 DistroWatch Weekly |
| DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 291, 23 February 2009 |
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Welcome to this year's 8th issue of DistroWatch Weekly! This week we re-visit the minimal distribution install, this time with openSUSE 11.1. In the news this past week, Mark Shuttleworth announces details of the 9.10 Ubuntu release, openSUSE board members post a joint statement about the project's future in light of Novell layoffs, Red Hat signs an interoperability agreement with Microsoft, Debian project announces the appointment of a new Secretary, and NetBSD launches a desktop initiative that should bring more users to the popular cross-platform operating system. Also in the news, we introduce VirtualBSD, a FreeBSD-based desktop environment for VMware and provide a link to an animated video interview about FreeNAS, a BSD system for building network-attached storage devices. Finally, if you are an accomplished distro tester, but worry that you'll run out of new distributions to try, fear not - last week no fewer than eight new Linux distributions were submitted to DistroWatch. These include some really exotic fares, such as moonOS from Cambodia or Kongoni from South Africa. Happy distro hopping!
Content:
- Tutorial: Minimal openSUSE 11.1 install
- News: Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala", openSUSE Board statement, Red Hat and Microsoft, new Debian secretary, desktop NetBSD and virtual FreeBSD, Linux companies in recession
- Released last week: SimplyMEPIS 8.0, Arch Linux 2009.02, VectorLinux 6.0
- Upcoming releases: Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5
- New additions: Nova
- New distributions: Bio-Linux, Firefly Linux, flexxxpup, Kongoni, Linux4One, moonOS, pupitup, Ubuntu extras remix
- Reader comments
 Listen to the Podcast edition of this week's DistroWatch Weekly in OGG (7.9MB) and MP3 (12MB) formats
 Join us at irc.freenode.net #distrowatch
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| Feature Story |
Minimal openSUSE 11.1 install
Introduction
 Every distribution has its goals and purpose. Some are designed to include everything, others like to take a small selection of what's available. But all distributions start from a small base and install more and more packages until they have a complete environment. For some that's GNOME or the latest snapshot of KDE 4, while for others it is a tiny footprint with the most lightweight window manager. As many readers will be aware, I like minimalist systems and wrote an article for DistroWatch Weekly on how to get a more lean Ubuntu system. Some readers however, thought I was stupid to choose Ubuntu if I wanted a light-weight system and claimed other distros were faster and better. Undoubtedly so, but I didn't choose it because it was lightweight, quite the contrary. I chose it because, by default, it's pretty hefty and like it or not, it is the most popular desktop distribution at the present time. The article intended to show that you don't have to be stuck with the Ubuntu way of doing things and that you could take control. You can do this with almost any distribution out there and today I'll show you how to do so with openSUSE.
openSUSE is a great distribution with a great community. It has a rich heritage and a powerful configuration system in YaST. By default, openSUSE comes with three different environments, GNOME, KDE and Xfce. The installer is one of the most well-respected in the business, which also gives you the option to install a base system. For this article I used the openSUSE 11.1 x86_64 DVD on a computer with an Intel Core2 E8400 3 GHz CPU, 8 GB of memory, 750 GB SATA hard drive and a NVIDIA 8800GT video card.
Installation
Boot to the DVD and choose to install from the menu. You can press F2 and select an alternate language if required. The system will boot straight into the installer, where you should begin your 'New Installation'. I chose to use the automatic configuration option and proceeded to set my time zone. At the 'Desktop Selection' screen hit the 'Other' button and choose either 'Minimal X Window', or 'Minimal Server Selection (Text Mode)'. The first option will install the base system, plus the X Window server and the basic desktop environment, Tab Window Manager (TWM). If you want less control then take this one, but if you want more, then take the second text-mode option.
openSUSE 11.1 installer - choosing a desktop
(full image size: 261kB, screen resolution: 1024x768 pixels)
Partition your hard drives however you desire - I like to turn off access time and so select 'No access time' on a per-partition basis. Create a user (I turn off automatic login), complete the rest of the setup procedure and begin the install. If you took the second option, then at the summary screen ensure you change the default run level from 3 to 5 (full multi-user with network and display manager). This entire install process took only 6 minutes to complete and a further 2 minutes to configure the system on first boot. If you took the first option, then by default it will boot straight to the X Window desktop manager and the basic TWM desktop. You can log into this environment as root or switch to a terminal if you prefer. Unlike Ubuntu, the base openSUSE system includes a fully functional splash screen and includes many services, such as D-Bus, HAL, Firewall, CPUFreq, NFS, CUPS, OpenSSH and Postfix out of the box. It also includes YaST and all the modules for configuring your system. Next we can begin to tweak the system.
Base system
Now that you have a basic X Window system installed (if you don't yet, you will shortly), we can use the Internet to download the latest packages. Any packages that have been updated since the initial release will be installed from the Internet, while anything else will be installed from the local DVD. By default the openSUSE installer will have configured your repositories for you; however, you can use a custom mirror if you like. To accomplish this, I use Zypper, openSUSE's powerful RPM package management tool.
List the repositories.
# zypper repos
Delete the default Internet repositories, but leave the DVD. Repeat until only the DVD source remains.
# zypper removerepo 2
Add the mirrors you want to use (this takes the form; [command] [option] [path] [name]).
# zypper addrepo ftp://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/opensuse/distribution/11.1/repo/oss OSS
# zypper addrepo ftp://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/opensuse/distribution/11.1/repo/non-oss non-OSS
# zypper addrepo ftp://mirror.internode.on.net/pub/opensuse/update/11.1 updates
Whether you changed the mirrors or not, let's now update the system.
# zypper refresh && zypper dist-upgrade
This should provide you with an up-to-date base system. Before moving on, there are some other tasks that you may wish to perform. For me, I don't like to use the search tool Beagle as I find it can slow down the system. You will still require the libraries as many applications are built against them; however, you can lock it easily with Zypper so that it's never installed.
# zypper addlock beagle*
If you are installing on a notebook, openSUSE uses traditional network configuration methods by default, so if you want to use NetworkManager it's easy! First, install it.
# zypper install networkmanager
Next, tell YaST to configure it as the default network manager.
# yast2 sysconfig set NETWORKMANAGER=yes
Environment
Next, let's get a basic desktop environment. There are groups you can install under openSUSE, called 'patterns', which pull in packages as specified by the package maintainer. For example, if you want a basic GNOME or KDE desktop, you can install 'gnome_basis' or 'kde4_basis' respectively. KDE3 is also available with 'kde3_basis'. The problem with using these is that you forfeit some control and minimalism for your system as many packages are pulled in for you. The upside is that you don't need to know each and every little package to make everything work, which can be frustrating if you want something but don't know how to get it! Feel free to experiment, but for the purposes of this exercise, here is how to use the available patterns.
# zypper install -t pattern gnome_basis
This will pull in all required packages to get you a default openSUSE configured desktop.
If you took the text mode option during install time and do want a more minimal desktop, perform the following instead.
# zypper install gdm gnome-terminal xorg xorg-x11-driver-input xorg-x11-driver-video xorg-x11-fonts yast2-gtk
# cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf.install /etc/X11/xorg.conf
By default, openSUSE will continue to boot the original lightweight window manager and so we need to tell it to switch to GNOME. This is done either by editing the respective configuration file under /etc/sysconfig/ or via YaST. We'll use YaST.
First, set the login manager (if you want to).
# yast2 sysconfig set DISPLAYMANAGER=gdm
Next, change the default desktop environment.
# yast2 sysconfig set DEFAULT_WM=gnome
Reboot your computer and you should be greeted with the openSUSE GNOME Desktop Manager. Log in as the user you set up during installation and it should load the GNOME desktop.
Now that you have a fully functioning GNOME environment, you can continue to install any other applications you require and tweak your system further. The pattern we used has pulled in many of the basic packages we need, including a web browser, email and calendar program, chat client, CD burner and an image viewer. If you didn't use the pattern, then you'll need to install the packages you want manually. There are many other ways to tweak your system further of course, now that it is installed. Try disabling unused services, removing programs you don't need and introducing some package locks.
This new custom openSUSE system boots from GRUB to login screen in around 28 seconds, taking a further 6 seconds to load the GNOME desktop. It is using up 175 MB of memory once fully logged in and just over 1.7 GB of hard drive space. Compare this to the default install, which takes 39 seconds to boot and over 10 seconds to load the desktop, while using up 3.6 GB of hard drive space and over 315 MB of memory.
Conclusion
If you want a really light weight environment then openSUSE might not be the way to go, but if it's your favourite operating system, you don't have to give it up just yet! You can tweak the system to make it quite small, especially with the help of Zypper and its ability to lock packages. At the very least, you will learn some more about how your openSUSE system works and, if at the end you decide to just install everything, well, you can do that too!
openSUSE 11.1 - custom GNOME desktop
(full image size: 454kB, screen resolution: 1280x1024 pixels)
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| Miscellaneous News |
Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala", openSUSE Board statement, Red Hat and Microsoft, new Debian secretary, desktop NetBSD and virtual FreeBSD, Linux companies in recession
 Mark Shuttleworth has released information on the 9.10 release of Ubuntu, which will be called Karmic Koala. This version will build on the improvements made in the upcoming 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope release, but will also explore some new regions. The biggest new area Ubuntu will tackle is in the clouds. Shuttleworth explains, "Ubuntu aims to keep free software at the forefront of cloud computing by embracing the API's of Amazon EC2, and making it easy for anybody to setup their own cloud using entirely open tools." Karmic will also include Eucalyptus which "enables you to create an EC2-style cloud in your own data center, on your own hardware." On the desktop, users can finally expect to see newer and fancier artwork, with the team contemplating switching Usplash over to a kernel mode setting based system, such as Fedora's Plymouth. Netbooks will also get a boost, with Shuttleworth saying Karmic will include the latest enhancements from Moblin.
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 openSUSE Board Members Pascal Bleser and Bryen Yunashko have released a joint statement on the future of openSUSE in the wake of Novell's recent layoffs. They write, "Some people have approached us publicly and privately and asked us what this means for the future of openSUSE. In fact, openSUSE is a community project driven both by Novell and the community at large. Within this project, we make no distinction between Novell and non-Novell employees. As such, those laid off are still important and vital members of our project, and we look forward to the opportunity to continue working with them as fellow members for the good of our community, our distribution and for free and open source software at large." They state that despite the layoffs, Novell remains committed to the openSUSE project and that the community at large is still active, vibrant and motivated. The two also convey their disappointment at those outside their community who have "decided to exploit the hardship of our fellow community members in these trying economic times for their own personal gain in their misguided rants against the project and misinterpreted portrayals to the general public."
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 When Novell signed their deals with Microsoft in 2006, Red Hat had much to say on the matter. Now it appears it's their turn to sign an agreement with Microsoft, but unlike the Novell deal it has nothing to do with patents or licensing. The agreement centres on the need to have better virtualisation support for each company's products, due to consumer demand. From the announcement: "Each company will join the other's virtualization validation and certification program and will provide coordinated technical support for their mutual server virtualization customers." Windows products will be supported under various open source technologies from Red Hat, while their own products will be supported under Microsoft's Hyper-V virtualisation technology. Red Hat also confirmed that "the agreements do not include any patent or open source licensing rights, and additionally contain no financial clauses, other than industry-standard certification and validation testing fees."
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 Hot off the heels of the Lenny release, Debian Project Leader Steve McIntyre has announced the appointment of a new Project Secretary: "As required in the constitution, Bdale (as acting Secretary) and I have worked together and decided on which of the volunteers we feel would be best for the position," he writes. "I’m happy to announce that Kurt Roeckx will be the new Secretary." McIntyre also announces that they will once again be including the role of assistant secretary and have re-appointed Neil McGovern to the position. He continues: "We have spoken about the job and agreed that adding an Assistant Secretary would again be a good idea, especially given that we expect several votes to come up soon." The previous Debian Project Secretary, Manoj Srivastava, resigned due to dissent over the options in the Lenny firmware ballot.
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 Mentioning the words 'desktop' and 'BSD' in the same sentence has always been more in the wishful thinking category, but there are signs that this is changing. Last week, the NetBSD project has announced its intention to develop a desktop-oriented NetBSD, complete with a graphical installer and a set of basic applications for common desktop tasks: "For those new to NetBSD, the early user experience can be poor. This is especially true when coming from a Windows, Mac or Linux backgrounds. While basically sound, the installer asks many detailed questions and is unintuitive. If new users persevere and install the system, they are left with a 1980s-style text prompt, a lot of useful but unfamiliar tools, and no way to browse the web in order to learn more. The learning curve is steep. For more experienced users, installing a desktop to perform basic tasks like web browsing or word processing is cumbersome. It generally involves hours spent installing packages and editing configuration files. That can be fun if you have nothing better to do, but most of us have busy lives." For more information please see the newly created Desktop Project pages on the NetBSD Wiki.
