Linux live distro for netbooks

Low-priced netbooks have often only 1 Gb of ram.
This makes them difficult to use with many
Linux distros from USB as live systems, working
in ram only, either because they are too big or
too old, when used with wireless LAN.
The new version of Peppermint Two could be a
working possibility.
It is based on the current Ubuntu 11.04, or
to be more precise, on Linux Mint 11 with the
Lubuntu desktop LXDE.
The size of the distro for 32 bit is only 442 MB.
The needed Office applications and other needed
programs can be installed easily as the case arises
using the Synaptic apps manager.
Besides that, the distro is optimally prepared
for cloud computing, if this is wanted, using
the Ice SSB application.

Download from here :

http://peppermintos.info/dl1/Peppermint-Two-i386-06052011.iso

and burn the iso to a CD. Do not simply copy it there,
but use the special menu entry command for burning
an iso file in your CD burning program.

Start the cd as a live distro in ram on your desktop computer.
When the desktop comes up, start Synaptic in the menu
System Tools and search for usb-creator.
Mark for installation:
usb-creator-common and usb-creator-gtk
and press Apply.
There will be a new menu entry "StartupDiskCreator"
in the menu System Tools.
Use it to create a bootable USB stick.
On small sticks there will one single partition be
created, on bigger sticks, a second partition for a
persistent home folder is possible.
Make sure that only one stick is in use, to avoid
erasing any unwanted files. Check also the size
of the stick.
The bootable stick with Peppermint should be
ready in only a couple of minutes.
It can then be used to start Linux in ram only
without harddisk installation on your netbook.
If it should only boot Windows, and show no
boot screen, the necessary F key, for example F12
(depending on the netbook brand) must be pressed
when booting.
If the boot menu does not show an entry for the
USB drive, this should be enabled changing the
boot menu, often by pressing F2, when booting
(depending on the netbook brand).

P.S.
For office purposes, Abiword and Gnumeric, which
are normally sized programs, are often sufficient.
If you really need the huge OpenOffice (now LibreOffice),
it is advisable downloading the install debs only
using Synaptic, and transfer them from the folder
/var/cache/apt/archives to a folder on a second USB stick,
to save ram space, and install them from there, writing
in the LX-terminal

sudo dpkg -i -R --force-depends /path-to-the-USB-folder

You can do that in a similar way for many other apps.

You can of course use K-Meleon as your browser after installing
wine with Synaptic. Simply copy it to tha USB stick and
add the necessary dll runtimes into the main K-Meleon folder.
For 1.5 versions these are mfc71u.dll, msvcp71.dll and msvcr71.dll .
For 1.6 versions download and install MSvce8dist.exe from

http://jujuland.pagesperso-orange.fr/

Install it with

wine /your-path-to/MSvce8dist.exe

Start K-Meleon with

wine /your-path-to-K-Meleon-folder/k-meleon.exe

(or sometimes K-Meleon.exe in some versions, because in
Linux capital letters are recognized as such).
This command can of course be added to the start menu.

Fred

P.S.

When installing wine in Synaptic, select wine1.0
and not the newer wine1.2.2, because the latter
has much too many dependencies, and will consume
much more space in your ram.
When the installation bar seems to stop, click
on the button "details" and confirm the Microsoft EULA
concerning the installation of MScorefonts.

Fred

Some other new linux distros serviceable for the purpose :

PCLinuxOS 2011.07 "KDE MiniMe" (size 460Mb, Kernel 2.6.38.8)

http://ftp.heanet.ie/mirrors/pclinuxos/live-cd/pclinuxos-kde-minime-2011.07.iso

PapugLinux 11.1 (size 258Mb, Kernel 2.6.38.4)

http://dl.papuglinux.net/releases/papuglinux-11.1a.iso

both small enough to use in live mode in ram only, and having
new Kernels with the necessary wireless drivers
for new netbooks. All of the mentioned live distros can
of course also be installed on the hard-drive, if this is wanted.

Fred

For people who are interested in Puppy Linux,
a variation that works with recent netbooks would be
Icepuppy 0.14 . Size 236Mb, Kernel 2.6.38.
This Puppy variation is a quite complete live distro.

http://smokey01.com/pemasu/IcePuppy-014/icepuppy-014.iso

To create a bootable USB stick with a live Linux distro
Windows users can use for example Unetbootin.

