Category Archives: LINUX

exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

DebEX KDE (Debian Buster/Sid) Build 171203 with Plasma 5.37 and Calamares Installer (so you can install DebEX in any language!)

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NEWS 171203 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build
I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD. It replaces version 171023. It’s a pure Debian 10 system. (Buster/Sid). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma uses KDE 4.16 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:37 as Desktop environment. It uses kernel 4.13.0-16-exton – (4.13.4). I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better. I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphic driver 384.90. I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 57.0 (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 171203. Study the full package list. MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: I have replaced Refracta Installer with Calamares 3.1.9 Installer Framework. Now you can choose language when the installation starts. When it’s ready everything will be in your chosen language! Log in to KDE as the ordinary user user with password live or as root (superuser) with password root.

About Calamares
I’ve installed Calamares in ArchEX (Arch Linux) Build 171129. It works extremely well. So I thought why not install Calamares also in DebEX?  Watch a YouTube video about running Calamares in ArchEX. Calamares works in the same way in DebEX.  What is Calamares?  – Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. Calamares aims to be easy, usable, beautiful, pragmatic, inclusive and distribution-agnostic. Calamares includes an advanced partitioning feature, with support for both manual and automated partitioning operations. It is the first installer with an automated “Replace Partition” option, which makes it easy to reuse a partition over and over for distribution testing.

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta snapshot (pre-installed in all three versions of DebEX) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian 10 system while running DebEX from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshots. Or change that by editing /etc/refractasnapshot.conf.

Screenshot of DebEX’s Desktop when Calamares is running
Screenshot of DebEX’s Desktop when Refracta snapshot is running

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

ArchEX (Arch Linux) with Deepin 15.5, LXQt, kernel 4.13.12-1-ARCH, Firefox 57.0, Yaourt and Calamares installer – Build 171129

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NEWS about ArchEX 171129
A new version of ArchEX is ready! In this new version, which I call ArchEX 2018, I have added the Deepin 15.5 (latest) Desktop environment. Deepin (made in China!) is devoted to providing a beautiful, easy to use, safe and reliable system for global users. I came to like Deepin very much when I installed it in ExTiX 18.0. So I thought why not install Deepin also in ArchEX?

Study all installed packages in ArchEX 2018 Deepin/LXQt.

Why trust a Chinese Distribution?

NEWS 171129 about Calamares Installer
I’ve finally managed to make Calamares 3.1.8 (The universal installer framework) work without problems/issues. Calamares 3.1.8 totally new. Released November 14, 2017. This version gives you more control over the installation process. Now you can use Calamares to install ArchEX in any language. The boot loader Grub2 (which can be installed during the installation of ArchEX) will also work without problems.

WHAT IS ArchEX?
ArchEX 64 bit is a new (171129) Linux live DVD based on Arch Linux. Arch motto is KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). ArchEX uses kernel 4.13.12-1-ARCH the Deepin 15.5 and the LXQt 0.12 Desktop environments. Deepin 15.5 Desktop (made in China!) is devoted to providing a beautiful, easy to use, safe and reliable system for global users. About LXQt: 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.

INSTALLED SOFTWARE
Among many other programs, Firefox 57.0 (for Netflix), Gimp, Spotify, GCC, Wicd and GParted – study this package LIST.

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

BENEFITS of ArchEX/Arch Linux
“Cutting Edge”-software and speed. You will for example always run the latest kernel if you upgrade ArchEX/Arch (for example) every month.

Screenshots
ArchEX Deepin Desktop
ArchEX Deepin full Desktop
ArchEX running Calamares
ArchEX LXQt Desktop
ArchEX starting up live
ArchEX starting up from hard drive (VirtualBox)
ArchEX Installer (Calamares) running
When Cinnamon is installed (pacman -S cinnamon)
When Xfce4 is installed (pacman -S xfce4)
When KDE (Plasma) is installed (pacman -S plasma-meta and pacman -S kde-applications-meta)
When Enlightenment is installed (pacman -S enlightenment)
ALL extra desktops can be installed in about 10 min!

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exton, LINUX

Run your Slackware system with the latest available kernel – 4.14.2!

