Month: May 2020

Multiboot Linux live with Ventoy – “A New Bootable USB Solution” :: 200524

Ventoy 1.0.11 with persistence support was released yesterday (200523). I’ve tested Ventoy today.

What is Ventoy?
Ventoy is an open source tool to create bootable USB drive for ISO files. With Ventoy, you don’t need to format the disk again and again, you just need to copy the iso file to the USB drive and boot it. You can copy many iso files at a time and Ventoy will give you a boot menu to select them (screenshot). Both Legacy BIOS and UEFI are supported in the same way.

My test of Ventoy in Windows
I followed these steps.
1. Downloaded ventoy-1.0.11-windows.zip and unzipped it.
2. Inserted a USB stick of 32 GB (Corsair Voyager).
3. Opened the folder ventoy-1.0.11 and started Ventoy2Disk.exe for installing Ventoy to the USB stick. It looked like this.

4. Then I copied ten (10) different Linux systems to the stick – see the list below. It looked like this.

5. Then I rebooted my computer and tested each system. All of them worked very well. NOTE: Not all Linux systems will work (be bootable). You can just test the ones you want on your USB stick. If one doesn’t work you can just delete the ISO from the stick and try another ISO file.

The ISO’s I put on the stick
1. DebEX Gnome Build 191220
2. ExTiX 20.5 Deepin Build 200517
3. Exton|OS Budgie Build 200319
4. Fedora 32 Build 200428
5. Linux Mint Cinnamon 19.3 Build 2019
6. Manjaro Gnome Build 200426
7. MeX Linux Cinnamon Build 200130
8. MX Linux Exton Remix Build 200501
9. PCLinuxOS KDE5 Build March 2020
10. PuppEX Bionic 64 Build 190331

My conclusion
Ventoy works very well. Using Ventoy is so simple that a ten year old child can do it. Ventoy also makes my MultiBootCD expendable.

SCREENSHOTS
1. Ventoy’s boot menu
2. My “installed” ISO’s

 

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 Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at

raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Pie 9.0 (without GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (with GAPPS)!

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ExTiX Deepin 20.5 Live based on Deepin 20 Beta (latest) with Skype, Spotify, Refracta Snapshot and kernel 5.7.0-rc5 :: Build 200517

NEWS 200517 ABOUT ExTiX Deepin
I’ve released a new version of ExTiX Deepin today (200517). This ExTiX Build is based on Deepin 20 Beta released by Deepin Technology 200415.

NEW FUNCTIONS etc

1.You can run ExTiX from RAM. Use boot alternative 2 (load to RAM) or Advanced. A wonderful way to run Linux if you have enough RAM. Everything will be super fast. When ExTiX has booted up you can remove the DVD or USB stick.
2. You will have the opportunity to choose language before you enter the Deepin 20 Desktop. All main languages are supported.
3. I have replaced Deepin Installer with the Reborn version of Deepin Installer. Works better in every way.
4. I have replaced kernel 5.5.0-rc3-exton with kernel 5.7.0-rc5-exton. The latest available kernel from Kernel.org.
5. Spotify and Skype are pre-installed.
6. You can watch Netflix while running Firefox.
7. You can install ExTiX Deepin also in VirtualBox/VMware using Deepin Installer. (In previous versions you had to “chroot” into the install partition and install Grub).
8. Install ExTiX to a USB stick preferably with Rufus 3.10 in Windows.

UNIQUE
I may add that there is no other live version of Deepin 20 Beta.

SCREENSHOTS
1. ExTiX Deepin 20 Beta Desktop
2. Refracta Snapshot has started
3. ExTiX Deepin being installed in VirtualBox using Deepin Installer
4. ExTiX Deepin login screen (LightDM)
5. Movie showing how to enable Window effects

READ MORE…

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 Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at

raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Pie 9.0 (without GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (with GAPPS)!

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Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With a Raspberry Pi – 200514

Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With a Raspberry Pi
Originally conceived as an affordable and effective tool for bringing the computer age to depressed areas in the world, the Raspberry Pi has evolved into a device with its own niche tech following. The reason for this is simple: Whichever Raspberry Pi model you have in your hands right now, there’s almost no limit to the stuff you can do or create with this credit card-sized computer. With a powerful enough model, rudimentary knowledge of programming languages like Python or Scratch, and a wild imagination, you can find a range of fun and unique ways to utilize your Raspberry Pi.

