Category Archives: Linux

exGENT, exton, Gentoo, Linux

exGENT (Gentoo) 64bit Live DVD/USB with LXQt 0.15.1, Calamares Installer and kernel 5.10.8-gentoo-aufs-exton – Build 210122 – can be installed to hard drive in 2 min!

16 Comments

NEWS 210122 about exGENT (Gentoo) 64 bit
I’ve made a new version of exGENT with only a few necessary packages pre-installed. It uses LXQt 0.15.1 as Desktop environment and kernel 5.10.8-gentoo-aufs-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s latest stable kernel 5.10.8. The ISO file is of 2220 MB. Despite this exGENT version 210122 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. I call my new version exGENT 2021 LXQt Live DVD/USB. It replaces version 200428. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 210122. Study the full package list.

What’s new in kernel 5.10 LTS? – The most exciting kernel in years!

What’s new in exGENT Build 210122?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. In exGENT versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! (That is if you use the install scripts in /root/install). Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Rufus or Etcher in Windows. Such installations were impossible before. NOTE: I have not installed Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix nowadays runs very well in Firefox. About the LXQt 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. MOST IMPORTANT: Now you can install exGENT to hard drive in two ways. You can still use the install scrips in /root/install. That is the best way to install exGENT on non UEFI computers for example VirtualBox and VMware. The second way is to use Calamares Installer- see below. See this screenshot when the install scripts are used in VMware.

Calamares Installer
In exGENT Build 210122 I’ve also included the Calamares Installer version 3.2.36 (latest). Use it preferably if you need to install Grub on UEFI computers. You can, however, also use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware. See a slideshow below when I have used Calamares on a UEFI computer to install exGENT on a USB stick.



If you can’t watch the slideshow in your browser watch this animated GIF.

UEFI or non UEFI computers
On a non UEFI computer you will see this boot menu.

On a UEFI computer the boot menu looks like this.

exGENT Build 210122 is a non Systemd system
exGENT uses OpenRC 0.42.1 init system instead of Systemd. Comparison of different init systems: Read this article.

Is exGENT Build 210122 unique?
If you have a look at Gentoo’s download site you will notice that the latest Gentoo live system is from 20160704 (!?). Furthermore there are only a few other distros based on Gentoo. The most well-known are Funtoo Linux and Sabayon Linux. Funtoo isn’t a live system. Sabayon is a live system distributed with different Desktops variants. (Not with LXQt though). I have tried some of them on the computers I have access to. None of Sabayon’s variants could run live. Not even in VirtualBox and VMware. My guess is that exGENT has better hardware recognition than Sabayon.

Used KERNEL
NOTE: When running exGENT live (i.e. from a DVD or a USB stick) kernel 5.6.7-gentoo-aufs-exton will be used. After a hard drive installation kernel 5.10.8-gentoo-aufs-exton will be installed and used.

Quick install to Hard Drive
exGENT Linux can be installed to hard drive in 2 – 20 min. (Depending on computer type). This means that all of you who might hesitate to perform a normal Gentoo installation – which can take up to a couple of days – now have the chance to get this great Linux system (Gentoo) installed on your computers very easy. Read my instruction about how the installation works.

UPGRADE the System
The exGENT System (Build 210122) is in very good shape, since I, without problems, have been able to update the whole system with the following commands: (Watch this screenshot).

# emerge –ask –update –newuse –deep –with-bdeps=y @world
# emerge –depclean
# revdep-rebuild

NOTE 1: Right now (210122) Calamares isn’t installable via Gentoo’s repos. The first of the commands above therefore have to be modified like this: emerge –ask –update –newuse –deep –with-bdeps=y @world –exclude=”app-admin/calamares”

NOTE 2: Today (210122) I had to get Calamares latest sources (3.2.36) from Github.com and build/install Calamares the way the developers recommend.

NOTE 3: Before running the above three commands you’ll have to run the commands emerge –sync followed by emerge –oneshot portage.

NOTE 4: After a hard drive installation of exGENT you should run the above commands at least every month (to keep the system in good shape). I you don’t do that it can be (almost) impossible to upgrade the system. As regards “old” Gentoo systems you could try to follow the advices stated here.

SPOTIFY
You can easy and quick install Spotify in exGENT. Just run the command emerge spotify. The installation takes about 1 min.
NOTE: Spotify is pre-installed in Build 210122. You’ll have to have a Spotify Premium account to use it.

Notes about running exGENT in VirtualBox
When running exGENT live (i.e. directly from the ISO file) you will have a very small screen. Watch this screenshot.  To have a bigger screen you’ll have to install VirtualBox Guest Additions. That can be done in the following way.
1. Install exGENT to hard drive in VirtualBox. Use Calamares.
2. Boot up from the hard drive and install the kernel sources with the following command: emerge =sys-kernel/gentoo-sources-5.10.8 – watch this screenshot.
3. Insert the VirtualBox Guest Additions CD from the VirtualBox menu – watch this screenshot.
4. Run the command cd /run/media/root/VBox_GAs_6.1.16
5. Install the Additions with the command ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run – watch this screenshot.
6. Reboot and enjoy your BIG screen – watch this screenshot.

Rolling distribution
Gentoo/exGENT is a rolling distribution, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world).

Default language
The default language (locale) is set to English.

Keyboard
The default keyboard layout is American (us). Change it by running the command setxkbmap se (for Sweden).

Install exGENT to hard drive
Please read this INSTRUCTION.

Install exGENT to a USB stick
Please read this INSTRUCTION. This can be done in the same way as a hard drive installation.

Login and passwords
When you start up your computer from the DVD/USB stick you will end up at Slim’s login screen. Log in as the ordinary user live with password exGENT21$ or as root with password exGENT21$.  (A bit complicated password, but Gentoo won’t allow short passwords like live/root anymore). To have sound you’ll have to log in as live. (Pulseaudio won’t run if you log in as root). Screenshot of the login screen – see below.

Wireless connections
NetworkManager make it easy to configure wireless connections. Give your WEP/WAP password and connect. That’s it! You’ll find the NM-applet to the right in the panel. Watch this screenshot.

Using SSH (Secure Shell)
You can connect to other Linux computers in your Home Network using SSH. You’ll have to edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config first. Change line number 88 and 89 to look like this. Watch a screenshot when I’m running Ubuntu on one computer connected to exGENT running on another computer. And a screenshot when I’m upgrading Exton|OS (Ubuntu based) from exGENT running on another computer. To start LXTerminal from exGENT on the Exton|OS computer I used the command ssh -Y live@192.168.0.36 lxterminal. I got the correct IP address by running the command ifconfig on the Exton|OS computer.

Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

Screenshots
1. exGENT Build 210122 running Firefox/Netflix
2. exGENT Build 210122 – root’s Desktop
3. exGENT running Calamares in VirtualBox
4. exGENT running in VirtualBox in full screen
5. exGENT running showing a Samba connection
6. exGENT running Spotify

DOWNLOAD
This exGENT build has been replaced by Build 230109…

About exGENT Rpi4 Build 200410
I’ve created an exGENT/Gentoo system for Raspberry Pi 4. Read more about it…

Read about my Android-x86 Systems – 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX 11 (with GAPPS), AndEX 10 (with GAPPS) and AndEX Pie 9.0 (also with GAPPS)!
and
about my Android 12, 11, 10, Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 4 and 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd 12 (without GAPPS), RaspAnd 11 (with GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (also with GAPPS)!
exGENT, exton, Gentoo, Linux

exGENT (Gentoo) 64bit Live DVD/USB with LXQt 0.14.1, Calamares Installer and kernel 5.3.7-aufs-exgent – Build 200119 – can be installed to hard drive in 2 min!

4 Comments

NEWS 200119 about exGENT (Gentoo) 64 bit
I’ve made a new version of exGENT with only a few necessary packages pre-installed. It uses LXQt 0.14.1 as Desktop environment and kernel 5.3.7-aufs-exgent. The ISO file is of 1720 MB. Despite this exGENT version 200119 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. I call my new version exGENT 2020 LXQt Live DVD/USB. It replaces version 180414, 170407 and 170412. Those versions were too old for upgrading. I had to start over and build version 200119 from “scratch”. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 200119. Study the full package list.

What’s new in exGENT Build 200119?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. In exGENT versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! (That is if you use the install scripts in /root/install). Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Rufus or Etcher in Windows. Such installations were impossible before. NOTE: I have not installed Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix nowadays runs very well in Firefox. About the LXQt 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. MOST IMPORTANT: Now you can install exGENT to hard drive in two ways. You can still use the install scrips in /root/install. That is the best way to install exGENT on non UEFI computers for example VirtualBox and VMware. The second way is to use Calamares Installer- see below. See this screenshot when the install scripts are used in VMware.

Calamares Installer
In exGENT Build 200119 I’ve also included the Calamares Installer version 3.2.17.1 (latest). Use it preferably if you need to install Grub on UEFI computers. You can, however, also use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware. See a slideshow below when I have used Calamares on a UEFI computer to install exGENT on a USB stick.



If you can’t watch the slideshow in your browser watch this animated GIF.

UEFI or non UEFI computers
On a non UEFI computer you will see this boot menu.

