Month: December 2024

ExTiX 24.12 – based on Ubuntu 24.10 – with LXQt 2.0, Calamares Installer, Refracta Snapshot and kernel 6.12.6-amd64-exton :: Build 241223

ExTiX 24.12 LXQt – Build 241223
I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 24.12 LXQt Live System. (The previous LXQt version was 23.9 from 231123). ExTiX 24.12 is based on Ubuntu 24.10 (Oracular Oriole). Ubuntu 24.10 will only be supported until July 2025. I really wanted ExTiX 24.12 to be based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which is supported until June 2029, but to be able to upgrade LXQt from version 1.4 to 2.0 I had to upgrade the whole system!

REFRACTA SNAPSHOT
The best thing with ExTiX 24.12 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 2500 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. Another big new thing in this version of ExTiX is that I have installed Calamares Installer. 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 while remaining independent of any particular Linux distribution. Nevertheless I’ve kept Refracta Installer. Use the installer you prefer.

Study all pre-installed packages in ExTiX 24.12…

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL about ExTiX and especially the new version from 241223?
1. The ExTiX ISO’s are ISO-hybrids, which means that they can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can even run ExTiX from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence!
2. Another big improvement is that both ExTiX versions can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 3 (load to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need least 4 GB RAM to run ExTiX that way. Running from RAM means that the system will run faster than from a DVD or a USB stick. Everything will be super fast I would say! Especially since the ISO file is of only 2500 MB!
3. All packages have been upgraded to the latest version by 241223. Keep your installed ExTiX/Ubuntu 24.10 system up to date by running two commands: sudo apt update and sudo apt upgrade.
4. I’ve replaced kernel 6.6.1-amd64-exton with kernel 6.12.6-amd64-exton. (Kernel 6.12.6 is the latest available kernel from Kernel.org as of 241223).
5. I have replaced Ubuntu’s installation program Ubiquity (live installer) with Refracta Installer. It works very well. I.e. a new user (your user) will be created during the installation process and you’ll get a chance to change root’s password. Just start the installer from the menu under System.
6. I’ve added Calamares Installer. You can use Calamares even in VirtualBox/VMware without problems.
7. The best thing with ExTiX 24.12 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.
8. When running ExTiX 24.12 in VirtualBox you can do so in full screen since VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed.

SCREENSHOTS
1. ExTiX LXQt – root’s Desktop
2. ExTiX LXQt – user’s Desktop
3. ExTiX 24.12 running in full screen in VirtualBox
4. ExTiX LXQt Calamares Installer is ready

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 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 5, Pi 4 and  Pi 3/2 at raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 15 (with GAPPS), RaspAnd 14 (also with GAPPS), 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

 

 

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RaspAnd 15 (Android 15) for Raspberry Pi 5 with GAPPS (Google Play Store), Spotify, Bluetooth, Aptoide App Store, F-Droid and Microsoft Launcher pre-installed :: Build 241221

ABOUT RaspAnd 15 – Build 241221 – with GAPPS
RaspAnd 15 runs very well on a Raspberry Pi 5. I.e. the system is pretty responsive if you use a micro SD card of good quality. RaspAnd 15 has the following apps pre-installed: GAPPS (Google Play Store and other Google apps), Spotify, Aptoide App Store, Microsoft Launcher, Duck Duck Go Private Browser and F-Droid.

RASPBERRY Pi 5
RaspAnd 15 is made especially for the new Raspberry Pi 5 released on October 23, 2023 (4GB and 8GB). You can’t run RaspAnd 15 on another Raspberry Pi model than Pi 5.
NOTE: A Raspberry Pi 5 is about twice as fast as the Raspberry Pi 4.

ABOUT Android 15, which was released 240903…
Read also an article about The Evolution of Android  – List of Android Versions and Release Dates. As you can see Android 15 is the latest stable version of Android.

