Tag: Refracta tools

Run Raspberry Pi’s PIXEL Desktop on a PC or Mac – an Exton modified Build 180316 with Refracta Tools

15
Mar
2018

NEWS 180316 about Raspberry Pi Debian Pixel – 32bit – an Exton Build
My second Debian Pixel Build from is from 170425 . My third build is from 180316. Study all included packages – latest by 180316. I’ve added NetworkManager and also Wicd, which makes it easier to configure wireless connections. Choose the one which works for you.

Most important changes in Build 180316
This build replaces version 161223 and 170425. I’ve upgraded Raspbian/Debian from Jessie to Stretch – Debian stable. I’ve also upgraded the kernel from 3.16.0-4-686-pae to 4.9.0-9-686-pae. I’ve also included kernel 4.9.0-9-686, which shall be used on older computers. PAE (Physical Address Extension) increases the physical memory addressable by the system from 4 GB to 64 GB. Firefox have been installed so you’ll have a browser when logged in as root. You can’t run Chromium as root. Another good thing about Firefox is that you can use it to watch Netflix movies.

OLD NEWS FROM 161223
On December 22, 2016 I read that the Raspberry Pi Foundation had announced the release of a new PIXEL image that can be booted on a PC or Mac. Study this site. I saw immediately that there was no installer included, which I thought was a little disappointing. Come to think of Refracta tools, which work very well in Debian and Ubuntu. I quickly made a “remix” of the Raspberry Pi Foundation PIXEL image. My remix thus include Refracta tools. This means that you can easily install the system to hard drive and you can just as easily make your own remix of the Raspberry Pi Foundation PIXEL image. I’ve added a few packages. Most important Synaptic, which I find essential.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – Spotify running
Screenshot 2 – Samba running (reach your Windows computers in your network)
Screenshot 3 – Refracta Snapshot has started
Screenshot 4 – Refracta Installer has started in VMware
Screenshot 5 – Wireless connection with NetworkManager (installed in Build 170425 and 180316)
Wifi connection using NetworkManager – in detail

READ MORE…

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

andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Oreo 8.1!

and about my Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2!
1 Comment extonExton Linux SystemsLinuxRaspberry Pi

Exton|OS 64 bit – based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS – with Budgie Desktop, Refracta tools, Calamares Installer and kernel 4.16.0-rc3-exton – Build 180301

01
Mar
2018

NEWS 180301 ABOUT Exton|OS with Budgie Desktop 10.4 and Refracta Tools
The Desktop Environment in this Exton|OS build is Budgie 10.4. (Budgie is focused on simplicity an elegance. Designed with the modern user in mind). Program content in build 180301: Refracta Tools, Calamares 3.1.12, Firefox, Gimp, SMPlayer, SMTube, and GParted. Also all necessary additions in order to install programs from source. Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. Kernel 4.16.0-rc3-exton (corresponding Kernel.org‘s latest kernel 4.16-rc3) is used. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as at March 1, 2018. 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 create your own live installable Ubuntu system. I mean create your own installable Ubuntu 18.04 Live DVD once you have installed Exton|OS to hard drive.

WHAT’S NEW in kernel 4.16?

Runs from RAM
Another great thing is that Exton|OS 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 at least 2 GB RAM to run Exton|OS that way. I.e. superfast!

About 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, 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. See a slideshow below showing the whole Calamares install process in Exton|OS.

Repositories and software management
Exton|OS is totally compatible with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS 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 apt-get update you should use Synaptic Package Manager. Since Exton|OS is based on upcoming Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (to be released in a stable version on April 26, 2018) you will/can be the first to have Ubuntu 18.04 in a stable version in April 2018.

