What to look for in a Standard Linux Distribution-Introduction

I have talked about practically all the possible combinations of Live and Standard Linux it is time for me to wind up with a guide for selection of a distribution without giving a particular distribution.I will not go into hardware compatibility even though it is a major issue since what innovation are round the corner is difficult to predict after this iPod and mobile utility craze is over and done with it.

But before that I must tell you my favorites without any order of merits.

I go for several light weight distributions and for one Gorilla Edition.

The Gorilla Edition is PCLinuxFullMonty which is almost comprehensive and lacks only XBMC but that also can be downloaded.

For Sinhala Linux Lovers (SLL) it is Debian 6.0.0

They are as follows

1. Puppy Linux and its various editions. you can simply carry in your front pocket (carry when I go abroad-an use it as an Acid Test of the computer, laptop or netbook I may buy-not that I want any more with all the assortments i have at home an office.
If I cannot boot it it with Puppy, I won’t consider buying the stuff, whatever the vendors gimmick may be.

2. Knoppix the 10th anniversary edition to show off its graphic capabilities including compiz and cheese the web camera. Now it has found a permanent place in my computers in spite of its finicky requirements for hardware configuration.

3. Gparted (Debian’s), the best companion to partition my computers when I reformat. Mind you it is light weight and does not say no to any complicated partition composition within the framework of the standard laid down principles.

4. KDE base nothing to choose between Mepis and PCLinux but I prefer PCLinux since I got a good hang of its versatile performance which SuSe lacks.

5. SuSe for my long association with it after Fedora in spite of craving for RAM (the new with Venation blind appearance but in vertical orientation of strips)I. It has the the best configuration utility called YAST (I call it Yet Another System configuration and teaching Tool) but the partitioning is limited to 15 which is a handicap when I want several distributions installed in the same computer.

6. Debian for its versatility and the ability to recognize all the hard disks of various make (SATA, SCSI, IDE) and the ability to write the partition table without getting confused when a fellow like me install assortment of operating systems in my own finicky ways.

It has taken a special place now with Sinhala capability of its installation.

7. Fedora for its ability to take on board changes which commercial operating systems resit and for my yesteryear long association with it and the Hanthana Sinhala Linux which is a derivative of it.

It was the first Linux distribution that I have used which could accommodate Sinhala fonts way back when other Linux distributions were learning the tricks of the trade.

8. GoBO Linux for its innovative approach but no new version for a long time.

9. YOPER for trimming, shedding dropping extra fringes to get it running fast but it has a big problem with its GRUB file.

10. Pure KDE without a brand name since it is the one made Linux desktop eye candy and a market force of its own and still introducing new innovation but one need at least 1 GiB of RAM and still more RAM for it’s better performance.

11. LXDE is my favorite even though I am hooked to KDE and its plane and bird like logo.

12. Cloud Linux

13. MeeGo

14. Pendrive Linux

15. PureOS, Saline OS, Peppermint, LinuxMint, Console Linux, Morphix, MYAH, ADIOS and the lot I forgot because of my bad memory.

16. Scientific Linux of course is my ultimate goal and that is where I belong to as a professional and where my personal biases are rooted, which I am trying to wean off and become an ordinary man again with taste and flair.

If I have left any other distribution, it is all because of my finicky behaviour and lack of space.

It is a fact that any one of them do the day to day work for me.

Please excuse for my bias since I am an ordinary human being with lot of personal deficiencies and lapses in my memory with geriatric age approaching fast.

Young ones are the live blood of Linux, you need to keep on innovating and also have a pause and listen to ordinary uses too.

Next few editions will be based on the packages one should have in a distribution that may vary from person to person.

I will start with K-Torrent and gParted.

I am afraid I may have to group them since there are over 60,000 of them, if one takes Debian as a base.
With that exercise I may finish my engagement with the wider world and go back to my normal life of gardening, fish keeping and looking after my dog.

Linux-100-Extras-Knoppix-6.4-Update

In spite of work, Cricket World Cup, I found time to test Knoppix 6.4 CD/DVD and both are equally good and can be installed into the hard disk.

In the past after various tricks I managed to install Knoppix in a FAT partition of my laptop.

Since I have number of distributions in all my computers getting any new distribution installed is a bit of a hassle.No wonder the developers cannot keep pace with my finicky behaviour.

This is equally true when I have two hard disks.
I am yet to find a distribution except perhaps Debian which can detect multiple distributions in the same computer and the correct boot record.
Each distribution has its own way to figure out and configure the boot record. Distribution counts  hard disks a and b , c for hard disks and in one distribution a become b and b become a and another a is a and b is b at boot time.

This is confusing for me and I have to figure out how to sort it and edit boot message. I do not like this happening.

If you have no distribution in your hard disk the installation is straight forward but my installation are very complicated since I have to figure out how the distribution configure thing and sometime try trial an error method.