On a UEFI computer the boot menu looks like this.

exGENT Build 200119 is a non Systemd system
exGENT uses OpenRC 0.42.1 init system instead of Systemd. Comparison of different init systems: Read this article.

exGENT Build 200119 unique?
If you have a look at Gentoo’s download site you will notice that the latest Gentoo live system is from 20160704 (!?). Furthermore there are only a few other distros based on Gentoo. The most well-known are Funtoo Linux and Sabayon Linux. Funtoo isn’t a live system. Sabayon is a live system distributed with different Desktops variants. (Not with LXQt though). I have tried some of them on the computers I have access to. None of Sabayon’s variants could run live. Not even in VirtualBox and VMware. My guess is that exGENT has better hardware recognition than Sabayon.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 5.3.7-aufs-exgent corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 5.3.7.

Quick install to Hard Drive
exGENT Linux can be installed to hard drive in 2 – 20 min. (Depending on computer type). This means that all of you who might hesitate to perform a normal Gentoo installation – which can take up to a couple of days – now have the chance to get this great Linux system (Gentoo) installed on your computers very easy. Read my instruction about how the installation works.

UPGRADE the System
The exGENT System (Build 200119) is in very good shape, since I, without problems, have been able to update the whole system with the following commands:

# emerge –ask –update –newuse –deep –with-bdeps=y @world
# emerge –depclean
# revdep-rebuild

NOTE 1: Before running the above three commands you’ll have to run the commands emerge –sync followed by emerge –oneshot portage

NOTE 2: After a hard drive installation of exGENT you should run the above commands at least every month (to keep the system in good shape).

SPOTIFY
You can easy and quick install Spotify in exGENT. Just run the command emerge spotify. The installation takes about 1 min.
NOTE: Spotify is pre-installed in Build 200119.  You’ll have to have a Spotify Premium account to use it.

Rolling distribution
Gentoo/exGENT is a rolling distribution, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world).

Default language
The default language (locale) is set to English.

Keyboard
The default keyboard layout is American (us). Change it by running the command setxkbmap se (for Sweden).

Install exGENT to hard drive
Please read this INSTRUCTION.

Install exGENT to a USB stick
Please read this INSTRUCTION. This can be done in the same way as a hard drive installation.

Login and passwords
When you start up your computer from the DVD/USB stick you will end up at Slim’s login screen. Log in as the ordinary user live with password live or as root with password root. To have sound you’ll have to log in as live. (Pulseaudio won’t run if you log in as root). Screenshot of the login screen.

Wireless connections
NetworkManager make it easy to configure wireless connections. Give your WEP/WAP password and connect. That’s it! You’ll find the NM-applet to the right in the panel.

Using SSH (Secure Shell)
You can connect to other Linux computers in your Home Network using SSH. You’ll have to edit /etc/ssh/sshd_config first. Change line number 88 and 89 to look like this.  Watch a screenshot when I’m running Ubuntu on one computer connected to exGENT running on another computer.  And a screenshot when I’m upgrading Exton|OS (Ubuntu based) from exGENT running on another computer. To start LXTerminal from exGENT on the Exton|OS computer I used the command ssh -Y live@192.168.0.36 lxterminal. I got the correct IP address by running the command ifconfig on the Exton|OS computer.

 Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

KNOWN ISSUE re. Build 200119
When exGENT start up live in VirtualBox and VMware the boot process seems to stop at a certain place. It will look like this.



Just have some patience. After a few minutes you will end up at Slim’s login screen.

Screenshots
1. exGENT Build 200119 – root’s Desktop
2. exGENT running Spotify
3. exGENT running Calamares in VirtualBox
4. exGENT running in VirtualBox
5. exGENT running in VMware

DOWNLOAD
This exGENT build has been replaced by Build 200428…

About exGENT Rpi4 Build 200410
I’ve created an exGENT/Gentoo system for Raspberry Pi 4. Read more about it…

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 Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Pie 9.0 (without GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (with GAPPS)!

exGENT, exton, Gentoo, Linux

exGENT (Gentoo) 64bit Live DVD with LXQt and kernel 4.15.14-aufs-gentoo-exgent – Build 180414 – can be installed in 2 min!

4 Comments

NEWS 20180414 about exGENT (Gentoo) 64 bit
I’ve made a new version of exGENT with only a few necessary packages pre-installed. It uses LXQt as Desktop environment and kernel 4.15.14-aufs-gentoo-exgent. The ISO file is of 1800 MB due to the fact that I’ve included the kernel sources. They are needed for installation of certain software. Despite this exGENT version 180414 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. I call my new version exGENT 2018 LXQt Live DVD. It replaces version 170407 and 170412. Those versions were too old for upgrading. I had to start over and build version 180414 from “scratch”. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 180414. Study the full package list.

What’s new in exGENT Build 180414?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. MOST IMPORTANT: In exGENT versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Etcher and Rufus in Windows. Such installations were impossible before. NOTE: I have not installed Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix nowadays runs very well in Firefox. About the LXQt 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.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.15.14-aufs-gentoo-exgent corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 4.15.14.

