NEWS 250707 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build I have made a new extra version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live System – efi. It’s a pure Debian Sid/Trixie(upcoming Debian 13) System. There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved in DebEX. DebEX KDE Plasma Sid uses the KDE Plasma Desktop6.3.5 – latest version, released 250506 – as Desktop environment. Kernel 6.15.3-amd64-exton is used. All included packages have been updated to the latest version as of 250707.
MOST IMPORTANT CHANGESin DebEX KDE 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 3.3.14-1 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 without problems. 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 Sid. So is DebEX.
New sources 240614 This new version of ExLight is based on Debian Sid / Trixie (unstable/testing). Build 240614 is a total rebuild of ExLight. The ISO file size is of only 2140 MB, which means that you’ll need about 3GB RAM to run ExLight even faster from RAM. I.e. load to RAM – screenshot. You can remove the DVD or USB stick when ExLight has booted.
KERNEL ExLight Build 240614 uses kernel 6.9.3-amd64-exton built from Debian kernel sources with Debian patches.
Installed packages Study all installed packages in ExLight Build 240614.
LOGIN PROBLEMS IN BUILD 240614
To be able to login to the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop you’ll have to use a “fairly new” computer. According to my experience the computer can’t be older than about eight (8) years. After a live boot (from a USB stick or a DVD) you are supposed to be logged in automatically as the ordinary user user to the Enlightenment Desktop. If not you will end up in console mode logged in as user. For testing purposes you can do the following if you have a wired Internet connection. Run the following commands:
1. sudo apt update
2. sudo apt install lxde
3. nano .xinitrc
4. Change .xinitrc to exec startlxde
5. startx
You will now enter the LXDE Desktop. So the problem is really Enlightenment. I.e. not which Display Manager to use. I’ve tried with LXDM, SLiM and finally LightDM . I’m grateful if somebody find a solution to the problem Enlightenment/login and notify me. I’ve found only one Internet post about the problem (with no solution unfortunately). CONCLUSION: Use a “fairly new” computer if you want to run Enlightenment 0.25.4 in ExLight. I wrote this as a comment at my SourceForge site 221129: I tried ExLight Build 220726 on a really old computer – Acer Aspire 5102WLMi from 2006. Running ExLight on that computer I got the same problems as the ones you have described. I.e. I could only log in from console mode. I could never reach the Enlightenment Desktop. I have therefore decided to upload a new version of ExLight with a new kernel (possibly the newest) and upgraded packages. That will probably happen today. If the new version won’t run on my old Aspire I have to say that ExLight only runs on fairly new computers. ExLight Build 240614 and 231005 has the same problem. I.e. using my old Acer I can’t reach the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop whatever I do. I can run LXDE (and possibly other Desktop Environments) without problem though. Watch this screenshot.
WHAT’S NEW IN ExLight BUILD 240614? NOTE: Version 240614 replaces version 231005.
1. ExLight is now based on Debian Sid / Trixie (unstable/testing).
2. I have upgraded the Desktop environment Enlightenment (“Beauty at your fingertips”) to version 0.25.4, which is the stable version of Enlightenment. There is a newer version (0.26.0-4) of Enlightenment, but it doesn’t work (yet). I have therefore “blocked” upgrades of Enlightenment with sudo apt-mark hold enlightenment. You can “unblock” Enlightenment with the command sudo apt-mark unhold enlightenment. Could possibly work to upgrade Enlightenment after a month or so.
3. I have replaced kernel 6.5.3-amd64-exton with kernel 6.9.3-amd64-exton. 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 2 (load to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or the USB stick. You will need at least 3 GB RAM to run ExLight that way.
6. This version of ExLight uses the Calamares Installer. Very simple to use! A new user (your user) will be created during the installation process. You can also install ExLight in your preferred language. You can as an alternative use Refracta Installer.
7. MOST IMPORTANT: I’ve added Refracta Snapshot, which make it possible for you to create your own live installable Debian Sid/Trixie system. I mean change everything to your liking, fire up Refracta Snapshot and wait 10 – 20 min until your new ISO is ready!
LOGIN and passwords
When you start up from the DVD or USB stick you will end up in Enlightenment logged in as the ordinary user user if your computer is “fairly new” – see above. You can log out from root’s Desktop screen and log in as root if you want. The password for the ordinary user user is live. The password for root (superuser) is root. NOTE: After a hard drive installation using Calamares the root password will be gone. To fix it log in as user with password live and run the command sudo passwd root.
VirtualBox and VMware You can’t run ExLight Build 240614 in VirtualBox or VMware for some unknown reason. The system works very well in Qemu in Linux though. Using Qemu is the best way to run any Linux system virtually.