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 Reece Tarbert has emailed DistroWatch to let our readers know about VirtualBSD, a desktop-oriented FreeBSD 7.1 in a VMware appliance: "VirtualBSD is a desktop-ready FreeBSD 7.1-RELEASE, in the form of a VMware appliance, based on the Xfce 4 desktop environment. Many of the most common and useful applications are ready to run, and the desktop has been styled to look a bit like Mac OS X. VirtualBSD is squarely aimed at people with VMware Player (or better) who: have never tried FreeBSD so far; wanted to, but didn't have the right hardware; used FreeBSD in the past, but have since moved to a different OS and are struck by nostalgia from time to time. Installed applications: Firefox 3.0.5 (and plugins), Thunderbird 2.0.19, Pidgin 2.5.4, XChat 2.8.6, OpenOffice.org 3.0, GIMP 2.6.4, VLC 0.9.8a, Transmission 1.42, Samba 3.0.34, CUPS 1.3.9." Interested readers can download the VirtualBSD VMware image via BitTorrent: VirtualBSD.zip (1,445MB).
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  Still on the subject of BSDs, but switching to FreeNAS, a minimalist, FreeBSD-based operating system for building network-attached storage devices. All that is nice to know, but this definition sounds rather technical, so what does it mean in terms of practical use? Can it help with our everyday computing tasks? If so, how? Gary Sims, author of the book called Learning FreeNAS, has created an entertaining video animation that should make the purpose of FreeNAS more clear: "I have put together an interview on Xtranormal. In the interview, set in a TV studio, the guest talks about FreeNAS, what it can do and where you can find out more information." Xtranormal is an interesting site which enables users to create video using text: "Our revolutionary approach to movie-making builds on an almost universally held skill - typing. You type something; we turn it into a movie. On the web and on the desktop." If you're interested in building your own storage network then take a look!
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It is interesting to watch how the current economic and financial crisis is affecting Linux companies. We have already reported about the recent layoffs at Mandriva, but last week brought more bad news for some developers of openSUSE and SUSE Linux. Stephan Binner, a well-known KDE hacker and the maintainer of the bleeding-edge KDE Four Live CD writes in a blog post entitled Not a Good Start Into a Problematic Year: "Like some other [open]SUSE developers, I was cast and am now forced to look for a new day job. It could have happened in better economic times for sure. Pointers to new interesting job positions are gladly accepted. Bonus points the more they have to do with open source, Linux, Qt and KDE." Stephan is reportedly not the only openSUSE developer who lost his job: "At least a quarter of Novell's recently laid-off employees are from the company's SUSE Linux development teams in Germany and North America, according to an anonymous source close to the company."
Luckily, it isn't all bad news. The two laid-off Mandriva developers (Adam Williamson and Vincent Danen) are now happily continuing their professional careers at Red Hat, while Ken Van Dine, the founder of Foresight Linux and an former employee of rPath has been hired by Canonical (the developer of the Ubuntu family of Linux distributions): "I have spent a wonderful three years working at rPath, which ended in January. Tomorrow I start the next leg of my journey, with Canonical. I will be a desktop integration engineer, working on the desktop team to integrate the fine work being done by the desktop experience team into Ubuntu. This is a very exciting opportunity for me, I have really been doing this for the past 4 years working on Foresight Linux. Taking cool stuff people have been working on and integrating it into a distro for broader consumption." Interesting news, to say the least. Are Red Hat and Canonical the only two Linux companies that will come out from the economic recession with flying colours?
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| Released Last Week |
Arch Linux 2009.02
Aaron Griffin has announced the release of Arch Linux 2009.02, an independently developed community distribution, based on a rolling-release package model and targeted at competent GNU/Linux users: "We proudly announce the release of the new Arch Linux installation images, version 2009.02. It took us quite a while, but we think the result is worth it - we added some cool new things and ironed out some long-lasting imperfections. 2009.02 comes with the following features: Linux kernel 2.6.28; ext4 support, installation can be done on a ext4 root partition; rescue and maintenance capabilities for ext4 root partitions; fallback ISOs with the ISOLINUX bootloader, for those that have trouble booting GRUB-based images; several bug fixes in the installer; brought the included documentation up to date; inclusion of AIF (Arch Linux Installation Framework), the next generation installer, currently under development." Here is the full release announcement.
DragonFly BSD 2.2
Matthew Dillon has announced the release of DragonFly BSD 2.2, a BSD operating system originally forked from FreeBSD 4.8: "The DragonFly 2.2 release is here! The HAMMER file system is considered production-ready in this release; it was first released in July 2008. The 2.2 release represents major stability improvements across the board, new drivers, much better pkgsrc support and integration, and a brand new release infrastructure with multiple target options. Three release options are now available - our bare-bones CD ISO, a DVD ISO which includes a fully operational X environment, and a bare-bones bootable USB disk-key image (less than 512M). We offer over 7,300 pre-built pkgsrc packages for this release. The pkg_radd(1) utility may be used to download pre-built binary packages. By default, this script will query the main package site for a random redirect to one of our mirrors." Read the detailed release notes for further information.
DragonFly BSD 2.2 - now also available as a live CD with the Fluxbox window manager
(full image size: 1,051kB, screen resolution 1280x1024 pixels)
ALT Linux 4.1.0 "School Server"
Alexey Rusakov has announced the release of ALT Linux 4.1.0 "School Server" edition: "Armada group and ALT Linux company are happy to release School Server distribution, based on ALT Linux OfficeServer technological base and targeted at schools and other educational institutions. This release of School Server is an extended version of a server suite for educational institutions that was developed for the government contract in the end of 2008. School Server includes: Linux kernel 2.6.25, base system glibc 2.5.1; LAN services: DHCP server, DNS server BIND 9.3.5, proxy server Squid 2.6.STABLE18 (with statistics viewer), a firewall, network interfaces management console, time server OpenNTPd 3.9p1; file servers - Samba 3.0.30 and FTP server ProFTPd 1.3.0, repository mirrors setup service (using NFS), print server CUPS...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details.
Kubuntu 8.04.2
Jonathan Riddell has announced the availability of an updated release of Kubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron", a distribution featuring the older KDE 3.5.10 desktop: "The Kubuntu team is proud to announce the release of Kubuntu 8.04.2, the second and final maintenance update to Kubuntu's 8.04 release. This release includes updated desktop, and alternate installation CDs for the i386 and amd64 architectures. This update is provided in recognition that the current Kubuntu release (8.10) with its cutting edge KDE 4 desktop is not yet appropriate for all users. In all, over 200 updates have been integrated, and updated installation media has been provided so that fewer updates will need to be downloaded after installation. These include security updates, and corrections for other high-impact bugs, with a focus on maintaining stability and compatibility with Kubuntu 8.04." See the complete release announcement for a detailed list of the most important changes.
VectorLinux 6.0
Robert Lange has announced the release of VectorLinux 6.0: "The final release of VectorLinux 6.0 (code name 'Voyager') is now available. This release is a major milestone in the 10-year history of VectorLinux. With the unbridled enthusiasm of a community gone wild, we have forged our very own stable GUI installer and our repository now hosts over a thousand packages. VectorLinux is the fastest Linux desktop in its class. The main desktop is based on Xfce 4.4.3 with a custom theme and artwork unique to VectorLinux. LXDE is installed as a secondary desktop option. Much work has been done on localization and we know users from all over the globe will find VectorLinux a stellar experience." Read the complete release announcement for further details.
VectorLinux 6.0 - a major update for the Slackware-based desktop distro
(full image size: 694kB, screen resolution 1280x1024 pixels)
Foresight Linux 2.1.0
Ken VanDine has announced the release of Foresight Linux 2.1.0, an rPath-based desktop distribution featuring the latest GNOME technologies: "I am pleased to announce the release of Foresight Linux 2.1.0. Foresight 2.1.0 features the latest stable GNOME desktop, and a number of updates including the Linux kernel, Python and improved printer configuration. What's new? Foresight will now recognize your printer when plugged in and automatically configure it; it includes Python 2.6, generally this is an update you shouldn't really notice, but under the covers there are quite a few performance improvements; Linux kernel 2.6.27.15; it includes some tuning of default Conary configurations - downloadFirst (downloads updates before applying them) and excludeTroves (excludes development components of packages)." Read the complete release notes for a detailed list of all changes.
SimplyMEPIS 8.0
Warren Woodford has announced the release of SimplyMEPIS 8.0, a beginner-friendly desktop Linux distribution based on the recently released Debian GNU/Linux 5.0: "MEPIS LLC has released SimplyMEPIS 8.0, the community edition of MEPIS 8.0. SimplyMEPIS 8.0 uses a Debian 'Lenny stable' foundation enhanced with a long-term support kernel, key package upgrades, and the MEPIS Assistant applications to create an up-to-date, ready-to-use desktop computer system. In addition to Linux kernel 2.6.27.18, MEPIS 8.0 includes many desktop applications, for example KDE 3.5.10, OpenOffice.org 3.0, and Firefox 3.0.6. To support US Government deployment of DNSsec and IPv6, MEPIS 8.0 includes BIND 0.9.6 and IPv6 is enabled out of the box. Virtualization is easily supported by downloading KVM 84 and libvirt 0.6.0 from the MEPIS 8.0 package pool." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information.
SimplyMEPIS 8.0 - a new release based on Debian "Lenny" and featuring KDE 3.5.10
(full image size: 354kB, screen resolution 1280x1024 pixels)
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Development, unannounced and minor bug-fix releases
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| Upcoming Releases and Announcements |
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Summary of expected upcoming releases
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| DistroWatch.com News |
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New distributions added to database
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New distributions added to waiting list
- Bio-Linux. Bio-Linux is a full-featured, powerful, configurable and easy-to-maintain bioinformatics workstation. Bio-Linux provides more than 500 bioinformatics programs on an Ubuntu Linux base. There is a graphical menu for bioinformatics programs, as well as easy access to the Bio-Linux bioinformatics documentation system and sample data useful for testing programs.
- Firefly Linux. Firefly Linux is a brand new Linux distribution designed especially for netbooks and older PCs. Based on Arch Linux, Firefly is inherently small, fast, and customisable. It runs on all types of x86 hardware, with built-in WiFi support for netbooks, laptops, and PCs with Atheros WiFi chipsets.
- flexxxpup. The flexxxpup project develops a modular operating system based on Puppy Linux.
- Kongoni. Kongoni is a new Slackware-based desktop Linux distribution and live CD. Its main features include: a graphical installer, a Kongoni Integrated Setup System (KISS) - an easy-to-use tool for doing common system configuration tasks and Ports Installation GUI (PIG) - an easy-to-use tool for installing and managing programs.
Kongoni 1.12.2 - a new Slackware-based desktop distribution featuring KDE 4 with an African theme
(full image size: 1,810kB, screen resolution 1280x1024 pixels)
- Linux4One. Linux4One is a beginner-friendly distribution designed for the Acer Aspire One netbook. It is based on Ubuntu.
- moonOS. moonOS is a complete and fully functional operating system based on Ubuntu and featuring LXDE and Enlightenment 17. The distribution is designed and developed by a Cambodian artist, Chanrithy Thim.
moonOS 2 - Ubuntu with Enlightenment 17
(full image size: 1,026kB, screen resolution 1280x1024 pixels)
- pupitup. The pupitup distribution is a music studio based on Puppy Linux and tuned for the Acer Aspire One netbook.
- Ubuntu extras remix. Ubuntu extras remix is the latest Ubuntu with restricted extras (Flash player, Java, multimedia codecs, additional fonts, unrar) and official updates.
* * * * *
DistroWatch database summary
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And this concludes the latest issue of DistroWatch Weekly. The next instalment will be published on Monday, 2 March 2009.
Chris Smart
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| Reader Comments • Jump to last comment |
1 • SuSE (by Splodge on 2009-02-23 10:12:32 GMT from United Kingdom)
Nice exposé of custom installation, Chris. Folks seeking speed, simplicity and cleanliness would be well-advised to opt for the Xfce desktop.
2 • Dsitrohopping (by devilman on 2009-02-23 10:18:13 GMT from Germany)
Ohwell, I wouldn't really say 8 new distributions. Since most of them are based on some other already existing distro. NOT that I don't welcome them. Or that I'm in any way against a distribution being based on another distribution...
