India Broadband Forum

puchu

Hey friends I am leaving for home today. I will not be able to post the Fedora review at the earliest. It would be great if anybody can do it for me or else I will be back by 8th , then I will do it.

And BTW try elive "live CD". It is something different.

shady911

Almost two years since the appearance of version 4.0, aka Etch, the Debian development team have released version 5.0 (Lenny).

For the first time in a stable release, the graphical Debian Installer is included in the distribution. This is likely to prove particularly appealing to Linux beginners, who are put off by the standard text mode installer. Text mode remains the default mode though and users preferring to use the graphical version must explicitly select it in the boot menu.

Don't expect too much from the graphical Debian Installer – it's little more than a mouse-driven version of the text mode programme, spruced up with a few graphical elements. The hard drive partitioning function is just as spartan and as unclear as the text version. The Debian Installer does not include the kind of user-friendly dialogues, or graphical overviews found in, for example, the Debian derived distributions. Bootloader installation is unnecessarily cryptic under Debian Lenny. If you wish to save Grub into the boot sector of the root partition, you have to enter the installation path in Grub notation, which, due to its particular way of counting, can be a challenge, even for experienced Linux users. According to the release notes for Debian Lenny, Grub no longer uses the device name to assign the root partition, but instead the UUID of the file system – in fact it is the disk ID (disk by ID) which is entered. This means that if a restore is performed following a hard drive error, it is necessary to re-edit the Grub configuration before Lenny is able to reboot. On the plus side, the Debian Installer is able to configure software RAID; RAID configuration in Ubuntu 8.10 still requires the user to utilise the text mode installer.

NOTE: The partition manager in the Debian Installer is not particularly user-friendly

Hardware detection during installation is good, although, thanks to the Debian decision to make the core distribution truly free and open source, firmware files for Wifi and various network adaptors are missing from the installation CD. These files are to be found in the non-free repository on the internet. For systems which use these interfaces to establish their internet connections, this becomes something of a chicken and egg situation.

User-friendly desktop Linux
-------------------------------
One new feature is the use of the no-configuration X.org 7.3. There are now no hardware-related entries in the X11 configuration file – /etc/X11/xorg.conf. This worked with both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards which, by default, loaded only the open source drivers. There is, however, no mechanism for automatically installing the proprietary graphics drivers, despite the fact that they are listed in the non-free repository – users are forced to utilise either the Synaptic packet management system or go to the command line.

Lenny installs Gnome as the default graphical desktop, which is also used by the Debian derivative – Ubuntu. The Debian default installation is, however, missing a few programs, such as the complete Bluetooth stack for connecting Bluetooth devices. The idea is to have only tried and tested software considered for stable releases. For users, however, this means putting up with diminished functionality in borderline cases – especially with regard to drivers, since Lenny sticks with the 2.6.26 kernel, in contrast to Fedora 10, OpenSuse 11.1 and Ubuntu 8.10, which all utilise Linux kernel version 2.6.27.

For the very latest hardware, particularly with fully integrated motherboards, a slightly newer kernel can make the difference between unusable or limited functionality and unrestricted hardware support.While the 2.6.27 kernel used by Fedora 10 and OpenSuse 11.1 was able to output sound via the optical and electrical SPDIF output, without any problem on my system, under Lenny it remained mute.

If the non-free repository has been activated and programs such as Totem and Kaffeine have been installed, the major codecs are downloaded along with them, regardless of whether or not they are open source or whether they are patented or licensed. This meant that it was just as easy to play a DVB-T on Kaffeine, as it was to play an MPEG-2 video on Totem. The Brasero and K3B burning applications are unable to burn Blu-ray media with UDF 2.6 because UDF Tools is unable to create UDF 2.6 file systems – UDF 2.5 support is, however, impeccable.

Overall, Debian Lenny remains eminently suitable as a desktop operating system and has become more user-friendly since the Etch release. Network set-up using Network Manager, for example, works well with only the management of multiple locations for the same network device, and therefore multi-network configuration, failing to work. Users who use their computers at just a single location, or are happy with DHCP, will not be disadvantaged. Automatic USB printer set-up, a very practical feature for laptops, has been a feature of Ubuntu for some time. According to the release notes, Debian now has it too.

