hardware. If you want an easy way to play around with Asterisk check out Asterisk Live! This distribution is available as a Live CD and a Compact Flash install.
- Ultima Linux. The Ultima Linux Project aims to develop a complete desktop and server operating system based on Slackware Linux. It is designed to be small and fast, with none of the bloat of the full-blown Slackware, but still powerful.
DistroWatch database summary
- Number of Linux distributions in the database: 394
- Number of BSD distributions in the database: 9
- Number of discontinued distributions: 49
- Number of distributions on the waiting list: 95
That's all for today. See you all next week!
Ladislav Bodnar
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| Reader Comments • Jump to last comment |
1 • Links to Linux websites (by Anonymous on 2005-03-21 10:22:51 GMT from United Kingdom)
It has been over a week since the links to other Linux websites has appeared. A feature surely missed.
2 • Kubuntu/Linspire (by Honaby on 2005-03-21 10:24:19 GMT from Philippines)
This might sound stupid to some but here goes... is Linspire Debian based?
Anyway, great work on Kubuntu... I tried installing it at home, it worked like Magic! Just Like my Ubuntu Install... except that both have problems with my Modem... although my modem was working, and I was able to dial-up successfully to my ISP, surfing seems to be slower on both Ubuntu and Kubuntu compared to when im logged in to my Suse 9.2 install... using Firefox as browser... although im sure it has nothing to do with firefox since everything internet related is slow. eg. downloading updates from Ubuntu Archives etc... (synaptic/kynaptic)
Anyway, I hope the Canonical guys can fix it, or it may just be a very rare case of stupidity in my part. :D
Mepis beware of Kubuntu! hehehe...
3 • Kewl (by mazinga on 2005-03-21 11:30:34 GMT from Greece)
This is just a stupid sidenote but I just noticed we are getting close to 400 distros! Kewl.
As always, great work Ladi.
4 • Thanks Too Excellent Developers! (by Ajax Munroe on 2005-03-21 11:34:44 GMT from United States)
I would like to thank the hard working developers who were responsible for releasing the KDE 3.4 ports for all older Redhat versions. You people deserve credit for A-1 excellent work. My Redhat 9 box has never looked or performed better. The detail is flawless, and the eyecandy is breathtaking!
Also thanks goes out to the KDE team for developing another excellent release of their number one desktop. THANK YOU!
5 • RE: Kubuntu/Linspire (by Tux5 on 2005-03-21 11:38:37 GMT from United States)
"Mepis beware of Kubuntu! hehehe..."
This should be very interesting, the biggest reason to choose between MEPIS and Ubuntu used to be whether you wanted Gnome or KDE, now two of the very best single CD distributions can have KDE by default. I will definitely be checking out Kubuntu!
6 • Linspire (by Derion on 2005-03-21 11:40:48 GMT from Denmark)
# Honaby:
Yes, Linspire is based on DEBIAN.
7 • Admelix is Featherweight Linux? ;) (by Christophe on 2005-03-21 12:16:10 GMT from Netherlands)
Ladislav,
I just noticed a small mistake: in the "New on the waiting list", the first item "Admelix" has the comment of Featherweight Linux of last week. Or at least I think it's a mistake :) .
Otherwise, DistroWatch Weekly is just as informative and interesting as usual :) . Keep up the good job!
8 • Unannounced? (by wordchecker on 2005-03-21 12:49:40 GMT from United States)
Here's something I just noticed. This week's DW lists 15 "Development and unannounced releases," but 10 of them are followed by the words "release announcement." What's next, unreleased releases?
Other than that, a perfect website!
9 • Effective?/Debian & Gentoo have useful releases./Distros need wiki-like info. (by Anonymous on 2005-03-21 12:50:11 GMT from Canada)
I'm still looking at distributions and even thinking about just getting a Mac or compromising with proprietary software use. By distributions I'm saying I'm including BSD, Darwin, and other open source software with sensible licenses. As a result I've tried plenty of them out, but have only been able to give them so much time. In the end I'm bored of fiddling to get everything all working especially wireless, power management and 3d acceleration. This did make me notice some things in the end.
Despite all the effort to setup some systems, effectiveness is most important for me. Strangely the only thing that I can think of off hand to deseat it would be freedom from time to time. Effectiveness in software is does it do what I am attempting to communicate with it, to do. (Sorry for that wordy last sentence.) Please don't mistake what I'm talking about with just speed, I'm talking about being able to proceed in the correct direction too. Here is an example. Open source works for me because I can pay people to customize code. My personal organizer has to be the way function for the way I think and plan my life. My life works around what is important to me while most personal organizers work around time. I don't need to pay to rewrite the entire program necessarily because the programmer simply found something they could customize.
Debian is really one of the oldest but the new Distro come and go while it perserveres. Even now despite a slow release cycle it is still relevant. With stable, testing, and unstable having much better quality control then many most other software I have seen. Even one program for Windows that was bundled with my hardware has the mouse cursor disappear in it rendering the TV guide useless for ATI AIW functionality. I haven't yet seen anything in Debian where I could not use the program. Even the worse when a program was crashing a bit when in unstable had a new package in the repo a few days later.
Gentoo is one of the few newbies that really stands out despite being source based. Gentoo really even makes it simpler then binaries except for the fact that programs take long to compile. This can be worked around even a bit, but the important thing is it actually works if you follow all the directions. Well I'm pretty sure it fails for some but even then it tells you how to report bugs and get help. It really is powerful and truly is a meta-distribution with the way that it's packages are really just directions for how to install and setup the software. Again if you do what you are suppose to it works.
Debian and Gentoo have been solid for me and are true communities themselves. I could almost say the same for RedHat/Fedora but it isn't a community even if the stability and quality is very nice. (I recall having only trouble with disk druid partitioner or whatever it is called) All distributions use other peoples work in some way, but these add real value. Understand that these are very different distros but they have one thing in common all there releases have been useful upgradable products for years.
To change the subject I have noticed something with some distributions and really think all distributions would benefit from the idea. A few distributions have removed almost all the beauracratic nonscence and made it easy to add to, correct AND update their information about there distribution. This is really a treat. While some may have implementation that is not a real wiki they are still quick.I prefer a real wiki though because a how to quickly becomes dated and too often I find one that I could help with a bit but the page is static. Once you discover the power of wiki documents you may just relize how boring and stale static pages are and how much more powerful they can be with interactive readers.
If every distribution had a good wiki like Media Wiki the world could be a better place. You would no longer have to wait for someone to update the howto or waste someone elses time just to fix a small mistake. People will be able and more willing to help more if it takes less time. Time is not just money it has so much more value then that. Time to spend share with people like friends and family or on you mission in life.