PERFORMANCE
Everything works! The System is responsive and quite fast.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Desktop with GAPPS (Google Play Store), Aptoide App Store, F-Droid and Spotify pre-installed
2. The Desktop using Microsoft Launcher – pre-installed
3. Asphalt 8 running – not pre-installed
4. Google Play Store running
5. Spotify running
6. AIDA64 running showing the System specifications
7. F-Droid running
8. Aptoide running
9. Microsoft Launcher possibilities
10. Running YouTube in Duck Duck Go Private Browser (pre-installed)
11. Showing the File Manager

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 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 5, Pi 4 and  Pi 3/2 at raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 15 (with GAPPS), RaspAnd 14 (also with GAPPS), 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

 

 

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RaspArch Rpi5 Build 241218 :: Run Arch Linux (aarch64) with the LXQt 2.1 DE on your new Raspberry Pi 5 computer :: Install using Rufus or Etcher in Windows!

RaspArch Build 241218 for the “new” Raspberry Pi 5 (released on October 23, 2023)

RaspArch Build 241218 is a “ready-to-go” ARM (aarch64/arm64) system. It can only run on a Raspberry Pi 5 computer. RaspArch Build 240302 can also run on a Raspberry Pi 4 computer.  I have therefore kept version 240302 on the server. All included packages have been updated to the latest version as of 241218. The Desktop Environment is LXQt 2.1. You can log in to LXQt from SLiM as the normal user archpi or as root.

RASPBERRY Pi 5
This RaspArch version is made especially for the new Raspberry Pi 5 released on October 23, 2023 (4GB and 8GB).
NOTE: A Raspberry Pi 5 is about twice as fast as the Raspberry Pi 4.

KERNELS
6.6.66-exton-v8-16k+ for Rpi 5.
NOTE: You can use other 64bit kernels – for example linux-rpi-6.12.5-1-aarch64 – but the video performance will be bad and you can’t use a WiFi connection.

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).

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.

BENEFITS of Arch Linux/RaspArch
“Cutting Edge”-software and speed. A member on this site recently wrote this about RaspArch: I’ve used Slackware, Debian, Gentoo, Ubuntu & Arch. I prefer Arch. Ubuntu is easier to install, Arch is easier to keep up to date. You do not go through big, painful, changes every year instead you just update, once in a while, make changes if instructed. Arch has most of the benefits of Gentoo without the pain of recompiling _everything_. When you do need to build a package in Arch its painless especially if you use one of the tools that support AUR (I like Yay). Arch avoids the politics of Debian and Ubuntu and delivers a great Linux distribution. RaspArch now brings these advantages to the Pi 4. I.e. that was before Raspberry Pi 5 was released…

Study all installed packages in RaspArch…

PERFORMANCE
Everything works! The System is responsive and quite fast. The sound and video performance is very good.

UNIQUE
There is no other (good) Arch Linux ARM System for Raspberry Pi 5 (as far as I know). Not for downloading anyhow.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 of RaspArch’s Desktop – logged in as archpi
Screenshot 2 of RaspArch’s Desktop – logged in as root
Screenshot 3 – showing a Bluetooth connection
Screenshot 4 – Samba connection to a Windows computer

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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 15, 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 5, Pi 4 and  Pi 3/2 at raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 15 (with GAPPS), RaspAnd 14 (also with GAPPS), 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

 

 

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Exton|Defender fc41 (stable) with Cinnamon 6.2, Gnome 47, Calamares Installer and Refracta Snapshot :: Build 241210

Exton|Defender SRS  (Super Rescue System) is a Linux system available as a Live System based on Fedora 41, 64bit. Fedora 41 was released on October 29, 2024. Exton|Defender is for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash. Exton|Defender aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the hard disk partitions. It comes with a lot of Linux software such as system tools and basic tools (editors, Midnight Commander, network tools). Exton|Defender can, however, also be used as a normal Linux Desktop System. It requires no hard drive installation, but can easily be installed to hard drive if you want. Desktop environments: Special versions of Gnome 47 and Cinnamon 6.2 developed by Fedora.

