Month: December 2023

Exton|OS 64 bit – based on upcoming Ubuntu 24.04 LTS – with KDE Plasma 5.27.10, Android Studio with an excellent Android Emulator and Refracta Snapshot :: Build 231223

Dec

2023

NEWS 231223 ABOUT Exton|OS with KDE Plasma Desktop, Android Studio and Refracta Snapshot
The Desktop Environment in this Exton|OS build is KDE Plasma 5.27.10. Plasma is made to stay out of the way as it helps you get things done. But under its light and intuitive surface, it’s a powerhouse. So you’re free to choose ways of usage right as you need them and when you need them. Program content in build 231223: Most important are Refracta Snapshot and Android Studio 2023-1.1.26 with an excellent Android Emulator. You can run several Android systems directly in Exton|OS. Also with GAPPS (Google Play Services and Google Play Store) pre-installed. Watch a screenshot when Android 11 is running with Google Play Store enabled. Other pre-installed programs are Firefox, Gimp and GParted. Also all necessary additions in order to install programs from source. Kernel 6.5.0-9-generic is used. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as at December 23, 2023 Study the NEW PACKAGE list. Google Chrome has been removed since it’s now possible to use Netflix in Firefox. Using Refracta Snapshot you can change everything to your liking and then create your own live installable Ubuntu 24.04 Noble Numbat system with Android Studio included. I mean create your own installable Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Live DVD once you have installed Exton|OS to hard drive. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS will be supported until June, 2029.

MOST IMPORTANT CHANGES IN BUILD 231223
1. This Exton|OS version is for UEFI and and Legacy computers.
2. I have installed and configured Android Studio. It has the very best Android Emulator with support directly from Google (the creator of Android). You can also develop your own Android apps in Android Studio.
3. Refracta Snapshot is pre-installed so that you can create your own Ubuntu 24.04 System using Exton|OS as a template.

Repositories and software management
Exton|OS is totally compatible with Ubuntu 24.04 and therefore uses Ubuntu’s repositories. After a hard drive install of Exton|OS you can go ahead and install any extra software you like and also upgrade the whole system. After running the command sudo apt update you should use Synaptic Package Manager.

ABOUT VirtualBox
For some unknown reason Exton|OS Build 231223 can’t run in VirtualBox. You will get “kernel panic”. The system works alright in VMware though – watch this screenshot…

The IMPORTANCE of Exton|OS Build 231223 being based on an unstable version of Ubuntu
Programs won’t crash or anything like that. And I’ve not discovered any “bugs”. That said you should of course be a bit careful. This version of Exton|OS is for people who like “cutting-edge” software. And if you install the system to hard drive you will eventually be among the first people to run the stable version of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS!

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – Exton|OS’s KDE Plasma Desktop with Android Studio running
Screenshot 2 – An AVD running nicely in KDE (with Google Play Store)
Screenshot 3 – Exton|OS KDE running in VMware
Screenshot 4 – The live boot screen

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 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)!

exton No Comments extonExton Linux Systems Android Studiocreate your own live installable Ubuntu systemextonExton|OSKDE Plasma 5.27.10Refracta InstallerRefracta snapshotRun Android apps in Ubuntu

EXTON OpSuS – based on openSUSE Tumbleweed – with Deepin DE, Refracta Snapshot (create your own openSUSE System) and kernel 6.7-rc5-amd64-exton :: Build 231220

Dec

2023

EXTON OpSuS Tumbleweed is based on openSUSE Tumbleweed, which is a rolling distribution. I.e. no need for new installations. Just run the command sudo zypper dup and you will always get the latest stable packages/kernels.

NEWS ABOUT EXTON OpSuS Build 231220 with the Deepin DE
I’ve made a new version of EXTON OpSuS with Deepin 20.6 as DE (Desktop Environment). It replaces version 230215, which also had the Deepin DE installed. Version 231220 is a total rebuild of version 230215 with many more openSUSE packages pre-installed. The ISO-file has thus increased from 1570 MB to 3290 MB. I have now managed to install Refracta Snapshot, which means that you can completely change the EXTON OpSuS System and then create a new ISO-file. (Your own). Your new openSUSE system will also be Live and installable. After an installation of EXTON OpSuS to hard drive you’ll have to reinstall Calamares (the installer) though. That is done with the command sudo zypper in calamares. You should do that before you start Refracta Snapshot. That is if you want to generate an ISO (openSUSE System) which is installable. A new kernel is used – 6.7-rc5-amd64-exton. Watch a screenshot when Refracta Snapshot has started. You’ll find your new ISO file in /home/snapshot. The whole “remasterprocess” is very simple and quick.