10 • Effective Post was mine (by My Name on 2005-03-21 12:55:56 GMT from Canada)
Effective?/...... titled post was mine. Please excuse the length; I did't mean to submit it yet, but it looks like it is too late to change. People will probably read it before they glance down and notice this.
11 • Ark Linux won't install (by CJ on 2005-03-21 13:03:22 GMT from United States)
I downloaded it via bittorrent, burn the disc and verified the data. Got to the install stagem, and all that would install was GRUB. When going to install I got something to the effect of:
installer started
installer failed (??????? = 0)
install complete
Then it ejects the cd and reboots.
I've tried posting the problem on thier forum, but it keeps giving me an error saying not all fields are completed or long enough (or something like that), even though I've tried putting something in every field...
Hopefully Bero or somebody over there can fix this.
12 • RE: Unannounced? (by ladislav on 2005-03-21 13:33:23 GMT from Taiwan)
This week's DW lists 15 "Development and unannounced releases," but 10 of them are followed by the words "release announcement."
The "and" is a logical "OR" here. The list contains all development released (irrespective of whether they've been announced or not), as well as all unannounced released (irrespective of whether they are development releases or not). But maybe I should call it something else. Any suggestions?
13 • Nomination for DistroWatch's March 2005 donation (by Sven on 2005-03-21 13:37:21 GMT from Sweden)
I would like to nominate BitTorrent and its father Bram Cohen for this months DistroWatch donation.
With version 4.0.0 released just two weeks ago, the official BitTorrent client is hotter than ever. It comes with a brand new GTK-based user interface supporting multiple downloads. Single file transfers can be paused and resumed individually, and a "Peer list" shows a variety of statistics about the seeders and leechers one is connected to. Last but not least there is a slider to quickly adjust the maximum total upload rate.
Apart from programming the client, Bram also deserves some fame for implementing the BitTorrent file distribution "protocol" as such. Numerous software projects and Linux distributions today rely on BitTorrent to distribute their files and ISO-images to their users and distro junkies like me, Ladislav and all you others out there :-)
14 • No subject (by Anonymous on 2005-03-21 13:48:45 GMT from United States)
I agree with the Bittorent nomination. I use the software a lot (especially when Mandrake is releasing :-) and it has helped so many distributions get their hard work out to people.
15 • RE: Unannounced? (by wordchecker on 2005-03-21 14:03:10 GMT from United States)
[i]The "and" is a logical "OR" here. The list contains all development released (irrespective of whether they've been announced or not), as well as all unannounced released (irrespective of whether they are development releases or not). But maybe I should call it something else. Any suggestions?[/i]
No need to call it anything else -- I think it's just fine the way it is. Just struck me as a little funny at first.
16 • RE: Unannounced? (by Anonymous on 2005-03-21 15:09:47 GMT from United States)
No need to change it ladislav (IMHO).
17 • Effective? (by Anonymous on 2005-03-21 15:35:08 GMT from United States)
Not really sure if this is where your coming from?
But if your looking for a solid stable release with long support
try centos4. Its been almost everything I want. Where it does
come up short is the community. IMHO everybody seems to
be yesterdays rhel sys admins. And heres the rub: they know
it all. Now it would seem that would be good but. There are no
forums for newbies and the wiki is limp. Seems to me like all
the users lurk in rhel waters. But except for that its great.
Anyone ever try etherape its a great network monitor for newbies
graphic display of bandwidth use. And firestarter is also great
for newbies. Just my 2 cents
18 • Mandrake new release convention (by leo on 2005-03-21 15:40:06 GMT from United States)
guys/gals
how about this ?
http://lwn.net/Articles/128451/
19 • kubuntu (by ray carter at 2005-03-21 15:50:44 GMT from United States)
I do take issue with your statement about kubuntu being the same thing you'd get with an ubuntu install followed by adding the kde packages. I've tried without success to install ubuntu - both from a download/burn iso image and from the CDs they send out - my old Compaq hung about half way through looking for a nic module. Kubuntu installed cleanly.
Two things I noticed about the kubuntu install: it found all installed os's - the win98 install and the three previous Linux installs and promised to set up the multi-boot automatically (I was in a hurry and not brave enough to try it). And it misconfigured the video slightly - I have built in video and a PCI video card installed - and I'm using the built in right now - it set up for the PCI card, although it did find the correct monitor attached to the build in video - figure that!
20 • Re: kubuntu (by Anonymous on 2005-03-21 15:58:18 GMT from Germany)
Kubuntu Preview is based on Ubuntu Preview, the next Ubuntu version - not the last stable shipped Ubuntu release.
21 • BitTorrent nomination (by Josh on 2005-03-21 16:11:41 GMT from United States)
I would also like to give a "thumbs up" to nominating Bram Cohen as the recipient of the March 2005 Distrowatch donation.
22 • Kubuntu, Ark Linux , and Debian. (by Robzilla on 2005-03-21 16:36:03 GMT from United States)
O.K. I tried installing the new Kubuntu and was very impressed. I always hated the look and name of Ubuntu but had to try it because of the popularity. I was dissapointed with the Ubuntu desktop because I use KDE. Now I am sure as said you can get KDE through the repository but it is nice to have a distro set up with KDE by default. It worked very nice, the install was easy and quick. My only problem was trying to get the cd and dvd player to work. I tried to apt-get the codecs and couldn't. I tried to alter the source adresses for apt-get but could'nt. Could someone offer a clue? All in all I think I might give this distro a serious look when the release is out.
Tryed to download Ark Linux. Burned an ISO to disk and tryed to install. What a pain. I am sure if you can install it it would be nice but with this suppossed to be easy, it wasn't. It I repartitioned the drive and wiped it clean for it to install. It would get to a certain point and abort. Not impressed at all. They have some work to do for a "stable" newbie friendly release.
Now to Debian, Father of many current distors. Apt-get King. The distro I wanted most to install and customize. Now I am no Linux pro but I have installed many distro's before and have some idea of what to do at the command line. That being said I am still new to Linux in terms of time. So I tried a net install of Debian with the default desktop they reccomend. Spent an hour and a half downloading the additional programs set everything up and then when I re-booted I got the login screen, I logged in and nothing?? No desktop, no nothing but black screen with the root prompt. ??? I tried some commands and still nothing. I tried downloading another ISO and re-installed and still the same thing happened again?? I would really like to try Debian and for all the distro's I have used that are Debian based I would have thought this would have worked better. Someone got a suggestion?? Why is Debian so hard to get running?