It's just that sometimes I'd like to see something new. On the other hand, it was refreshing to see not only that not all of them are based on Ubuntu, but also that there's one based on Arch, which is not that common. IMO
Cheers :)
3 • Vector & Mepis (by elcaset on 2009-02-23 10:22:24 GMT from United States)
The new Vector & Mepis distros look promising.
4 • Mepis (by ConstantObserver2 on 2009-02-23 11:03:31 GMT from United States)
Mepis 8 with Debian Lenny is very promising for certain. Rolling upgrade with apt-get or fresh install is very smooth.
5 • Opensuse! (by JS on 2009-02-23 11:12:54 GMT from United States)
nice coverage of custom install !
i love opensuse, but i like haveing like 1,000 programs for each task ! so i use the the DVD and install like everything ! hahaha
Mepis looks promising as well !
6 • Vector 6 (by Joey on 2009-02-23 11:16:14 GMT from United States)
We purchased a 3rd hard drive for our Toshiba Satellite laptop; the original remains Vista Premium, the 2nd one has seen many distros but now is Mint 6 (looks like for ever the way it works and holds the network connection), and the 3rd is for trying distros.
We tried Vector 6 last night and our hearts sunk; it would not recognize the intel graphics chip or 8187b network adaptor.. shades of many many months of hell with many distros with earlier kernels.
The forums are NO HELP, and that is what made us toss the disc, frisbee-like, across the field behind our dorm.
We are starled by the attitudes at the Vector Linux forums!
7 • You Bunt Too ? (by Tommy Tucker on 2009-02-23 12:22:22 GMT from United States)
Oh boy, aren't we lucky. Another week, another bucketfull of ubuntu
bastardizations.So the Debian family tree continues grow and grow.
So, you bunt too ? No, i'm swinging for the fences with my rpm
based distro. 11-21-2005 (.92) was the start of a glorious friendship.
8 • SuSE (by Steve on 2009-02-23 12:25:15 GMT from United States)
Really enjoy reading the Weekly DistroWatch!!!
I will try the SuSE Minimal install. I did the Ubuntu minimal, using most of your instructions a few months ago, and this remains my favorite.
I tried Arch, Mandriva, Fedora, Mint, SuSe and recently Debian Lenny. All installed perfectly except Lenny. I download the LiveCD, NetInstall and DVD. Nothing worked. Posted my problem on their Forum. No response. Throughly tested - - - I think not.
Thanks again for the wonderful weekly distrowatch!
9 • #7 (by yelamdenu on 2009-02-23 12:38:55 GMT from Netherlands)
#7
Tough ey, all that freedom of choice.
You know, the love of a certain distro does not have to go hand in hand with the disparagement of another.
It's all the same anyway, kernel, glibc, gcc, Xorg, whatever, it's pretty arbitrary what major distro you pick.
That seems to confuse some people who think their identity derives of their choice of distro.
While most of the planet has no idea what even this thing "Linux" is.
10 • @6 Vectorlinux 6 (by Celettu on 2009-02-23 12:55:14 GMT from Luxembourg)
I've used Vectorlinux for quite some time, and I always felt that the forum ops were extremely helpful.
So I did a search of the forums on "intel graphics chip" and "8187b"...didn't find any recent posts that could have been yours.
Funny, that.
11 • @6: Instant gratification (by nightflier at 2009-02-23 13:21:22 GMT from United States)
If you tried your install last night and already gave up, you may not have given the sleeping forum members enough time to try to help you.
12 • Not arbitrary (by Eraserhead9 on 2009-02-23 13:23:58 GMT from United States)
I disagree with #9. A newbie Linux user will form his opinion of Linux in general based on the simplicity of installation, ease of use and hardware compatibility of whatever distro he/she is trying out. The Linux community cannot grow without winning over all those poor souls who remain slaves to M$ft and App$e. Ubuntu brought me to Linux and distros like Mint and Mepis keep me here. Thank you Mark (Ubuntu), Clem (Mint) and Warren (Mepis). I have escaped the clutches of the corporate slavemasters.
13 • Vector 6 (by Joe Biden on 2009-02-23 13:33:13 GMT from United States)
The RC booted and installed fine for me, but upon first boot the screen was completely blank - just nothing. I rebooted, and the same nothing. I reinstalled and the same nothing.
I should have reported it, but was just trying Vector, and didn't have time to dig into it further. It was several days ago so I expected the release to happen quickly. Any effort I had put into it would have been wasted. I plan to test it again with the release and will report the problem if it is still there.
No other distro has given me trouble that I can recall.
14 • @9 (by s. w. k. on 2009-02-23 13:37:39 GMT from Romania)
yelamdenu: I believe you are forgetting about: package management (including the process of -creating- "packages"), init system, installer and possible install scenarios, supported architectures, etc. These are hardly "all the same anyway" on distributions which are not based on one another.
You may find it `pretty arbitrary` to pick a major distribution but that does not mean everybody else flips a coin as well. I'm afraid, my "friend", that it is You who are confused.
"It's all the same anyway" could be thrown as an argument against the ever-growing set of Ubuntu-based distributions.
15 • np for ubuntu (by ely on 2009-02-23 13:57:20 GMT from Philippines)
i am using linux mint here. i can not understand why other people hates ubuntu just because their favorite distro is being ignored in favor of ubuntu. you like your distro? then use it and stop criticizing the efforts of others... i've been distrohopping and finally settled for ubuntu and linux mint. i just hope you're using your favorite distro while making posts here...
anyway... we all here likes linux... so cheers for dw for doing such an effort to promote linux...
16 • #14 (by yelamdenu on 2009-02-23 14:10:15 GMT from Netherlands)
@s. w. k.
I agree there are obviously differences in those fields.
So do you perhaps know what Mr #7's problem is?
I find it interesting that people feel so strongly about choice of distro.
Most people run a given distro not based on purely rational arguments but based on something rather trivial or arbitrary.
And that's perfectly fine.
I run Debian and Fedora because it's what used to work for me best at a rather arbitrary point in time. I'm continuing to use it because it's Good Enough (TM) and it doesn't annoy me too much. So what's the point to complain (I'm not addressing anyone in particular) about there being a million Ubuntu derivatives. That's usually just a hobby to those people. In the end there are only a handful of top ten distros here to stay. Most will probably fade off some day.
17 • #16 (by yelamdenu on 2009-02-23 14:19:44 GMT from Netherlands)
It's an interesting question.
Linux used to be cool and special, if you ran that, people'd say wow running Linux, that's pretty neat, you a hacker or a programmer or whatever?
Now you've got Ubuntu and virtually anybody can install, deal with Linux; it's become easier, more noted, more and more people use it.. that's a problem for those who feel special because of running Linux. So they see Ubuntu as responsible for this mainstream-ness and perhaps they fear that other distros will disappear or that Ubuntu will be the master distro.
(The latter thing might theoretically become a problem, for instance when 3rd party proprietary software would only be packaged for Ubuntu or something, but well.)
In any case, in order to be just a tiny bit more special, some people then start to avoid Ubuntu like the plague and run something else or a bit more exotic or even something without a decent package manager. ;-)
That's all fine, we've all got our hobbies.
I don't use Ubuntu but I see very little wrong in it, FTR.
Although I think it would be more interesting to compare the actual technology. Perhaps it's true that some distros really rule in this or that respect, technologically. That's often beyond most people (including me, usually).
18 • If you want a really light weight system ... (by Anonymous on 2009-02-23 14:23:37 GMT from Canada)
then try Archlinux, you will not regret !
19 • sorry that was @#15 (by yelamdenu on 2009-02-23 14:25:08 GMT from Netherlands)
sorry comment #17 was @#15
20 • Arch in third place in the Page Hit Ranking (by Anonymous on 2009-02-23 14:32:37 GMT from Canada)
I just found that during the 7 last days, Arch managed to get to the 3rd place in the Page Hit Ranking :
1 Debian 2454<
2 Ubuntu 2297>
3 Arch 1676>
Interesting for an "advanced" distribution !
21 • #6 - Imaginary forum post, #10 - Shares my experience, #13 - Blank screen (by Caitlyn Martin on 2009-02-23 14:42:11 GMT from United States)
#6-I looked through the Vector Linux forum this morning. The post Joey claims to have made isn't there. No complaints about an Intel graphics chip at all. It works with my Intel Express Graphics 945 chipset, BTW. No questions or complaints about any unrecognized network adapters either. Joey complains about the Vector Linux forums again but if he doesn't post how can he say they are of no use? Joey, we know you don't like Vector Linux and feel you were somehow wronged in the forums some time ago since you've posted to that effect repeatedly. This time your story about the forum is complete fiction. Perhaps your install is as well.
#10-Your experience parallels mine -- the forums at Vector Linux are incredibly helpful and friendly. In fact the openness and welcoming nature of that community is the reason I decided to volunteer to do some work for that distro. If the nature of the community had changed to an unfriendly one I can assure you I still wouldn't be there.
#13-@Joe Biden: What you experienced is something I've seen with a few distros but not with Vector. It is a shame you didn't report the problem. If it's a bug with your particulary graphics chipset how were the developers to know about it or fix it? Anyway, I'll be interested to hear how the final release goes for you.
#7-So, a derivative distro is a "bastardization", is it? You know the original rpm-based distro is Red Hat. If you're using something other than Red Hat/Centos/Fedora is your distro a "bastardization" as well?
Ubuntu is the most popular distro on the desktop. IT's only natural that people would try to change it to better serve their needs. Obviously some people really like Ubuntu derivatives. Look at the popularity of Linux Mint for example. Look at how much press CrunchBang has gotten in the community lately. Those Ubuntu derivatives that bring something new, original, and creative to the table will survive. The others will disappear. Just because a distro is based on Ubuntu doesn't make it good but it certainly doesn't make it bad.
22 • e17 (by david on 2009-02-23 14:51:48 GMT from United States)
wow!I have to admit when my eyes stumbled upon that moonOS desktop my eyes opened a bit wider,having just woken up.that e17 desktop is absolutely gorgeous!my e17 experience is quite limited having stumbled across it with ozOS.,for the first time.i have too admit ,it was that spectacular look that encouraged installing oz....I think im gonna shoot for the moon today.I
23 • #17 (by Anonymous on 2009-02-23 15:00:36 GMT from United States)
+1. And how.
24 • TO SLADISLAV: Clarification about departures (by killer1987 on 2009-02-23 15:25:09 GMT from Italy)
hi ladislav,
reading your post it seems mandriva is firing people and is going to banckrupt. it is not correct, mandriva is firing some people (overall people that worked at their home) but is hiring new ones, for istance Eugeni Dodonov and Christophe Fergeau
http://lists.mandriva.com/cooker/2008-12/msg00460.php
http://cfergeau.blogspot.com/2009/01/first-news-of-2009.html
Regards,
Marcello
25 • growth (by Anonymous on 2009-02-23 15:28:24 GMT from India)
distro based on... which is based on.... And this was how the genes grew.....
26 • Buntu bashing (by davemc on 2009-02-23 15:29:35 GMT from United States)
Getting a bit old hat isn't it? Nothing wrong with how the Buntu's do things (which is not any different than at least 300+ other distros do things), and there is not anything wrong with spin off's per say. OpenSuSe is a spinoff distro, as is Mandriva, PCLos, Mint, Ubuntu, ArchLinux, Vector, etc. etc. etc... Only Slackware, Red Hat, Debian, and arguably Gentoo, are the last surviving true kings of the road. Were talking about Linux here, and just like the old saying - "The apple don't fall too far from the tree", is true of all distros. Course, I am a Fedora/Red Hat/Ubuntu/Debian guy, but I love the fact that there is so much variety out there, and that keeps me always wanting to try more, more, more.
27 • No subject (by Fernando Gracia on 2009-02-23 16:16:31 GMT from United States)
I have been using Vector for about 3 years and the only reason Vector still as my main distro is becouse everything works so nice with it. No other distro worked so well out of the box I have instaled Vector 5.8 SOHO and Vector 5.9 std, and looking to install 6.0 asap, Well Parsix 1.5 is the other great distro installed in my old Via Blackbox (Celeron 2.4 mhz, 256 ram and 40 gb hd)
28 • Gah, SUSE (by Distronator on 2009-02-23 16:27:20 GMT from Germany)
I just spent about 3 hours setting up a PPPoE connection with OpenSUSE 11.1 -- it was like a trip to the late 1990s!
If you happen to connect your computer to a DSL modem directly, avoid OpenSUSE 11.1 like the plague.