Quick install to Hard Drive
exGENT Linux can be installed to hard drive in 2 – 8 min. (Depending on computer type). This means that all of you who might hesitate to perform a normal Gentoo installation – which can take up to a couple of days – now have the chance to get this great Linux system (Gentoo) installed on your computers very easy. Read below on how the installation works.

UPGRADE the System
The exGENT System (version 180414) is in very good shape, since I, without problems, have been able to update the whole system with the following commands:

# emerge –ask –update –newuse –deep –with-bdeps=y @world
# emerge –depclean
# revdep-rebuild

NOTE 1: Before running the above three commands you’ll have to run the commands emerge –sync followed by emerge –oneshot portage

NOTE 2: After a hard drive installation of exGENT you should run the above commands at least every month (to keep the system in good shape).

SPOTIFY
You can easy and quick install Spotify in exGENT. Just run the command emerge spotify. The installation takes about 1 min.
NOTE: Spotify is pre-installed in Build 180414.

Rolling distribution
Gentoo/exGENT is a rolling distribution, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world).

Default language
The default language (locale) is set to English.

Keyboard
The default keyboard layout is American (us). Change it by running the command setxkbmap se (for Sweden).

Install exGENT to hard drive
Please read this INSTRUCTION.

Install exGENT to a USB stick
Please read this INSTRUCTION. This can be done in the same way as a hard drive installation.

Login and passwords
When you start up your computer from the dvd you will end up at Slim’s login screen. Log in as the ordinary user live with password live or as root with password root. Screenshot of the login screen.

Wireless connections
NetworkManager make it easy to configure wireless connections. Give your WEP/WAP password and connect. That’s it! You’ll find the NM-applet to the right in the panel. Check the name of your interfaces with the command iwconfig (as root).

Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

KNOWN ISSUES re. Build 180410
1. After a hard drive installation the boot process may stop at this

Just press q and the boot process will succeed.
2. Samba is installed, but not configured.
3. To be able to run Cups (configure printing) in Firefox you’ll have to run the command sudo systemctl start cups.service
NOTE: The errors described above is gone in exGENT Build 180414.

Screenshots
1. exGENT Build 180414 running Vlc
2. exGENT running Spotify
3. exGENT running Cups
4. exGENT running in VirtualBox
5. exGENT running in VMware

DOWNLOAD
This version of exGENT has been replaced by exGENT Build 200119…

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 Pie, Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Pie 9.0 (without GAPPS) and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1 (with GAPPS)!

exGENT, exton, Gentoo, Linux

A new light version of exGENT (Gentoo) live is ready – Build 170412

2 Comments

NEWS 20170412 about exGENT (Gentoo) 64 bit
I’ve made a light version of exGENT with only a few necessary packages pre-installed. It uses LXQt 0.11.0 as Desktop environment and kernel 4.10.4-aufs-gentoo-exton-s. The ISO file is of only 1090 MB compared to exGENT version 170407, which is of 2620 MB.

What’s new in exGENT Build 170412/170407?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. I started this build in the hope that I should be able to implement a new independent installer program called Calamares. I wasn’t able to do it now though. (Many dependencies to satisfy). My old installer script will have to do until I find a solution. Anyway, I think exGENT Build 170412/170407 can be of interest because of the change to Grub2 and the fact that it has one of the newest kernels installed. MOST IMPORTANT: In versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Etcher and Rufus in Windows. Watch a screenshot when Etcher is running. Such installations were impossible before. Note: I have uninstalled Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix runs very well in Firefox now. I’ve also added the LXQt 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. You can choose between Xfce4 and LXQt when logging in at Slim’s login screen. Just press F1. NOTE: exGENT Build 170412 has only LXQt pre-installed. Study all packages installed in Build 170412.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.10.4-aufs-gentoo-exton-s corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 4.10.4.

Quick install to Hard Drive
exGENT Linux can be installed to hard drive in 3 – 10 min. (Depending on computer type). This means that all of you who might hesitate to perform a normal Gentoo installation – which can take up to a couple of days – now have the chance to get this great Linux system (Gentoo) installed on your computers very easy. Read below on how the installation works.

UPGRADE the System
The exGENT System (version 170412) is in very good shape, since I, without problems, have been able to update the whole system with the following commands:

# emerge –ask –update –newuse –deep –with-bdeps=y @world
# emerge –depclean
# revdep-rebuild

NOTE: Before running the above three commands you’ll have to run the commands emerge –sync followed by emerge —oneshot portage

SPOTIFY
You can easy and quick install Spotify in exGENT. Just run the command emerge spotify. The installation takes about 1 min.
NOTE: Spotify is pre-installed in Build 170412.

Rolling distribution
Gentoo/exGENT is a rolling distribution, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world).

Default language
The default language (locale) is set to English.