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/unetbootin-windows-latest.exe

Although Puppy Linux works by default always as root,
there is a user "spot" preconfigured. You can always start
an application as user spot, starting it in a console
owned by user spot. To open such a console, click on the
"console" icon on the desktop, and type into the root console

xterm -e su spot

This will open a console used by user spot. Into this
console type, for example
wine /opt/K-Meleon/k-meleon.exe
if this would be the correct path where your k-meleon.exe is,
to start K-Meleon as user spot.
Personally I think, that all apps going to the internet
should be started as user spot, as it is the case for browsers
and music players for streamed media, although the vast majority
of Puppy users consider the security risk as root to be very small.
You can also create icons which start an app as user spot,
writing a shell script, for example KM.sh, containing the line

xterm -e su spot -c 'wine /opt/K-Meleon/k-meleon.exe'

(use your correct path to k-meleon.exe here)

Make the shell script executable and drag the shell script icon
from the ROX file manager to the desktop.
You can also edit the start menu using the command from the
shell script.

Wine can be installed downloading

http://openlab.jp/puppylinux/download/packages-stray/himajin/wine-1.3.2-i486.pet

Click on the downloaded file in ROX filer as root to install it.
(Downloading Gecko, when asked, is not necessary.)

You can save your system changes on the USB stick automatically when
asked about it at system shutdown.

Fred

P.S. to Icepuppy commands

Instead of

xterm -e su spot -c 'wine /opt/K-Meleon/k-meleon.exe'

a command of the form

su -c 'wine /opt/K-Meleon/k-meleon.exe' spot

can easier be used, and will avoid the opening
of the terminal window before K-Meleon opens.
Of course the path to the exe must be adapted to the
location of the exe in your system.
The commands can be used for icons or in the menu of
the included window managers jwm or icewm.
To switch the window managers use the menu entry

Desktop > Desktop Settings > WM Switcher

In icewm its easy to add keyboard shortcuts in the file

/root/.icewm/keys

To add a personal submenu for added personal programs
which are not added automatically by using a Puppy pet file,
the line

menufile mymenu folder mymenu

can be added to the file

/root/.icewm/menu

You can then create a file mymenu and put it into

/root/.icewm/

The structure of the file mymenu would have to
be the same as the file menu, with lines as, for example

prog "spot K-Meleon" "" su -c 'wine /opt/K-Meleon/k-meleon.exe' spot

If you have only few added personal programs, you can
also simply add the line to the existing file menu.

To open wireless lan, use the menu entry

Setup > Internet Connection Wizard



Fred

Hardware compatibility, ease of use, the size of a software repository. These three attributes are unique to each Linux distribution. But at the same time, each Linux distribution is at liberty to take and mix whatever it wants from any other.

One good way to combine pleasant user experience with low system footprint is to use e17 as windows manager/desktop environment (Enlightenment really stands between this two states).
Being highly customizable and basically using compact fonts and graphics, e17 is good choice for netbooks with low display resolition.

So, there are some pretty distros with e17:
- Bodhi
- elive (debian based)
- MacPup (Puppy derivative, just ~130mb iso)
- PcLOSe17 (unofficial)
- sabayon 7 e17
- OpenGEU&MoonOS (partly outdated but fully usable)
- Humanity (unite-17)
ans so on...

And all of them worth a try.

A new Linux distro useable as live distro without harddisk
installation to use live in netbooks with only 1 Gb ram has
been released :

Porteus 1.1 (size 255 Mb, Kernel 2.6.38.8)

It is the unofficial successor of the Slax distro, which is
at the moment dormant, because there are no updates available
anymore.
Unlike Slax, where a normal user had to be added manually,
Porteus starts as normal user guest.
To act as root, type su for superuser in a terminal, and
change the passwords for root and for guest immediately,
with the commands passwd root and passwd guest.
The original password for root is toor, for guest it is guest.
There is an instruction about installation to a USB stick
on the cdrom.
Files which are added to the folder rootcopy on the boot medium
are copied automatically to the booted system at the defined
location in the system (for example the content of rootcopy/opt
will be copied to /opt in the system).

Download here :

http://ponce.cc/porteus/i486/current/Porteus-v1.1-i486.iso

Md5sum : cc3732501aeb03524b890a00b36936d6

Fred

Correction of typo : Kernel of Porteus is the new 3.1.8 .

Fred

Quality reviews of several Linux Distros can be found here (below the icons):
http://www.dedoimedo.com/computer_software.html



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 02/11/2012 09:47AM by panzer.