Since Etch, the Debian development team have revamped virtualisation. They have updated to Xen version 3.2.1, support additional KVMs (kernel virtual machines) and even offer the option of deploying Qemu, via network boot. Desktop virtualisation solution VirtualBox is also available, even if it is the rather antiquated version 1.6.6.

An interesting feature for server use is that, according to the release notes, various packages have been compiled with the hardening options offered by GCC or, as for PHP, hardening patches have been added to improve the packages security. This should make services less vulnerable to attack. Major server services, such as MySQL 5.1, PostgreSQL 8.3 and Nagios 3 have also been updated.

Last words:
-------------

Lenny can be deployed with confidence on the desktop, by both beginners and experienced Linux users and is significantly more user-friendly than its predecessor, Etch. There are big improvements to network configuration and automatic printer set-up. For virtualisation, in addition to an updated version of Xen, there is a now a second virtualisation system suitable for server use, available in the form of KVM. The omission of major firmware files from the installation media is annoying, since now support for Wifi adaptors and gigabit network cards, may need to be downloaded and installed separately.

I'll post some screens soon be patient.

Yup buddy I'm trying it out, posting a review soon.

K_A_CS

Hello,

Please tell what is Live OS? I mean which type of operating systems are said to be "live".

Thanks
//Moderator note: You have not activated your account. Please click on the link in the mail you received from the forum admin in your mailbox. Failure to do so will cause all your posts go into moderation.
- just4kix

The One

@shady911

The purpose of this thread was not to copy-paste material from other sites and ask for repo for what you call "a review". Just became curious when you posted this second big review and found that both of your review have been exact copy-paste. And, I can give proper evidence to prove myself.

Copied From: DSL information, Damn Small Linux - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You can claim only this part to be your 'genuine' content:
Copied From: Debian 5.0 (Lenny) first look - The H Open Source: News and Features

But, you had let out one paragraph from the page I have linked to.
Only the last two sentences were not copied in this second review:
I can't wait to see your next review.

newprouser

^^ and wat is saurav_k doing all this while ?

The One

:
And what did that mean?

Ohhh.................Detective?

puchu

I was about to say the same thing.

I intended to use this thread for posting reviews, that means use a live OS, then write about how you feel during the use, the drawbacks, the positive points etc.

Try to make it compact and point to point, so that anybody who reads it ,won't have to read a book to find a single phrase.

The One

You can refer to Wikipedia for details about it: Live CD - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

deepmohan

Just4kick

etective:

deepmohan

Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope)

System used:

HP Notebook
AMD Turion-X2 64 2.10GHz
4GB DDR2 800 MHz
ATI Radeon 512 dedicated
SATA HDD
ITI DNA-A211-I ADSL Modem

A small review

Pros:

• Simple and Clean look
• Easy to use
• Can easily install it from Live CD to HDD.

Cons:

• Took more boot time (compared to knoppix)
• Drivers for Graphics card and Wi-Fi where not available have to download it.
• Found Net speed to be slow (compared to Knoppix)

puchu

One small advice . Please post your images in JPG or GIF formats. PNG images are larger, thus ,take longer to load on a slow connection.

puchu

"Fedora-11-live" review coming soon.

puchu

OS tested-->

• Fedora 11 KDE-LIVE
• Fedora 11-DVD-X86-64 installer
  
  

Hardware used-->



PC

• Processor: AMD 64 Atlon-2800+
• RAM: 2.5GB DDR400
• Graphics: nvidia 7600GS-512MB
• TV tuner: Pinnacle media center
• HDD: HITYACHI and Seagate-SATA and Samsung-IDE
• ODD: HITACHI DVD/RW-SONY DVD/CD
• UPS: APC Back UPS-ES 500
• MODEM: C2110 SIEMENS (ISP-BSNL)

LAPTOP

• Processor: Intel Dual Core 2GHz
• RAM: 2GB DDR2
• Graphics: onboard-intel-64MB
• HDD: SATA
• ODD: DVD/RW
• MODEM: C2110