ABOUT the Deepin Desktop Environment
Deepin DE (made in China!) is devoted to providing a beautiful, easy to use, safe and reliable system for global users. I came to like the Deepin DE very much when I installed it in ExTiX and ArchEX. So I thought why not install the Deepin DE also in EXTON OpSuS?

Why should someone choose EXTON OpSuS/openSUSE?

Is EXTON OpSuS Deepin/LXQt Build 231220/230212 unique?
If you have a look at openSUSE’s official Download site you can see that there is no live Deepin or LXQt version available. EXTON OpSuS Build 231220 is most certainly UNIQUE. There is no other distro based on openSUSE containing Refracta Snapshot!

SCREENSHOTS
1. Refracta Snapshot is running
2. Calamares Installer has started
3. The hard drive installation is ready
4. The Deepin Desktop for user
5. The Deepin Desktop for root

Install Exton|Defender (upcoming Fedora 40) to a USB stick using Refracta Installer and get perfect PERSISTENCE ::: News 231214

Dec

2023

Install Exton|Defender (upcoming Fedora 40) to a USB stick using Refracta Installer and get perfect PERSISTENCE

Do it like this:
1. Use a USB stick of 16GB or more. Install Exton|Defender to it using Rufus 4.3 in Windows. Start up Exton|Defender on the USB stick from RAM in Legacy mode.
2. Eject the USB stick and insert another USB stick of 16GB or more. In the example below I’m using a USB stick of 32GB.
3. Format the USB stick with GParted (pre-installed in Exton|Defender) so you will have an install partition of 14GB/30GB and a SWAP partition of 2GB – watch this screenshot…
4. Start Refracta Installer from the menu and choose to install to your formatted USB stick. In my example it is called /dev/sde1. Yours can be called /dev/sdb1 or…
Check it carefully to avoid data losses!
5. Follow the instructions given by Refracta Installer. It is pretty straightforward.
6. When asked about Grub choose to chroot and install Grub to /dev/sde – watch this screenshot…
6b. So the Grub install commands to run is grub2-install /dev/sde (not /dev/sde1) followed by grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
7. Exit from chroot. You will then be asked about creating a user and passwords for the user and root before everything is ready.
8. Reboot your computer with the USB stick in place. If you have other Linux systems installed on your computer you will see that Refracta Installer has added start lines for them too in the Grub menu – watch this screenshot…
(As you can see I have more than seven (7) Linux Systems installed on the computer I used for this demo).
9. When I rebooted again and removed the USB stick I (of course) got back my “normal” UEFI Grub menu – watch this screenshot…
10. You can run your USB stick created with Refracta Installer on any other computer, but you can then of course only start Fedora 40/Exton|Defender. If you want to be able to boot also other Linux Systems you may have installed on the “new” computer you’ll have to create a new Grub boot menu. That is done as root with the command grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg – watch this screenshot…
11. After a reboot your new USB Grub boot menu will be changed – watch this screenshot and compare it with this screenshot…
12. Note that you will run kernel 6.7-rc4 from the USB stick! After an upgrade with sudo dnf upgrade you will get the latest available kernel (as of 231214), which is 6.7-rc5!

READ MORE ABOUT Exton|Defender…

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News 231212/231211 about Exton|Defender

Dec

2023

News 231212/231211 about Exton|Defender based on upcoming Fedora 40 and Exton|Defender based on Rocky Linux 9.2

I had to upload new versions of Exton|Defender today and yesterday since I discovered a way to run both Exton|Defender versions from RAM also when starting Exton|Defender in UEFI mode. The previous Exton|Defender versions could only run from RAM if they started up in Legacy mode. So my advice is to run Exton|Defender SUPER FAST from RAM! The best way to run a Linux Live System! When Exton|Defender has booted up you can remove/eject the USB stick or the DVD. NOTE ALSO: In version 231212/231211 I’ve managed to change Refracta Installer and Refracta Snapshot to GUI (Graphical User Interface) apps! They are therefore even easier to handle now! IMPORTANT NOTE: On some computers Exton|Defender still can’t run from RAM in UEFI mode. Only in Legacy mode. I don’t know why. Sort of a mystery.