Finally, just want to say that I am enjoying the overall Linux experience and community. What a great alternative to The Monopolistic choice! Distrowatch is the best resource I have ever come across!! So much info of Linux in one spot and so current!! Keep up the great work I am a Distro-watch junkie!!
Robzilla
23 • Mepis used to have both KDE and GNOME in test versions (by mrbass on 2005-03-21 16:46:34 GMT from United States)
• RE: Kubuntu/Linspire (by Tux5 on 2005-03-21 11:38:37 GMT from United States)
"Mepis beware of Kubuntu! hehehe..."
This should be very interesting, the biggest reason to choose between MEPIS and Ubuntu used to be whether you wanted Gnome or KDE, now two of the very best single CD distributions can have KDE by default. I will definitely be checking out Kubuntu!
Actually Warren pulled GNOME from Mepis...you could login with either KDE or GNOME but no one seemed to care so it was yanked.
If you wish to listen to this go here
http://tllts.jedimoose.org/
download llts_75-03-16-05.mp3 about 14MB and listen from. Entire interview is from 21mins on to the end 84mins.
Warren quoted from 63:40 to 66:35 of above mp3:
"We did a version where both GNOME and KDE were both present. People in the GNOME community ignored it, didn't hear a thing about it, it's as if they didn't care. So I said ok, so... well that's a lot of space and I could really use that space and it's more complicated to maintain all that. So we're gonna have, gonna back to the way it used to be.
SimplyMepis is going to be KDE based. You can install GNOME very easily and there's a little bit of pre-configuration so that it has, so it's Mepis-themed a little bit if you install GNOME but that's up to you. You want GNOME you install it. The minimal cd comes with KDE only. Since we're doing that and every time there's a release of KDE, people say 'oh gotta have that new KDE in Mepis' we may as well synchronize the release of Mepis with the releases of KDE. So SimplyMepis 3.3 was late getting out because this decision was made a lot latter than it should have been and it's based on KDE 3.3... or uses KDE 3.3. So, obviously, now the KDE 3.4 is becoming available, there will be a SimplyMepis 3.4 and I'm guessing that'll coming out around the first of May.
From there on out, SimplyMepis will be synchronized with KDE for release cycle. So when a new KDE comes out, maybe a month later a new Mepis will come out. Certainly not going to come out immediately because I've used KDE long enough to know when a new KDE comes out, there's a better version a month later. So certainly wouldn't want to come out with a KDE 3.4 based version this week. But anyway around the first of May I expect version 3.4 to become available. We have 2 extra cds right now that we're ready to put out for testing to go with the 3.3 version. When 3.4 comes out will have a 3.4 version of those extra cds. We also anticipate that we'll have a users printed guide for 3.4, which up until now we haven't had."
24 • Language barrier (by William Roddy on 2005-03-21 17:28:41 GMT from United States)
"My son is such a geek," said a beaming mother. "He came over and set up an e-mail account on my new computer."
Does that sound at all familiar?
Most people use Windows. Very few people install windows. In reality, in the world of Window users, you are a geek if you are the guy in the family who can set up an e-mail and Web browser and a super-geek if you can do that and install Windows.
Only a small number of people can install Windows, or even set up an e-mail account.
I wonder if the question is not "How do we make Linux easier to install?" but "Is there another way to get Linux on more people's computers?"
We can give them the simplest, easiest-to-install Linux possible, but if they can't even install Windows -- and I stress, numbers who most people can't -- what is the point?
How do we get out of this cul de sac? How do we extend our voice beyond the listening range of the choir? How many people do you know who use Windows at home and at work, but wouldn't dream of trying to install it
Linux is superb and, in so many ways, superior to Windows. In most cases, it is far easier to install than Windows. But there's the rub. If the vast majority can't even set up an e-mail account, how can we convince them to download an ISO, burn it, and install it on their machine?
The ratio of distributions on machines is not a function of who put them there, it's directly proportional to the number of machines upon which the distribution is installed. Even with that, other competitive advantages/disadvantages become factors. Mac in wonderful and comes installed, but still has a smaller number of users (although this may be the result of cost). Linux is at a real competitive disadvantage, even though it's free.
We cannot assume that because we know what we're talking about, everyone will know what we're talking about, when the broader public's definition of a geek is someone who can set up an e-mail account.
We, the lucky few who use Linux, are accidents of human nature and are very fortunate. I know we want to share our good fortune.
So the real question is, "How do we get Linux on more machines, without having to ask people to install it?"
I know the question's been asked before, but shouldn't we keep asking it, until someone comes up with a solution that is more than wistful thinking?
25 • BitTorrent (by relativ on 2005-03-21 17:58:56 GMT from United States)
I also agree on giving BitTorrent the next contribution. That little program is ALWAYS running on my system, grabbing something from the net. It's so quiet and it works so well, I think you just forget it's there.
On another note, I downloaded the Knoppix 3.8 CeBit iso (via BitTorrent) and then hex-edited it to default to English. Works perfectly. One strange thing I noticed - there is no "install software while CD is running" live installer utility. There used to be a tool to download the Flash Plugin and a few other items but now it's gone. Has anyone heard that this feature is being pulled?? Is it a license issue?
Anyway, thanks Ladislav! I know right where to go on Monday mornings.
./relativ
26 • Re: Language barrier (by butters on 2005-03-21 18:57:06 GMT from United States)
Very good comment. Here's my best response:
The Free Software movement is very old and slow moving. Relics of such ideas stem from mainframe programming in the 1970's, and perhaps the body of Free Software (or Open Source Software) philosophy can be traced back to the development of C as a cross-platform development language.
We all remember when 2000, 2001. . . were supposed to be "the year of Linux." Although it can be argued that the movement is picking up speed as of late, growth will continue to be a gradual phenomenon--a smooth curve. As much as zealots (who increasingly sound like pundits) care to argue that MS will ultimately fail in getting people to switch to Longhorn, leaving a critical opportunity for the rapidly developing Desktop Linux panacea to gain massive install-base, this is a pipe dream. By 2008, there will be more internet-connected client computers still running Windows 2000 than all flavors of Linux combined. But there will also be more computers running Windows XP than Longhorn.
What I am saying is, the Free Software community has the same problem that MS does: no one ever wants to upgrade unless they have to. This stems back to the original poster's revelation that most people don't know how to install Windows or set up an email account. No matter how easy we make the upgrade/install, it still presents a barrier to the masses.