Keyboard
The default keyboard layout is American (us). Change it by running the command setxkbmap se (for Sweden).

Install exGENT to hard drive
Please read this INSTRUCTION.

Install exGENT to a USB stick
Please read this INSTRUCTION. This can be done in the same way as a hard drive installation.

Login and passwords
When you start up your computer from the dvd you will end up at Slim’s login screen. Log in as the ordinary user live with password live or as root with password root. Screenshot of the login screen.

Wireless connections
NetworkManager make it easy to configure wireless connections. Give your WEP/WAP password and connect. That’s it! You’ll find the NM-applet to the right in the panel. Check the name of your interfaces with the command iwconfig (as root).

Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

Screenshot
exGENT Build 170412 running Firefox and Netflix.

DOWNLOAD
This version of exGENT has been replaced by version 180410…

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!

 

exGENT, exton, Gentoo, Linux

Yet another version of exGENT Live (Gentoo Linux) – now with Xfce 4.12.1 and LXQt 0.11.0 – Build 170407

Leave a comment

NEWS 20170407 about exGENT
I’ve made yet a new version (20170407) of exGENT based on Gentoo Linux. It uses Xfce 4.12.1 and LXQt 0.11.0 Desktop environments and kernel 4.10.4. It is for the 64 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2017 Xfce4/LXQt Live DVD. It replaces version 20170331. The ISO file is of 2620 MB due to the fact that this version has a lot of packages pre-installed. Despite this exGENT version 170407 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 170407.

What’s new in exGENT Build 170407?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. I started this build in the hope that I should be able to implement a new independent installer program called Calamares. I wasn’t able to do it now though. (Many dependencies to satisfy). My old installer script will have to do until I find a solution. Anyway, I think exGENT Build 170407 can be of interest because of the change to Grub2 and the fact that it has one of the newest kernels installed. MOST IMPORTANT: In versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Etcher and Rufus in Windows. Watch a screenshot when Etcher is running. Such installations were impossible before. Note: I have uninstalled Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix runs very well in Firefox now. I’ve also added the LXQt 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. You can choose between Xfce4 and LXQt when logging in at Slim’s login screen. Just press F1.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.10.4-aufs-gentoo-exton-big corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 4.10.4.

Programs etc
The best thing with exGENT is the premier autodetection of hardware and the ability to easily install the system to hard drive during a live session. Installed programs: Among many others GParted, GNU Emacs, Firefox, Spotify, Thunderbird, Samba, Vlc, AbiWord, Nvidia Graphics driver 375.39 and NetworkManager. Furthermore compilation tools so that you can install programs from source the Gentoo way.

History
The predecessor to exGENT, Exton-Gentoo, was built completely from scratch. I.e. all its programs were compiled from source. As for exGENT version 111019 I did “cheat” a bit. I.e. exGENT version 111019 was based on another Gentoo-based distribution, but I changed (almost) everything. The changes were so great that virtually nothing was left of the original distribution. In exGENT version 120814, 130215, 130318, 130415, 130423, 130926, 131017, 131028, 131129, 140207, 140210, 140212, 141205, 141227, 160123, 170209, 170303, 130309, 170331 and 170407 I’m back to building from source.

Quick install to Hard Drive
exGENT Linux can be installed to hard drive in 3 – 10 min. (Depending on computer type). This means that all of you who might hesitate to perform a normal Gentoo installation – which can take up to a couple of days – now have the chance to get this great Linux system (Gentoo) installed on your computers very easy. Read below on how the installation works.

UPGRADE the System
The exGENT System (version 170407) is in very good shape, since I, without problems, have been able to update the whole system with the following commands:

# emerge –ask –update –newuse –deep –with-bdeps=y @world
# emerge –depclean
# revdep-rebuild

NOTE: Before running the above three commands you’ll have to run the commands emerge –sync followed by emerge —oneshot portage

SPOTIFY
You can easy and quick install Spotify in exGENT. Just run the command emerge spotify. The installation takes about 1 min.
NOTE: Spotify is pre-installed in Build 170407.

Rolling distribution
Gentoo/exGENT is a rolling distribution, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world).

Default language
The default language (locale) is set to English.

Keyboard
The default keyboard layout is American (us). Change it by running the command setxkbmap se (for Sweden).

Configure X
Normally X is configured automatically during startup from the disc (dvd). On one of my computers with an Nvidia card (GeForce GTX 550 Ti) I had to change the boot line to look like this:
kernel /boot/vmlinuz real_root=/dev/loop0 \
looptype=squashfs loop=/livecd.squashfs initrd nomodeset \
udev nodevfs cdroot

NVIDIA
I have also installed Nvidia Graphics driver 375.39 in this version of exGENT. It has support for the following GPUs: Quadro GP 100, Quadro P4000, Quadro 1200, Quadro 2200, Quadro M3000 SE, Quadro K1200, Quadro M6000, GeForce 920M, GeForce 930A, GeForce 930M, GeForce 940M, GeForce GTX 950M, GeForce GTX 960M and GeForce GTX TITAN X. This driver will be used automatically if your card is supported.