WattOS:

http://www.planetwatt.com/

" ... Generally speaking any computer made in the last 10-12 years should have no problems running wattOS. I have personally run it on anything from 366MHZ and up. The live CD environment typically needs 256MB to run reliably to install, but once install is done, it will use much less... Some have installed with less RAM, but your results or time to install will vary.... Typically consuming between 100-120MB of RAM once your on a hard drive and running it natively in your computer ..."

EasyPeasy:
http://www.geteasypeasy.com/

Aurora OS:
http://www.auroraos.org/

Meego:
https://meego.com/



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/06/2012 10:41AM by panzer.

A new very small Linux distro useable as a live distro without harddisk
installation to use live in netbooks with only 1 Gb ram would be :

CDlinux-0.9.7.1 (Standard edition, size 92 Mb, Kernel 3.2.11)

This standard version is sufficient for Internet browsing,
because it has a new Networkmanager for wireless network now.
There is also a Commnuity version CDlinux_CE-0.9.7.1, which includes
Abiword, Gnumeric and Gimp and various additional programs, but
it is of a bit bigger size (288 Mb), which leaves less space
in RAM for surfing. Wine is also already in the community edition.

Download here :

https://sourceforge.net/projects/cd-linux/files/CDlinux-ISO/0.9.7.1/CDlinux-0.9.7.1.iso/download

Infos available from the FAQ here: http://www.cdlinux.info/wiki/doku.php/doc/faq/index

How to install to an USB stick here : http://www.cdlinux.info/wiki/doku.php/doc/faq/inst_wo_burn

To get wine for the standard edition, where it is not included, install

http://sourceforge.net/projects/wine/files/Slackware%20Packages/1.1.10/wine-1.1.10-i486-1kjz.tgz/download

which is a bit smaller, and still packed in the tar.gz format.


After downloading it to /home/cdl , install it, writing in the Terminal emulator the command

sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/wine-1.1.10-i486-1kjz.tgz

Install K-Meleon to /home/cdl

and start it in Terminal emulator with the command

wine /home/cdl/pathtothekmeleon.exe (depending of the K-Meleon version).

To have music and video on the standard edition, I would recommend xine,
download files from here:

http://linuxpackages.cs.utah.edu//Slackware-11.0/ken/xine-lib-1.1.7-i486-1kjz.tgz
md5sum is 37fc79a540da4df606bec4a1a0fc78d0

http://linuxpackages.cs.utah.edu//Slackware-11.0/ken/xine-ui-0.99.5-i486-1kjz.tgz
mdrsum is 4b195015a07290e1a2fddc6b37544392

http://linuxpackages.cs.utah.edu//Slackware-10.0/pcxz/kde/3.3.2/new_dependence/libidn/libidn-0.5.12-i486-1pcx.tgz
md5sum is ed0f7a3679604d606be835057be525fb

http://linuxpackages.cs.utah.edu//Slackware-10.2/jay/libpng/libpng-1.2.12-i686-1jto.tgz
md5sum is 554b8c466bf9d74fd11462e25ea05e61


Check md5sums in the Terminal emulator with the command

md5sum /home/cdl/packagename.tgz

Install it in Terminal emulator with the commands

___________________________________________________________

sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/xine-lib-1.1.7-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/xine-ui-0.99.5-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/libidn-0.5.12-i486-1pcx.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/libpng-1.2.12-i686-1jto.tgz
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libxine.so.1.17.1 /usr/lib/libxine.so.1
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libcurl.so.4.2.0 /usr/lib/libcurl.so.3
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0.1.2.12 /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libidn.so.11.5.5 /usr/lib/libidn.so.11
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libssl.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libssl.so.0
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.0

_______________________________________________________________

The lines with "ln -sf" link newer libraries to older requested ones.

Start xine in Terminal emulator with the command xine.
If you get no sound, check if your headphone is plugged in, and unplug it.
To get headphone and speakers, start in Terminal emulator alsamixer
and disable Auto-Mute, if this switch is present, when scrolling to the right.

Most of the needed codecs should already be included.

Your downloaded files and all of the folder /home/cdl would be stored
in the folder CDlinux/settings on your USB stick during shutdown, and restored
in /home/cdl at boot time.

