ExLight 64bit UEFI, Build 221130, based on Debian “Sid” (unstable/development) with Enlightenment 0.25.4 (latest) as DE, Refracta Snapshot and Calamares Installer

NEWS 221130 ABOUT ExLight
I’ve made a new version of ExLight with the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop environment, Refracta Snapshot (create your own Debian Sid System) and Calamares 3.2.61-1 Installer Framework. The very nice Enlightenment theme e25 Neonz is used.

New sources 221130
This new version of ExLight is based on Debian Sid (unstable/development). Build 221130 is a total rebuild of ExLight. The ISO file size is of only 1850 MB, which means that you’ll need about 3GB RAM to run ExLight even faster from RAM. I.e. load to RAM – screenshot. You can remove the DVD or USB stick when ExLight has booted.

KERNEL
ExLight Build 221130 uses kernel 6.0.10-amd64-exton-rt14 built from Debian kernel sources with Debian patches.

What’s new in kernel 6.0?

Installed packages
Study all installed packages in ExLight Build 221130.

THE REAL McCoy
ExLight is a pure Debian system. I.e. no traces of Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc. New releases of Ubuntu are always based on Debian Sid. So is ExLight.

KNOWN ISSUE
You can’t login to the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop unless you use a “fairly new” computer. Not older that about eight (8) years according to my experience. Read more about the problem…

READ MORE…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se
– latest is RaspAnd 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

RaspArch Rpi4 Build 221127 :: Run Arch Linux on your new Raspberry Pi 4 computer :: Install it using Rufus 3.20, Win32 Disk Imager or Etcher in Windows!

rasparch-logoRaspArch Build 221127 especially for the new Raspberry Pi 4 released in May 2020
This version (221127) is especially made for
the “new” Raspberry Pi 4, but it can of course also be used on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and Raspberry Pi 2 Model B.

NEWS 221202
I have uploaded a new version of RaspArch after I’ve discovered a better way to configure the system. I.e. I’ve replaced /boot/config.txt with this file. The new configuration makes the system automatically choose the best possible resolution for your monitor. Watch this screenshot when I’m using a 3440×1440 (Ultrawide) monitor.
NOTE: If you already have installed RaspArch Build 221127 you don’t have to reinstall. Just replace /boot/config.txt with the one I’ve provided – see above. Then reboot. You will probably notice a big difference.

RaspArch is a “remaster” of Arch Linux ARM. The original compressed system is of about 230 MB. After I have added the LXDE Desktop environment, PulseAudio, Firefox, Yay, Gimp and NetworkManager the system has increased a lot. RaspArch is a “ready-to-go” ARM system. It must be installed on a Raspberry Pi 4, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, Raspberry Pi 3 Model B or Raspberry Pi 2 Model B computer.

More about RaspArch
When you have installed RaspArch to your Micro SD Card you can use the system like any other Arch Linux system. I.e. install new programs etc. Arch motto is KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). RaspArch uses kernel 5.15.79-2-rpi-ARCH and the LXDE Desktop environment.

WHO should run Arch Linux/RaspArch?
My answer: The system fits the “advanced” Linux user/enthusiast, who would be willing to run an occasional command from time to time.

SCREENSHOTS

Screenshot 1 of RaspArch’s Desktop – logged in as archpi
Screenshot 2 of RaspArch’s Desktop – logged in as root
Screenshot 3 – Using Yay (while installing SMPlayer)
Screenshot 4 – Samba connection to a Windows computer
Screenshot 5 – showing that you can watch 4K videos using Firefox

READ MORE…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se
– latest is RaspAnd 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

DebEX KDE Plasma, Build 221115, based on Debian Sid/Bookworm with kernel 6.0.6-amd64-exton and Refracta Snapshot