---------------------------------------

Fedora release 11, though late but came out a few very good changes. I was about to post review for Fedora 11 kde LIVE, but then I thought of downloading the DVD also and tried it and found out some big differences.
---------------------------------------
Advantages common to both distros:

• Both the GUIs are almost 99% same
• Both share the same network functionalities and flexibility as usual
• Unmounted file systems can be mounted right from the explorer window with full RW access (for NTFS partitions also) with only the root password which lasts for one session.
• Both support virtualization
• Easily configurable system
• Boot time is comparatively low
• As usual this Fedora system is also a heaven for developers
• My modem was configured in 4 clicks
• TV worked better than windows as usual

Flaws common to both distros:

• Although the desktop effects worked good on the laptop without(or with limited graphics functionality) graphics card, the effects were terrible on my desktop with a fairly good graphics card
• It is known that Fedora does not support multimedia types like AVI, mp3 etc, and it’s no different this time. You have to install codecs manually.
  

---------------------------------------
Fedora 11 LIVE KDE:
Advantages:

• Although on a CD, it comes with full set of tools anybody would ever need
• Gives you freedom of creating a LIVE USB OS out of the LIVE CD
• Comes with more number of desktop themes than the DVD distro
• Files system are mounted with full RWX access by default
• Works better than the DVD OS , the difference can be felt during normal web browsing, file access, and also the LIVE OS comes with more GUI customizable options .

Flaws:

• The LIVE OS gives you the ease of installing the OS permanently right from your live desktop, but it fails at around half way of installation when done from a USB booted LIVE OS. except one->discussed in flaws section below), There is another major drawback in installation of Fedora LIVE—while doing manual partitioning, the installer would not continue until you create an ext4 partition for root and an ext3 partition for /boot, you must provide two partitions.
• Sometimes while configuring the modem the x server crashes and screen just goes blank , the session ends without a clue and goes to the logon screen or to the console window(this is less frequent in DVD installed OS)

---------------------------------------

Fedora 11 DVD=X86-64( installed system ):
Advantages:

• The installation and partitioning worked very well without any problem (, although I prefer manual partitioning, I just selected “Replace the old LINUX installation” and everything was done automatically with an option of reviewing the partition table after auto allocation of file systems.
• This time Fedora uses ext4 file system for OS installation
• The OS updates itself automatically without any interference.

Flaws:

• The desktop comes with only one theme, fewer number of splash screens while the LIVE version comes with loads of them (strange). While trying to get new themes also the search tool never connects or draws anything from internet for updating.
  
• The desktop is set to a lower level of resolution sometimes than the maximum supported(on my desktop), even if you change the resolution, it will revert back to the original resolution after reboot.(only happened for my desktop- not the laptop)
• I was not able to set the date and time to my system time after a no of tries , the time zones do not show any Indian place (this was a very short observation- you may find one for India-tell me), and I could not set the OS time to my system time either.
• Although the automatic update works flawless but I like the manual update and thats what did not work here. Once you try to update manually, a search begins and never ends. i don't know whether the search is for finding the installed packages or for any task to respond or something else.(I need help here.)
• The automatic update settings should be set manually to notify or the OS will download and install updates without your knowledge, which may cost users like me who use limited download connections like HOME 500.(This is not a flaw, this is just an observation)

The never ending search while trying manual install or update.
snapshot1.jpg
snapshot3.jpg

The poor scratchy desktop effects.
snapshot2.jpg



I don't think I have left anything major, but any help in finding them will be appreciated.


---------------------------------------
Bottom line:
Fedora 3 was my first LINUX.
I was using Mandriva before Fedara-11, and I am going right back to Mandriva.
Lets see what comes next.
---------------------------------------


---------------------------------------

Next review- elive

puchu

In short Live operating system is one which you can boot and run right from any portable media ( CD, DVD, Memory card, thumbdrive etc) without installing anything on to the hard drive.

puchu

I just tested elive 1.9.32-(unstable) version and found out too many bugs, so I would skip this one and wait for the stable version to be released. In the mean time suggest some more live OS for review.

The One

Great review puchu!!

That was a great work.

I have not tried out the release yet and don't think that I will be able to do that soon.
Anyway, let's wait and see.