To write e start script for all, start the editor leafpad as administrator with

sudo leafpad

and write in leafpad (the same as above):

___________________


sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/xine-lib-1.1.7-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/xine-ui-0.99.5-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/libidn-0.5.12-i486-1pcx.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/libpng-1.2.12-i686-1jto.tgz
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libxine.so.1.17.1 /usr/lib/libxine.so.1
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libcurl.so.4.2.0 /usr/lib/libcurl.so.3
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0.1.2.12 /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libidn.so.11.5.5 /usr/lib/libidn.so.11
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libssl.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libssl.so.0
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.0

__________________

and save the file in the folder /cdl/home/Desktop
as Startscript.sh ,
to have it available on the Desktop later.

Make the script executable, writing in Terminal Emulator :

sudo chmod 755 /home/cdl/Desktop/Startscript.sh

After booting the next time, simply start the script,
doubleclicking on it.

A really small Linux distro for surfing.

Fred

P.S.

I forgot a needed symlink for wine.
After installing wine, write in
Terminal Emulator the command :

sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libwine.so.1.0 /usr/lib/libwine.so.1

To include wine install in the Startscript.sh ,
write in leafpad
_________________________________

sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/wine-1.1.10-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libwine.so.1.0 /usr/lib/libwine.so.1
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/xine-lib-1.1.7-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/xine-ui-0.99.5-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/libpng-1.2.12-i686-1jto.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/libidn-0.5.12-i486-1pcx.tgz
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libxine.so.1.17.1 /usr/lib/libxine.so.1
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libcurl.so.4.2.0 /usr/lib/libcurl.so.3
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0.1.2.12 /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libidn.so.11.5.5 /usr/lib/libidn.so.11
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libssl.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libssl.so.0
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.0

__________________________________

and save the file in the folder /cdl/home/Desktop
as Startscript.sh ,

Don't forget to make the script executable, writing
in Terminal Emulator :

sudo chmod 755 /home/cdl/Desktop/Startscript.sh

Fred

An easy way to make a bootable USB stick from Windows
is to use Unetbooting.
It supports any downloaded iso .
Download here :

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Fred

I found out, that wine 1.1.10 has problems with flash.
It works better with wine 1.3.12 . which is the last version
packed as tgz, all newer ones are packed as txz.

Download here :

http://sourceforge.net/projects/wine/files/Slackware%20Packages/1.3.12/wine-1.3.12-i486-1kjz.tgz/download

The Startscript.sh would then be as follows :
______________________________________________

sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/wine-1.3.12-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libwine.so.1.0 /usr/lib/libwine.so.1
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libwine.so.1.0 /usr/lib/libwine.so
sudo ln -sf /usr/bin/winegcc /usr/bin/wineg++
sudo ln -sf /usr/bin/winegcc /usr/bin/winecpp
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/xine-lib-1.1.7-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/xine-ui-0.99.5-i486-1kjz.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/libpng-1.2.12-i686-1jto.tgz
sudo tar -C / -zxf /home/cdl/libidn-0.5.12-i486-1pcx.tgz
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libxine.so.1.17.1 /usr/lib/libxine.so.1
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libcurl.so.4.2.0 /usr/lib/libcurl.so.3
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0.1.2.12 /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libidn.so.11.5.5 /usr/lib/libidn.so.11
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libssl.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libssl.so.0
sudo ln -sf /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.1.0.0 /usr/lib/libcrypto.so.0

_______________________________________________________________

Fred

http://delicate-linux.net/

Minimum requirements:
CPU : i386 (or compatible)
RAM : 8MB (console only) / 14MB (with GUI)
HDD : 300MB

Recommended configuration:
CPU : Pentium MMX 233MHz (up to Pentium III)
RAM : 64MB
HDD : 4GB

Joli OS:
http://www.jolicloud.com/jolios

ArchPup:

- packman as a default package manager
- needs around 50 MB of memory on idle
- really fast
- takes less than 80 MB of disk space
- persistance option for USB
- possible (and easy) frugal install on HD or USB

http://sourceforge.net/projects/archpup/

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=131519484&t=82494
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=671851#671851
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?search_id=131519484&t=83773



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/19/2013 07:34AM by panzer.

^{Another Puplet from murga:}



specially for netbooks and novices - Magoo



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2013 08:29AM by rodocop.

AlphaOS (previously ArchPup) - Puppy Linux fork with everything compiled from scratch using custom spkg package manager and offering bleeding edge software. Latest toolchain at this moment is used: glibc-2.17, gcc-4.7.2, binutils-2.23.1 and kernel 3.8.2. Goal is to provide pleasant user experience with great openbox window manager, automatic menu update and high quality packages:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/alphaos/

Beautiful piece of software!