The importance of Exton|OS being based on upcoming (unstable/development) Ubuntu 18.04
I don’t think it is too important since Exton|OS doesn’t use complicated Desktop Environments like KDE, Gnome or Unity. Programs won’t crash or anything like that. And I haven’t discovered any bugs to report.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 of Exton|OS’s Budgie Desktop
Screenshot 2 of Exton|OS’s Budgie Desktop installing Spotify
Screenshot 3 of Exton|OS’s Budgie Desktop running Refracta Snapshot
Screenshot 4 of Exton|OS running in VMware
Screenshot 5 of Exton|OS running in VirtualBox
Screenshot 6 – showing how to configure a wireless Network

READ MORE…

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

andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Oreo 8.1!

and about my Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2!
1 Comment extonExton Linux SystemsLinux

DebEX, 64 bit, based on Debian unstable/experimental with Gnome 3.26, Refracta tools and kernel 4.15.4-exton – Build 180223

23
Feb
2018

ABOUT DebEX
All three systems/distributions are a based on Debian Buster/Sid (upcoming Debian 10). Budgie Desktop 10.4 is used as Desktop environment in DebEX Barebone/Budgie. Gnome 3.26 is used in DebEX Gnome. KDE Plasma Desktop 5:42 is used in DebEX KDE. The system language is English (in all three versions of DebEX).

NEWS 180223 about DebEX Gnome – a Refracta Build
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. Gnome 3.26 (latest) is used as Desktop environment. Gnome in combination with Docky is perfect (I think). Watch this screenshot. I have removed the Mate Desktop, since Gnome now can be used on all kind of computers. Also when running DebEX in VirtualBox and VMware. No need for Nvidia’s proprietary graphics drivers when running this new version of DebEX. You can of course install such drivers if you want to. Furthermore I have replaced Google Chrome with Iceweasel 56.6. It is now possible to watch Netflix movies using Iceweasel (Firefox) in Linux. All installed packages have been updated to the latest version as of 180223. DebEX Gnome uses kernel 4.15.4-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s second latest stable kernel 4.15.4.

What’s new in kernel 4.15?

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 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/debex.

Runs from RAM
All three systems 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 at least 2 GB RAM to run DebEX from RAM. I.e. superfast! It’s absolutely the best way to enjoy a Linux live system. Especially if it is a “big” system and you have lots of RAM. (DebEX Barebone Budgie, Gnome and KDE ISO files are of 899 MB, 1340 MB respectively 1200 MB).

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Gnome Desktop
2. The Gnome Desktop with Docky
3. Running in VirtualBox
4. Running in VMware

READ MORE…

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DebEX KDE/Plasma with Plasma 5:42, Refracta tools, Calamares Installer and kernel 4.15.4-debex – Build 180221

21
Feb
2018

ABOUT DebEX
All three DebEX systems/distributions are a based on Debian Buster/Sid (upcoming Debian 10). Budgie Desktop 10.4 is used as Desktop environment in DebEX Barebone/Budgie. Gnome 3.26 and Mate 1.18 are used in DebEX Gnome. KDE Plasma Desktop 5:42 is used in DebEX KDE. The system language is English (in all three versions of DebEX).

NEWS 180221 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build
I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD. It replaces version 171203. It’s a pure Debian system. (Unstable/Experimental). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma uses the KDE Plasma Desktop 5:42 as Desktop environment. It uses kernel 4.15.4-debex – (4.15.4). I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better. I have replaced Google Chrome with Iceweasel 52.6 (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 180221. Study the full package list. MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: I have replaced Refracta Installer with Calamares 3.1.12 Installer Framework. Now you can choose language when the installation starts. When it’s ready everything will be in your chosen language! Read this INSTRUCTION. Log in to KDE Plasma as user with password live or as root with password root.