P.S: Rep++++++

puchu

I was trying to boot "Mandriva One 2009"(not 2009.1) from USB ,
I have already tried using unetbootin, have tried the syslinux method too, but to no avail.
This copy of LINUX is booting fine from CD.

And another LINUX I found out the other day- "Sabayon".
I found it interesting .It is available in both KDE and Genome flavors.
To boot it from pendrive ,use unetbootin, but to boot it from an external hard disk , you may have to manually make it bootable, using syslinux method, because unetbootin sometimes fails to make it bootable. I will try to post the details ASAP.
I do not have my net connection yet. As soon as I get it I will post a review.
I have to go now.................byeeeeeee

puchu

OS tested:-

• Sabayon 4.1-G
  

Hardware used:-

• ·AMD 64 2800+
• ·2.5GB DDR 400
• ·SATA HDDs
• ·Nvidia 7600GS-512 MB dedicated
• ·Pinnacle media center tuner

Introduction:

1. Gentoo based OS
2. Latest in the series is Sabayon 5.0
3. Available in 2 main flavors-KDE and Gnome
4. Full installer DVD versions also available but till version 4.0 R1
5. Last 3 versions are

• Sabayon LINUX -4.1
  • amd64_G.iso
  • amd64_K.iso
  • x86_G.iso
  • x86_K.iso
• Sabayon LINUX -4.2
  • amd64_G.iso
  • md64_K.iso
  • x86_G.iso
  • x86_K.iso
• Sabayon LINUX -5.0
  • amd64_G.iso
  • amd64_K.iso
  • amd64_K.iso.orig
  • x86_G.iso
  • x86_K.iso

Almost all the previous and current versions are available in the following mirror.
Index of /pub/sabayon/

Pros:

• Very good GUI and loads of configurable options
• The LIVE distro comes with installation support right from the LIVE desktop
• Compiz and emerald theme manager embedded
• Almost all the generic day to day used tools and softwares included
• A search tool is embedded named as “Gnome do” to find any application which can find almost all softwares and services while searching by name
• The system monitor embedded shows system data at a precision of as low as 500ms
• Good driver support for both most new nvidia and ATI cards. I used the twin view option in graphics card for monitor and TV, my TV was detected easily.
• LIVE OS of both KDE and Gnome flavors have independent 32 bit and 64 bit versions
• ·Sabayon 4.1 has a very limited capability CD/DVD burning software, where as 5.0 has fully fledged version of the same with almost all data and media capabilities.
• Wine embedded
• Regular updates available
• This OS is for users who want to have a good LINUX desktop with sparkling GUI for day to day use like surfing the net, watching videos, listening to music etc
• Very similar task manager like MS bases operating systems, but still very accessible and unique
• Almost all media codecs included

Modem configuration is too easy. All the Gnome distros have DSL modem driver and mobile BB support.(KDE versions lack here)
Cons:

• Resource hungry, you should have more than 1Gig of RAM for smooth operation, a graphics card is added advantage
• Lacks TV tuner software (but can be found in the FTP repository, never tried it)
• The system monitor in Sabayon 4.2 does not work.
• Sabayon 5.0 fails to detect sound card.
• Emerald becomes irresponsive sometimes(manageable)
• Not many tools included for development purpose
• CD/DVD tool in 4.1 is crappy
• Bootloader does not reflect the actual text included for any OS during bootloader installation.(Ex-for Xp if you enter X during bootloader installation , still it shows other OS on the boot screen)
• Strangely enough all the Gnome versions have DSL modem and mobile BB support but not the KDE versions, so I preferred the Gnome 4.1(only lacks CD/DVD burning and TV)

Misc:

• If you want to try the LIVE OS(almost any) from USB, then download unetbootin and the LIVE ISO image,
• open unetbootin, browse to the ISO file,
• select your drive letter of thumb drive (be careful here, you may end up making your native drive unbootable if you select wrong drive letter, unetbootin makes the selected drive bootable only to boot the LIVE OS)
• The above procedure does not work for external HDDs; there is another way for it.
• Press next, that’s all
• Now select your thumb drive as first boot device and boot from it
• For advanced users: you may like to edit the syslinux config file for more specific boot parameters like, booting music, autoload of gfx driver and compiz, verbose booting etc.