Install exGENT to hard drive
Please read this INSTRUCTION.

Install exGENT to a USB stick
Please read this INSTRUCTION. This can be done in the same way as a hard drive installation.

Porthole
You can (if you like) use Porthole Package Manager (after a hard drive/USB pen drive install). Porthole is preinstalled in exGENT version 170407. Porthole is a front-end for Portage, the Gentoo Package management system. It allows you to browse through available software packages and install them easy as pie.

Login and passwords
Log in to Xfce4 – version 170407: When you start up your computer from the dvd you will end up at Slim’s login screen. Log in as the ordinary user live with password live or as root with password root. Screenshot of the login screen. You can choose between Xfce4 and LXQt when logging in at Slim’s login screen. Just press F1.

GO FOR IT!
You’ll run exGENT super fast in RAM. (Version 170407). The launch from the dvd becomes a little slow, but then… A wonderful way to run Linux if you have enough RAM. You’ll need at least 3 GB.

Wireless connections
NetworkManager make it easy to configure wireless connections. Give your WEP/WAP password and connect. That’s it! You’ll find the NM-applet to the right in the panel. Check the name of your interfaces with the command iwconfig (as root).

Changing the root password
If you install exGENT to hard drive you must/should immediately (for security reasons) manually change root’s password. This is because the installation script does not ask about a new root password. The root password is changed by running the command sudo passwd root.

Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

What happened to the 32 bit version?
Please note that the 32 bit version of exGENT from December 2014 won’t be upgraded. I have deleted the ISO file from the servers. Almost no downloads! I guess 32 bit Linux systems are out of fashion nowadays.

Screenshots
exGENT running Nvidia config
exGENT running Brasero
exGENT running Samba
exGENT running Spotify – in Xfce4
exGENT running Spotify – in LXQt
exGENT running in VirtualBox
exGENT running in VMware (installation to virtual hard drive)
exGENT running Firefox and Netflix

DOWNLOAD
This version of exGENT has been replaced by version 180410…

exGENT, exton, Gentoo, Linux

Yet another version of exGENT Live (Gentoo Linux) – now with kernel 4.10.4 – Build 170331

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NEWS 20170331 about exGENT
I’ve made yet a new version (20170331) of exGENT based on Gentoo Linux. It uses Xfce 4.12.1 and kernel 4.10.4. It is for the 64 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2017 Xfce4 Live DVD. It replaces version 20170309. The ISO file is of 2630 MB due to the fact that this version has a lot of packages pre-installed. Despite this exGENT version 170331 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 170331. (Took me a couple of days to do).

What’s new in exGENT Build 170331?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. I started this build in the hope that I should be able to implement a new independent installer program called Calamares. I wasn’t able to do it now though. (Many dependencies to satisfy). My old installer script will have to do until I find a solution. Anyway, I think exGENT Build 170331 can be of interest because of the change to Grub2 and the fact that it has one of the newest kernels installed. MOST IMPORTANT: In versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Etcher and Rufus in Windows. Watch a screenshot when Etcher is running. Such installations were impossible before. Note: I have uninstalled Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix runs very well in Firefox now.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.10.4-aufs-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 4.10.4.

Programs etc
The best thing with exGENT is the premier autodetection of hardware and the ability to easily install the system to hard drive during a live session. Installed programs: Among many others GParted, GNU Emacs, Firefox, Spotify, Thunderbird, Samba, Vlc, AbiWord, Nvidia Graphics driver 375.39 and NetworkManager. Furthermore compilation tools so that you can install programs from source the Gentoo way. (After the installation to hard drive).

History
The predecessor to exGENT, Exton-Gentoo, was built completely from scratch. I.e. all its programs were compiled from source. As for exGENT version 111019 I did “cheat” a bit. I.e. exGENT version 111019 was based on another Gentoo-based distribution, but I changed (almost) everything. The changes were so great that virtually nothing was left of the original distribution. In exGENT version 120814, 130215, 130318, 130415, 130423, 130926, 131017, 131028, 131129, 140207, 140210, 140212, 141205, 141227, 160123, 170209, 170303, 130309 and 170331 I’m back to building from source.

Quick install to Hard Drive
exGENT Linux can be installed to hard drive in 3 – 10 min. (Depending on computer type). This means that all of you who might hesitate to perform a normal Gentoo installation – which can take up to a couple of days – now have the chance to get this great Linux system (Gentoo) installed on your computers very easy. Read below on how the installation works.