Start a Radio Station
Broadcasting software such as PiFM or its simplified Make Magazine version can allow you to instantly start broadcasting on your choice of frequency. You’ll also need a basic antenna to amplify your signal and broadcast up to 300 feet away. The Verge outlines the process of physically riggin your Raspberry Pi for broadcasting, as well as the commands and software you need to start your own pirate radio at home.

Create a File-Sharing Network
This can mean a number of things. You can use the Samba/CIFS networking protocol in Windows devices to make files accessible to a number of remote users instantly. You can also turn your Raspberry Pi into a network attached storage device (NAS), which can make certain files or even different hard drives wirelessly available anywhere in your home. Either way, such systems can allow you to enable wireless file access in a small to medium-sized office. You can also use them to release a music album in a defined location, without the need for any physical exchange.

Design a PCB
A Raspberry Pi can be used to run a variety of printed circuit board (PCB) design software, from the simple KiCad PCB design tool to the much more complex Diptrace and Eagle. The better the software you can run, the more complex PCBs you can create. For instance, Altium notes how contemporary PCB router software allows engineers to get the job of finishing complex designs right the first time, which is difficult even for veteran designers. What used to take several weeks has been streamlined by this modern design software. The complexity of the PCB design software you can use generally depends on your ability to customize your Raspberry Pi.

Automatic Pet Feeder
Why buy one of those fancy and expensive automated pet feeders when you can turn your Raspberry Pi into one? Using a code and module he designed himself, David Bryan attached a system of computer-controlled servos to a food container to create an automated pet feeder from scratch. Programmable through WiFi, the feeder allowed him to leave home without worrying about his pets either starving or overeating. Bryan outlines the complicated process, along with the tools and materials needed, for anyone who wants to do the same.

Design Your Own Computer
Every Raspberry Pi is just a tiny computer with a bunch of missing parts that can be configured from anything that’s available. Perhaps the greatest example of this fact is programmer Jannis Hermanns’ Lego Mac which went viral in 2017, a Raspberry Pi reconfigured to look and actually kind of run like an even more adorable version of the first Macintosh computer. Inspired by a Lego session with her son, the programmer left the full instructions for her creation online, which in turn has inspired other would-be artists and engineers to create their own personalized versions.


CREDIT: KRITSADA JAIYEN, Pixabay – no changes made to image

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About NixOS – How to multiboot the system together with several other Linux systems and Windows :: 200507

What is NixOS?
NixOS is a Linux distribution with a unique approach to package and configuration management. Built on top of the Nix package manager, it is completely declarative, makes upgrading systems reliable, and has many other advantages.

I think NixOS is a very interesting and useful Linux system, but a bit difficult to handle, since it doesn’t work like any other Linux system. I.e. the installation to hard drive is very special, the file system is different and NixOS uses special commands, which you can’t use in any other Linux system. However, if you follow my instruction below you can install NixOS without messing up your current Grub boot configuration and finally enjoy NixOS running from hard drive.

INSTRUCTION
1. Download NixOS and install the ISO to a USB stick using Rufus 3.10 in Windows. Start up your computer from the USB stick
2. Install NixOS by following the NixOS Installation Manual
3. Add the lines below to /etc/nixos/configuration.nix and be sure not to install Grub during the NixOS installation. Open configuration.nix with Nano.

boot.loader = {

grub.enable = true;
grub.version = 2;
grub.device = “nodev”;
};

4. Reboot and start up the Linux system (for example Ubuntu) where you have Grub installed. Add the lines below to /boot/grub.cfg or
/etc/grub.d/40_custom

menuentry ‘NixOS’ {
boot.loader.grub.device = “nodev”;
set root='(hd0,X)’
configfile ‘/boot/grub/grub.cfg’;
}

NOTE1: You shall of course replace “X” with the correct number for your install partition. For example (hd0,6)

5. If something goes wrong you can always chroot (change root) into your NixOS partition. Do it like this.
A) Start up your computer from the NixOS DVD or USB stick and run the command mount /dev/disk/by-label/nixos /mnt
B) Then run the command nixos-enter
C) You can also do a manual chroot from any Linux system – watch this screenshot
D) Now you can install any extra (or missed) packages. Example: nix-env -i wireless-tools
NOTE2: When installing packages in chroot you may get an error message saying that the “Operation is not permitted”.
That can be fixed by adding the line nix.readOnlyStore = false to the end of /etc/nixos/configuration.nix.
NOTE3: While in chroot you may not get a Internet connection. That is fixed by editing /etc/resolv.conf. Add the line nameserver 8. 8.8.8. Open resolv.conf with the command nano /etc/resolv.conf.

