NEWS 231106 about DebEX Gnome – a Refractaefi Build
I have made a new extra version of DebEX, which I call DebEX Gnome Live System. It’s a pure Debian system using the testing (Trixie) and unstable (Sid)repositories. Gnome 43.4 is used as Desktop environment. I have removed the Mate Desktop, since Gnome now can be used on all kind of computers. Also when running DebEX in VirtualBox and VMware. No need for Nvidia’s proprietary graphics drivers when running this new version of DebEX. You can of course install such drivers if you want to. Furthermore I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox ESR. It is now possible to watch Netflix movies using Firefox ESR in Linux. I have also replaced Refracta Installer with Calamares Installer, which makes it possible to install DebEX Gnome in any language. You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers.
All installed packages have been updated to the latest version as of 231106. DebEX Gnome uses kernel 6.5.6-amd64-exton.
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 Sid. So is DebEX.
NEWS 220929 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD – efi. It replaces version 211023. It’s a pure Debian 11 system. (Stable). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma uses the KDE Plasma Desktop 5.20.5 as Desktop environment. Kernel 6.0.0-rc6-exton is used. I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better. I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox-ESR/Iceweasel 102.3 (for Netflix). I’ve also added SMPlayer – an alternative to Vlc. (SMPlayer is a free media player for Windows and Linux with built-in codecs that can play virtually all video and audio formats. It doesn’t need any external codecs. Just install SMPlayer and you’ll be able to play all formats without the hassle to find and install codec packs). All other installed packages have also been updated to the latest version of 220929. Study the full package list.
MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES A) I’ve installed the full KDE Plasma Desktop using the command sudo apt install task-kde-desktop. In order to save space I have removed LibreOffice with the command sudo apt remove libreoffice* B) I have added Calamares 3.2.36.1 Installer Framework. Now you can choose language when the installation starts. When it’s ready everything will be in your chosen language! You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers if you follow my INSTRUCTION for non-efi computers. Or don’t do that. Just start Calamares and choose to install Grub in MBR. It works very well! NOTE: You can also use Refracta Installer. Preferably in VirtualBox/VMware. NOTE ALSO: When running DebEX KDE in VirtualBox you can do it in full screen since VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed. Watch this screenshot.
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. So is DebEX.
ExTiX 22.8 LXQt – Build 220814 I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 22.8 LXQt Live DVD. (The previous LXQt version was 21.11 from 211030). ExTiX 22.8 is based on Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)! Ubuntu 22.04 will be supported until 2027. The best thing with ExTiX 22.8 is that while running the system live (from DVD/USB) or from hard drive you can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. So easy that a ten year child can do it! One other very good thing with this version of ExTiX is that it is quite light. The ISO file is of only 1820 MB, which means that you can run the system super fast from RAM. When the boot process is ready you can eject the DVD or USB stick. Use Boot alternative 3 or Advanced options… >> load to RAM.
ABOUT ExTiX 22.8 LXQt DVD 64 bit is based on Debian Sid and Ubuntu 22.04.1 LTS. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Gnome. After removing Gnome I have installed LXQt 0.17. LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the Razor-qt projects: A lightweight, modular, blazing-fast and user-friendly desktop environment. NOTE: This ExTiX LXQt Build is for installation to UEFI-enabled computers. You shall use Refracta Installer for that.
NEWS ABOUT PuppEX Bookworm64 Build 220807 My new Puppy Linux derivative is built using the Bookworm Build Script. It is compatible with Debian Bookworm – upcoming Debian 12. This version of PuppEX uses Tint2 as Desktop environment (DE). It is for UEFI computers andnon-UEFI computers. This PuppEX version runs very well in VirtualBox/VMware. You can run it in full screen in VirtualBox, since VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed. Watch this screenshot… Debian 12
Compatible with Debian 12 means that you can use the apt command. (apt update, apt upgrade, apt install MyUsefulPackage etc) and Synaptic for installing thousands of new Debian packages in PuppEX. All PuppEX Bookworm64 versions can easily be installed manually to hard drive if you have at least one Linux system installed. You must also use Grub as boot loader. Read more about how to do that at the INFO site.
NEWS 220501 ABOUT ExTiX LXQt Mini 22.5, Build 220501 I’ve made a new updated “mini” version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. It is based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish. The ISO file is of only 1340 MB, which is good if you want to run the system super fast from RAM. It should be enough with 2GB RAM. When the boot process is ready you can eject the DVD or USB stick. Use Boot alternative 2. The best thing with ExTiX 22.5 is that while running the system live (from DVD/USB) or from hard drive you can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu 22.04 system. So easy that a ten year child can do it! ExTiX 22.5 uses kernel 5.17.2-amd64-exton. Ubuntu 22.04 LTS will be supported until April 2027.