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 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/debex.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Plasma Desktop 1
2. The Plasma Desktop 2
3. Running in VirtualBox
4. Running in VMware

READ MORE…

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

andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Oreo 8.1!

and about my Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Nougat!
No Comments extonExton Linux SystemsLinux

DebEX Barebone (Debian unstable/experimental) with Budgie Desktop 10.4, Refracta tools and kernel 4.15.4-exton – Build 180219

19
Feb
2018

NEWS 180219 about DebEX Budgie – a Refracta Build
A new version of DebEX Barebone with Budgie Desktop 10.4 and kernel 4.15.4-exton (equivalent to Kernel.org’s latest kernel 4.15.4) is ready. All packages have been updated to the latest version as of February 19, 2018. DebEX Barebone is now based on Debian unstable/experimental. I.e. cutting edge software is used. Most important: The ISO has decreased from 1330 MB to 899 MB, which makes it easier to run the system live from RAM. That ability allows DebEX Budgie to be very fast, since reading and writing data from/to RAM is much faster than from 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 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/debex.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Budgie Desktop when logged in as the ordinary user user
2. The Budgie Desktop when logged in as root
3. The Budgie Desktop when Refracta snapshot is running

READ MORE…

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

andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Oreo 8.1!

and about my Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Nougat!
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ExTiX 18.2 with Deepin 15.5 Desktop, Refracta snapshot, Calamares 3.1.9 Installer and kernel 4.15.2-exton – Build 180210/180206

06
Feb
2018

NEWS about ExTiX 18.2 Deepin 180210
I’ve released a new version of ExTIX 18.2 Deepin today with Calamares 3.1.9 installed from source and kernel 4.15.2-exton. Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as of today. Study all installed packages in ExTiX Deepin Build 180210. Please note that I’ve kept the first ExTiX 18.2 Deepin Build 180206 on the server. The kernel 4.15.1-x86_64-exton, used in Build 180206, is compiled in another way than kernel 4.15.2-exton used in Build 180210. In version 180206 of ExTiX 18.2 Deepin I “forgot” to install the kernel headers. That was the main reason for me to release a new version of ExTiX 18.2 Deepin again. The kernel headers are needed if you want to install certain extra packages in ExTiX, for example Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver. You can download “my” kernel 4.15.2-exton if you want to use it in another Debian/Ubuntu system.

NEWS about ExTiX 18.2 Deepin 180206
I’ve released a new version of ExTIX 18.2 Deepin today with Calamares 3.1.9 installed from source and kernel 4.15.1-x86_64-exton. Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as of today. Study all installed packages in ExTiX Deepin Build 180206.

About ExTiX 18.2 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.

The Ultimate Linux System
I’ve called my different versions of ExTiX The Ultimate Linux System for many years by now. As regards ExTiX 18.2 Deepin I feel it’s especially justified. Everything just works.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.15.1-x86_64-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s latest kernel 4.15.1, released 180203.

What’s new in Linux kernel 4.15?

SCREENSHOTS
1. ExTiX Deepin 15.5 Desktop – running in VirtualBox
2. ExTiX Deepin running Refracta snapshot
3. ExTiX Deepin running in VirtualBox – changing Grub packages
4. Calamares 3.1.9 running in ExTiX 18.2
5. ExTiX Deepin running the Refracta Installer
6. ExTiX Deepin login screen (LightDM)
7. Showing many installed programs

READ MORE…


Read about my Android-x86 Systems – Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Oreo 8.1!
and
about my Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Nougat!
No Comments extonExton Linux SystemsLinux

ExTiX 18.0 with Deepin 15.5 Desktop, Refracta snapshot and Calamares 3.1.9 Installer – Build 171208

08
Dec
2017

NEWS about ExTiX 18.0 Deepin 171208
I’ve released a new version of ExTIX 18.0 Deepin today with Calamares 3.1.9 installed from source. Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as of today. Study all installed packages in ExTiX Deepin Build 171208.

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 Ubuntu system. A ten year child can do it!

About 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, 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. Watch a movie when I’ve started to install ExTiX Deepin using Calamares.

READ MORE…

1 Comment extonExton Linux SystemsLinux

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

23
Nov
2017

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.

READ MORE…

2 Comments extonExton Linux SystemsLinux

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

21
Nov
2017

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

READ MORE…

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

12
Nov
2017

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

READ MORE…

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!
1 Comment extonExton Linux SystemsLinux
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