Everyone knows some relative or friend that still runs Windows 98 or something similar. You can spout at them all you like about why it's not safe/productive/entertaining to run Windows 98 compared to modern alternatives, but unless you do the upgrade yourself, they won't switch operating systems until they replace their entire computer.
Distrowatch readers install operating systems. To everyone else, they come installed on your computer. This is why the community distributions will continue to serve their "loyal" Distrowatch-type fanbase ("I used to run Mandrake, but then I tried Gentoo, switched to Debian for a while, but now Ubuntu rocks and everything else sucks!!"), while the commercial OSS vendors aggressively court the OEMs.
There used to be two or three niche system integrators that preinstalled certain flavors of Linux. Now the big boys are starting to dip their toes in the water. These guys don't like to get wet, however, if they don't know how deep the pool is. Imagine if every major OEM hired a typical Informations Systems major to read Distrowatch/OSNews/Slashdot/etc. everyday and keep them informed on the growth of all that Linux stuff. Today I read a proud proclamation that, while 2004 was clearly the year for Ubuntu Linux, 2005 will be the year of Arch Linux. Yeah, I wonder what Red Hat and Novell have to say about that... let alone Microsoft!
Imagine this: Dell spends some amount of money on an experiment to gauge the level of interest in Linux technologies. They burn thousands of Knoppix/Ubuntu/Novell LiveCD's and send one to every Dell Home computer owner. Whenever someone boots the LiveCD, it sends a tally count over the network to Dell's server. The LiveCD contains some information about the advantages of Linux, and how the customer can provide feedback on the technology. It explains that in the future, they might be able to send their computer in for a complete "upgrade" to Linux, or a side-by-side install with Windows. No question about it, the LiveCD will be a very important tool for OEMs to educate home users and IT managers about the capabilities of Linux.
In conclusion, the idea of a large corporation upgrading half their computers to Longhorn by 2008 is highly unlikely, and the idea of them switching half of their computers to a form of Linux by 2008 is even less likely. Large corporations don't switch at the drop of a hat, and they don't ever change over everything at once (or even half of everything at once). Therefore, there will never be a singular year of Linux, or year of Foobar Linux. And there will never be an installer or upgrade tool seamless enough--and there will never be an operating system superior enough--for anyone to upgrade unless they really need to. There will either be a slow and gradual transition (group by group, department by department) toward Linux or a slow and gradual replacement by Longhorn.
And your mother will never learn how to setup an email account either.
27 • Re: Language barrier (by mdl on 2005-03-21 20:04:51 GMT from United States)
The simple fact is that the masses do not buy operating systems, they buy computers and use whatever operating system comes on them. If Linux is to become mainstream, it must be available installed on new computers. But Dell has enough trouble supporting Windows, let alone trying to support Linux. So don't expect to see any major PC vendors jump off the MS boat anytime soon.
There is the problem. I have no solution. It is tough to fight a monopoly, especially when most of the victims don't care. Sad.
28 • Linspire 5.0 (by Al on 2005-03-21 20:17:30 GMT from United States)
Linspire really struck a good chord with this release, and after almost a year and a half in development, I would expect nothing less.
However, before I recommend it to my friends, I will wait until their fist update to the 5.0.59 iso to make sure they have resolved any important post relrease bugs.
Linspire has always been great abou supporting their relreases and pumring out updates long after release, so I expect them to have a new 5.0 iso/CNR upgrade early in April.
29 • LiveCDs, etc. (by William Roddy on 2005-03-21 20:19:50 GMT from United States)
Thank you for your thoughtful and well-written reply. I hope dialogs continue about this in as many forums as possible.
What prompted me to write the previous post was the article about Xandros on a computer site in India (that seems obscure, but it was a DistroWatch announcement about a review, and I read it). It was a review about Xandros, but the reviewer said it was not only Xandros, but Linux, as a whole, that was not ready.
I would doubt that there are many other countries that need Linux more than India. And it felt that some vested interest may have been being protected. I'll say that, rather than that the reviewer was stupid. But such articles help promulgate a myth that is, by in large, what stands in the way of people even putting a live Linux CD in their machine.
I understand what you are saying and I agree that LiveCD's will play an important role in introducing people to Linux. My impatiences is with the fact that Microsoft, for all its positive contributions to computing, is a proven monopoly and, in areas where it cannot be adjudicated as a monopoly, it wins the day only by a gnat's eyelash that in passes the test.
I'm certain there must be, but I have trouble bringing to mind another example where one manufacturer of anything holds such sway on the way people's lives will be arranged and managed and entertained than Microsoft.
I know you used an impersonal "your" when you referred to my mother, but I must say I do understand there are people who will never be able to tackle technical chores. In my mother's case, she is blind and has dementia, but she still looks forward to my sister's reading of her children's e-mails, on an account I set up for her.
I also know that her receipt of e-mails, which quickly became the high points of her days, was abruptly curtailed when her machine contracted a virus that shut it down. Finances, distance, and other factors caused my mother to feel cheated out of contact with her children because of that virus. It was the same distance that disallowed me from having installed Linux on her machine.
I'm 63 and disabled. The computer is my primary contact with any world, other than hospitals. I don't know if I'll live to see Longhorn, and I don't care. As long as I'm able to e-mail my mom, who's near 90, and have my five children and 15 grandchildren, brother and sisters, e-mail me and send me pictures, the best purpose of my computer will be served.
By chance, I, like so many of you, am one of the fortunate who became involved in Linux. I don't even remember exactly how or why. I've reconnected with a lot of friends and relatives with my computer, and I've expanded my uses of it to include other things. But when friends and relatives are not heard from, at my age and older, one worries, and when it turns out that they have been down for a month or two with a computer virus or worm, one gets pissed.
I suppose at my age, one gets a little impatient for good things to take hold. But it is my belief that, right now, the world needs Linux much more than Linux needs the world. That's worthy of a little urgency.
30 • Bittorent (by Al on 2005-03-21 20:19:54 GMT from United States)
"I would like to nominate BitTorrent and its father Bram Cohen for this months DistroWatch donation."
I second that! Bittorent is a key OSS programe
31 • Linspire 5.0 Sluggish (by Thou on 2005-03-21 22:09:58 GMT from New Zealand)
My experience with Linspire 5.0 has not been that positive. On my system (Celeron 2400/500) it runs uncomfortably slow. Distros on other partitions are very responsive. I am here concerned with startup times - it feels like a step backwards in usability for me.
32 • Debian Sarge installation - the easy way (by Captain Carrot on 2005-03-21 22:10:40 GMT from Germany)
How to install Debian?
1) Download the latest version of Debian Sarge net-installer.
2) Boot the installer with "linux26" and install the base system. When the installer gives you a chance to install additional packages via network, just update the package database and upgrade the already-installed base system.
3) After logging into your new Debian system, "apt-get install x-window-system kde-core synaptic".
4) Then "dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86".
5) Reboot.
After the reboot, Debian should boot into KDE and you can use Synaptic to install all the other software you've ever wanted.
33 • bittorrent (by andrew on 2005-03-21 22:34:36 GMT from Australia)
Please add my vote for donation to bittorrent!
34 • Debian Sarge installation - the easy way -and easier (by Buster Ellis on 2005-03-22 00:14:11 GMT from Canada)
Instead of doing what Captain Carrot suggested to get Debian, install Mepis from the LiveCD and be done with it.
35 • Re:• Debian Sarge installation - the easy way -and easier (by Anonymous Penguin on 2005-03-22 00:53:52 GMT from Italy)
The difference is like between cooking your own meal and eating at the restaurant.
If you know how to cook, you can prepare your meal exactly the way you like it.
What you get at the restaurant might be delicious, but it has been made according to the chef's own preferences.
36 • user love screenshot (by pingu on 2005-03-22 01:02:31 GMT from Malaysia)
Ladislav,
Do you have a plan to have a screenshot section for every distro like http://shots.osdir.com/ did. People do like screenshots.
37 • Buster's advice (by Gnobian_Ken00bie on 2005-03-22 01:06:22 GMT from United States)
MEPIS not only doesn't permit the same level of customization from the start, but it also loads your system with non-free crap. And you don't learn much doing it. Some of us want to understand our systems and we want to know what all proprietary software, if any, is on our machines.
None of which is to detract from the great job MEPIS does at making a newbie-friendly distro. But as the earlier poster shows, even going with pure Debian is no longer such an impossible task.
In any case, if it weren't for those patient enough to use Debian, MEPIS would be nothing. Same with Ubuntu.
38 • RE: user love screenshot (by ladislav on 2005-03-22 01:26:44 GMT from Taiwan)
No. OSDir is doing a great job providing screenshots of many distributions (even some of the lesser-known ones), so I don't see why I should duplicate their efforts.
39 • To William Roddy (by CJ on 2005-03-22 02:33:08 GMT from United States)
"In my mother's case, she is blind and has dementia, but she still looks forward to my sister's reading of her children's e-mails, on an account I set up for her."
My father also has dementia. It is a hard thing to go through, especially when caused by long term alcoholism.
40 • Dementia (by Al on 2005-03-22 03:33:38 GMT from United States)
Q"In my mother's case, she is blind and has dementia, but she still looks forward to my sister's reading of her children's e-mails, on an account I set up for her."
My father also has dementia. It is a hard thing to go through, especially when caused by long term alcoholism.Q
He may want to try XTEND-LIFE's Neurological Formula. However, that is an excellent supplement all around, not just for dementia.
ANYWAY........
41 • To CJ (by William Roddy on 2005-03-22 03:57:34 GMT from United States)
I'm sorry about your father's illness. Mom never touched alcohol.
Yet comes the same end
Of long lifetimes.
Impatient Grim Reaper,
Too early for harvest,
Steals beauty from
Season's last hours;
Fecund pastures
Become battlegrounds,
As heroes struggle
Against his greed,
His uncivil war.
42 • Kool... eh (by Big Moron on 2005-03-22 13:28:37 GMT from Puerto Rico)
I wanted to try kubuntu... but the live cd boots me to the command line and I don't know how to start kdm... I feel it might be the cd... Mepis did this to me once with a copy of an already made iso... I am lost as to why that happens. Is there a way to start the window manager in such cases when you are thrown in to the cli...
About Linspire, I have not been able to test it... the new iso wont show in my account... it still shows 4.5... arg... wonder where should I complain... other than their forum... Am been lazzy...
Why hasn't my breakfeast not jumped to my mouth yet... :P
43 • Re: Debian network install (by Ed Borasky on 2005-03-22 14:07:05 GMT from United States)
• Kubuntu, Ark Linux , and Debian. (by Robzilla on 2005-03-21 16:36:03 GMT from United States)
"Now to Debian, Father of many current distors. Apt-get King. The distro I wanted most to install and customize. Now I am no Linux pro but I have installed many distro's before and have some idea of what to do at the command line. That being said I am still new to Linux in terms of time. So I tried a net install of Debian with the default desktop they reccomend. Spent an hour and a half downloading the additional programs set everything up and then when I re-booted I got the login screen, I logged in and nothing?? No desktop, no nothing but black screen with the root prompt. ??? I tried some commands and still nothing. I tried downloading another ISO and re-installed and still the same thing happened again?? I would really like to try Debian and for all the distro's I have used that are Debian based I would have thought this would have worked better. Someone got a suggestion?? Why is Debian so hard to get running?"
I had a much different (and better) experience installing Debian (sarge) directly over the Internet (no ISOs). Of course, I spent quite a bit of time last year using Debian; I'm not a newbie. All I had to do was boot the install floppies (downloaded from Debian) and follow the instructions. The only tricky part is getting kdm; if you prefer kdm, as I do, you need to specifically install it and configure it. The system came up perfectly, with kdm, DHCP, etc.
I did not have the same luck with woody, though -- the network/DHCP didn't come up after the install.
44 • RE: Kool... eh (by Anonymous Penguin on 2005-03-22 14:34:22 GMT from Italy)
Which kind of Linspire membership do you have? Send a private message to Kendall.
45 • links (by ballhawk on 2005-03-22 14:41:55 GMT from United States)
Anonymous said: "It has been over a week since the links to other Linux websites has appeared. A feature surely missed."
As a newbie trying to learn all I can I agree. I followed some of the links last week but never bookmarked them. Now they are gone. Googling for linux brings up too many to sift through.
Maybe the old links could be based on the distrowatch links page as "Other Resources". Or perhaps others would suggest some of the best sites to visit.
46 • I loved that comment. (by Leonardo on 2005-03-22 19:05:09 GMT from Argentina)
I agree 100%, im always saying that!
If "normal" people is not able to install anything, how do we expect them to install a whole OS!
I mean, in windows if someone has to install something (including spyware and adware) they usually start clickin NEXT without even reading what they are doing! They use the webmail until some "geek" gets them Outlook working with their accounts!
I think the solution is quite simple, wait until Microsoft looses a bit (actually, lots) of power, so OEMs can start shipping Linux on their machines. Time will tell.