Puppy is the Genius OS!

LXLE:

* Light on resources; Heavy on functions.
* Always based on Ubuntu/Lubuntu LTS.
* Uses an optimized LXDE user interface.
* Four familiar desktop layout paradigms.
* Prudent full featured Apps preinstalled.
* The latest versions of all major software.
* Added PPA's extends available software.
* Updated Openbox, PCmanfm, OpenJDK
* Fast Forecast, Aero Snap, Quick Launch
* Random Wallpaper, Panel Trash access
* Theme consistency throughout system.
* 50 gorgeous wallpapers preinstalled.
* Numerous other tweaks/additions.
* Stable and rock solid performance.
* 32 and 64 bit OS versions available.
* Boots & is online in less than 1 minute.

http://lxle.net/
http://sourceforge.net/projects/lxle/

ArchBang is a simple GNU/Linux rolling release distribution which provides you with a lightweight Arch Linux system combined with the Openbox Window Manager. Suitable for both desktop and portable systems – It is fast, stable, and always up to date:
http://wiki.archbang.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

CrunchBang is a Debian GNU/Linux based distribution offering a great blend of speed, style and substance. Using the nimble Openbox window manager, it is highly customisable and provides a modern, full-featured GNU/Linux system without sacrificing performance:
http://crunchbang.org/

Semplice is a GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian unstable ("sid") with the goal to provide a simple, fast, lightweight and cool environment:
http://semplice-linux.org/

KANOTIX is a Linux distribution based on the latest stable release of Debian GNU/Linux. It is built on top of a latest kernel which is carefully patched with fixes and drivers for most modern hardware (has option for persistence option for USB built-in - you will see the icon for it on Desktop):
http://www.kanotix.com/

SolydX is a Debian based distribution with the Xfce desktop. It intends to be as light-weight as possible without giving up any of the expected functionality:
http://solydxk.com/homeedition/solydx/



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 02/01/2014 10:38AM by panzer.

LinuxBBQ is happy to announce the follow-up to Darksight/Lightside. This is "Sidbang", a shameless rip off "Crunchbang Waldorf", featuring the newest kernels and optionally systemd. Sidbang comes in four flavours: i486, i686-non-PAE, i686-PAE and amd64. Additionally, there is a RoastYourOwn version for distromakers, coming as i486. Kernels from liquorix and siduction can be installed and upgraded with "get-kernel" and "smxi". Differences to Waldorf are:

- based on Debian sid
- kernels: 3.12-8 (except i486 that comes with 3.12-1)
- no GTK-3 applications, minimal dependencies
- no SLiM login manager (replaced by bbqlogin)
- systemd or sysvinit as init system
- BBQ tools for the terminal
- Network configuration happens via "sudo ceni" !!
- GIMP and GNU Office are installable via pipe-menu
- * xcalc and xdpf replace galculator and evince, mirage replaces viewnior
- preconfigured framebuffer session
- ISO size below 500MB
- RoastYourOwn version: "Crunchbang 9.04 Lite" applications, no GTK3 dependencies
- installable from inside the live session

http://www.linuxbbq.org/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1043



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/20/2014 09:16AM by panzer.

antiX is a fast, lightweight and easy to install linux live CD distribution based on Debian Testing:
http://antix.mepis.org/index.php?title=Main_Page

hello. distr.os are coming out quicker than i can download and trial.
2014-november 23, final: siduction 14.1.0 indiansummer

Crunchbang++ (version 1.0 is out):
https://crunchbangplusplus.org/

Peppermint Five (Lubuntu custom derivate)
http://peppermintos.com/

Slitaz 5.0
http://www.slitaz.org/en/

Simplicity Netbook (and other editions) - XFCE-based puplet
http://simplicitylinux.org/

Porteus 3 - one more frugal-installable distro
http://www.porteus.org/

Puppyrus-A - modul Puppy adapted for Arch Linux package base (for russian-speaking users)
http://www.puppyrus.org/~melvik/puppyrus/ftp/puppyrus/puppyrus-a/pra03/iso/1504/

"... Absolute is a x86 Linux distribution based upon Slackware. It concentrates on "desktop" use so that it is ready for internet, multimedia, document and general home use out of the box. Absolute is lightweight -- meaning 2 things: that it can run on on older hardware and that the OS interface stays out of your way ...":
http://www.absolutelinux.org/