Difficulties with NetworkManager
If you can’t get a Internet connection through WiFi when you have started NixOS from hard drive you should start up your computer from the DVD/USB stick again and chroot as described above.

A) Then install NetworkManager and NM-applet with the command: nix-env -i network-manager network-manager-applet

B) Edit /etc/nixos/configuration.nix like this – see below. (Open the file with Nano).

networking.wireless.enable = false;
## Only one daemon, wireless or networkmanager, could be ## enabled at the same time.
networking.networkmanager.enable = true;

C) Rebuild NixOS with the command:
nixos-rebuild switch –upgrade –show-trace

D) Reboot and start NetworkManager service daemon with the command: systemctl restart networkmanager
NOTE: The last command may not be necessary. If you see the NM-applet to the right in the panel just click on it and connect.

About multiboot with Grub
On the computer where I now have NixOS installed I also have nine (9) other Linux systems and Windows 10 installed. Study my Grub configuration (/boot/grub/grub.cfg). You may also find my instruction How To dual boot, triple boot or multi boot Linux with Windows in a simple way and be happy interesting.

Screenshots from my NixOS installation
1. The Desktop when running as root

2. The Desktop when running as an ordinary user
3. Spotify is running (install Spotify with the command: nix-env -i spotify)

Good luck! /exton

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 Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Pie 9.0 (without GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (with GAPPS)!

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MX Linux Exton Remix 64bit with all Debian packages upgraded to “Bullseye” (upcoming Debian 11) and kernel 4.19 replaced by kernel 5.7.0-rc3-exton – Build 200501

ABOUT my MX Linux Remix 200501
MX Linux (based on Debian) is by far the most popular Linux system in the world according to DistroWatch.com. I tested MX Linux a few months ago and noticed immediately that one can change the MX system and create a new ISO with MX Snapshot. My first MX Linux Remix is from 191018.

MX Linux 19.1
My first remix was based on MX Linux 18.3 (released in May 2019). MX Linux 19.1 was released on February 15, 2020. It is based on Debian 10.3 (Stable/Buster).

My changes of the original MX Linux 19.1 system
1. All packages are upgraded from Buster (Debian 10) to Bullseye (upcoming Debian 11). Study the full package LIST.
2. The original kernel 4.19 is replaced by “my” kernel 5.7.0-rc3-exton corresponding Kernel.org‘s latest kernel 5.7-rc3. You can download my kernel if you want to use it in another MX/Debian/Ubuntu/Mint system.
3. I’ve added the LXQt Desktop. It’s in version 0.15 released on April 25, 2020. Version 0.15 is still not included in Debian’s repositories so I had to install LXQt 0.15 from source. (Took me a few hours). NOTE: I have (of course) also kept the original Xfce 4.14 Desktop.
4. Some cosmetic changes. I.e. new nice wallpapers.

Installation to a USB stick
Please note that you can only use Rufus 3.10 in Windows for USB installations. If you use other software the stick won’t be made bootable. Note also that you must write in DD image mode. When using Rufus 3.10 it will look like this.

Performance
Everything in my remix works very well. MX Linux works on new and old computers. I can mention that I could run (and install) my MX remix without problems on my 15 year old laptop Acer Aspire 5102WLMi. You can of course make your own MX Linux Remix with my remix as “groundwork”.

Login
Login to the Xfce4 or the LXQt Desktop as live with password live or as root with password rootscreenshot.

Hard drive installations
Use MX Installer. It works very well. NOTE: Log in as root before you start the installation!

SCREENSHOTS
1. root’s Desktop in LXQt
2. root’s Desktop in Xfce4

3. live’s Desktop in LXQt
4. live’s Desktop in Xfce4
5. Connection to a Windows computer with Samba

DOWNLOAD
The ISO can be downloaded from the Swedish Linux Society.

md5sum

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 Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Pie 9.0 (without GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (with GAPPS)!

No Comments extonExton Linux Systems