NEWS 221115 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build
I have made a new extra version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVDefi. It’s a pure Debian 12 (Sid/upcoming Bookworm) system. (unstable). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma Sid uses the KDE Plasma Desktop 5.26.3 – latest version, released 221108 – as Desktop environment. Kernel 6.0.6-amd64-exton-rt14 is used. All included packages have been updated to the latest version as of 221115. DebEX KDE Build 221115 works in the same way as DebEX KDE Build 220926 – see this INFO. I have kept DebEX Build 220926 since it is based on Debian 11 (stable). In Build 221115 I have added LURE (Linux User REpository). LURE is intended to bring the AUR to all distros. It is currently in an alpha state and may not be stable. It can download a repository, build packages in it using a bash script similar to PKGBUILD, and then install them using your system package manager. Read about how to use LURE…

VirtualBox Guest Additions and VMware Tools are pre-installed, which mean that you can run DebEX KDE in full screen – see the screenshots below.

THE REAL McCoy
DebEX is a pure Debian system. I.e. no traces of Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc. New releases of Ubuntu are always based on Debian and (mostly) Debian Sid/unstable. So is DebEX KDE.

SCREENSHOTS
1. Using LURE to install Thunar
2. The Desktop for the ordinary user user
3. The Desktop for root
4. Running in full screen in VirtualBox
5. Running in full screen in VMware

READ MORE…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se
– latest is RaspAnd 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

LFS EXTON – a live installable Linux system built from Linux From Scratch (which can run on ALL computers) with kernel 6.0.6-amd64-exton ::: Build 221103

LFS EXTON Linux live DVD/USB is built using Linux From Scratch 10.1/11.2 and Beyond Linux From Scratch 10.1/11.2 (BLFS) , which has the latest Linux packages and scripts.

NEWS 221103
A new version of LFS EXTON is ready! The first version is from 210706. Most important news re. the new version:
1. LFS EXTON Build 221103 runs on ALL computers. I. e. new and old ones. UEFI or non-UEFI computers. (Build 210706 was not compatible with some newer computers).
2. Build 221103 uses the latest kernel 6.0.6, released 221029.
The kernel is named 6.0.6-amd64-exton-rt14.
3. I have upgraded some essential packages. Most important Firefox.
4. I have installed two new packages: Gnu Emacs (“At its core is an interpreter for Emacs Lisp, a dialect of the Lisp programming language with extensions to support text editing”) and MPlayer (a movie player).
NOTE about MPlayer: To be able to play videos (and not just hear sound) you’ll have to install AAlib. Very easy to install. Just follow the instructions.
5. You can download the kernel-sources for LFS EXTON from SourceForge.net – linux-source-6.0.zip. Can be used if you want to install (for example) NVIDIA Graphics Drivers. Unpack and place the sources in /usr/src.

ABOUT Refracta Installer
I finally made Refracta Installer to work in LFS EXTON! Now you can install LFS EXTON to hard drive like any other Linux distribution. Just start Refracta Installer from the menu and follow the instructions. Watch this screenshot.
NOTE: You should create the install partition in advance. Use GParted for that.

LXDE and LightDM

LFS EXTON uses LXDE as Desktop environment. LXDE is designed to be user friendly and slim, while keeping the resource usage low. LFS EXTON has all the tools needed for you to go on and install other Desktop environments or whatever you like (after a hard drive installation of LFS EXTON).

Build your own Linux system
You can also just use LFS EXTON Live DVD/USB as build environment when building your own Linux system from scratch.

Install LFS EXTON to a USB stick
Install the ISO file to a USB stick with Rufus 3.20 in Windows. It will look like this.

LOGIN to LXDE
Login as root with password root$$ or as the ordinary user lfs with password linux$$. While logged in as lfs you can use Sudo to become root. Example commands: sudo su and sudo pcmanfm. LightDM‘s login screen will look like this.