Installing Exton|Defender fc41 to a USB stick and achieve persistence
You can install Exton|Defender Build 241210 to a USB stick with persistence! I.e. all your system changes will be saved directly on the USB stick. Even big system upgrades! That will make it unnecessary to install Exton|Defender to hard drive (which can be a bit tricky). Just run the System from a big enough USB stick and be happy!

CALAMARES INSTALLER
Calamares is very simple to use. Just start it from the menu and follow the instructions. If you are installing Exton|Defender on a UEFI computer you should read my general install instructions in advance. If you want to make your own Fedora distro (with Refracta Snapshot) you should install Exton|Defender on a partition of about 30 GB and use a SWAP space of about 2 GB. Do not create special home or boot partitions. When Calamares is running it will look like this.

Using Refracta Snapshot
As I said above you can create your own Fedora 41 System once you have installed Exton|Defender to hard drive. That can (of course) also be done in VirtualBox. Do it like this:
1. Be sure to run “my” kernel 6.12.1-amd64-exton. Refracta Snapshot won’t work with Fedora’s original kernel. IMPORTANT NOTE: Actually you can run Fedora’s original kernel 6.11.10-300.fc41 and still use Refracta Snapshot. Just don’t uninstall/remove “my” kernel 6.12.1-amd64-exton before running Refracta Snapshot. And don’t remove the links /vmlinuz and /initrd.img to my kernel. Your new ISO will then be created without problems. When running your new ISO live (i.e. from a USB stick/DVD or in VirtualBox/VMware) my kernel will be used. If you install your new Fedora/Exton|Defender System to hard drive Fedora’s kernel 6.11.10-300.fc41 can be used as an alternative.
2. Change everything to your liking. I.e. install/remove software, change wallpapers etc…
3. Open up Refracta Snapshot
4. Follow the instructions – watch this screenshot…
5. Sit back and relax. Your new ISO will be ready in a few minutes. You’ll find it in /home/snapshot. You can also use Refracta Snapshot while running Exton|Defender from a USB stick – see above!

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – Exton|Defender running in full screen in VirtualBox
Screenshot 2 – Running Calamares
Screenshot 3 – Gnome 47 DE is used
in VMware
Screenshot 4 – After an installation using Anaconda Installer in VMware

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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 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 5, Pi 4 and  Pi 3/2 at raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 14 (with GAPPS), 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!

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Exton|Defender fc42 with LXQt 2.0 DE, Calamares Installer, Refracta Snapshot and kernel 6.12.1-amd64-exton :: Build 241208

ABOUT Exton|Defender Build 241208
Exton|Defender, based on Fedora Rawhide (upcoming Fedora 42), 64 bit, is an extra version built mainly because I finally found a way to install Calamares Installer in Fedora and make it work. This build is not really a “Defender SRS” system. You can, however, install all the rescue tools you may need also when running this version live. (I.e. from a USB stick or a DVD). The ISO file is off only 1400 MB, which means that you should be able to run the system in RAM also on older computers. Fedora 41 was released in a stable version on October 29, 2024. So Exton|Defender fc42 (being based on upcoming Fedora 42) should be very “unstable”. I have, however, not noticed anything special.

Study all installed packages in Exton|Defender Build 241208…

THE IMPORTANCE OF Exton|Defender Build 241208 being based on UPCOMING fc 42
Programs won’t “crash” or anything like that. And I haven’t noticed any “bugs”. That said you should of course be a bit careful. Version 241208 of Exton|Defender is for people who like to use “cutting-edge” software and the latest kernels etc. You will always have the latest Linux/Fedora software installed if you regularly run the command sudo dnf upgrade.

SCREENSHOTS
1. Calamares is starting
2. Calamares is ready
3. The liveuser Desktop
4. Showing a Samba connection
5. Calamares is reinstalled
6. Showing the SDDM site

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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 14, 13, 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 5, Pi 4 and  Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se
– latest is RaspAnd 14 (with GAPPS), 13 and 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1
(also with GAPPS)!
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