| Debian live CD distro rev'd |
Mar. 05, 2010
 The Elive team has released a long-awaited upgrade to its Debian-based, live CD-ready distro. The New Stable version of Elive 2.0, code-named Topaz, is equipped with the Enlightenment E17 desktop environment, but now offers an alternative Compaz desktop, plus new autolaunchers, system-recovery tools, and "configurators."
Elive 2.0 represents the first major Elive release in almost three years, bringing the Debian-based live CD distribution up to date with many new features, says the Elive team. Based on the Linux 2.6.30.9 kernel, Elive 2.0 is said to provide new hardware support, as well as features like tuxonice (hibernation) and the Reiser4 and Ext4 file-systems.
Elive offers an Enlightenment E17 desktop (see images below), but Compiz is also supplied as an alternative. The Elive team, however, only recommends using Compiz as a demo "since it makes your system unstable." Applications are said to include an Office suite, Firefox, the usual communications features, and as well as audio and video editors.
 
Elive's Enlightenment E17 desktop with visual effects (left) and video playback in night mode (right)
(Click on either to enlarge)
Elive is known for supporting older, lower-powered systems, and it still can handle a base system with a 100MHz CPU and 64MB of RAM, although a 300MHz processor and 128MB of RAM are recommended. Now, however, Elive 2.0 can take advantage of higher end systems. For example, special kernels are available that include support for more than 4GB of RAM, and without the need for a 64 bit-OS, says the Elive team.
Although provided on a live CD, the distro can also be booted from a USB key or installed on a hard disk drive. In addition to providing the Debian installer, Elive offers its own easier to use installer, which features an upgrade mode, enabling a system to maintain its users and files while upgrading. The installer can also migrate any Linux system to an Elive system, including users, files, passwords, and some configurations, says the team.
Aiming to make Debian Linux more user-friendly, Elive 2.0 offers shortcuts such as the ability to convert files to MP3 by selecting them in the file manager. Other user-friendly features are said to include search, screenshot, and disk usage tools, and a streamlined admin mode.
A new "nurse" mode offers recovery and repair features aimed at non-experts, such as recovering all "Elive default" configurations, performing hardware tests, monitoring free disk space, and installing newer kernels. The nurse mode can even ensure that the system contains all default packages, says the Elive team.
 
Elive communications features (left) and improved language support (right)
(Click on either to enlarge)
Autolaunchers have been entirely rewritten with better stability and more features, and numerous user configurators have been added for features such as the touchpad, says the Elive team. A new audio configurator is said to let users perform tasks like switching between audio cards or simultaneously supporting multiple audio sources.
Additional new and upgraded features in Elive 2.0 are said to include:- 3G phones supported with 364 providers worldwide
- Bluetooth supported
- Trayer included
- Shared Samba folders supported (thanks to LinuxNIT)
- OSS compatibility provided for games and obscure applications that don't support Alsa
- Entrance autologin supported
- Broadcom 43xx works now with two optional drivers
- Ssh support improved with special prompt coloring, direct access to "enlightenment_remote" features, and ability to switch to a "graphical system without need to set special variables"
- Translations are offered for more languages (see image above, right)
Availability
Elive 2.0 New Stable "Topaz" is available for download now, here.
-- Eric Brown
Do you have comments on this story?
Talkback here
NOTE: Please post your comments regarding our articles using the above link. Be sure to use this article's title as the "Subject" in your posts. Before you create a new thread, please check to see if a discussion thread is already running on the article you plan to comment on. Thanks!
Related Stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
Approaching the Linux Desktop
The purpose of this paper is to help organizations evaluate the Linux desktop against their own enterprise needs and discover what benefits the Linux desktop might bring to their organizations.
Migrating To Linux: Application Challenges and Solutions
Several solutions exist to help organizations migrate in an orderly fashion from Windows to Linux desktops. This paper establishes the characteristics of an ideal cross-platform solution and reviews these alternatives in light of this ideal standard. The paper takes a closer look at the pros and cons of various solutions and outlines the business benefits that can be achieved.
Linux Advantages: Publicly Available Information on Linux Software
This paper offers a brief summary of readily-available Linux information to help businesses sort out this widely misunderstood operating system.
Top 5 Strategies for Managing Linux
Despite continuous evolution in the manageability of Linux, a 2006 survey cited manageability concerns as a top reason why organizations are hesitating to adopt Linux. Levanta believes Linux can be as manageable, if not more so, than other operating systems by following key strategies. These strategic recommendations were developed from experiences in numerous customer environments, both large and small.
Why Choose Novell for Linux?
This paper outlines the benefits of switching to the Linux platform and choosing Novell as a high-performance, enterprise solution.
Enterprise Linux Selection Guide
Considering moving your enterprise to the Linux operating system? Since there are so many similar versions, choosing the right one can be tough. This paper offers a clear process to help you make an informed decision and get the features, support, and cost that are right for your business and technical needs.
Overcoming Challenges in Managing Linux
Levanta has created a new administration model with innovative technology that breaks down the barriers to making the most of Linux systems. This paper will provide an in-depth look at the workings of Levanta’s product, the first Linux appliance of its kind.
SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 for Retail Businesses
Discover why major retailers have switched to SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop in the back office. SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 is a low-cost desktop that offers a complete set of productivity applications and interoperates seamlessly with the other Windows, Macintosh and UNIX desktops in your store.
Moving to a Linux Desktop
Migrating from Windows to Linux on the desktop can be a substantial undertaking because it has the potential for touching -- and perhaps disrupting -- every user in your organization. Unlike a data center (server and infrastructure) migration that is largely transparent to users, the cultural and administrative transitions and environment readiness required to support a Linux desktop migration are extensive.
Seven Good Reasons to Exchange Exchange
This paper describes seven compelling reasons why you should switch from Exchange to Scalix.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed
