News from the LiveCD World
All about Linux has a review of the OpenSolaris based BeleniX LiveCD. The review also points out some advantages to running Solaris over Linux, which look likely to stir up some debates.
I had always wanted to try out Solaris OS ever since Sun released its code under an open licence and renamed it as Open Solaris. But even though open solaris had its own website, downloading a binary image was an entirely different matter and was not an easy proposition.
IBM’s developerWorks has another thorough article about LiveCDs. This time it involves modifying LiveCDs and turning them into screensavers for Windows.
There is sufficient free and open source software available nowadays to enable Linux to install and run as a Windows screensaver. This article shows you how to construct an appropriate CD or DVD, and in doing so, demonstrates that the “free” and “non-free” sides of the software Grand Canyon are not so far apart after all.
Linux.com brings us a brief review of Tao Live.
Tao Live CD is a live CD based on rebuilt Red Hat Linux source RPMs.
Marcel’s Linux Walkabout has an article about klik on their website.
The inspiration for klik has its origins with Knoppix (and Kanotix). In fact, the original name for klik was KLIK (all caps), which stands for “KDE-based Live Installer for Knoppix Kanotix”.
DistroReviews.com has posted impressions, or a short review, of the new Ubuntu Linux 6.04 Flight 2 release. Included with the review are screenshots.
Ubuntu has released its second test point, dubbed “Flight 2”, of Dapper Drake, Ubuntu 6.04. Scheduled to be finalized in April 2006, this test release has buckets full of new features for both the installed version, and LiveCD versions, which are available for download. Some of the new features of the Ubuntu LiveCD include:
For a better description and screenshots, check out the official description.
After a year without updates, Quantian 0.7.9.1 has been released. Quantian is one of the most complete LiveDVDs available for scientific work, including over 800 R packages and clustering support.
OS News has a review of the Amiga Forever Premium Edition, which comes with a LiveCD, although this article did not talk about it much.
You can boot into this emulator in two ways: you can launch it from Windows, or use it as a live CD. The latter uses KX Light (a modified version of Debian/Knoppix) to boot the Linux version of UAE, running AmigaOS 3.x.
DesktopLinux.com reports that LaCie is now selling a USB 2.0 hard drive that allows PCs to boot off it into Mandriva Linux. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new trend.
NewsForge brings us a review of the BeleniX LiveCD. While it does take forever to boot, it’s fun to play with once it’s done.
When the CD-ROM disk light stops glowing, you are staring at a beautifully done XFCE desktop running on top of xorg. This is auto-configured using the ddcxinfo utility ported from Knoppix. Essential devices like the monitor, keyboard, and mouse (synaptic, PS/2, and USB) work properly. Wired network cards are auto-configured through DHCP and USB sticks are auto-mounted.
DistroWatch’s Featured distribution of the week this week is the Archie LiveCD, a LiveCD based on Arch Linux. Check out the screenshot, it looks really nice.
Archie is unique in the sense that it is not based on any of the big “top-level” distributions with their live CD offshoots, such as Debian/Knoppix, Slackware/SLAX or Mandriva/PCLinuxOS, which currently dominate the live CD scene.
All about Linux has a review of Damn Small Linux. Includes some ideas of how and where to use DSL.
All aspects of configuration, which includes wireless network, mouse, keyboard, printer setup and most other services can be achieved via the DSL (Control) Panel.
SearchOpenSource.com has an intro to Knoppix and LiveCDs aimed at the business PC user. The article explains what a LiveCD is and what it can do in an accurate and understandable way.
It’s easy to take Linux for a test drive. Some Linux versions have been tailored to run from a CD. You just put the CD into the drive, reboot your machine, and Linux will be up and running. No installation is required; nothing will have to be written to your hard disk. When you’re done, take out the CD and reboot your PC again, and you’re back in Windows.
ASE Labs is currently being slashdotted for bringing us an article on reviving an old computer by installing Damn Small Linux. There is good information in this article, including what to do if the computer doesn’t have a CD drive.
While this laptop might seem old and out-of-date now, it is small and light. I needed something I could easily carry around, so I figured I would see what I could salvage out of this dinosaur. Windows would have a hard time running on this low-spec laptop, but there are many distributions of Linux that will work exceptionally well. The one we’ll be using today is Damn Small Linux.
Henry The Adequate has a humorous review of the new Damn Small Linux 2.0 release.
Now this is a bit of a problem. How do I put the CD in before starting the computer?
OSDir has screenshots of Visopsys 0.6 Preview. Visopsys is an open source operating system, not based on Linux or anything else. It is available as a downloadable LiveCD.
DSL 2.0 was released yesterday. Check out the many updates in the changelog, then go download the ISO. As usual, it’s smaller than 50 MB.
Damn Small Linux 2.0 and SimplyMEPIS 3.4-1 RC1 both have new screenshots up at OSDir.
LinuxPR has a press release detailing the current status of SimplyMEPIS, and the plans for the final version.
When Ff 1.5 goes final, SM 3.4-1 will also go final.
DistroWatch’s featured distribution of the week this week is the Gentoo-based RR4 Linux LiveDVD. For those who like cutting edge software, it comes with the beta graphical Gentoo installer, and the stuff below:
The latest version of RR4 Linux has kernel 2.6.14, X.Org 7.0 from CVS, KDE 3.4.3, GNOME 2.12.1, and Firefox 1.5rc