47 • Re: Language barrier (by im_ka on 2005-03-22 19:30:36 GMT from Hungary)
i absolutely agree, william. i hope you don't mind that i posted your comment on my blog
48 • im_ka (by William Roddy on 2005-03-22 20:10:26 GMT from United States)
Mr. im_ka: You are kind. Please regarded the post as "Copylefted."
Mr. Leonardo: You, too, are generous. I am humbled and flattered by the many nice thoughts.
In Linux, as in life, we all need each other.
Thank you.
49 • Ark Linux installer (by Ariszló on 2005-03-22 21:23:55 GMT from Hungary)
Ladislav: you still cannot install it on a pre-existing partition or specify which hard disk to take over
I don't like Ark's installer either but there is an easier way to install it next to other distributions. Just delete a spare partition and select "Express Install."
50 • linux adoption, search feature.. (by MarkV on 2005-03-22 22:15:05 GMT from United States)
folks:
Spent a long time with MS products starting with early dos.. moved to Linux now on OS X. People don't have the time, skill or patience to be there own sysadmin. Linux on the desktop needs to be easier than windows (doesn't have to be easy as a OS X), have true drop & drag ala OS X, and real notebook support. I've given up for this year in setting up small NGO's with Linux.. they seem to all need a sysadmin to keep them running. Check slashdot if the code gals/guys have the $ they get a powerbook -just works and you get UNIX.
Thanks thanks thanks for the great new search feature!!!!
Mark
51 • RE: Ark Linux installer (by ladislav on 2005-03-22 23:48:59 GMT from Taiwan)
Yes, I saw that option too. I used it before (with an earlier alpha release of Ark Linux) to delete a partition in the middle of the partition table. What a mess! The installer created a new swap partition (despite the fact that the drive already had one) and completely messed up the existing partition table. In the end, it seemed that I would waste less time if I simply disconnected the first hard disk than if I had to fix the partition table after the installation.
52 • RE: RE: Ark Linux installer (by Anonymous Penguin on 2005-03-23 05:11:35 GMT from Italy)
Same experience here, Ladislav.
They aren't even humble enough to accept that their installer has created untold grief to a lot of people.
And in any case, if they hadn't been arrogant, they could have accepted the suggestion to port Anaconda. Do you remember J.A.M.D. ? I installed it again a few days ago. It wasn't a grandiose project, but it was useful to a lot of people.
53 • Libranet - Debian Free Easy (by Rodney on 2005-03-23 07:32:49 GMT from Australia)
http://libranet.com/
54 • Bittorrent (by maple.nu on 2005-03-23 07:37:12 GMT from Finland)
Bittorrent also gets my vote for the next DW donation.
55 • Re: Ark Linux installer (by Ariszló on 2005-03-23 13:42:58 GMT from Hungary)
Ladislav: The installer created a new swap partition (despite the fact that the drive already had one) and completely messed up the existing partition table.
Yes, that's true. I was luckier because I deleted the last partition on the disk. That's the only way to keep the partition table intact.
Apart from the installer, Mission Control is quite cool.
56 • Bittorrent (by Ariszló on 2005-03-23 13:46:42 GMT from Hungary)
My vote, too.
57 • The name just BUGS me, man! (by just john on 2005-03-23 17:41:43 GMT from United States)
Am I alone in thinking "Nature's Linux" is an incredibly STUPID name?
I'm hoping it's a glitch in translation.
(There. I've vented.)
58 • Happy Easter (by PP on 2005-03-23 23:26:47 GMT from United Kingdom)
Happy Easter everyone!
Great time to try out a few new distros.. :-)
59 • Re: The name just BUGS me, man (by Anonymous on 2005-03-24 14:17:06 GMT from United States)
"I'm hoping it's a glitch in translation."
Well, according to their website:
"Nature's Linuxは、ネットワークセントリクスコンピューティング（ネットワーク時代のコンピューティング）に要求される安全性・安定性・保守運用性をベース"
Sounds perfectly sensible to me.
Hope that clears things up a bit...
60 • Arabian Linux (by Anonymous on 2005-03-24 15:35:29 GMT from Qatar)
Thank's for the Arabian Linux's link.
It's based on Kurumin Linux, one of the most beautiful distro on earth :)
Also maintained by one of Kurumin's developer itself.
Check it out here:
http://www.arabian.arabicos.com/snapshots.htm
61 • The name just BUGS me, man! (by ladislav on 2005-03-25 03:49:09 GMT from Taiwan)
I don't find Nature's Linux to be such a bad name. Then again, I've lived in Asia for a few years now, so maybe I am already immune to all the silly names people come up with here. But the first time I heard the names of some Japanese music bands, I used to wonder too. E.g.: "Do As Infinity", "Porno Graffitti", "Kinki Kids", "Mr. Children", "Dragon Ash"... there are many more like this. As if they just took some random words from an English dictionary to make up the name....
62 • What's in a name? (by William Roddy on 2005-03-25 18:59:53 GMT from United States)
A perusal of the list of Linux flavors produces this:
Amber, Astro, Berry, Big, blackPanther, Buffalo, cAos, Damn Small, DarkStar, DeadCD, Deepwater, Devil, DragonFly, EZPlanet One, Feather, Fox, Hiweed, Krud, Loco, Magic, Miracle, Pie Box, Puppy, Runt, Sorcerer, Tao, tinysofa, Vine Whomp!, WOW, YellowDog, and Zen.
Meaning what? Meaning, that we're still just cavemen with clickers (or pointing devices), and we still must have totems, to signify our clan.
There was once even a Beer Linux, a clan I once belonged to (in a literal sense) which was destined for the scrapheap because it's hard to build a good Linux, even with a sober mind.
Names, like species, survive only if they are the fittest. I don't see many major corporate entities choosing their distro from the above list. Imagine, "What operating system are you guys at (insert name of large corporation) using?" "Oh, we use that terrific new one, Cannibal Linux. The only problem we've had is that it occasionally eats our information."
Picking good names is hard. If you have kids, you know what I'm talking about.
Reminds me of the old joke: A Native American kid asks his father, "Why does our tribe name it's children after the first thing the mother sees after she give birth?" The father replied, "I don't know. Why do you ask, Two-Dogs-Mating?"
Number of Comments: 62
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TUXEDO Computers - Linux Hardware in a tailor made suite
Choose from a wide range of laptops and PCs in various sizes and shapes at TUXEDOComputers.com. Every machine comes pre-installed and ready-to-run with Linux. Full 24 months of warranty and lifetime support included!
Learn more about our full service package and all benefits from buying at TUXEDO.