More about ExTiX 22.5 This ExTiX version uses LXQt as Desktop environment. LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the Razor-qt projects: A lightweight, modular, blazing-fast and user-friendly desktop environment. NOTE: This ExTiX LXQt Build is for older UEFI-enabled computers and VirtualBox/VMware. When running ExTiX 22.5 in VirtualBox you can do it in full screen since VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed. Watch this screenshot.
NEWS 201018 about DebEX Gnome – a Refracta UEFI Build I have made a new extra version of DebEX, which I call DebEX Gnome Live DVD. It’s a pure Debian system using the testing (bullseye) and unstable (sid) repositories. Gnome 3.38 (latest) is used as Desktop environment. I have removed the Mate Desktop, since Gnome now can be used on all kind of computers. Also when running DebEX in VirtualBox and VMware. No need for Nvidia’s proprietary graphics drivers when running this new version of DebEX. You can of course install such drivers if you want to.Furthermore I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox ESR. It is now possible to watch Netflix movies using Firefox ESR in Linux. I have also replaced Refracta Installer with Calamares Installer, which makes it possible to install DebEX Gnome in any language. You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers. All installed packages have been updated to the latest version as of 201018. DebEX Gnome uses kernel 5.9.1-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s latest kernel 5.91 released yesterday (201017).
About all DebEX systems All four DebEX systems/distributions are a based on DebianBuster (10) and Debian Bullseye/Sid (upcoming Debian 11).Budgie Desktop 10.5 and Enlightenment 0.23.1 are used as Desktop environments in DebEX Barebone/Budgie/Enlightenment. Gnome 3.38 is used in DebEX Gnome. KDE Plasma Desktop 5:14 is used in DebEX KDE. LXQt is used in DebEX Build 191209 – 32 bit. The system language is English (in all four versions of DebEX).
Running DebEX Gnome in VirtualBox VirtualBox Guest Utils can be installed without problems – screenshot. Which means that you can run DebEX in VirtualBox using the whole screen – screenshot. Another good thing with version 201018 of DebEX Gnome is that it can be installed without problems in VirtualBox. I.e. you don’t have to chroot into the install partition and install Grub – screenshot.
Software management DebEX (all three versions) uses Apt (apt-get) and Synaptic. I have also installed Pacapt (an Arch’s pacman-like package manager) in DebEX Gnome. It works extremely well. Available commands:pacapt -h. For example: pacapt -S libreoffice installs LibreOffice. In DebEX Gnome you can also use the Cactus Package Manager. Example commands: cpm i mousepad and cpm s gimp. (Install Mousepad and search for Gimp). CPM works very well.
Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)! and about my Android 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 11 (without GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (with GAPPS)!
ExTiX 20.8 LXQt – Build 200804 I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 20.8 LXQt Live DVD. (The previous LXQt version was 19.10 from 191023). The best thing with ExTiX 20.8 is that while running the system live (from DVD/USB) or from hard drive you can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. So easy that a ten year child can do it! One other very good thing with this version of ExTiX is that it is quite light. The ISO file is of only 1300 MB, which means that you can run the system super fast from RAM. When the boot process is ready you can eject the DVD or USB stick. Use Boot alternative 3 or Advanced options… >> load to RAM. Nvidia’s proprietary Graphics driver 440.100 is pre-installed in ExTiX 20.8. It will automatically be used if your computer has support for it.
ABOUT ExTiX 20.8 LXQt DVD 64 bit is based on Debian and Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Gnome. After removing Gnome I have installed LXQt 0.14.1. LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the Razor-qt projects: A lightweight, modular, blazing-fast and user-friendly desktop environment. NOTE: This ExTiX LXQt Build is for installation to UEFI-enabled computers. You shall use Refracta Installer for that.
Used KERNEL
My special kernel 5.8.0-rc7-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 5.8-rc7. You can download “my” kernel and use it in another Ubuntu/Debian 64-bit system if you want. To be able to install Nvidia’s proprietary Graphics driver 440.100 you’ll have to apply a patch before installing. Read this instruction. Don’t try with the newest driver 450.57. It won’t work (even though they say so in the patch instruction).
Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)! and about my Android 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 10 (without GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (with GAPPS)!