READ MORE...

exton No Comments extonExton Linux Systems extonExton|DefenderFedora 40Live systemRocky Linux 9.2runs from RAM

A new updated version of CruxEX 3.7 (CRUX 3.7) with LXDE, Refracta Snapshot, Refracta Installer and kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton :: Build 231208

Dec

2023

CruxEX 2024/2022 64 bit Linux Live CD/USB is based on CRUX 3.7 (latest version, released 220926), which is all Linux enthusiasts/nerds favorite OS. (CRUX is a lightweight Linux distribution for the x86_64 architecture targeted at experienced Linux users. The primary focus of this distribution is keep it simple, which is reflected in a straightforward tar.gz-based package system, BSD-style initscripts, and a relatively small collection of trimmed packages. The secondary focus is utilization of new Linux features and recent tools and libraries. CRUX also has a ports system which makes it easy to install and upgrade applications). CruxEX 3.7 2024/2022 uses the LXDE Desktop environment. I have replaced the original CRUX kernel 5.15 with “my” special kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton respectively 6.0.6-aufs-exton, with support for “extra everything”.

NEWS ABOUT CruxEX BUILD 231208
I’ve made a new extra version of CruxEX which I call CruxEX Linux Live CD. It is distributed as a “normal” ISO file. (Build 221031 is distributed as a Zip file only to be installed on a USB stick). I have kept CruxEX Build 221031 on SourceForge’s server because that version can run from a USB stick with PERSISTENCE. I.e. all system changes will be saved directly on the USB stick. In CruxEX Build 231208 I have managed to install Refracta Snapshot and Refracta Installer. With Refracta Snapshot you can very easy create you own CRUX Live Installable System. I mean change everything to your liking and then create a new ISO. That can be done after a hard drive installation using Refracta Installer. If you have plenty of RAM you can even create a new ISO while running CruxEX live! In that case you may have to change the place where the new ISO will be saved. Just edit /etc/refractasnapshot.conf. Watch this screenshot. Change home to (for example) /mnt/sdd2 (which has to be a Linux partition). You’ll have to mount /dev/sdd2 before starting Refracta Snapshot from the menu. Command: mount /dev/sdd2 /mnt/sdd2.

Unique
CruxEX 3.7 2024/2022 Build 231208/221031 is – as my previous CRUX-remasters – unique in the world. I.e. there is no other CRUX Live CD/USB (as far as I know). In any case, not for downloading. The good thing with CruxEX is that it is a live system (which CRUX original isn’t) and that you can run CruxEX super fast from RAM. Also that you can install CruxEX to hard drive in about 5 minutes and then have a ready-to-go CRUX desktop system. You can after that install any (extra) desktop environment you like. NOTE: You can (of course) install new Desktops environments and other stuff also when running CruxEX from a USB stick – PERSISTENCE! (Only as regards Build 221031). Note also: To make CRUX original ready for everyday use will normally take 2 – 3 days!

RUNS FROM RAM
Run both versions super fast from RAM! The best way to run a Linux Live System!

Study ALL INSTALLED packages in CruxEX 3.7
1) Build 231208
2) Build 221031

Study ALL UPDATED packages in Build 231208…

SCREENSHOTS
1. The LXDE Desktop for the live user in Build 231208

2. The LXDE Desktop for root in Build 231208

3. A Wireless connection in Build 231208

4. CruxEX running in full screen in VirtualBox – Build 231208

Run latest Slackware 64 bit live and create your own live installable Slackware system with Refracta Snapshot! :: Build 231201

Dec

2023

NEWS ABOUT SlackEX 15.0 stable Build 231201 with KDE Plasma 5.27.9 (latest) as DE
A new extra version of SlackEX is ready. It is based on Slackware 15.0 stable released 220203. In this version I’ve installed KDE Plasma 5.27.9 (latest version released 231024). Plasma 5.27 is a LTS (Long Term Support) version. Kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton is used. The most important package installed is Refracta Snapshot. Study a LIST of all installed packages. With Refracta Snapshot you can build your own Slackware distribution with Plasma 5.27.9. KDE is one of Slackware’s official Desktop Environments. The other one is Xfce4.
NOTE1: You’ll run SlackEX Build 231201 as the normal user user or as root. The password for root is root. The password for user is live.
NOTE2: You can run SlackEX Build 231201 on UEFI and non-Uefi computers. You can also run SlackEX live super fast from RAM if you start SlackEX in Legacy Mode.
NOTE3: If you want to run SlackEX as root you shall choose “Other” using SDDM Login Manager. The password for root is root.
NOTE4: While running SlackEX KDE in VirtualBox you can do so in full screen since VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed. Watch this screenshot…

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – root’s Desktop – KDE Plasma
Screenshot 2 – SlackEX KDE running in VirtualBox when Guest additions have been installed – KDE Plasma
Screenshot 3 – user’s Desktop – KDE Plasma

Why Slackware?
Slackware is grossly underestimated (in my opinion). This article give you ten (10) reasons to choose Slackware. And this article explains how Slackware works nowadays (2023).