UPGRADE the System
The exGENT System (version 170331) is in very good shape, since I, without problems, have been able to update the whole system with the following commands:

# emerge –ask –update –newuse –deep –with-bdeps=y @world
# emerge –depclean
# revdep-rebuild

NOTE: Before running the above three commands you’ll have to run the commands emerge –sync followed by emerge —oneshot portage

SPOTIFY
You can easy and quick install Spotify in exGENT. Just run the command emerge spotify. The installation takes about 1 min.
NOTE: Spotify is pre-installed in Build 170331.

Rolling distribution
Gentoo/exGENT is a rolling distribution, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world).

Default language
The default language (locale) is set to English.

Keyboard
The default keyboard layout is American (us). Change it by running the command setxkbmap se (for Sweden).

Configure X
Normally X is configured automatically during startup from the disc (dvd). On one of my computers with an Nvidia card (GeForce GTX 550 Ti) I had to change the boot line to look like this:
kernel /boot/vmlinuz real_root=/dev/loop0 \
looptype=squashfs loop=/livecd.squashfs initrd nomodeset \
udev nodevfs cdroot

NVIDIA
I have also installed Nvidia Graphics driver 375.39 in this version of exGENT. It has support for the following GPUs: Quadro GP 100, Quadro P4000, Quadro 1200, Quadro 2200, Quadro M3000 SE, Quadro K1200, Quadro M6000, GeForce 920M, GeForce 930A, GeForce 930M, GeForce 940M, GeForce GTX 950M, GeForce GTX 960M and GeForce GTX TITAN X. This driver will be used automatically if your card is supported.

Install exGENT to hard drive
Please read this INSTRUCTION.

Install exGENT to a USB stick
Please read this INSTRUCTION. This can be done in the same way as a hard drive installation.

Porthole
You can (if you like) use Porthole Package Manager (after a hard drive/USB pen drive install). Porthole is preinstalled in exGENT version 170331. Porthole is a front-end for Portage, the Gentoo Package management system. It allows you to browse through available software packages and install them easy as pie. You can for example install the LXDE Desktop Environment (in version 170331). It will look like this.

Login and passwords
Log in to Xfce4 – version 170331: When you start up your computer from the dvd you will end up at Slim’s login screen. Log in as the ordinary user live with password live or as root with password root. Screenshot of the login screen.

GO FOR IT!
You’ll run exGENT super fast in RAM. (Version 170331). The launch from the dvd becomes a little slow, but then… A wonderful way to run Linux if you have enough RAM. You’ll need at least 3 GB.

Wireless connections
NetworkManager make it easy to configure wireless connections. Give your WEP/WAP password and connect. That’s it! You’ll find the NM-applet to the right in the panel. Check the name of your interfaces with the command iwconfig (as root).

Changing the root password
If you install exGENT to hard drive you must/should immediately (for security reasons) manually change root’s password. This is because the installation script does not ask about a new root password. The root password is changed by running the command sudo passwd root.

Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

What happened to the 32 bit version?
Please note that the 32 bit version of exGENT from December 2014 won’t be upgraded. I have deleted the ISO file from the servers. Almost no downloads! I guess 32 bit Linux systems are out of fashion nowadays.

Screenshots
exGENT running Nvidia config
exGENT running Brasero
exGENT running Samba
exGENT running Spotify
exGENT running in VirtualBox
exGENT running in VMware (installation to virtual hard drive)
exGENT running Google Chrome and Netflix

DOWNLOAD
This version (170331) has been replaced by version 170407.

exGENT, exton, Gentoo, Linux

exGENT (Gentoo) 64 bit Linux Live DVD

1 Comment

NEWS 20170309 about exGENT
I’ve made yet a new version (20170309) of exGENT based on Gentoo Linux. It uses  Xfce 4.12.1 and kernel 4.9.12. It is for the 64 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2017 Xfce4 Live DVD. It replaces version 20170303. The ISO file is of 2670 MB due to the fact that this version has a lot of packages pre-installed. Despite this exGENT version 170309 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 170309.

What’s new in exGENT Build 170309?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. I started this build in the hope that I should be able to implement a new independent installer program called Calamares. I wasn’t able to do it now though. (Many dependencies to satisfy). My old installer script will have to do until I find a solution. Anyway, I think exGENT Build 170309 can be of interest because of the change to Grub2 and the fact that it has one of the newest kernels installed. MOST IMPORTANT: In versions before this one (170309) the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Etcher and Rufus in Windows. Watch a screenshot when Etcher is running. Such installations were impossible before.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.9.12-aufs-gentoo-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 4.9.12.

Programs etc
The best thing with exGENT is the premier autodetection of hardware and the ability to easily install the system to hard drive during a live session. Installed programs: Among many others GParted, GNU Emacs, Firefox, Google Chrome, Spotify, Thunderbird, Samba, Vlc, AbiWord, Nvidia Graphics driver 375.39 and NetworkManager. Furthermore compilation tools so that you can install programs from source the Gentoo way. (After the installation to hard drive).