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SlackwareNEWS 171125
Kernel 4.14.2-x86_64-exton is my newest Slackware kernel. Kernel 4.14.2 was released by Kernel.org yesterday. (November 24, 2017).

I have compiled a very useful (as I think) 64 bit kernel for Slackware Current (14.2) and/or all Slackware derivatives. For example Slax, Zenwalk and SlackEX. The kernel is compiled exactly in the same way as Slackware’s latest kernel huge. “My” kernel 4.14.2-x86_64-exton has even more support for new hardware, etc. Kernel 4.14.2 is the latest kernel available from Kernel.org. Released 20171124.

What’s new in kernel 4.14?

If you want to install my kernel in your Slackware 64 bit system, do this:

1. Download linux-kernel-4.14.2-x86_64-exton.txz – md5sum
2. Install it with the command installpkg linux-kernel-4.14.2-x86_64-exton.txz
(The kernel is packed just like Slackware’s original kernels so that everything ends up in the right place)
4. If necessary, change your Grub Legacy/Grub2 configuration
5. If you have an Nvidia graphics card in your computer, you may need to look over your files in /etc/modprobe.d before restarting the computer. That is remove the “blacklisting” of Nouveau’s kernel module in the appropriate files blacklist.conf and nvidia-installer-disable-nouveau.conf. With “my” kernel functions the Nouveau “free” driver works just fine.

NOTE: When you run the command installpkg linux-kernel-4.14.2-x86_64-exton.txz vmlinuz will be “created” in /boot. If you have /boot/vmlinuz already that file will be overwritten. In case you want to switch back to your old kernel you should make a backup of /boot/vmlinuz before you run the just mentioned command.

Restart your computer and enjoy!


Read about my Android-x86 Systems – Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at

andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Nougat!

and about my Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Nougat!

exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

ExTiX 18.0, 64bit, with Deepin Desktop 15.5 (made in China!) and Refracta Tools – Create your own ExTiX/Ubuntu/Deepin system in minutes!

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About ExTiX 18.0 with the Deepin 15.5 Desktop
I’ve made a new extra version of ExTiX with Deepin 15.5 Desktop (made in China!). Deepin is devoted to providing a beautiful, easy to use, safe and reliable system for global users. Only a minimum of packages are installed in ExTiX Deepin. You can of course install all packages you want. Even while running ExTiX Deepin live. I.e. from a DVD or USB stick. Study all installed packages in ExTiX Deepin.

ABOUT ExTiX
All five ExTiX systems are based on Ubuntu and Debian.
Why trust a Chinese Distribution?
The Ultimate Linux System
I’ve called my different versions of ExTiX The Ultimate Linux System for many years by now. As regards ExTiX 18.0 Deepin I feel it’s especially justified. Everything just works.

Refracta Tools
While running ExTiX Deepin 18.0 live or from hard drive you can use Refracta Tools (pre-installed) to create your own live installable ExTiX/Ubuntu/Deepin system.

SCREENSHOTS
1. ExTiX Deepin 15.5 Desktop
2. ExTiX Deepin running Refracta snapshot
3. ExTiX Deepin running in VirtualBox – changing Grub packages
4. ExTiX Deepin running the Refracta Installer
5. ExTiX Deepin login screen (LightDM)

Deepin Screen Recorder
In ExTiX Deepin you can record everything you do. Watch this small video.

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

ExLight 64bit, Build 171121, based on Debian Buster/Sid with Enlightenment 0.22 (latest, installed from source) and Refracta tools

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NEWS 171121 ABOUT ExLight
I’ve made a new extra version of ExLight today based on Debian Buster/Sid. The “old” version from 171112 is based on Ubuntu 17.10 (alias Artful Aardvark) and Debian Buster/Stretch. Furthermore version 171112 uses Enlightenment 0.20 installed from Ubuntu’s repositories. Build 171121 of ExLight uses Enlightenment 0.22 installed by me from source.

Almost unique
Enlightenment 0.22 was released 171102. Only two (!) Linux distributions in the whole wide world (besides ExLight) uses Enlightenment 0.22 as Desktop environment.

I have kept the old version (171112) on SourceForge.net server since that version of ExLight can be considered more stable being based (mostly) on Ubuntu 17.10.

Installed packages
To be able to install Enlightenment from source I had to install a lot of extra packages. The ISO file has therefore increased from 1210 MB to 1560 MB. Study all installed packages in ExLight Build 171121.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Enlightenment 0.22 Desktop
2. The Login Screen – LightDM. Choose between Enlightenment and Fluxbox

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

ExLight 64 bit Linux with Enlightenment 0.20, kernel 4.13.0-16-exton and Refracta Tools (create your own Ubuntu live installable system)

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WHAT’S NEW IN VERSION 171112?
NOTE: Version 171112 replaces version 170105.
1. ExLight is now based on Ubuntu 17.10 (alias Artful Aardvark) and Debian Buster/Stretch.
2. I have upgraded the Desktop environment Enlightenment (Beauty at your fingertips) to version 0.20.99.0 (from 0.19.12).
3. I have replaced kernel 4.9.0-11-exton with my special kernel 4.13.0-16-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s stable kernel 4.13.4.
4. ExLight’s ISO file is now a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run ExLight from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence!
5. Another big improvement is that ExLight can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 4 (load to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need at least 2 GB RAM to run ExLight that way.
6. The installation program Ubiquity (Ubuntu’s live installer) has been replaced with Refracta Installer. Very simple to use! A new user (your user) will be created during the installation process. The reason for the replacement is that Ubiquity is a bit too complicated and that the program crashes once in a while.
7. I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver 384.98.
8. I have added seven animated wallpapers.
9. MOST IMPORTANT: I’ve added Refracta Snapshot, which make it possible for you to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. I mean change everything to your liking, fire up Refracta Snapshot and wait 3 – 5 min until your new ISO is ready!

What’s new in kernel 4.13?

Some cool things to do in ExLight Linux…

Screenshots
ExLight – running Refracta Snapshot
ExLight running in VirtualBox
ExLight running Spotify
ExLight running Samba
ExLight running in VMware

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Read about my Android-x86 Systems – Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at

andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Nougat!

and about my Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Nougat!

 

exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX, Raspberry systems

RaspArch Build 171102 :: Run Arch Linux on your Raspberry Pi 3 or Pi 2 computer :: Install using Win32 Disk Imager!

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rasparch-logoThis version (171102) is my fifth build of RaspArch
The first version is from 150414. The second is from 151107. The third is from 160312 specially made for the new Raspberry Pi 3. The fourth version is from 161205. This version (171102) and version 161205 of RaspArch can of course also run on the “old” Raspberry Pi 2. RaspArch is a “remaster” of Arch Linux ARM. The original compressed system is of 231 MB. After I have added the LXDE Desktop environment, PulseAudio, Firefox, Yaourt and Gimp the system increased a lot. RaspArch is a “ready-to-go” ARM system. It must be installed on a Raspberry Pi 3 model B or Pi 2 computer.

Most important change in version 171102: use Win32 Disk Imager for the installation
This version can be installed in Windows using Win32 Disk Imager. Previous versions could only be installed when running a Linux system. Using Win32 Disk Imager has one disadvantage though. Only about 1GB can be used as data storage no matter which card you use. The system is of 3GB and the system partition of 4GB. If you use a card of 32GB about 28GB will be unused. Yesterday a member on this site wrote about how to get rid of the 1GB limit after Win32 Disk Imager has been used:
– write the image with Win32 Disk Imager
– start up Ubuntu (or another Linux system)
– start GParted – screenshot before resizing
– resize the SYSTEM partition – screenshot after resizing
– done!
This screenshot shows that RaspArch now has about 25GB free storage.

Writing the image using Win32 Disk Imager. See the screenshot below.

Study all installed packages in RaspArch…

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 of RaspArch’s Desktop – YouTube and PulseAudio Control running
Screenshot 2 of RaspArch’s Desktop – YouTube running
Screenshot 3 – Yaourt running (while installing Geany)

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

DebEX Barebone, 64bit, based on Debian Buster/Sid with LXDE, Refracta tools and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton

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About DebEX Barebone, DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE Plasma Linux 64 bit
All three systems/distributions are a based on Debian Buster/Sid (upcoming Debian 10). LXDE is used as Desktop environment in DebEX Barebone/LXDE. Gnome 3.26 and Mate 1.18 are used in DebEX Gnome. KDE 4.16.08 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:37 are used in DebEX KDE. All three DebEX systems use my special kernel 4.13.0-16-exton. (Kernel 4.13.4). The system language is English (in all three versions of DebEX).

