India Broadband Forum

puchu

I am going to post reviews for LIVE operating systems as I am a big fan of portable applications and LIVE OS are a big part of it.

Everybody is welcome to contribute to this thread, you may also post your share of reviews if you have tried any LIVE OS.

• If you post your review, please take care of the following:-
  • Post version and date of release of the OS
  • Post both pros and cons
  • Post at least one screen shot
  • Post the hardware configuration you used for testing

shady911

damnsmall.jpg

What is DSL?
Damn Small Linux is a very versatile 50MB mini desktop oriented Linux distribution.

Damn Small is small enough and smart enough to do the following things:

* Boot from a business card CD as a live linux distribution (LiveCD)
* Boot from a USB pen drive
* Boot from within a host operating system (that's right, it can run *inside* Windows)
* Run very nicely from an IDE Compact Flash drive via a method we call "frugal install"
* Transform into a Debian OS with a traditional hard drive install
* Run light enough to power a 486DX with 16MB of Ram
* Run fully in RAM with as little as 128MB (you will be amazed at how fast your computer can be!)
* Modularly grow -- DSL is highly extendable without the need to customize

DSL was originally developed as an experiment to see how many usable desktop applications can fit inside a 50MB live CD. It was at first just a personal tool/toy. But over time Damn Small Linux grew into a community project with hundreds of development hours put into refinements including a fully automated remote and local application installation system and a very versatile backup and restore system which may be used with any writable media including a hard drive, a floppy drive, or a USB device.

DSL has a nearly complete desktop, and a tiny core of command line tools. All applications are chosen with the best balance of functionality, size and speed. Damn Small also has the ability to act as an SSH/FTP/HTTPD server right off of a live CD. In our quest to save space and have a fully functional desktop we've made many GUI administration tools which are fast yet still easy to use. What does DSL have?

XMMS (MP3, CD Music, and MPEG), FTP client, Dillo web browser, Netrik web browser, FireFox, spreadsheet, Sylpheed email, spellcheck (US English), a word-processor (Ted), three editors (Beaver, Vim, and Nano [Pico clone]), graphics editing and viewing (Xpaint, and xzgv), Xpdf (PDF Viewer), emelFM (file manager), Naim (AIM, ICQ, IRC), VNCviwer, Rdesktop, SSH/SCP server and client, DHCP client, PPP, PPPoE (ADSL), a web server, calculator, generic and GhostScript printer support, NFS, Fluxbox and JWM window managers, games, system monitoring apps, a host of command line tools, USB support, and pcmcia support, some wireless support.

DSmallLinux.PNG

History
--------

DSL was originally conceived and maintained by John Andrews. The community now includes Robert Shingledecker, who created the MyDSL system, DSL Control Panel, and other features.

DSL was originally based on Model-K, a 22 MB stripped-down version of Knoppix, but soon after was based on Knoppix proper, allowing much easier remastering and improvements.

System requirements
------------------------

DSL supports only x86 PCs. The minimum system requirements are a 486 processor and 8 MB of RAM. DSL has been demonstrated browsing the web with Dillo, running simple games and playing music on systems with a 486 processor and 16 MB of RAM. The system requirements are higher for running Mozilla Firefox and optional add-ons such as the OpenOffice.org office suite. It is often used in VirtualBox due to its small size and modest requirement of RAM

Features
----------

The current version of DSL is 4.4.10, released November 18, 2008. DSL currently includes the following software:

* Text editors: Beaver, Nano, Vim
* File managers: DFM, emelFM
* Graphics: MtPaint, xzgv (image viewer)
* Multimedia: gphone, XMMS with MPEG-1 and VCD support
* Office: SIAG (spreadsheet program), Ted (word processor) with spell checker, Xpdf (viewer for PDF documents)
* Internet:
o Web browsers: Dillo, Firefox, Netrik
o Sylpheed (E-mail client)
o naim (AIM, ICQ, and IRC client)
o AxyFTP (FTP client,, BetaFTPD (FTP server)
o Monkey (web server)
o SMB client
o Rdesktop (RDP client), VNC viewer
* Others: DHCP client, SSH/SCP client and server; PPP, PPPoE, ADSL support; FUSE, NFS, SSHFS support; UnionFS; generic/Ghostscript printing support; PC card, USB, Wi-Fi support; calculator, games, system monitor; many command-line tools

DSL has built-in scripts to download and install Advanced Packaging Tool (APT). Once APT is enabled, the user can install packages from Debian's 'Woody' repository. Additionally, DSL hosts software ranging from large applications like OpenOffice.org and GCC, to smaller ones such as aMSN, by means of the "MyDSL" system, which allows convenient one-click download and installation of software. Files hosted on MyDSL are called "extensions". As of June 2008, the MyDSL servers were hosting over 900 applications, plugins, and other extensions.