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| Archives |
| • Issue 1099 (2024-12-02): AnduinOS 1.0.1, measuring RAM usage, SUSE continues rebranding efforts, UBports prepares for next major version, Murena offering non-NFC phone |
| • Issue 1098 (2024-11-25): Linux Lite 7.2, backing up specific folders, Murena and Fairphone partner in fair trade deal, Arch installer gets new text interface, Ubuntu security tool patched |
| • Issue 1097 (2024-11-18): Chimera Linux vs Chimera OS, choosing between AlmaLinux and Debian, Fedora elevates KDE spin to an edition, Fedora previews new installer, KDE testing its own distro, Qubes-style isolation coming to FreeBSD |
| • Issue 1096 (2024-11-11): Bazzite 40, Playtron OS Alpha 1, Tucana Linux 3.1, detecting Screen sessions, Redox imports COSMIC software centre, FreeBSD booting on the PinePhone Pro, LXQt supports Wayland window managers |
| • Issue 1095 (2024-11-04): Fedora 41 Kinoite, transferring applications between computers, openSUSE Tumbleweed receives multiple upgrades, Ubuntu testing compiler optimizations, Mint partners with Framework |
| • Issue 1094 (2024-10-28): DebLight OS 1, backing up crontab, AlmaLinux introduces Litten branch, openSUSE unveils refreshed look, Ubuntu turns 20
| | • Issue 1093 (2024-10-21): Kubuntu 24.10, atomic vs immutable distributions, Debian upgrading Perl packages, UBports adding VoLTE support, Android to gain native GNU/Linux application support |
| • Issue 1092 (2024-10-14): FunOS 24.04.1, a home directory inside a file, work starts of openSUSE Leap 16.0, improvements in Haiku, KDE neon upgrades its base |
| • Issue 1091 (2024-10-07): Redox OS 0.9.0, Unified package management vs universal package formats, Redox begins RISC-V port, Mint polishes interface, Qubes certifies new laptop |
| • Issue 1090 (2024-09-30): Rhino Linux 2024.2, commercial distros with alternative desktops, Valve seeks to improve Wayland performance, HardenedBSD parterns with Protectli, Tails merges with Tor Project, Quantum Leap partners with the FreeBSD Foundation |
| • Issue 1089 (2024-09-23): Expirion 6.0, openKylin 2.0, managing configuration files, the future of Linux development, fixing bugs in Haiku, Slackware packages dracut |
| • Issue 1088 (2024-09-16): PorteuX 1.6, migrating from Windows 10 to which Linux distro, making NetBSD immutable, AlmaLinux offers hardware certification, Mint updates old APT tools |
| • Issue 1087 (2024-09-09): COSMIC desktop, running cron jobs at variable times, UBports highlights new apps, HardenedBSD offers work around for FreeBSD change, Debian considers how to cull old packages, systemd ported to musl |
| • Issue 1086 (2024-09-02): Vanilla OS 2, command line tips for simple tasks, FreeBSD receives investment from STF, openSUSE Tumbleweed update can break network connections, Debian refreshes media |
| • Issue 1085 (2024-08-26): Nobara 40, OpenMandriva 24.07 "ROME", distros which include source code, FreeBSD publishes quarterly report, Microsoft updates breaks Linux in dual-boot environments |
| • Issue 1084 (2024-08-19): Liya 2.0, dual boot with encryption, Haiku introduces performance improvements, Gentoo dropping IA-64, Redcore merges major upgrade |
| • Issue 1083 (2024-08-12): TrueNAS 24.04.2 "SCALE", Linux distros for smartphones, Redox OS introduces web server, PipeWire exposes battery drain on Linux, Canonical updates kernel version policy |
| • Issue 1082 (2024-08-05): Linux Mint 22, taking snapshots of UFS on FreeBSD, openSUSE updates Tumbleweed and Aeon, Debian creates Tiny QA Tasks, Manjaro testing immutable images |
| • Issue 1081 (2024-07-29): SysLinuxOS 12.4, OpenBSD gain hardware acceleration, Slackware changes kernel naming, Mint publishes upgrade instructions |
| • Issue 1080 (2024-07-22): Running GNU/Linux on Android with Andronix, protecting network services, Solus dropping AppArmor and Snap, openSUSE Aeon Desktop gaining full disk encryption, SUSE asks openSUSE to change its branding |
| • Issue 1079 (2024-07-15): Ubuntu Core 24, hiding files on Linux, Fedora dropping X11 packages on Workstation, Red Hat phasing out GRUB, new OpenSSH vulnerability, FreeBSD speeds up release cycle, UBports testing new first-run wizard |
| • Issue 1078 (2024-07-08): Changing init software, server machines running desktop environments, OpenSSH vulnerability patched, Peppermint launches new edition, HardenedBSD updates ports |
| • Issue 1077 (2024-07-01): The Unity and Lomiri interfaces, different distros for different tasks, Ubuntu plans to run Wayland on NVIDIA cards, openSUSE updates Leap Micro, Debian releases refreshed media, UBports gaining contact synchronisation, FreeDOS celebrates its 30th anniversary |
| • Issue 1076 (2024-06-24): openSUSE 15.6, what makes Linux unique, SUSE Liberty Linux to support CentOS Linux 7, SLE receives 19 years of support, openSUSE testing Leap Micro edition |
| • Issue 1075 (2024-06-17): Redox OS, X11 and Wayland on the BSDs, AlmaLinux releases Pi build, Canonical announces RISC-V laptop with Ubuntu, key changes in systemd |
| • Issue 1074 (2024-06-10): Endless OS 6.0.0, distros with init diversity, Mint to filter unverified Flatpaks, Debian adds systemd-boot options, Redox adopts COSMIC desktop, OpenSSH gains new security features |
| • Issue 1073 (2024-06-03): LXQt 2.0.0, an overview of Linux desktop environments, Canonical partners with Milk-V, openSUSE introduces new features in Aeon Desktop, Fedora mirrors see rise in traffic, Wayland adds OpenBSD support |
| • Issue 1072 (2024-05-27): Manjaro 24.0, comparing init software, OpenBSD ports Plasma 6, Arch community debates mirror requirements, ThinOS to upgrade its FreeBSD core |
| • Issue 1071 (2024-05-20): Archcraft 2024.04.06, common command line mistakes, ReactOS imports WINE improvements, Haiku makes adjusting themes easier, NetBSD takes a stand against code generated by chatbots |
| • Issue 1070 (2024-05-13): Damn Small Linux 2024, hiding kernel messages during boot, Red Hat offers AI edition, new web browser for UBports, Fedora Asahi Remix 40 released, Qubes extends support for version 4.1 |
| • Issue 1069 (2024-05-06): Ubuntu 24.04, installing packages in alternative locations, systemd creates sudo alternative, Mint encourages XApps collaboration, FreeBSD publishes quarterly update |
| • Issue 1068 (2024-04-29): Fedora 40, transforming one distro into another, Debian elects new Project Leader, Red Hat extends support cycle, Emmabuntus adds accessibility features, Canonical's new security features |