29 • SimplyMEPIS 8.0 (by Jimmy Johnson on 2009-02-23 16:37:22 GMT from United States)
SimplyMEPIS 8.0 should have been named Easy Linux. :)
I downloaded both the 64bit and 32bit iso's last night, then installed the 32bit on my Toshiba laptop the install took 15mins total and then installed the 64bit on my desktop with nVidia video that install took less than 15mins, I used the Mepis tools to install the nVidia driver and everything worked the way it was supposed to, YouTube videos played without adding any extra software, Debian should take a tip from the Mepis installer and add the ability to save /home where it deletes the system files for you and saves all your /home files.
The bottom line, if you are looking for a simple Linux, easy to install and extremely stable, look no further than SimplyMEPIS 8.0, give it a try you'll be glad you did.
30 • user forums (by Todd R. on 2009-02-23 17:12:20 GMT from United States)
We've had that problem with Mepislovers and Vector linux forums; distractions and horrid retorts to queries. It causes us to hang up antiX, a great little distro for our old machine here.
But it's everywhere on the net in places people interact, linux forums are no exception. We just don't need the noise when trying to fix something or just get it to work, like an os. :^)
Mint still wins here, in many ways, not the least of which is the user friendly, structured attitudes over in their forums.
31 • Derivatives (by Duncan Snowden on 2009-02-23 17:12:40 GMT from United Kingdom)
#26: I completely agree. Reading this week's DWW, I marvelled at the variety of specialized distros around these days: FreeNAS, for example (okay, it's BSD, but hey, it's in Distrowatch :P), Bio-Linux, and what's not to like about a music-oriented Puppy respin optimized for the Acer Aspire One? Let's see a proprietary OS do that!
And then I hit the comments and it's all complaints. I'm as tired as the next guy of "new" distros that are simply Ubuntu with a few extra packages and a new GTK theme, but some people are doing amazing things with this OS; they should be encouraged, not criticized simply because they didn't start from scratch.
32 • Small correction re Mandriva (by Adam Williamson on 2009-02-23 17:25:38 GMT from Canada)
Vincent Danen was not in fact laid off. He rather chose to move to Red Hat.
The two people who were most publicly discussed in relation to Mandriva layoffs were myself and Oden Eriksson. I moved to Red Hat, and Oden actually returned to Mandriva to take over Vincent's job - he is now Mandriva's security guy.
There were others who lost their contracts with Mandriva who weren't as publicly discussed, like Walt Pennington - I believe there were four or five in total. I'm not sure what's happened to all those guys, yet. Last I heard from Walt, he was still looking for a job.
33 • Distro bashing & Derivatives (by 6r00k14n on 2009-02-23 17:38:28 GMT from United States)
WTF! Freedom is about having the ability to think and do as you wish not how how the user of of this distro or that one wants you to think.
As far as derivatives go, ALL distros derive from the same tree, albeit different branches. That there are 3 or 4 Ubuntu-based distros a week, with little new to offer is a bit of an annoyance, but I don't have a gun to my head, forcing me to use them.
@7, you fail to point out the proliferation of PCLinuxOS derivatives (which is based on Mandriva, which is in turn based on Redhat). If you are familiar with firewalls, you may also want to complain about all the m0n0wall derived distros. In your world, there would only be Knoppix and not all of the other wonderful derivatives, like DSL, Feather, countless hacking and security distros, and most forensic and recovery discs. And let's not forget Startcom, Scientific Linux, ClarkConnect, trixbox, Unbreakable, and all the other Redhat derivatives.
34 • #17 (by Anonymous Coward on 2009-02-23 17:55:24 GMT from United States)
#17 says:
"(The latter thing might theoretically become a problem, for instance when 3rd party proprietary software would only be packaged for Ubuntu or something, but well.)"
This is true NOW. If I want updated wine files, I install the wine repository for ubuntu. If I want Nvidia drivers, ditto, Abiword updates, the same. There are 3rd party ubuntu repositories all over the place.
I like kicking around in Mandriva, but when I want to use python libraries for mathplotlib, serialpy, numpy, or a gui, I have to go to Ubuntu (actually linux mint) to get things working. It's just the numbers. Mandriva still rocks at finding hardware, but that lead has narrowed considerably.
35 • Light system (by Moose on 2009-02-23 18:02:21 GMT from Canada)
I find it slightly funny that the minimal SUSE install was performed on a machine with such powerful specs. With a 3GHz CPU and 8GB of RAM, I'm sure the author could run just about any modern environment.
Please note, I'm not knocking the experiment. Just pointing out the CPU is going to have a lot of idle cycles.
36 • Useful forums (by pearson on 2009-02-23 18:24:47 GMT from United States)
I've been looking at the Vector forums lately, and I've noticed something interesting. The folks there *are* helpful and friendly, but the forums are less formally/rigorously organized than I'd expected. For instance, there's not an easily recognizable "bug report" area (it exists, it's just not so clearly labeled).
Again, this is not a slam of the Vector Linux forums. They do appear to be friendly and very helpful. Us OCD folks may have a hard time figuring out what to ask where. :-)
37 • #30 (by Anonymous on 2009-02-23 18:59:33 GMT from United States)
Todd R., while I don't always agree with someones opinion of things, they do sometimes give me food for thought and of course they have a right to their opinion, but when someone uses terms like "we" that really turns me off, you don't speak for me, your opinion is your own and may or may not be shared by me, please try to remember that.
38 • #36: Vector Linux forum organization (by Caitlyn Martin on 2009-02-23 19:18:48 GMT from United States)
@pearson: The bug threads for each release are in the Distro Development section of the forum.
There is also a large heading called "The Nuts and Bolts" that breaks down into 14 sections that cover the various areas of the distro. Sections include things like "Network & Security", "Kernel", "Office & Printing", etc... It's more common to post problems in those sections by the type of issue you are having. While I have yet to find a bug free distro (and Vector Linux is certainly no exception) many things which are perceived as bugs are actually a user being unfamiliar with how VL does things (some things are unique), how Slackware does things (VL is a Slackware derivative) or some sort of configuration error. If something does turn out to be a bug it will definitely get back to the developers from the "Nuts and Bolts" sections.
Of course, if you're sure you've found a bug by all means you should post in the Bug Reports section under Distro Development.
39 • Fast? (by Droopie on 2009-02-23 19:29:59 GMT from Netherlands)
Well, speaking of speedy distros, u might wanna try Sidux...
Om my Atom 230 with 2 GB of Ram it truly is the fastest distro available.
The full-dvd version installed in just 6 minutes and 10 seconds.
Might be interesting for Distrowatch.com to give it a try, perhaps in another Distrowatch Weekly
40 • #38: Vector Linux forum organization (by pearson on 2009-02-23 19:34:12 GMT from United States)
@Caitlyn
Thanks. I'd figured out to look in the "Nuts and Bolts" sections; it took me a while to figure that out, hence my statement "there's not an easily recognizable 'bug report' area (it exists, it's just not so clearly labeled)."
I wasn't looking to file a bug report. I tend to look through bug reports (or problem reports, whatever they're named in a given forum) to get an idea of what to expect. As you said, many "bugs" are really misunderstandings. I'm as likely as anyone to reach the same misunderstanding, so reading those reports (and resolutions) helps me avoid pitfalls. By the way, this is an example of how helpful and friendly the Vector forums are: the problems are usually quickly identified as a user problem or a distro problem (possibly inherited from Slackware or Linux in general).
41 • MoonOS (by Gene Venable on 2009-02-23 19:41:48 GMT from United States)
Yes, I think you were #17 or so above, my reaction when I saw the Moonos graphic was the same wow! Is there a graphics annual award for Linux distros? If so, that one picture should put MoonOS on the list. It's a knockout!
Unfortunately, I am too happy with my current distros (Sidux and Mint, and that other distro called... Windows 7) to replace any of them right now. So many great distros, but only a limited amount of time and disk space.
42 • Кто виноват в кризисе (by bellamind on 2009-02-23 19:54:49 GMT from Russian Federation)
Comment deleted (off-topic).
43 • re 42 (by Anonymous on 2009-02-23 20:08:11 GMT from Canada)
Comment deleted (off-topic).
44 • RE: # 28 (by Anonymous Penguin on 2009-02-23 21:06:29 GMT from Italy)
Odd, I have never had a problem setting up a PPPoE connection with OpenSUSE. I had problems with other distros, though.
YaST has always done a fine job of setting up a PPPoE connection, in my case.
I have a router now, anyway, and that is a no-brainer.
45 • Minimal openSUSE 11.1 install (by Anonymous Penguin on 2009-02-23 21:14:42 GMT from Italy)
Fine tutorial!
OpenSUSE is one of my 2 fav distros. However I prefer the flexibility of Debian for a minimal install.
Debian has also a Xfce+Lxde iso, which for some could be lightweight enough.
46 • #42 (by RC on 2009-02-23 21:15:57 GMT from United States)
Comment deleted (off-topic).
47 • No subject (by forest on 2009-02-23 21:20:39 GMT from United Kingdom)
Post nn already and nary a sausage on the new stuff above... Some of the artwork is absolutely stunning and well worth a gand...especially that flexxxpup IMNSHO, and I have to say hats off to the person who did the artwork, not forgetting C Thim for moonOS. It makes some of the MS artwork look positively agricultural...
We are still discussing the merits and demerits of the Ubuntus as in to bunt too or not to bunt too It must be pretty obvious even to a blind man the reason why folk use the Ubuntus (and derivatives) is because they install on just about anything and are well supported.
The support issue will become rather more important as the recession deepens, as I suspect we will all come to realise ere long. You might have noticed a goodly proportion of the computer manufacturer installed distros are U based...wonder why that should be?
There was learned discussion last week apropos mono being installed on Ubuntu...so what? What exactly is the problem with mono? I am one of the millions across the planet (who have heard of Linux) but have no reason to like or dislike mono...simply cos' we have no clue at all why it should be good or bad, LOL.
The U distro works and that's good enough to do whatever you need to. I was struck by some of the notions that because Linux is becoming (well, getting there) a "known" OS it is losing its cachet among the cognicenti...ie, the mountain is getting smaller every day...well surely that's a GOOD thing?
Ref going onto some forums...some items are useful, some less so...Just because a person states they cannot find a useful answer...from simply looking at the extant comments...some other folk actually check up to see if a question was asked...
Some folk want a distro to work...for work...and some are simply dilettantes...who want a distro to play with. I sit on the fence, I have a perfectly usable setup, pretty reliable for 99.9% of the time. And, I like to see what's new in Linuxland.
There's nothing wrong with either approach but there are some who get into the most frightful bate if "their" identifying distro (to quote another) is slighted in any way. Why? It's only an OS with some apps bunged on that happened to install for you without a lot of fuss.
If you did have a lot of fuss then you would probably have tried some other distro. If I have any probs with an install then I try something else...if there a few distros in any particular week I try them all, why not? Some work, some don't, some are not intuitive to use, some are. Some don't do the wifi thing, some do. Sometimes it might be useful to know what kit a distro worked on, but really so as to stop folk wasting their time trying to load the "impossible" distro.
If the distros, aka "free" software, are allowing the kids in the third world (to use an almost disparaging term, and it will be soon) to benefit from the use of computers and help with their education what is the problem with that? If having "free" software allows a fixed sum of money to be better spent elsewhere then again what is the problem with that?
If some folk in education find their time is "wasted" cos' a distro won't install first time, you might just reflect that time for them is too precious to be wasted getting a distro to work...when another installs and works out of the box, so to speak.
Some on this forum seem to imagine this Linux business is some sort of exclusive club...were you to look around you will find a lot of countries are getting to grips with Linux and doing something for their nation's good.
Some folk are of the opinion they don't want a government deciding, for them that is, what OS to use. Well some folk are simply glad to get a computer and get some sort of relationship with the outside world.
Rant over.
48 • #30 user forums (by anticapitalista on 2009-02-23 21:34:57 GMT from Greece)
#30 Todd R and friends.
The official antiX forum is not at Mepislovers 9though users can post there if they wish), but at this address.
No need to give up on antiX if you don't like the Mepislovers forum.
http://antix.freeforums.org/
49 • Artistx (by Chubby Wood on 2009-02-23 21:51:08 GMT from United States)
I love artistx_0.6_live_dvd. It is very very good.
50 • No subject (by Nobody important on 2009-02-23 22:28:26 GMT from United States)
Good DWW, as usual.
MoonOS looks wonderful; I must investigate! After seeing the mediocre showing of Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha on my machine (fairly predictable - it's an old lugger) I might have to try something new. Hey, Mr. Shuttleworth, you said you wanted something new for Koala; hire that artist pronto!