Boot options
--------------

Boot options are also called "cheat codes" in DSL, Knoppix and Morphix. Automatic hardware detection may fail, or the user may want to use something other than the default settings (language, keyboard, VGA, fail safe graphics, text mode...). DSL allows the user to enter one or more cheat codes at the boot prompt. If nothing is entered, DSL will boot with the default options. Cheat codes affect many auto-detection and hardware options. Many cheat codes also affect the GUI. The list of cheat codes can be seen at boot time and also at the DSL Wiki.

The MyDSL system
---------------------

MyDSL is handled and maintained mostly by Robert Shingledecker and hosted by many organizations, such as ibiblio and Belgium's BELNET. There are 2 areas of MyDSL - regular and "testing". The regular area contains extensions that have been proven stable enough for everyday use and is broken down into different areas such as "apps", "net", "system", and "uci" ("Universal Compressed ISO" - Extensions in .uci format are mounted as a separate filesystem to minimize RAM usage). The "testing" area is for newly submitted extensions that theoretically work 'as advertised', but may have any number of bugs.

Versions and ports:

The standard flavour of DSL is the Live CD. There are also other versions available:

* 'Frugal' installation: DSL's 'cloop' image is installed, as a single file, to a hard disk partition. This is likely more reliable and secure than a traditional hard drive installation, since the cloop image cannot be directly modified; any changes made are only stored in memory and discarded upon rebooting.

* 'dsl-version-embedded.zip': Includes QEMU for running DSL inside Windows or Linux.
* 'dsl-version-initrd.iso': Integrates the normally-separate cloop image into the initrd image; this allows network booting, using PXE. As a regular toram boot, requires at least 128mb ram.[citation needed]
* 'dsl-version-syslinux.iso': Boots using syslinux floppy image emulation instead of isolinux; for very old PCs that cannot boot with isolinux.
* 'dsl-version-vmx.zip': A virtual machine that can be run in VMware Workstation or VMware Player.
* DSL-N: A larger version of DSL that exceeds the 50 MB limit of business-card CDs. DSL-N uses version 2 of the GTK+ widget toolkit and version 2.6 of the Linux kernel. The latest release of DSL-N, 0.1RC4, is 95 MB in size. It is not actively maintained.

One can also boot DSL using a boot-floppy created from one of the available floppy images ('bootfloppy.img'; 'bootfloppy-grub.img'; 'bootfloppy-usb.img'; or 'pcmciabootfloppy.img') on very old computers, where the BIOS does not support the El Torito Bootable CD Specification. The DSL kernel is loaded from the floppy disk into RAM, after which the kernel runs DSL from the CD or USB drive.

DSL was ported to the Xbox video game console as X-DSL. X-DSL requires a modified Xbox. It can run as a Live CD or be installed to the Xbox hard drive. Users have also run X-DSL from a USB flash drive, using the USB adaptor included with Phantasy Star Online, which plugs into the memory card slot and includes one USB 1.1 port. X-DSL boots into a X11-based GUI; the Xbox controller can be used to control the mouse pointer and enter text using a virtual keyboard. X-DSL has a Fluxbox desktop, with programs for E-mail, web browsing, word processing and playing music. X-DSL can be customized by downloading extensions from the same MyDSL servers as DSL.

Version Date
1.0............2005-04-13
1.1............2005-05-05
1.2............2005-06-07
1.3............2005-07-14
1.4............2005-08-02
1.5............2005-09-06
2.0............2005-11-22
2.4............2006-05-16
3.0............2006-06-20
3.1............2006-11-29
3.2............2007-01-18
3.3............2007-04-03
3.4............2007-07-03
4.0............2007-10-23
4.1............2007-12-02
4.2............2007-12-18
4.3............2008-04-22
4.4............2008-06-09

Screens:
----------

dsl-4.2.x.jpg

dsl-4.2.x2.jpg
Efficient multitasker

Now I use this as when I can't carry my laptops during vacations [coz when there are computers around It's hard for me to get away from them].
What about "Cons" -- None [we can have a debate but ultimately you get what you want].

The fact that a its so small [or "damn small"] you can get it on a 64GB SanDisk USB Drive and use as regular HDD replacement. which saves RS 5000.

For a Live OS this is truely remarkable as to what can be achieved in the world of Linux.[And you get to realise that Microsoft sell you crap for RS 20,000]

So after a no so "Damn Small Review" post in your comments, but more importantly rate this thread rep the starter and the reviewers [don't forget me].

puchu

Really big review.

deepmohan

I have used KNOPPIX - V.5.1.1
New Latest stable release, 6.0.1 / 2009-02-08

+ really impressed the way it configures all the devices automatically..
- hardly any..?

I just want to know how to create a USB One.

Sorry cant post screenshots it is not getting started on my notebook.

puchu

Here is the page for installation of knoppix 5, same works for knoppix 6 as well(tested), as you are saying that your lappy fails to boot from cd.(use with care, read thoroughly, otherwise you may end up overwriting you HDD MBR)

USB Knoppix 5.1.1 install | USB Pen Drive Linux

otherwise create usb as instructed in the following link(booting from cd).