| • Issue 1067 (2024-04-22): LocalSend for transferring files, detecting supported CPU architecure levels, new visual design for APT, Fedora and openSUSE working on reproducible builds, LXQt released, AlmaLinux re-adds hardware support |
| • Issue 1066 (2024-04-15): Fun projects to do with the Raspberry Pi and PinePhone, installing new software on fixed-release distributions, improving GNOME Terminal performance, Mint testing new repository mirrors, Gentoo becomes a Software In the Public Interest project |
| • Issue 1065 (2024-04-08): Dr.Parted Live 24.03, answering questions about the xz exploit, Linux Mint to ship HWE kernel, AlmaLinux patches flaw ahead of upstream Red Hat, Calculate changes release model |
| • Issue 1064 (2024-04-01): NixOS 23.11, the status of Hurd, liblzma compromised upstream, FreeBSD Foundation focuses on improving wireless networking, Ubuntu Pro offers 12 years of support |
| • Issue 1063 (2024-03-25): Redcore Linux 2401, how slowly can a rolling release update, Debian starts new Project Leader election, Red Hat creating new NVIDIA driver, Snap store hit with more malware |
| • Issue 1062 (2024-03-18): KDE neon 20240304, changing file permissions, Canonical turns 20, Pop!_OS creates new software centre, openSUSE packages Plasma 6 |
| • Issue 1061 (2024-03-11): Using a PinePhone as a workstation, restarting background services on a schedule, NixBSD ports Nix to FreeBSD, Fedora packaging COSMIC, postmarketOS to adopt systemd, Linux Mint replacing HexChat |
| • Issue 1060 (2024-03-04): AV Linux MX-23.1, bootstrapping a network connection, key OpenBSD features, Qubes certifies new hardware, LXQt and Plasma migrate to Qt 6 |
| • Issue 1059 (2024-02-26): Warp Terminal, navigating manual pages, malware found in the Snap store, Red Hat considering CPU requirement update, UBports organizes ongoing work |
| • Issue 1058 (2024-02-19): Drauger OS 7.6, how much disk space to allocate, System76 prepares to launch COSMIC desktop, UBports changes its version scheme, TrueNAS to offer faster deduplication |
| • Issue 1057 (2024-02-12): Adelie Linux 1.0 Beta, rolling release vs fixed for a smoother experience, Debian working on 2038 bug, elementary OS to split applications from base system updates, Fedora announces Atomic Desktops |
| • Issue 1056 (2024-02-05): wattOS R13, the various write speeds of ISO writing tools, DSL returns, Mint faces Wayland challenges, HardenedBSD blocks foreign USB devices, Gentoo publishes new repository, Linux distros patch glibc flaw |
| • Issue 1055 (2024-01-29): CNIX OS 231204, distributions patching packages the most, Gentoo team presents ongoing work, UBports introduces connectivity and battery improvements, interview with Haiku developer |
| • Issue 1054 (2024-01-22): Solus 4.5, comparing dd and cp when writing ISO files, openSUSE plans new major Leap version, XeroLinux shutting down, HardenedBSD changes its build schedule |
| • Issue 1053 (2024-01-15): Linux AI voice assistants, some distributions running hotter than others, UBports talks about coming changes, Qubes certifies StarBook laptops, Asahi Linux improves energy savings |
| • Issue 1052 (2024-01-08): OpenMandriva Lx 5.0, keeping shell commands running when theterminal closes, Mint upgrades Edge kernel, Vanilla OS plans big changes, Canonical working to make Snap more cross-platform |
| • Issue 1051 (2024-01-01): Favourite distros of 2023, reloading shell settings, Asahi Linux releases Fedora remix, Gentoo offers binary packages, openSUSE provides full disk encryption |
| • Issue 1050 (2023-12-18): rlxos 2023.11, renaming files and opening terminal windows in specific directories, TrueNAS publishes ZFS fixes, Debian publishes delayed install media, Haiku polishes desktop experience |
| • Issue 1049 (2023-12-11): Lernstick 12, alternatives to WINE, openSUSE updates its branding, Mint unveils new features, Lubuntu team plans for 24.04 |
| • Issue 1048 (2023-12-04): openSUSE MicroOS, the transition from X11 to Wayland, Red Hat phasing out X11 packages, UBports making mobile development easier |
| • Issue 1047 (2023-11-27): GhostBSD 23.10.1, Why Linux uses swap when memory is free, Ubuntu Budgie may benefit from Wayland work in Xfce, early issues with FreeBSD 14.0 |
| • Issue 1046 (2023-11-20): Slackel 7.7 "Openbox", restricting CPU usage, Haiku improves font handling and software centre performance, Canonical launches MicroCloud |
| • Issue 1045 (2023-11-13): Fedora 39, how to trust software packages, ReactOS booting with UEFI, elementary OS plans to default to Wayland, Mir gaining ability to split work across video cards |
| • Full list of all issues |
| Star Labs |
Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.
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| Random Distribution | 
Caos Linux
Caos Linux NSA was a light-weight, fast, efficient, stable, and secure distribution of Linux that was appropriate for servers, compute nodes, network appliances, and even the latest desktop and laptop computers. It was maintained and managed by a team of computer science experts with numerous proven skills. With resources pooled together, they created a multifunctional operating system with mission critical dependability. Caos Linux was designed to run on all x86_64 and i386 hardware ranging from clusters and servers to production level appliances to personal desktops and laptops. Supporting a wide variety of software, Caos Linux was based on the best aspects of GNU/Linux and has full binary compatibility with the most popular enterprise distribution of Linux.
Status: Discontinued
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| TUXEDO |
TUXEDO Computers - Linux Hardware in a tailor made suite
Choose from a wide range of laptops and PCs in various sizes and shapes at TUXEDOComputers.com. Every machine comes pre-installed and ready-to-run with Linux. Full 24 months of warranty and lifetime support included!
Learn more about our full service package and all benefits from buying at TUXEDO.
|
| Star Labs |
Star Labs - Laptops built for Linux.
View our range including the highly anticipated StarFighter. Available with coreboot open-source firmware and a choice of Ubuntu, elementary, Manjaro and more. Visit Star Labs for information, to buy and get support.
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