Install to hard drive using Refracta Installer
1. Start Refracta Installer from the menu and follow the program instructions. Watch this screenshot.
2. Install options – screenshot.
3. Ready to install – screenshot.
4. When asked to chroot and install Grubscreenshot.
5. Keep current user (lfs) and root passwords – screenshot.
6. When the installation is complete you will see this – screenshot.
7. Notice the disk space used after installation to hard drive – screenshot.
8. For user lfs to be able to use Sudo after a hard drive installation you’ll have to edit /etc/sudoers as root with Nano or Mousepad. Add this line to the end:
lfs ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALLscreenshot.
NOTE: If you already use Grub as boot loader you shall refrain from installing Grub when installing LFS EXTON to hard drive. Just add the boot lines below to /boot/grub/grub.cfg on the partition where you have Grub installed. You shall (of course) never mess with your current EFI Grub installation. LFS EXTON can run on EFI computers, but you can’t make an EFI Grub installation using LFS EXTON.

NOTE: You can install LFS EXTON on any normal computer. If you want to do that you should at first read my instruction How To dual boot, triple boot or multi boot Linux with Windows in a simple way and be happy. The Grub boot lines for LFS EXTON in /boot/grub/grub.cfg can look like this:
#################################################
menuentry ‘LFS EXTON 221103 (/dev/sda6)’ –class lfs –class gnu-linux –class gnu –class os $menuentry_id_option ‘gnulinux-simple-191fccec-4ecc-48b2-879d-504f9a2ad365’ {
recordfail
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search –no-floppy –fs-uuid –set=root 191fccec-4ecc-48b2-879d-504f9a2ad365
else
search –no-floppy –fs-uuid –set=root 191fccec-4ecc-48b2-879d-504f9a2ad365
fi
linux /boot/vmlinuz-6.0.3-amd64-exton-rt14 root=/dev/sda6 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-6.0.3-amd64-exton-rt14
}
###############################################

Kernel

LFS EXTON uses my “special” kernel 6.0.3-amd64-exton-rt14. You can of course compile you own LFS kernel if you want.

“Normal” use of the system
You can also use LFS EXTON as any other “normal” Linux system. You can for example run Netflix in Firefox.

Running in VirtualBox/VMware
Form some unknown reason LFS EXTON doesn’t work so well in VirtualBox. You can, however, run it in VirtualBox if you add nomodeset to the boot line when booting up LFS from the ISO file in VirtualBox. Just press TAB before the boot process starts. You can, however, run LFS EXTON without any problems in QEMU in Linux and in VMware in Windows. Watch this screenshot (running in QEMU in Linux) and this screenshot (running in VMware in Windows 11). I even managed to install LFS EXTON in VirtualBox in Linux. Not easy, but it can be done. With the help of the provided kernel sources (SourceForge.net – linux-source-6.0.zip) I also could install VirtualBox Guest Additions so that LFS EXTON can run in full screen. Watch this screenshot…

Error during the boot process
During the boot process you will see a error message about ssh. Just press ENTER and the boot process will continue. After a hard drive installation you can get rid of the error message by running the following commands as root.
1. cd /etc/ssh
2. ssh-keygen -A
3. /etc/init.d/sshd start

Sound in LFS EXTON
You will only have sound when logged in to LXDE as the normal user lfs. Use Pavucontrol (PulseAudio Volume Control).

How to mount NTFS partitions read and write
Just run two commands as root (example)
1. mkdir /dev/sdd1
2. ntfs-3g /dev/sdd1 /mnt/sdd1

Run it fast!
The system is quite fast and responsive. You can run LFS EXTON live super fast from RAM. When the boot process is ready you can eject the DVD or USB stick – screenshot. Use Boot alternative 2 or Advanced options… >> load to RAM. Watch the live boot screen below.)

DOWNLOAD
LFS EXTON 64bit version 221103 can be downloaded from SourceForge.netFast, secure and free downloads from the largest Open Source applications and software directory.

md5sum for the LFS EXTON ISO

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se
– latest is RaspAnd 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!