I never give up but after many trials I get the distributions to behave in the way I want them to be.

New Knoppix was no different I had several failures but finally I got it in my hard disk cohabiting with various other distributions this time in a native Linux partition not FAT.

It is derivative of Debian squeeze and is pretty good.

Who says Debain is bad.

It has no administrative constrains, like Puppy can do anything without root permission sometimes with superuser status. Please do not get angry with me these are Linux vocabulary.

So be careful (it gives a brief warning every time it does something drastic).

It needs a swap partition and at least one reiserfs partition (big enough to accommodate the wast resources it has). Small partition for CD but a very big one for the DVD.
It need at least 1 GiB swap in the first partition, but I gave 2 instead.
It’s partition tool Gparted sometime find it difficult to partition the hard disk.

So I booted Debins Gparted and did the changes and booted Knoppix.

Its actions are almost automatic and instantaneous and moment you press  ENTER it gets down to work so if you have data in your hard disk please take special care.

It’s compiz is excellent and I will install it in every one of my computers when they are undergoing major changes. I went down for a cup of tea and when I returned the monitor was going berserk with scintillating graphic and thought the graphic card has gone. Not so its graphics are pretty good.

It has lot of games too.

Pingus is excellent. I kept playing it while it was being installed which one can never can do when windows are being installed.

Linux100-SalixLXDE–93

Salix is another Slackware based distribution that has taken to heart of introducing a Live CD I am currently downloading.
It may be a little while that newbies will take this into their fold and give feed backs.

It will be matter of minutes before I run it in my box.

Bit slow to boot up but sleek and attractive Live CD.

Gets to internet fast but yahoo.is the default not Google.

Yahoo did not fish aroung bmy blogspot but I had to go back to Google.

Now I have booted the Live LXDE.

Internet browser is Midori and Abiword and Gpart is there,

Unlike Absolute Linux no hesitation with x-windows and it is installable.

Thanks Guys and Girls I have to wait long for your live CD.

The bigger version must be having more options.

T will be soon downloading it.

Linux100-Knoppix-6.2-42-Updated

Knoppix Linux has celebrated its 10th anniversary with a smashing LXDE CD/DVD version.

Unlike previous version it can now be installed to hard disk.

Knoppix is the best Live CD available for a newbie.
It boots up fast and now I am writing this for everybody to see.
It can be mounted on a Flash drive.
Unlike old editions it can be mounted on the hard drive too.
If you decide to mount it on your hard drive make sure that you have saved all your important files!
It has virtual box and can mount other operating systems if one wishes.
The memory for the virtual box can be allocated depending on the system’s availability. I am one who does not fancy this scenario. It is far better to dual boot rather than taxing the resources one has (RAM).
Well done boys and girls!

Linux100-ChameleonOS-37

Mandriva, then Unity and now the next derivative lives up to its name chameleon changes its skin colour faster than it promises in its announcement.

What it has done with 500 MiB is an excellent achievement,

This is an eye candy distribution even an apple convert might enjoy.

Like PCLinux-2007 it should develop its own repository and its own community to support.

No wonder it will give a healthy competition to PCLinux and a headache or two.

It should have at least 4 versions and like Netrunner2 (Mixture of KDE and Genome but heavy) take few of the Gnome packages into its armory but should not get loaded like the Netrunner2 (do not bloat it).

Make it slim and beautiful that’s where LXDE is a good candidate for a different flavour.

Well done guys and girls and develop your home site accordingly to attract new fans.

I am going to be one of your fans.

 

Debian-Live-update

Debian has entered on the Live CD Flora in style.
It has core, light weight and four (4) light middle weight versions that include, KDE. Genome. xfce and LXDE.
I like the LXDE but all are equally good and outstanding.
Being the God Father of Linux its repositories are full of utilities that nobody else can boast.
There are over 31 (I have 12 in my safe) CDs in its repertoire of repositories.

Thanks for following PCLinux’s foot path to freedom.
Instead of packing all X windows in one distribution robust individual x window systems is the way forward.
Do not forget its nFLUX light weight distribution.
Many thanks for your effort, you can be on par with UBUNTU your God Son soon.
Your grandsons will boast about the grandfather for many centuries to come.

PCLinux-2010-07-Update

PCLinux-2010-07 has released its latest CD. True to its origin keep it slim and fast unlike other KDE versions.
Go and download and enjoy Linux;
It is my Gold standard of Live installable CD.
It also has lighter weight versions and gnome versions too to download.
Pick is yours.
Do not forget to send a donation too.
This update was done on the fly with its live CD.
If you have problem with linking to the internet, the fault is with the Sri-Lankan Telecom.
Make a complain to Telecom and ask for a modem that does support Linux.
If you do not get a proper service let me know in return of wire post.
We have to pressurize them to do that.
Good Luck with Telecom!