Installing Knoppix 6.0 to a USB Flash Drive | USB Pen Drive Linux
Any queries , ask me.

deepmohan

i tried 2 times it failed then i didnt just because not to end up with my data..

someone was talking about cheatcodes i am not sure about it...

puchu

What exactly did you do, can you tell me , step by step?

deepmohan

1) Inserted the CD
2) It got Booted from CD
3) Started Instillation and got Struck.
4) Image >>

puchu

I think the download was corrupt, as it says knoppix file system not found, that means it was unable to load knoppix image from disc.BTW , have you verified the data on CD after burning ?

Now you try with pendrive method.
1-Download this.
2-http://www.pendrivelinux.com/downloads/fixkp2.exe
3-double-click, extract to any folder
4-read the instructions on this page
5-http://www.pendrivelinux.com/usb-knoppix-510/
6-install knoppix from iso to pendrive

If that fails then definitely there is a problem with the image.
Try downloading it once more.

Any problem tell me.

deepmohan

thanks dear for USB one
i too think like that CD might have got corrupted but i have used it many times on my desktop well will try with USB one.

puchu

Now, using the pclinux-2009.1-live.
Review, coming tomorrow.

puchu

OS tested:-

• pclinux-2009.1-live.

Hardware configuration used:-

• AMD 64 athlon 2800+
• 2.5GB DDR400 RAM
• main board-K8V-x-with-SATA-RAID
• 7600GS-512MB dedicated
• Pinnacle media center Tuner
• Siemens C2110 DSL modem
• SATA and IDE HDDs

Overview
A normal kde 3 desktop with compiz fusion 0.7.8 with general set of applications. There were two logins, root and guest, I tried only root. This linux distro was good , but I must say, it still needs the touch of that elegance as you can always feel the blank space between usability and user friendliness while using it.
-----------------------------------------
Pros

• loads fast
• login screen shows up with two accounts pre-configured, and password written on the screen
  • root
  • guest
• good GUI
• compiz fusion-0.7.8 with beryl embedded
• proprietary drivers included
• configuring modem in pppoe mode was successful
• user friendly
• compiz animations were crispy and the desktop was lovely with beryl
• I felt a little bit of improvement in browsing speed than windows.

Cons

• When I tried to create a USB live from the given installation program, the installation completes, but next time does not boot from the new installed system throwing an error- file not found(did not try the live CD creation tool as i am using the live CD)
• Very limited set of applications
• while customizing the console with transparent background, if compiz is enabled, the console looks green
• during modem configuration the system just resets and goes tpo loon screen, could not find the reason, this happened several times(tested on two different PCs)
• While configuring the modem in DHCP mode, the network shows connected but there happens to be conflict between the default IP of etho and the IP provided by ISP, so even if the network config shows success, the PC still cannot access internet(PPP mode worked fine).
• The DSL configuration is a bit tricky, the network action are a bit laggy , so you to use trial and error method if you don't know how to use the DSL configuration.
• sometimes beryl crashes and stops responding, although it does not have any effect on the desktop or your working
• If the desktop icons are disabled the desktop goes black
• blank desktop.jpg

beryl-cylinder.jpg

dektop.jpg

Quote:

waiting for comments

The One

It looks OK. But, even the look has to improve a bit. In my opinion Fedora is now really good in that part. One of the best GUIs. And if you are using KDE, then it will be just wonderful (in looks).

Check the Fedora 10 KDE Live CD. It's really worth checking out. But, it has some notable cons also. I am looking forward to June 2 (Fedora 11 Final Release date).
Don't know whether I will have time to check it out. Anyway, it might prove really challenging to Ubuntu.

Everything's improving (or, I hope so).

P.S: Good review. Repo added.

kirankumargb

It looks ok but not breath taking... the first look i saw i flt there is something missing.

puchu

I have tried Fedora 10 live and the GUI is cool, but could not post the review because this morning my SMPS went down with a big spark.

Now I have to get a new one. Then only I can post the review.

Still, when I tried to enable compiz on Fedora 10 LIVE, the desktop just went blank. So I have to try it again.

The One

If you are planning to give a review on Fedora 10 Live, then you may want to wait for just about 7 more days, when you can get Fedora 11. It's Alpha had already proved out to be pretty good. I don't know about the Beta and Release Candidates, as I had not tried them.

Will be waiting for your review for Fedora 11 Live.

puchu

I was thinking the same.

But as I have already downloaded it, so now I just need to take a look at the F10 .Let the F11 come.

If I get time I will post reviews for both of them.

In that way it would become a comparative analysis.

Has anybody tried elive ?

I felt the same.

The One

No.

And I was not an exception.

VJ Harsh

Hey can u tell me from where can i get the LIVE CD ,,and also steps for installing it..........

The One

A Live OS is not 'installed'. You can try out one without making any changes to your system, that is, the safe way. You can find many Live CD's in the internet, which are free to download and use. you can get it through torrents, or through direct links. Just search in Google for Live Cd. You may want to try out Knoppix Live CD or Ubuntu first.

You can check out the others later.

P.S: You will be able to install the OS after booting in with the Live CD, if you like the OS. Some functions might not be available in the Live Environment.