Oh, and as for all of you Ubuntu-derivative haters...There's a pro to every con. Thankfully we're free to not only create more distros, but to ignore the ones we do not wish to partake in, rather than whining and complaining about them on a public forum.
We all have our wants and needs. You want the Ubuntu derivatives to go away. I want you to go away. You can't always get what you want.
51 • CS46XX Debian Sidux Mepis (by Rafe on 2009-02-23 22:58:29 GMT from United States)
What's up with Cirrus Logic sound, a desktop without sound is no fun. If you aren't willing to include ALSA modules completely, at least include a way to install them . The source install is not working.
52 • No subject (by distro_who on 2009-02-23 23:01:22 GMT from Puerto Rico)
cuban's nova site seems to be blocked here, why, hmmm ..... another download site ????
53 • Minimal window managers, etc. (by Ed Borasky on 2009-02-23 23:01:51 GMT from United States)
XFCE 4.2 was fairly lightweight and yet provided a full-ish desktop experience. 4.4, however, is approaching Gnome in size, and you can actually prune Gnome. The really lightweight window managers and desktops are things like TWM, Fluxbox and IceWM. Enlightenment and WindowMaker are a bit heavier, but still have a smaller footprint than XFCE 4.4
54 • Vector (by Notorik on 2009-02-23 23:32:48 GMT from United States)
I was disappointed but I am a diehard Wolvix fan so I have very high expectations. Here is what happened to me. The installer didn't work and I had to revert to the old version. I did finally get it installed (with unspecified errors). It looks pretty but you have to buy it if you want Skype and the other nice stuff. There were problems with my sound card (I tried a static install of Skype which didn't work). Before I installed Skype my sound card hung every time I tried to reboot and I was forced to do a hard reboot. I did report my findings in the forum and I must say these people are NICE and want to help. Unfortunately the problem remains unresolved. I have no doubt that these issues will be resolved in time. I know a lot of hard work went into this and I hate to be negative but there it is.
55 • Excellent article! (by Mark Weston on 2009-02-23 23:37:11 GMT from Australia)
I thought the article "Minimal openSUSE 11.1 install" was really excellent. Keep up the good work!
The idea of installing a very small base system and then adding only those components I want is one of the reasons I favour the ARCH Linux distro. Cheers!
56 • Minimal install (by Anonymous on 2009-02-23 23:38:17 GMT from Germany)
after installing a minimal arch linux with x (dwm) and common applications in order to perform professional office task (openoffice, firefox + plugins, java+flash, and most cli-apps for music and graphics etc.) and net browsing (email included though cli), i came up with 1.7 GB on my hd. i tried Lenny with the same design, and it gave me 1.6 GB. i tried ubuntu minimal install with exactly the same applications and came up with 1.5 GB. for someone like me who needs to install linux on a (at most) 4 GB cf card, ubuntu remains a runner. i could play with something less demanding (dsl, puppy, antix) but it is not so handy for prof. off. t. my only concern at this time is ram memory. if you know a distro with the power of bunt too, which installs on ~1.5 GB or less hd, and which runs well with 128 mb ram, please advise (I don't know slackware, and don't want to compile each application, so no gentoo like). thanks guys, nice dww by the way.
57 • Hip Hip Hooray (by Nobody As Well on 2009-02-23 23:40:30 GMT from Australia)
#47...Good post. Just about covers it all. Well said.
58 • Yup #57, 47 (by bugsbalone on 2009-02-24 00:54:41 GMT from United States)
What they said....
59 • VectorLinux dissappointment - Mepis to the rescue (by Somewhere is the USA on 2009-02-24 01:25:42 GMT from United States)
Subject. says it all. Took the time to DL VL6. In a word or two;what a waste of time. Then I downloaded SimplyMepis. Everything worked out.of.the.box. !
I just don't have time to arse around with all the tweeks and settings of VL. Yea I know, you love it. Is it any reason that the top 6-7 distros are there?! Ease of use. And I might add, Mephis is much faster than VL. It had been several yers since I tried Slackware stuff. Nothing much has changed. Tweak this, find this settings. It's endless.
Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse, Mephis, Debian, and maybe a couple of others get it right. I now see why VL is slotted at number 38. I was expection so much more - silly me
60 • rpm based OSs (by alex on 2009-02-24 01:46:40 GMT from United States)
This is not a mucho issue.
I am MCSE, CCNP and so on. Based on that; I can tell _ MS or Debian - is not really an issue. And no advises what to do, thanks. I,ve tried F and S over the years up to date and all o' them are crashing. GUI is fdup. or some repo is not there. Sure, rpm based os feels livelier, but only one did not fail - Debian. No it is an apt.
Stop using your future customer base as a mine field testers(rpm). As I can see the Future - Ubu is a leader, Deb - you can have my account #, not sure for how long it is gona be good for.
Cheers,
Truly yours, Aleksei Boris Yaskov
61 • UBUNTU (by 123 on 2009-02-24 04:04:41 GMT from United States)
The reason way I do Not Like Ubuntu is simple, they are trying to move away from the word linux trying to brand a new os named UBUNTU when you load ubuntu you do not see the word linux and if you go to there web page they try to mentioned as little as they posible can. so they are USING linux to propel their OS
62 • Some responses to #54, 59, 60 (Vector, Mepis, rpm) (by Caitlyn Martin on 2009-02-24 04:19:22 GMT from United States)
#54: Skype is in the Vector Linux repo. You don't need to buy Vector to get it. I understand you had a problem but let's not go off into misinformation.
#59: No specifics here. For most people Vector Linux "just works". No tweaking required. With no specifics it's really hard to take your report seriously and it is impossible for the developers to correct any problems. Also, Vector is current ranked #18 on the six month average on DW not #38. It rankst higher in the shorter rankings.
I have downloaded Mepis now and I am trying it. Faster? I've heard that from Mepis fans before. You have got to be kidding me! Anything but faster. I have yet to find a Debian-based distro that is anywhere near as fast as the better Slackware based ones on older, slower hardware. Mepis is no exception. Does that make it a bad distro? Not hardly. It's too early for me to judge but it does seem nice and designed to be easy to use, much like Ubuntu.
#60: Aleksei Brois: rpm is not the issue. The packaging system is every bit as mature as apt and is not problematic. The package manager does not determine whether a distro is slow or fast so that isn't the reason the distros in question felt snappier to you. There may be other issues in the distros you tried, such as poor repo management or packaging issues. I certainly accept that. The package manager is not the issue. I have had distros crash on me but, again, it had nothing to do with the package manager. For stability I've found nothing that comes anywhere near Slackware or Red Hat Enterprise Linux/CentOS. Ubuntu is not a leader in the server room and that is where Linux has been most successful.
63 • re: 32 • Small correction re Mandriva (by Adam Williamson (by Anonymous on 2009-02-24 04:25:10 GMT from United States)
Well, Adam, I am sure you had mixed feelings about leaving some of the good stuff that was going on at Mandriva, but it seems to be a good time to be joining the ranks of Red Hat. I wish Mandriva well, but I have a lot more confidence (and have for some time) in Red Hat, even though as a personal desktop system, Mandriva has long been one of my favorites. Long live the Cooker, I just hope that Mandriva doesn't burn themselves in a cooker!
64 • To davemc, re: #26 (by Adam on 2009-02-24 05:16:08 GMT from Australia)
A nitpick, I know, but Arch Linux is not a spinoff. You are correct about the others you listed, although to be fair, S.u.S.E. (the original) branched from Slackware early on, and so deserves more credit than you would perhaps give.
Look here:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/Gldt.svg
But also note that this chart has Arch branching from CRUX, which is inaccurate. CRUX inspired Arch: You could argue that Arch branched from CRUX *philosophically*, but code-wise, it was a clean start.
65 • offtopic (by Greg on 2009-02-24 10:25:27 GMT from Greece)
Could we have an article of distributions with USB installers? I dont know why but most distros instead of creating USB images they rely on UnetBootin. USB installation is very common nowadays especially for netbook users.
66 • RE 44 -- Just for kicks... (by Distronator on 2009-02-24 11:24:43 GMT from Germany)
... try to setup OpenSUSE 11.1 connected directly to the DSL modem. I'm not excluding the possibility I'm stupid.
67 • Linux popularity (by J.B. on 2009-02-24 11:38:34 GMT from United States)
Interesting take on top Linux distro popularity in this June of 2008 article:
http://practical-tech.com/operating-system/the-most-popular-desktop-linux-is%E2%80%A6/
I googled "most popular linux distribution" after reading the phrase, "..(Ubuntu) is the most popular linux distro like it or not.." in this week's DW remarks.
Most of the articles about that subject quote Distrowatch's page hit stats. What I wanted to find was some clever survey done over about a year or so having to do with world-wide usage of Linux distros; I really would like to see some sort of overview of how many of the various distros are being used.
Distrowatch's page hit stats may be a clue, but interest in a distro here at this site may or may not mean much to actual ongoing *usage* of certain distributions.
68 • Debian Lenny popularity (by illiterate on 2009-02-24 12:27:29 GMT from Greece)
It is interesting to note that up to now Lenny's DVD 1 torrent picture for i386 and amd64 stand at :seeders/leechers 6305/10022 and 2493/3093 respectively. It has been steadily growing since the 15th of this month.
69 • Good and Silly (by Eddie Wilson on 2009-02-24 12:56:45 GMT from United States)
RE:47- Very nice post. Good mindset.
RE:61- That's just plain silly. Its been a long time since I heard a comment that unfounded. Please read #47.
70 • No subject (by Joe Biden on 2009-02-24 13:42:25 GMT from United States)
Yes, 61 is silly. openSUSE does not include the word Linux on the boot screen. Or Fedora. Or Mandriva. Or Mepis. And that's just off the top of my head looking at the top of the DW rankings.
71 • mmm (by max on 2009-02-24 14:06:52 GMT from Australia)
I though it would be better if I'd keep my mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
72 • SimplyMEPIS 8.0 (by Anonymous on 2009-02-24 14:17:01 GMT from Australia)
SimplyMEPIS 8.0 is so sweet, thank you SimplyMEPIS people.
73 • Distros with good tools? (by Anony Moss on 2009-02-24 14:28:49 GMT from India)
Somewhat off topic- which less popular or newer distros offer a set of good GUI tools for administration, besides the already popular OpenSuse, Mandriva/ PCLOS? Its not just about being command-line shy, but sometimes it's just convenient with GUIs.
For example, a newbie would much prefer to have a GUI tool to change the boot order on a multiple-boot system rather than jump into editing /boot/grub/menu.lst
While the latter is educational and at times fun, GUI can be much less esoteric if built well.
74 • the environment (window managers?) (by casey on 2009-02-24 15:44:59 GMT from United States)
the heavy window managers seem to take away from what linux has to offer for my old computer at home
the xfce and kde are very far apart, i wonder if there could be a lighter version of kde because kde just is more to my liking for its menus and functionality.
75 • Resque My Box, please!!! (by Azzorcist on 2009-02-24 16:09:13 GMT from Indonesia)
Is anybody knows what is the best distro for system resque n recovery? Parted Magic? SystemResqueCD? Etc.?
To much of distro hopping sometimes broke my system.
#61
The opposite thing i feel with that. I think it's better to not use "Linux" word since Linux itself is not an operating system.
It's better to use "Ubuntu Free Operating System". It can avoid the GNU/Linux naming controversy. ;)
76 • Ubuntu (by Todd R. on 2009-02-24 16:45:23 GMT from United States)
"so they are USING linux to propel their OS"
Yeah, sort of like Chevrolet, Renault and Mitsubishi are USING the internal combustion engine to propel their vehicles.
77 • >75 (by RxB on 2009-02-24 16:49:20 GMT from United States)
Gparted-live is based on Debian Lenny, so it can download extra programs from appropriate repositories with apt. Net access is initiated by running "dhclient". It uses fluxbox w.m. + midnight commander for file management. USB version is available.
SystemrescueCD uses JWM window manager, Geany text editor, and is based on Gentoo. Instructions available for making bootable USB.
Parted Magic causes my computer to continuously reboot after initial use (which is only 'cured' by cutting power). It is the smallest download.
Debian has a live-cd titled "rescue" which is new (a great many CLI programs included). No GUI, unless you add it.
78 • moonOS (by unohu62 on 2009-02-24 17:11:34 GMT from Canada)
Thankx for bringing moonOS to my attention. Hopefully other distrohoppers out there will consider and support moonOS. and ensure it's continued development.