NEWS 200119 about exGENT (Gentoo) 64 bit I’ve made a new version of exGENT with only a few necessary packages pre-installed. It uses LXQt 0.14.1 as Desktop environment and kernel 5.3.7-aufs-exgent. The ISO file is of 1720 MB. Despite this exGENT version 200119 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. I call my new version exGENT 2020 LXQt Live DVD/USB. It replaces version 180414, 170407 and 170412. Those versions were too old for upgrading. I had to start over and build version 200119 from “scratch”. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 200119. Study the full package list.
What’s new in exGENT Build 200119? The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. In exGENT versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! (That is if you use the install scripts in /root/install). Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Rufus or Etcher in Windows. Such installations were impossible before. NOTE: I have not installed Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix nowadays runs very well in Firefox. About the LXQt Desktop environment: LXQt is a lightweight Qt desktop environment. It will not get in your way. It will not hang or slow down your system. It is focused on being a classic desktop with a modern look and feel. MOST IMPORTANT: Now you can install exGENT to hard drive in two ways. You can still use the install scrips in /root/install. That is the best way to install exGENT on non UEFI computers for example VirtualBox and VMware. The second way is to use Calamares Installer- see below.
Calamares Installer In exGENT Build 200119 I’ve also included the Calamares Installer version 3.2.17.1 (latest). Use it preferably if you need to install Grub on UEFI computers. You can, however, also use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware. See a slideshow below when I have used Calamares on a UEFI computer to install exGENT on a USB stick.
If you can’t watch the slideshow in your browser watch this animated GIF.
exGENT Build 200119 is a non Systemd system exGENT uses OpenRC 0.42.1 init system instead of Systemd. Comparison of different init systems: Read this article.
exGENT Build 200119 unique? If you have a look at Gentoo’s download site you will notice that the latest Gentoo live system is from 20160704 (!?). Furthermore there are only a few other distros based on Gentoo. The most well-known are Funtoo Linux and Sabayon Linux. Funtoo isn’t a live system. Sabayon is a live system distributed with different Desktops variants. (Not with LXQt though). I have tried some of them on the computers I have access to. None of Sabayon’s variants could run live. Not even in VirtualBox and VMware. My guess is that exGENT has better hardware recognition than Sabayon.
NEWS 190407 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD – efi. It replaces version 180814. It’s a pure Debian system. (Unstable/Experimental). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma uses the KDE Plasma Desktop 5:14 as Desktop environment. Kernel 5.0.6-exton (5.0.6) is used. I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better. I have replaced Google Chrome with Iceweasel 52.9 (for Netflix). I’ve also added SMPlayer – an alternative to Vlc. (SMPlayer is a free media player for Windows and Linux with built-in codecs that can play virtually all video and audio formats. It doesn’t need any external codecs. Just install SMPlayer and you’ll be able to play all formats without the hassle to find and install codec packs). All other installed packages have also been updated to the latest version of 190407. Study the full package list. MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: I have replaced Refracta Installer with Calamares 3.2.4-4 Installer Framework. Now you can choose language when the installation starts. When it’s ready everything will be in your chosen language! You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers if you follow my INSTRUCTION for non-efi computers.
NEWS 190331 Yesterday I released my first version of PuppEX Bionic64. After that I have discovered a way to install and run Spotify in PuppEX. So now you can run YouTube, Netflix and Spotify in the new PuppEX version of 190331. What more can one wish for?
ABOUT PuppEX Bionic Build 190331
My newest Puppy derivative is built from Puppy Linux 8.0 BionicPup 64 bit. I have added Google Chrome (for Netflix), PCManFM, LXTerminal and many development tools. I have also compiled a new kernel – 5.0.5-puppex. Kernel 5.0.5 is the latest stable kernel available from Kernel.org as of 190330. Furthermore I have installed Nvidia’s Proprietary Graphics driver 418.56. The Nvidia driver will be used if your computer/card is “good/modern” enough. If not automatically just open up a terminal and run the command nvidia-xconfig. Then restart X. Note: Firefox can’t be used in Puppy Linux. You won’t have sound.
PuppEX Bionic64 is compatible with Ubuntu 18.04, which means that Ubuntu packages for Ubuntu 18.04 can be installed and used in PuppEX. The PuppEX Bionic ISO is of 827 MB.
Performance
Puppy Bionic64 original is of only 354 MB. PuppEX Bionic64 is despite this still running as fast as the original, which means it runs very, very fast compared to most other Linux systems. (Puppy/PuppEX runs from RAM).