NEWS 171030 about DebEX Barebone/LXDE – a Refracta Build
A new version of DebEX Barebone with LXDE and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton (equivalent to Kernel.org’s stable kernel 4.13.4) is ready. All packages have been updated to the latest version as of October 30, 2017. DebEX Barebone is now based on Debian Buster/Sid (upcoming Debian 10). I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 56.0-2 (for Netflix). Most important: The ISO has decreased from 1860 MB to 1330 MB, which makes it easier to run the system live from RAM. That ability allows DebEX LXDE to be very fast, since reading and writing data from/to RAM is much faster than on a hard disk drive.

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta tools (pre-installed in all three versions of DebEX) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian 10 system while running DebEX from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshots.

Screenshot of DebEX LXDE Desktop

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

DebEX Gnome (Debian Buster/Sid) – Build 171026 – with Gnome 3.26 (latest), Mate 1.18 (latest), Refracta tools, Nvidia 387.12 and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton

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About DebEX Barebone, DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE Plasma Linux 64 bit
All three systems/distributions are a based on Debian. DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE are based on Debian Buster/Sid (upcoming Debian 10). DebEX Barebone is based on Debian 9 (Stretch) and Debian unstable (Sid). LXDE is used as Desktop environment in DebEX Barebone. Gnome 3.26 and Mate 1.18 are used in DebEX Gnome. KDE 4.16.08 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:37 are used in DebEX KDE. DebEX Barebone LXDE uses my special kernel 4.12.0-12-exton. (Kernel 4.12.8). DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE use my special kernel 4.13.0-16-exton. (Kernel 4.13.4). The system language is English (in all three versions of DebEX).

NEWS 171026 about DebEX Gnome/Mate
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 (buster) and unstable (sid) repositories. Two Desktop Environments are pre-installed. Gnome 3.26 (latest) and Mate 1.18 (latest). I have also installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver 387.12 in this new version of DebEX. To be able to enjoy Gnome 3.26 while running DebEX live (from DVD or a USB stick) you’ll need to have a new Nvidia graphics card installed. You can see which cards are supported here. Otherwise you’ll have to settle for Mate 1.18. (Not a bad choice btw). Furthermore I have installed replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 56.0. It is now possible to watch Netflix movies using Firefox in Linux. All other installed packages have also been updated to the latest version as of 171026. DebEX Gnome uses kernel 4.13.0-16-exton corresponding one of Kernel.org’s latest stable kernels 4.13.4.

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta tools (pre-installed in all three versions of DebEX) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian 9/10 system while running DebEX from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshots.

SCREENSHOTS
1. DebEX Gnome Desktop
2. DebEX Mate Desktop
3. DebEX running in VirtualBox
4. DebEX running in VMware
5. DebEX – Refracta snapshot has started

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

DebEX KDE (Debian Buster/Sid) – Build 171023 – with KDE Plasma 5.37, Refracta tools, Nvidia 384.90 and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton

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NEWS 171023 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build 171023
I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD. It replaces version 161001. It’s a pure Debian 10 system. (Buster/Sid). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma uses KDE 4.16 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:37 as Desktop environment. It uses kernel 4.13.0-16-exton – (4.13.4). I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphic driver 384.90. I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 56.0 (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 171023. Study the full package list.

What’s new in kernel 4.13?

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta tools (pre-installed) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX KDE to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian 10/9 system while running DebEX from a DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 30 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshots.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The KDE Plasma Desktop in version 171023
2. The KDE Desktop with Netflix running
3. DebEX KDE running in VMware
4. DebEX KDE running in VirtualBox
5. Installation in VirtualBox – error to ignore
6. DebEX KDE running in VMware
7. YouTube running in DebEX KDE

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