History
The predecessor to exGENT, Exton-Gentoo, was built completely from scratch. I.e. all its programs were compiled from source. As for exGENT version 111019 I did “cheat” a bit. I.e. exGENT version 111019 was based on another Gentoo-based distribution, but I changed (almost) everything. The changes were so great that virtually nothing was left of the original distribution. In exGENT version 120814, 130215, 130318, 130415, 130423, 130926, 131017, 131028, 131129, 140207, 140210, 140212, 141205, 141227, 160123, 170209, 170303 and 170309 I’m back to building from source.

Quick install to Hard Drive
exGENT Linux can be installed to hard drive in 3 – 10 min. (Depending on computer type). This means that all of you who might hesitate to perform a normal Gentoo installation – which can take up to a couple of days – now have the chance to get this great Linux system (Gentoo) installed on your computers very easy. Read below on how the installation works.

UPGRADE the System
The exGENT System (version 170309) is in very good shape, since I, without problems, have been able to update the whole system with the following commands:

# emerge –ask –update –newuse –deep –with-bdeps=y @world
# emerge –depclean
# revdep-rebuild

NOTE: Before running the above three commands you’ll have to run the commands emerge  –sync followed by emerge —oneshot portage

SPOTIFY
You can easy and quick install Spotify in exGENT. Just run the command emerge spotify. The installation takes about 1 min.
NOTE: Spotify is pre-installed in Build 170309.

Google Chrome
To be able to run Netflix in exGENT you’ll need Google Chrome. Just install it with the command emerge –ask www-client/google-chrome
Screenshot 1
Screenshot 2
Screenshot 3 – Netflix is running
NOTE: Google Chrome is pre-installed in Build 170309.

Rolling distribution
Gentoo/exGENT is a rolling distribution, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world).

Default language
The default language (locale) is set to English.

Keyboard
The default keyboard layout is American (us). Change it by running the command setxkbmap se (for Sweden).

Configure X
Normally X is configured automatically during startup from the disc (dvd). On one of my computers with an Nvidia card (GeForce GTX 550 Ti) I had to change the boot line to look like this:
kernel /boot/vmlinuz real_root=/dev/loop0 \
looptype=squashfs loop=/livecd.squashfs initrd nomodeset \
udev nodevfs cdroot

NVIDIA
I have also installed Nvidia Graphics driver 375.39 in this version of exGENT. It has support for the following GPUs: Quadro GP 100, Quadro P4000, Quadro 1200, Quadro 2200, Quadro M3000 SE, Quadro K1200, Quadro M6000, GeForce 920M, GeForce 930A, GeForce 930M, GeForce 940M, GeForce GTX 950M, GeForce GTX 960M and GeForce GTX TITAN X. This driver will be used automatically if your card is supported.

Install exGENT to hard drive
Please read this INSTRUCTION.

Install exGENT to a USB stick
Please read this INSTRUCTION. This can be done in the same way as a hard drive installation.

Porthole
You can (if you like) use Porthole Package Manager (after a hard drive/USB pen drive install). Porthole is preinstalled in exGENT version 170309. Porthole is a front-end for Portage, the Gentoo Package management system. It allows you to browse through available software packages and install them easy as pie. You can for example install the LXDE Desktop Environment (in version 170309). It will look like this.

Login and passwords
Log in to Xfce4 – version 170309: When you start up your computer from the dvd you will end up at Slim’s login screen. Log in as the ordinary user live with password live or as root with password root. Screenshot of the login screen.

GO FOR IT!
You’ll run exGENT super fast in RAM. (Version 170309). The launch from the dvd becomes a little slow, but then… A wonderful way to run Linux if you have enough RAM. You’ll need at least 3 GB.

Wireless connections
NetworkManager make it easy to configure wireless connections. Give your WEP/WAP password and connect. That’s it! You’ll find the NM-applet to the right in the panel. Check the name of your interfaces with the command iwconfig (as root).

Changing the root password
If you install exGENT to hard drive you must/should immediately (for security reasons) manually change root’s password. This is because the installation script does not ask about a new root password. The root password is changed by running the command sudo passwd root.

Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

What happened to the 32 bit version?
Please note that the 32 bit version of exGENT from December 2014 won’t be upgraded. I have deleted the ISO file from the servers. Almost no downloads! I guess 32 bit Linux systems are out of fashion nowadays.

Screenshots
exGENT running Nvidia config
exGENT running Brasero
exGENT running Samba
exGENT running Spotify
exGENT running in VirtualBox
exGENT running in VMware (installation to virtual hard drive)
exGENT running Google Chrome and Netflix

DOWNLOAD
This version (170309) has been replaced by version 170407.