79 • RE: 62 (by Notorik on 2009-02-24 17:13:30 GMT from United States)
I see the wording on the website has changed. The way it WAS worded intentional or not, clearly would lead a person to believe that the inclusion of Skype was proprietary. I am not making a judgement on that, I am just stating that is the way it was. I like Vector and I want it to continue to be successful. I am frustrated that I continue to have sound card problems. I can't even get any sound with Ubuntu. With some of the other Slackware based distros I just run the ALSA sound configurator and I have sound but I was unable to get it working in Vector. I know that a lot of the problems are because of my inexperience and dated hardware. However, I am a reasonably intelligent person with more knowledge of Linux than Joe Windows so I should be able to get things to work on a well designed distro without doing backflips.
Just a side note, Simply Mepis wouldn't even boot up. It starts then drops out to a "limited shell".
80 • re 74 - desktop environment (by Anonymous on 2009-02-24 17:21:12 GMT from Canada)
I can't speak for other distros but with Mandriva you can do a custom install. Firstly you install just the base system without GUI. After the install is done, if you want a light KDE 3.5.10 environment, you can install just kdebase instead of the full KDE. You can also install kdebase4 instead of KDE 4. Then you add whatever you want to add (kopete, ark, etc). It will be much lighter than a full KDE install.
The commands are (as root):
urpmi kdebase
or
urpmi kdebase4
If you want to have a login screen you install kdm.
For KDE 3.5.10 execute: urpmi kdebase-kdm
For KDE 4 execute: urpmi kdm
If you don't want a login screen but you want to start the X server then login in console and execute: startx
That's about it.
81 • 74 (by Joe Biden on 2009-02-24 17:56:49 GMT from United States)
Arch offers kdemod, but my understanding is that - roughly speaking - KDE will be KDE no matter the distro. There's a tradeoff between features and resources that will not go away.
82 • RE: 75 (by IMQ on 2009-02-24 18:01:00 GMT from United States)
What kind of problems you have with your system?
SystemRescueCD is good for... system rescue.
It boots to a console mode where it shows available options. You can start the GUI mode as one of these options.
It is also possible to rescue Windows, at least to backup important data to an external HD before attempting to do the rescue. the ntfs-3g can read and write to ntfs partition, although I have NEVER tried it. So, if you want to rescue Windows, backup your data first!!!!!
I always think Parted Magic more of partitioning tool than a rescue one.
83 • #79 "limited shell" (by anticapitalista on 2009-02-24 18:33:13 GMT from Greece)
In my experience that is often due to a bad burn or burnt too fast.
84 • #79 Skype, sound (by Caitlyn Martin on 2009-02-24 18:39:55 GMT from United States)
@Notorik: Skype is proprietary. The Vector Linux package grabs Skype from their website and installs it. It just simplifies the install process for users. VL doesn't actually package Skype in a true sense. The idea is really to let folks use gslapt just as they would for any other software and for the automatic notification system (slapt-notifier) to pop up the little red icon on the desktop panel when a newer version is available.
Thank you for letting us know that the sound issues aren't unique to Vector. You aren't the person with the really old ESS 1868 chipset I'm trying to help in the forum, are you? Yes, sometimes late '90s technology isn't as well supported as it might be. That isn't Vector, it is upstream (kernel, Slackware). The point is someone in the forum will have the necessary experience to help you get it working.
I'm not surprised you had issues with Ubuntu. They don't seem terribly concerned about old, legacy hardware. The VL folks generally are. For Damn Small Linux it's their main focus but I find that distro a little too limiting for my taste. I like being able to run new lightweight apps on my old hardware :)
Anyway, be patient. The distro was released late Saturday night and if you're the person I think you are you first posted for help late yesterday. Remember that almost everyone in the fora are volunteers. They will get you there in the end, though, and once it's configured it will stay configured. You'll probably be set with a stable system that's faster than most anything else on older hardware.
The Vector Linux release cycle is about once a year and each version is supported for at least two years. Once you've got things working you'll be set for a good long time.
85 • Future Ubuntu names... (by Gord-s on 2009-02-24 18:40:22 GMT from United Kingdom)
Largely Lenny
Maybe Mepis
Notreally Naughty
86 • No subject (by forest on 2009-02-24 19:03:43 GMT from United Kingdom)
Ref the never-ending struggle for dominance in the distro line and what to hang onto your OS...have a gand at this:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-19413_3-10168951-240.html
It may be all the "tools" will be in cyberspace (I read far too much SF...) The distros really will be tiny, virtually just a terminal, no dependency hell. No updating the packages...no going on about speed of this that and another...without quantifying the kit you happen to be running...bliss...well I did confess to reading too much SF.
Still, it's early days, but it looks interesting.
Lastly ref my earlier rant, LOL, thanks for kind remarks...so:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13505_3-10170647-16.html
87 • BSD (by Williamp on 2009-02-24 19:26:19 GMT from United Kingdom)
'For more experienced users, installing a desktop to perform basic tasks like web browsing or word processing is cumbersome. It generally involves hours spent installing packages and editing configuration files.' What Planet do BSD live on? Perhaps they should dump their old 8086 machine.
88 • Hi newbie here (by Kacracttoky on 2009-02-24 21:43:01 GMT from China)
Hey guys
Great forum - distrowatch.com, how did you manage to get such a interesting domain name?
This is a nice community but I struggled to find a good category for my post.
I think this is the right category, but feel free to move this post if its in the wrong place
I spent forever looking on yahoo, until I found this community - its quite small but looks fun to talk to.
Bye!
89 • linux forums (by Oiving on 2009-02-24 21:56:37 GMT from United States)
*whine*
I want instant gratification, and I don't want to use "search" or think or anything. Just tell me what to do, here's the issue:
My linux doesn't work.
Help help.
(the preceding was a parody of Windows to Linux newbies and their ongoing Microsoft way of approaching live's challenges)
And now back to your regular programing.
:O)
90 • 88 is spam (by Joe Biden on 2009-02-24 22:06:52 GMT from United States)
Just noting
91 • duh (post 88) (by Joey on 2009-02-24 22:15:30 GMT from United States)
Sure is. Rare here, isn't it?
And that's a good thing!
92 • @61 (by 6r00k14n on 2009-02-24 23:06:31 GMT from United States)
You have got to be kidding. Unless you are Richard Stallman, why should the name matter? Based on your rant, I assume that you only use Debian GNU/Linux and nothing else, because that is the "proper" way to reference the OS. Your use of anything else makes you a hypocrite.
93 • Custom Installs (by Benjo on 2009-02-25 00:26:25 GMT from United States)
Over the weekend I did minimal installs of Lenny on two PCs, an Athlon 64 3000+ and an Athlon XP 1800+ box. I used the netinst CD to install the base package, then added kde-core (A64) and gnome-core (AXP). Then I installed and configured alsa for sound, ran the smxi script to install nVidia drivers for the Athlon XP box, then pulled only the packages I need for each box.
It takes more time and effort compared to installing an official Debian Gnome or KDE desktop install, but I find it easier than trying to purge all the extra packages from the default installs. I kinda miss the Debian customizations though. :P
94 • No subject (by forest on 2009-02-25 00:38:52 GMT from United Kingdom)
Ref # 67
This is a good point you raised. Somewhere, earlier (weeks), possibly in this forum, there was caveat along the lines of your musings...simply 'cos Ubuntu is the "brand leader" in the hits parade should not be taken as gospel that "brand leader" equals number of folk using Ubuntu.
That said it would be pretty amazing if Ubuntu was not well established...if it was really rubbish you can bet a lot of folk would have gone on about it long before now...and be even more sure that Canonical would have done something about it...long before now.
And Canonical are doing something about it, twice a year, although it must be said (tongue in cheek before I'm mis-interpreted...) Koala is not a name to conjure an image of action...koalas generally practice the art of inertia for most of the day...and are pretty good at it believe me...an all action koala is one with both eyes open...at the same time.
Eucalytus leaves may be the koalas' gourmet dish of the day...(cos the leaves don't move about much and are caught and eaten without too much effort apart from having to wave their jaws about now and again)...but have very little nutritional value in the energy department...crikey, I hope that's not prophetic...
To pass comment on #61's last section of the last sentence...absolutely spot on...the same way the other 500 odd distros do too. Surely that is the point about GNULinux...this is what is supposed to happen...
95 • @94 (by Killer Koala on 2009-02-25 01:01:10 GMT from Australia)
Indeed the koala is not a very active creature.... seems like the eucalyptus leaves have an inebriating effect on the koalas! So hopefully the Karmic Koala release won't be as lethargic as the animal!
And also, that the other well-known characteristic of the koala is not taken up by or reflected in the release... A stinker! That's right, that cuddly, furry, little gum leaf muncher is a bit on the nose!
96 • Re: 52 and Nova (by johncoom on 2009-02-25 04:11:22 GMT from Australia)
You wrote "cuban's nova site seems to be blocked here, why, hmmm ..... another download site ????"
I do not know of another site to direct download from :-( BUT if you can use BitTorrent ? try:
http://linuxtracker.org/index.php?page=torrent-details&id=9a45577bd607386d6c99ec2ed831de5323b4ea2e
As I write this there are 6 seeds, 1 leeches and already d/l 27 times
Hope that helps you 'distro_who' from Puerto Rico
97 • #89 (by Notorik on 2009-02-25 04:51:15 GMT from United States)
Ah, the "I'm so superior cause I've used Linux longer than you" attitude. Right, everyone who has ever used Windows must be stupid AND lazy. Fortunately most people I have met on the Linux forums try to be helpful to newbies.
98 • Light KDE distro (by RollMeAway on 2009-02-25 05:48:52 GMT from United States)
Someone ask earlier.
I recently installed Sidux KDE- lite on an old 300 MHz Dell laptop, with 256 MB ram. This after trying about 6 or so other lite distros. It outperformed XP considerably. The owner was quite happy.
Note: Installation of firefox or openoffice killed performance, as each used too much ram. Stick with konqueror for web browser and kmail for email. Abiword for office doc. Use as much of the default 'lite' install as you can. Don't open a lot of applications at the same time.
Better do it while kde 3.5.10 is still active, before kde4.2 screws it all up.
99 • Normal (but tweaked) openSUSE 11.0 Kde3 memory usage result (by Slightly better result on 2009-02-25 06:24:35 GMT from Australia)
...than minimal + base kde
:~> free -m
total used free shared buffers cached
Mem: 503 231 271 0 11 156
-/+ buffers/cache: 63 439
100 • Normal (but tweaked) openSUSE 11.0 Kde3 memory usage result (by Try again on 2009-02-25 06:28:41 GMT from Australia)
Slightly better result than minimal + base kde
:~> free -m
................... total......used......free........shared.....buffers........cached
Mem:............503......231........271.........0............11...............156
-/+ buffers/cache:...... 63........439
101 • re: 34 Mandriva : libraries python & mathplotlib (by glyj on 2009-02-25 17:20:36 GMT from France)
Recently (last saturday) Mandriva gave some lessons to increase the packager numbers.
I was there. We were 15.
I hope we will more and more to build good packages for everyone.
I'm a total newbie in that field, but I hope it'll change rapidly ;-)
For those who want to give help, there are also tutorials on the wiki to help packaging for mandriva:
http://wiki.mandriva.com/en/Development/Packaging
http://wiki.mandriva.com/en/Development/Howto/RPM
++
glyj
102 • Vectorlinux 6 (by Todd R. on 2009-02-25 20:43:08 GMT from United States)
Huge, HUGE turnaround here for us at the frat house. Vectorlinux 6 has installed and configured in a splendid fashion. We put it on our refurbished Toshiba laptop, one of two now.
The forums seem to have become very pro-active wrt help from old-timers. The distro itself is a gem; can't get anything to "not work." :O)
No matter the type of CD or DVD, it detects and runs it. This will aid very much in our work here.
Vectorlinux is fast and after about 48 hours seems so very stable. Networking was a smooth process, and no dropouts as of yet.
This is challenging our other Toshiba's Mint 6, big time. :O)
103 • @ 94 (by Anonymous on 2009-02-25 21:15:49 GMT from United States)
I cannot think of many one-word animal names that starts with K.
Kangaroo
Kitten
Koala
Ubuntu Kinky Kitten?