WIRELESS connections In Build 240614 NetworkManager, WPA supplicant and ConnMan are installed. Use the one you prefer. NOTE1: Study /etc/resolv.conf-WORKING and change it (if necessary) to suit your needs – screenshot. Keep a copy of resolv.conf-WORKING before you change the filename. Watch a screenshot showing how to use NetworkManager. NOTE2: For WiFi connections you should use NetworkManager logged in as root. NOTE3: On some computers it can be necessary to unblock WiFi before you can connect. Do it with the command rfkill unblock wifi
Spotify You can easily install Spotify in ExLight (even while running the system live). Just run the command sudo apt update followed by sudo apt install spotify-client.
Important about Refracta You can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed in ExLight) to create your own installable Debian Sid/Trixie Live System once you have installed ExLight to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta Snapshot it will look like this. You don’t even have to install ExLight to hard drive before you can use the Refracta Snapshot. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian system while running ExLight from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) only will take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshot. Or change that by editing /etc/refractasnapshot.conf. NOTE: You may have to run Refracta Snapshot in three steps (1 – 3) before your new ISO is ready.
THE REAL McCoy ExLight 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 ExLight.
KNOWN ISSUES
After a hard drive installation using Calamares Installer (Not Refracta Installer) you’ll have three “problems”.
1. /etc/apt/sources.list will be different. Replace it with the file sources.list-use-after-install
2. The root password will be gone. Fix it by logging in as the ordinary user user and run the command sudo passwd root.
3. In order to see all icons in the menu you may have to change icons – watch this screenshot.
4. You can’t login to the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop unless you use a “fairly new” computer – see above.
DOWNLOAD ExLight Build 240614 Linux Live System can be downloaded from SourceForge.net – Fast, secure and free downloads from the largest Open Source applications and software directory.
About all DebEX systems All four systems/distributions are based on Debian Sid (unstable). Gnome 43.4 and Enlightenment 0.25.4 are used as Desktop environments in DebEX Gnome/Enlightenment. Gnome 41 is used in DebEX Gnome. KDE Plasma Desktop 5.27.2 is used in DebEX KDE. LXQt 1.2 is used in DebEX Build 230418 – 32 bit. The system language is English (in all four versions of DebEX).
Debian 12 (Sid/upcoming Bookworm) is still supposed to be unstable, but the “full hard freeze” took place already 230312.
NEWS 230418 about DebEX LXQt 32 bit Build 230418 I’ve made a new DebEX system for older computers. It uses LXQt 1.2 as 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. Only a minimum of packages are installed. The ISO file is of only 1340 MB! Refracta Snapshot is pre-installed also in this version of DebEX, which means that you can make your own Debian 32 bit (Intel x86 32-bit architecture) live installable system in a very simple way. I mean change everything to your liking and then create a new ISO. I could run and install DebEX LXQt without problems on my oldest computer. An Acer Aspire 5102WLMi from the year 2006. So now you too can bring back life to your (very) old computer! NOTE1: VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed, which means that you can run DebEX LXQt in full screen in VirtualBox. Watch this screenshot… NOTE2: You can’t watch Netflix in this version of DebEX: That’s because Google no longer support Widevine on 32 bit systems.
The boot screen when running DebEX LXQt live – see below.
The boot screen when running DebEX LXQt from hard drive (VirtualBox) – see below.
NEWS 230411 ABOUT DebEX Gnome/Enlightenment This DebEX version replaces version 211215, which also had the Budgie Desktop as DE. However Budgie seems incompatible with Debian 12 (Sid) right now, so I had to remove it.
Debian 12 (Sid/upcoming Bookworm) is still supposed to be unstable, but the “full hard freeze” took place already 230312.
So this new version of DebEX is based on Debian Sid (unstable) with Gnome 43.4, Enlightenment 0.25.4 and kernel 6.3.0-rc4-amd64-exton. All packages have been updated to the latest version as of April 11, 2023.
ABOUT penguins-eggs My other DebEX builds are created with Refracta Snapshot. So is the new DebEX version of 230411. But it is also possible to create a new DebEX (Debian 12) system with a remaster tool called penguins-eggs, which is pre-installed in version 230411. Very easy to handle. Penguins-eggs is a console utility, in active development, who let you to remaster your system and redistribute it as iso images or from the lan via PXE remote boot. Penguins-eggs is developed by Piero Proietti. It is based on Remastersys, Refracta, Systemback and father Knoppix.
How-to use penguins-eggs 1. Install DebEX (or any other Debian/Ubuntu based system) to hard drive 2. Change everything to your liking 3. Open up a terminal and run the command sudo eggs dad -c Screenshot 1 – NOTE: If you choose fast your new ISO will be ready in about five minutes (even in VirtualBox). If you choose max it will take about two hours (in VirtualBox), but the ISO will be about 500 MB smaller.. A smaller ISO has one disadvantage. It doesn’t boot as fast as the one built using the option fast. 4. Go on choosing Yes Screenshot 2 5. Go on choosing Yes Screenshot 3 6. Go on choosing Yes Screenshot 4 7. You new ISO is ready! Screenshot 5 NOTE: You can remaster DebEX in VirtualBox or VMware if you want. VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed so you can run DebEX in full screen in VirtualBox. Watch this screenshot.
NEWS 230330 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD – uefi. It’s a pure Debian 12 (Sid/upcoming Bookworm) system. Still supposed to be unstable, but the “full hard freeze” took place already 230312. And I haven’t discovered any “bugs”… There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved in DebEX. DebEX KDE Plasma Sid uses the KDE Plasma Desktop 5.27.2 – latest version, released 230228 – as Desktop environment. Kernel 6.1.12-exton is used. Compiled with all Debian patches. All included packages have been updated to the latest version as of 230330. In Build 230330 I have added LURE (Linux User REpository). LURE is intended to bring the AUR to all distros. It is currently in an alpha state and may not be stable. It can download a repository, build packages in it using a bash script similar to PKGBUILD, and then install them using your system package manager. Read about how to use LURE…
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 and (mostly) of Debian Sid/unstable. So is DebEX KDE.
NEWS 221130 ABOUT ExLight I’ve made a new version of ExLight with the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop environment, Refracta Snapshot (create your own Debian Sid System) and Calamares 3.2.61-1 Installer Framework. The very nice Enlightenment theme e25 Neonz is used.
New sources 221130 This new version of ExLight is based on Debian Sid (unstable/development). Build 221130 is a total rebuild of ExLight. The ISO file size is of only 1850 MB, which means that you’ll need about 3GB RAM to run ExLight even faster from RAM. I.e. load to RAM – screenshot. You can remove the DVD or USB stick when ExLight has booted.
KERNEL ExLight Build 221130 uses kernel 6.0.10-amd64-exton-rt14 built from Debian kernel sources with Debian patches.
Installed packages Study all installed packages in ExLight Build 221130.
THE REAL McCoy ExLight 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 ExLight.
KNOWN ISSUE You can’t login to the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop unless you use a “fairly new” computer. Not older that about eight (8) years according to my experience. Read more about the problem…
NEWS 221115 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build I have made a new extra version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD – efi. It’s a pure Debian 12 (Sid/upcoming Bookworm) system. (unstable). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma Sid uses the KDE Plasma Desktop 5.26.3 – latest version, released 221108 – as Desktop environment. Kernel 6.0.6-amd64-exton-rt14 is used. All included packages have been updated to the latest version as of 221115. DebEX KDE Build 221115 works in the same way as DebEX KDE Build 220926 – see this INFO. I have kept DebEX Build 220926 since it is based on Debian 11 (stable). In Build 221115 I have added LURE (Linux User REpository). LURE is intended to bring the AUR to all distros. It is currently in an alpha state and may not be stable. It can download a repository, build packages in it using a bash script similar to PKGBUILD, and then install them using your system package manager. Read about how to use LURE…
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 and (mostly) Debian Sid/unstable. So is DebEX KDE.
NEWS 220726 ABOUT ExLight I’ve made a new version of ExLight with the Enlightenment 0.25.3 Desktop environment, Refracta Snapshot (create your own Debian Sid System) and Calamares 3.2.60-1 Installer Framework. The very nice Enlightenment theme e25 Neonz is used.
KERNEL ExLight Build 220726 uses Debian’s original kernel 5.18.0-2-amd64.
VirtualBox and VMware ExLight Build 220726 runs very well in VirtualBox and VMware. Maybe you’ll have to use boot alternative 4 (failsafe). You can use Calamares Installer also in VirtualBox and VMware without any problems.VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed. Watch a screenshot when ExLight is running in full screen in VirtualBox.
THE REAL McCoy ExLight is a pure Debian system. I.e. no traces of Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc. New releases of Ubuntu are always based on Debian. So is ExLight.
NEWS 211130 ABOUT ExLight I’ve made a new version of ExLight with the Enlightenment0.24.2 Desktop environment, Refracta Snapshot (create your own Debian Sid System) and Calamares 3.2.44.3-1 Installer Framework. The very nice Enlightenment theme R-Matrix-2.0 is used. It will be used also after a hard drive installation.
New sources 211130 This new version of ExLight is based on Debian Sid (unstable/development). Build 211130 is a total rebuild of ExLight. The ISO file size is of only 1460 MB, which means that ExLight now can run even faster from RAM. I.e. load to RAM – screenshot. You can remove the DVD or USB stick when ExLight has booted – watch this screenshot.
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 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!
NEWS 250707 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build