=P
104 • @ 103 (by J.B. on 2009-02-25 21:38:21 GMT from United States)
Kamatose Komodo is the obvious choice. :o0
105 • Microsoft sues TomTom (by Breaking News on 2009-02-26 03:35:20 GMT from Australia)
Microsoft sues TomTom
[Posted February 26, 2009 by corbet]
As seen in this TechFlash article [ http://tinyurl.com/c7suq ], Microsoft has launched a patent suit against TomTom, a seller of (Linux-based) navigation devices. "It's believed to be the first time Microsoft has filed a patent suit over Linux, after claiming for years that elements of the open-source operating system violate its patents. However, Microsoft says open-source software is not the intended focal point of the action."
http://lwn.net/Articles/320737/#Comments
106 • RE: 103 (by Hippy Hoser on 2009-02-26 06:12:46 GMT from Canada)
Krill, Kinkajou (I cheat: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/a-to-z)
---
I thought this week's Minimal SUSE article was an odd choice of coverage. It isn't a distro I'm going to reach for when I need something lightweight or if I want to spend hours building from a minimal install, but it is good to see more options and flexibility showing up out there. It's all about freedom to choose after-all!
The recent major releases from Vector and MEPIS scream out for in-depth coverage, which I hope to see here soon. Last week's look at Deb was excellent, thanks DW crew - keep up the good work! I think it's been a great couple of months for free software and I see good signs of greater adoption by governments and people around the world.
moonOS looks really nice. I wish there were more out-of-the-box "pretty" distros out there, it certainly makes it easier to win converts (although Slax is still my go-to). I hope the next round of Ubuntu has some real pizazz, they need to set their sights on the Mac people too.
107 • No subject (by forest on 2009-02-26 15:50:27 GMT from United Kingdom)
Ref the Puppy spin-offs, flexxpup, dice et al...anybody tried 'em yet?
Just trying not the Dice one (forgotten already...!) My word, it's er...colourful, does the wifi thing just like that...do the scan biz, type in P/W and bring up Seamonkey and you are staring at google search page, in seconds.
And, not that I am especially bothered with absolute speed, it must be admitted the pages load almost as your finger pressure is coming off the key. (I gather that despite the notion of "live CD" the apps are running off the ram. so that explains it, LOL)
I'm off to the Moon next.
108 • Rewritten partition table (hiks3) (by Azzorcist on 2009-02-26 15:51:15 GMT from Indonesia)
#82
I accidentally rewritten my partition table (parted mklabel msdos).
Everything's gone. Oh My God. :-(
#61
The reason way I do Not Like Ubuntu is simple, they are trying to move away from the word linux trying to brand a new os named UBUNTU when you load ubuntu you do not see the word linux and if you go to there web page they try to mentioned as little as they posible can. so they are USING linux to propel their OS
I think Ubuntu's slogan is Linux for Human Beings.
I see it in my Ubuntu 8.04.1 when i open the help system.
I've used it before. Now using Mandriva 2009.
109 • RE: 108 (by IMQ on 2009-02-26 18:00:44 GMT from United States)
There is a program that can be used to recover partition table. I don't recall what the name (something *part*) is but you can google for "partition table recovery" or something like that.
You may want to look at the SystemRescueCD homepage and see what packages are included.
Sorry I could be more of help.
110 • Berry Linux! (by Hü©klëßë®®ÿ Hïrö§hïm@ on 2009-02-26 19:16:25 GMT from United States)
I offer for all venerable BERRY linux from Japan.
Boot CD and try, hardware detect and smooth run.
After Red Had and help of package Knoppix. !!
111 • RE 54 (by Anonymous on 2009-02-26 20:13:49 GMT from Germany)
Let's hope that the February 2009 DistroWatch.com donation goes to Wolvix.
The donation button is there: http://wolvix.org/
112 • @74 Lite(er) KDE (by DeniZen on 2009-02-26 20:31:00 GMT from United Kingdom)
I'm no expert regards Sidux, but I do recall that its considered very snappy, and I think I remember there is a 'Lite' KDE version?
Worth a look to see - if so, maybe thats a good combo for you?
I have recently acquired a Toshiba Satellite with 1.5gz proc and 'only' 512mb Ram.
It had XP already installed, so, as a break from my usual choice of Debian I tried a couple of Distros 'alongside' XP, and I have to say that before I got to the Slack based XFCE distro that i _expected_ to eventually settle up with, I'm glad that I first tried Arch Linux (the Chakra Project 'remaster' - superb!) and KDEmod 4.2.
Its genuinely nippier than XP, on the same machine.
Even with KDE 4.2 - which incidentally is definitely becoming an excellent DE at last.
Before anyone says 'of course'! - Believe me, the first few 'major' Distro's I tried were clearly not as nippy as XP.
One distro in particular was a dog, and should hang its head (veeery slooowly ;) ) in shame - (cough Fedora..) I even reinstalled it with a few minor changes - i.e. filesystem choice etc, because I couldn't believe how slowly it booted, and , worse, how slowly it ran. But .. same performance again on second install.
I'm sure Vector or Zenwalk or Wolvix would have ran very well, but I'm so very impressed, that I'm stopping with Arch / 'Chakra' Arch, and enjoying the reacquaintance.
113 • ooooh Doh! (by DeniZen again on 2009-02-26 20:43:49 GMT from United Kingdom)
Well, right after posting the above, I just saw the previous post and that a new release of Wolvix just round the corner .. Now I _know_ I'm gonna want to try that! - 'damn you ..choice' ;)
114 • VectorLinux 6.0 (by Anonymous Penguin on 2009-02-26 21:11:11 GMT from Italy)
Impressive!. For a lightweight distro it has almost everything you can desire.
The care of details is absolutely amazing.
If I weren't "addicted" to KDE and to distros with huge repos, I'd use it as my main distro.
Certainly for a slightly older PC you'd be hard pressed finding anything better.
115 • Quickies (by Woodstock69 on 2009-02-26 23:48:37 GMT from Papua New Guinea)
Partition Table problems try:
ftp://ftp.berlios.de/pub/mirrors/Linux/docs/HOWTO/other-formats/html_single/Partition-Rescue.html
I once formatted my hard drive (both Linux and MS partitions) and completely buggered up the PT by creating new partitions here and there (before I realised I'd screwed my existing ones).
GParted was the ONLY program that could recover them. I was amazed. Even the commercial apps had trouble. Sure, it took a bit of detective work and it helped that I remembered the size of the partitions I had previously (GParted finds old partitions as well as recent ones). Best thing is that it's free and every distro includes it somewhere.
GParted coupled with FDisk did the trick for me.
Thanks for the minimal OpenSuSE install. Yeah it's bloated, but I love it (and Mint Kde) and it's good to know how to do the minimal install if I want it.
Haven't heard much about the ultimate minimal install distro "Linux from Scratch" for a while on here (OK, I stretched the term distro when describing LFS). I've promised myself to grab a copy and find a nice comfy chair one day and slog through it. Like money for a thousand charities, time for a thousand activities in a day is spread very thin...
I wish I had a high speed internet connection. Three weeks passes before I've downloaded one new distro to try and then the point's mute to comment on it...
Thanks again for a great DWW guys.
116 • Re #108 #109 (by Glenn on 2009-02-26 23:51:09 GMT from Canada)
Hiya Guys..
Utility is TESTDISK,
Works very well. I had to use it a few times.
Glenn
117 • No subject (by forest on 2009-02-27 01:04:07 GMT from United Kingdom)
This is posted from moon...(oh alright, moonOS).
Talk about ease of use, from CD that is, it loaded, it woke up, it told me I could connect to a wifi network(s)...without me having to select a wifi/ethernet icon, so selected one of the networks available, got asked for pass phrase (yes even a choice...I really must remember to find out which network manager it uses...it might be network manager...), selected FF3 and the rest you can guess.
Will have to sort out the pros and cons whenever, as in the CD rom works but will it install/work onto the h/d? Or perhaps to usb stick? Have not yet read all the blurb. ( This m/c is a Compaq EVO with P4 clocking 1.6 with IGB ram, c2002.)
Lastly the artwork...as I said before somewhere not bad at all, compared to this distro looking at MS XP is like looking at a photo of a field...mind you that Windows 7 beta looks suspiciously like a Linux frontpage...
118 • Main Article + Comments (by Landor on 2009-02-27 03:19:39 GMT from Canada)
I've enjoyed reading the articles on base installs recently, though I was aware of both, a couple things I didn't know for each. We all can't know everything of course. Like #93 pointed out though. When you (in this fashion) roll your own so to speak you do also lose some of the customizations that indeed causes more work to get to that "sweet spot".
I was amused by the comment regarding the hardware abilities and how such a minimal install was a waste for it. I'm sure there's many here that like me prefer as little used as possible to the desktop, so we have a lot more left to actually do what we want.
I've been fiddlin' with Sidux as of late. I'm not very fond of it though. Yes it's got a decent boot-up time once you do an additional bit of tweaking, but recently overal, I've seen a definite performance loss "on the desktop" compared to previous releases I tested of theirs. Of course this is just based on my experience with only 1 system as I look for an extremely simple replacement to my current main flavour.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Landor
119 • @ 118, Sidux (by Benjo on 2009-02-27 08:42:41 GMT from United States)
I've been using sidux (KDE-lite) on my main desktop PC since the 2007-04 preview 2 release. That original install is still alive and well today, kept up-to-date with monthly dist-upgrades. I also learned a lot about Debian along the way.
For me, Sidux came closest to that "sweet spot." Back then I was looking for a lighter alternative to Kubuntu, with similar up-to-date packages and an easy way to install nVidia drivers. If I only have 20 minutes to set up a computer to my specs, Sidux would be my first pick.
Alas a year of massive dist-upgrading and watching for warnings gets old. I'm debating whether to do a fresh minimal install of Lenny. Then again, KDE4 is supposed to hit Sid (and sidux) sometime in the near future...
120 • #119 (by jack on 2009-02-27 15:40:32 GMT from Canada)
>Alas a year of massive dist-upgrading and watching for warnings gets old<
Is there really an alternative?
I have been using Kubuntu 6.06 since it came out; mainly because there seemed to be a lot of update regressions with each new version (same re. new installs)(better the devil you know than one that may not work)
The downside of an LTS version is that most of the apps get ancient; i am still using FF1.5.
There is also the problem of the validity and reliability of poster's opinions. It seems to me that one has to approach them in the same way as one approaches the customer reviews in Amazon:
eliminate the 5 star ones as probably shil posts;and eliminate the one star ones as being mainly by those who are unreasonably pissed off.
Unfortunately this rquires that there be more than a few reviews in the middle; which is, here, very rare.
e.g Many reviewers install to the whole drive; which almost always works. Installing to a drive which already has one or more OSs is often a different story.
One of the pardoxes of Linux is that the business apps almost always work well; but those apps more related to entertainment don't. I am thinking of sound here.
I don't know if there are any (many?) paid developers workin on "sound" but the community's lack of results is not encouraging.
Hope springs eternal!
121 • My not so Quickies (by Anonymous on 2009-02-27 17:18:42 GMT from United States)
I agree that the new Artist X .6 rocks, it is the first distro I have distributed around the office. Mom and Pop M$ users are about to riot. Everyone complains about IE/WMP not playing or letting them create WMV files like they used to. Camera software not working after Quicktime updates. They also are complaining about 3rd party video software not working any more working with AVI or MP? video because they were using codecs in WMP. I have a windows machine that has powerproducer suddenly taking over all associations to all video media files and won't let me break the association, it is even holding ISO hostage. I have to use "Open with" and find the program manually every time. The software was bundled with the machine and the vendor provided this lovely automatic update.
But, I also agree we need a list of USB installable Distros. My Shuttle cube and EEE laptop don't like my extrernal LG DVD burner drive for booting. USB and CD are the only ways into those boxes for me.
Debian new XFCE, still looking for the repos and won't let me put in a DNS. Give up you get a command line after boot. About to give up and put the new Mint XFCE on it.
Partition software, I've seen the boot loops before and they can make a mess out of the drives. Even the shrink wrapped partion commander will do it. I've resorted to a old version of zenwalk to get new partions on it. I still haven't found one that will fix partions that have not been formatted on, the one that do will make small fat32 partions with the file vectors and ruin the 1st 100mb or so. Some will do it then beg for money to fix their mess.
Ubuntu even the XFCE one is sloooo and requires a bunch of resources.
Puppy remixes need more info before I'll try, Tell me what version they are based, what they fix and how they are different. Some are just fancy names and wallpaper. Chubby puppy was good in its day but it is based on v2.
Need to find time to try moon, maybe I'll replace my Sam install with it, it is getting a bit long in the tooth. But that box doesn't even like a external CD because it has a spot for a laptop drive (Compaq Ipaq desktop). Sigh.
122 • pc/os release... (by kihara on 2009-02-27 18:50:36 GMT from United States)
ouch!
had sooo hoped newly released pc/os would also show off newly released xfce 4.6.0... what happened?
k
123 • No subject (by forest on 2009-02-27 19:00:32 GMT from United Kingdom)
Ref #121
I didn't quite grasp all the stuff you said...but I find that several of the Linux compatible media players, VLC, say, will play just about anything going. Others will let you know if a codec is required and then offer to find and install for you. Apologies if you knew this anyway but as I say I could not quite grasp the thrust of your comment/argument.
You can try to google for the usb option but I have already done that and the results are mixed...as you might be intimating...I have got Knoppix on a usb stick. There is an option available to do that and you just click and job done. All the formatting is done for you. Some usb installers tiddle around with partitions and all sorts. Puppy is another easy usb install so you could always have a try with that.
Ref the partition thing. I have to say I took a more pragmatic view of partitioning...I always save to external h/d and if there is any probs I have not lost any data. I simply reinstall the distro and everything works again. I admit that prior to a re-install I have had to bung in PM and get rid of any residual/resident partitions and reformat to ntfs on occasion.
I can't be arsed to plough through the forums for a fix. There are so many distros to try and there's only so much time before the Sun goes cold. So although this might be heresy to some folk...Linux is what you make of it so I do "easy". I'm not so much bothered as how "Linux" functions per se...I just like to see what it can do. I refer of course to "any" distro.
Moving onto Puppy remixes, they are smallish 300MB so I just d/l, burn to CD and away. The ones above appear to be not bad at all and the artwork is really quite interesting...for me the main thing is wifi...and the latest Puppy manifestations do that with aplomb. I speak for my own particular set up of course.
Yes, the Pups might very well be fancy names and wall paper and I haven't a clue which version they are, but as I say I just like to try them out for no other reason I suppose than they exist.
MoonOS is quite interesting, not so easy to get wifi, but it gets there in a matter of a few mins rather than second so...who cares?
All I say is if you have the time to waste then go for it.
124 • Not much lighter than openSUSE out-of-the-box.... (by BitBurners.com on 2009-02-27 22:31:28 GMT from Finland)
From the openSUSE install article:
"This new custom openSUSE system boots from GRUB to login screen in around 28 seconds, taking a further 6 seconds to load the GNOME desktop. It is using up 175 MB of memory once fully logged"
On my Thinkpad T41, the openSUSE 11.1 Gnome uses around 165-170mb of RAM after a fully logged system boot, so installing minimal X-window, and then gnome-basis does not seem to make it any lighter on resources. I tried both of these methods - the text-only install method does result a very light system, but it is somewhat crippled with a lot of key packages missing, like a number of system administration tools, so it will require quite a bit of configuring and tweaking to make it right.
For some time I have wondered why on earth distros like to include all the appications by default? The PCLinuxOS 2008 MiniMe was a wonderful distro as it came with the barebone KDE only, and one could easily pull only the required applications via Synaptic. I would love to see more distros offering this approach. It would keep the download sizes of disc images small, and the distros more streamlined with no clutter.
BTW, the very common "must be a bad burn" comment often heard around distro communities must be the biggest pile of B.S. I have heard. If the DVD-R(W) medium is at least somwhat decent and the drive is functioning correctly, the chances of a bad burn are EXTREMELY rare.
125 • Verify an already burned DISK, CD or DVD (by RollMeAway on 2009-02-28 01:38:31 GMT from United States)
This will resolve any questions about the integrity of the disk.
Create an empty file named rawread.sh
Open that file in your favorite txt editor
Copy the code between the dashed lines and paste into rawread.sh
------------------------------------------------
#!/bin/sh
device=$1
blocksize=`isoinfo -d -i $device | grep "^Logical block size is:" | cut -d " " -f 5`
if test "$blocksize" = ""; then
echo catdevice FATAL ERROR: Blank blocksize >&2
exit
fi
blockcount=`isoinfo -d -i $device | grep "^Volume size is:" | cut -d " " -f 4`
if test "$blockcount" = ""; then
echo catdevice FATAL ERROR: Blank blockcount >&2
exit
fi
command="dd if=$device bs=$blocksize count=$blockcount conv=notrunc,noerror"
echo "$command" >&2
$command
--------------------------------------------------
Make the file executable;
>chmod 774 ./rawread.sh
Put your disk to check into the drive. You don't even have to mount it.
You DO have to eject and close the tray.
Use the dev name (not the mount point) of your CD/DVD drive in the following:
>./rawread.sh /dev/hdc | md5sum
It takes a while, but the last line produced is the md5sum.
Check this number against the published md5sum of the disk.
This is not my creation, I picked it up somewhere in the cloud, and wanted
to share. Works great for me.
126 • No subject (by forest on 2009-02-28 08:33:09 GMT from United Kingdom)
Re #124
Good notion about distro sizes...I believe Slax, DFS and Slitaz could be worth following up.
Ditto disc burning, I can recall only two bad burns over the years and that was probably cheap media...bought in haste...
127 • Vectorlinux 6 (by Todd R. on 2009-02-28 12:57:10 GMT from United States)
Just an update; we're continuing with Vectorlinux 6, a beautiful, fast distribution.
As one of our users pointed out in the Vectorlinux forums, the network drop-out issue seems to have been resolved with a gslapt update. I wish we'd have paid attention to the packages affected so that a true report on the issue could be made here and in the forums, but we didn't.
So, all we can say is that the unpredictable, frequent wireless connection losses have not occured for over 24 hours of online use by several users (we keep a log).
128 • No subject (by forest on 2009-02-28 17:08:30 GMT from United Kingdom)
Re #121
Re your comment on list of usb compatible/installable distros, take a look here:
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/#features
It's not quite what you wanted per se, but, it might be more useful.
( Found link when reading up on Firefly gen)
See what you think.
129 • netbook distros (by Varmint on 2009-02-28 20:52:27 GMT from United States)
So far, the ONLY netbook-friendly distro I've found is pupitup, based on puppy linux. The others, despite what they've said on their pages, wouldn't even boot properly, let alone recognise the hardware. Most simplly hang, such as Mandriva, which hung on the nice graphics screen. I couldn't get a simple iso file for some of these due to the manner in which they posted links (some were broken). Thanks for PUPITUP!! This made all the grief of the others worthwhile, as everything works on boot, even from a usb stick! Now where are all the others that SHOULD boot from (not install from) a usb stick? And where, oh where, is the unix distro for netbooks on a stick?
130 • re 120 distro on a stick ? (by Anonymous on 2009-02-28 21:11:01 GMT from France)
have a look here:
http://www.gdium.com/en/product/liberty1000
http://www.gdium.com/en/product/gkey
PS: system based on Mandriva....
131 • Parslinux 1.0 was published (by Navid Hasanzadeh on 2009-03-01 01:56:36 GMT from Australia)
Parslinux GNU/Linux is a live and Installation CD.
It's been derived from slax with slackware as it's basic and KDE on the default desktop.Parslinux GNU/Linux supports Persian language amongst many others.When you install Parslinux GNU/linux it works on your computer operating system.
Kernel 2.6.28.1 (Bluetooth - Wireless support - Bootslpash)
KDE 4.2 (+Education,Games,Kdevelop)
OpenOffice.org 3.0.1
Koffice 2.0 (Beta 6)
Gimp 2.4.7
Gstreamer 0.10.19
Firefox 3.0.6 (+some addons)
Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.19
Winehq 1.1.15
Windows fonts (+ IranNastaliq)
SMPlayer 0.6.6
Pidgin 2.5.2
HP-Toolbox 2.8.10
K3B 1.0.5
Samba 3.2.4
Krecord 1.16
Java 6 update 12 (jre 6u12)
WxCam 0.9.8
Gslapt 5.1
Gparted 4.1
Stellarium 10.0
Python 2.5.2
Qstardict 0.12.9 (+ Babylon , English - Persian dictionaries)
Minbar
Zekr 0.7.1 (+Persian Trans)
Xsane
Xine-lib 1.1.15
Removed Adobe reader 8.0
Removed Google Earth 4.3
Removed Picasa
Removed Compiz 0.5.1
Removed Skype
Removed Blender
Removed Virtualbox 1.6
Website : www.Pars-linux.com
Download :
ftp://download.ospdev.net/parslinuxlive/Parslinux1.0/Parslinux1.0LiveDesktopDVD/Parslinux-1.0-live-desktop-dvd.iso
132 • #129: The opposite of my experience (by Caitlyn Martin on 2009-03-01 03:30:00 GMT from United States)
Varmint: What kind of netbook do you have? My netbook came with Ubuntu Netbook Remix. Ordinary Ubuntu installs on it with no problems. So does Vector Linux. So do a lot of distros. In fact all the major ones seem to work fine. Maybe it's your particular model and not the distros.
If you're trying to post a commercial for Pupitup that's fine but stay away from the over the top statements that don't jive with reality. That doesn't make either you or your chosen distro look good at all.
133 • ZevenOS (by Chris on 2009-03-01 07:12:14 GMT from United States)
I downloaded and installed ZevenOS.
It advertises to be based on Ubuntu,
which is sort of correct;
ZevenOS is based on Xubuntu,
the xfce desktop.
It is an attractive desktop,
but I felt a bit lost with it:
Installed ubuntu-desktop and gnome,
changed to gnome session at login screen.
as I always do with an xfce desktop.
The language in firefox is English, with some German.
Tomorrow, I'll install something else on this partition.
Chris
134 • @132 by Caitlyn (by J.B. on 2009-03-01 13:01:12 GMT from United States)
Varmint said, "So far, the ONLY netbook-friendly distro I've found.."
"So far" and "I've found" are qualifiers that take away from any "commercial posting" as I read her or his post 129.
I think you're over reacting there; just my opinion. It looks like a linux user who got happy to find something that works great in the environment s/he has been unlucky in so far, not a "commercial."
You didn't post an objection to our gushing in here about Vectorlinux 6 working so well on our Toshiba laptop.
As far as Vectorlinux goes, heck, here's a commercial for it: Vectorlinux is the fastest, prettiest, most functional linux distribution WE HAVE FOUND *SO FAR* FOR THIS MACHINE.
:O)
135 • No subject (by forest on 2009-03-01 14:04:30 GMT from United Kingdom)
Re # 132
And there was me thinking that all reality was relative...I can't believe you just said that, LOLOLOL!!!
That's the point about forums...everyone puts in their pennorth...from their own particular experience. I read, quite distinctly, a mention of, "your particular model..." and to be fair you can't get much more POV than that.
Personally I love hyperbole...as in "Nobody on this planet is more modest than me...and I don't care who knows it..." leading to, "There's nothing better than Ubuntu, cos I can get it to work on MY machine..."
136 • @132 (by Anonymous on 2009-03-01 17:45:27 GMT from United States)
"but stay away from the over the top statements that don't jive with reality."
You should listen to your own advice.
It seems that 129 is simply stating his experience.
Often when I read your postings in this forum I can't help but think your a vector troll.
137 • #136 Perhaps you can explain it to me (by Caitlyn Martin on 2009-03-02 04:09:28 GMT from United States)
#129 Made a blanket statement about netbooks, as in all netbooks, and all distros except for one Puppy derivative. Tell me how he could have tested all the possible distros on all the possible netbooks and I will beliebe that #129 is relating his experience.
What I posted has nothing to do with Vector Linux so your whole post makes no sense at all. Maybe, just maybe, I'm misunderstanding your hostility and you have a point. Perhaps you can explain how the statement made in #129 is accurate. I'm eagerly awaiting that explanation.
I, at least, have the courage to sign my name to my posts.
138 • Ref# 137 (by My Name Is John Doe on 2009-03-02 04:50:23 GMT from United States)
I keep reading people saying "at least I sign my name", etc, etc. That's meaningless. How could we, or want to, prove it. And besides, what's in a name. Your telling me you read the name first before you decide if it's valid.
I'm the one up above that tried VL6 and it broke. It's still Slackware after all. Old Linux. Still the same old way of doing things.
Don't know about Pupitup. Actually never heard of it, but the guy is just stating HIS experience.
Number of Comments: 138
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| • 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 | 
m0n0wall
m0n0wall was a project aimed at creating a complete, embedded firewall software package that, when used together with an embedded PC, provides all the important features of commercial firewall boxes (including ease of use) at a fraction of the price (free software). m0n0wall was based on a bare-bones version of FreeBSD, along with a web server (thttpd), PHP and a few other utilities. The entire system configuration was stored in one single XML text file to keep things transparent. m0n0wall was probably the first UNIX system that has its boot-time configuration done with PHP, rather than the usual shell scripts, and that has the entire system configuration stored in XML format.
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.
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| 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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