Arudius (formerly Securinix) is a live CD Linux distribution based on Slackware (Minislack) and Linux Live scripts. It contains an extensive set of software tools used by IT security professionals for penetration testing and vulnerability analysis. Its goal is to include the most comlete set of useful security tools and still maintain a small footprint.
Archive for the 'Distribution' Category
GoboLinux is a Linux distribution that breaks with the historical Unix directory hierarchy. Basically, this means that there are no directories such as /usr and /etc. The main idea of the alternative hierarchy is to store all files belonging to an application in its own separate subtree; therefore we have directories such as /Programs/GCC/2.95.3/lib.
The FAQ clearly states that this is not a distro for a newbie. This is more for the user who would like to compile his own software. Here is a nice article about GoboLinux at linux.com and here are some screenshots.
“The Debian Weekly News for October 25th, 2005 discusses the upcoming graphical frontend to the debian-installer as part of the most recent minutes of the monthly Debian Installer team meeting. It appears that after all of these years the text based Debian installation is finally getting the boot.” Screenshots here.
The new Symphony OS Beta 1 Live CD was released and it sure looks promising. Now about the Symphony OS.
From the website http://www.symphonyos.com
Symphony OS is a Desktop computer operating system based on Debian GNU/Linux and Knoppix GNU/Linux. Rather than using the KDE or Gnome Desktop environments as most Linux distributions do, the Symphony OS team has created the revolutionary Mezzo Desktop environment. Symphony provides what we consider to be the easiest to use Linux experience there is.
The Symphony OS Project is an Open Source project, not controlled by any business entity, operated by Ryan Quinn and Jason Spisak. In the future we hope to form a non-profit Symphony OS Foundation to further our development goals.
MINIX 3 is a new open-source operating system designed to be highly reliable and secure. It is based somewhat on previous versions of MINIX, but is fundamentally different in many key ways. MINIX 1 and 2 were intended as teaching tools; MINIX 3 adds the new goal of being usable as a serious system on resource-limited and embedded computers and for applications requiring high reliability.
MINIX 3 is initially targeted at the following areas:
- Applications where very high reliability is required
- Single-chip, small-RAM, low-power, $100 laptop for Third-World children
- Embedded systems (e.g., cameras, DVD recorders, cell phones)
- Applications where the GPL is too restrictive (MINIX 3 uses a BSD-type license)
- Education (e.g., operating systems courses at universities)
MINIX 3 Features
- POSIX compliant
- Networking with TCP/IP
- Two ANSI C compilers (ACK and gcc)
- Over 300 UNIX programs
- Many improvements since V2
- Full multiuser and multiprogramming
- Support for memory up to 4 GB
- Device drivers run as user processes
- Full C source code supplied
- Runs on 386, 486, Pentium, etc.
In Ubuntu, many formats are not available as there are licensing or patents issues with such formats. Such examples are MP3s, which require about 75cents for every player that plays MP3 files. Other formats that are not available CODECs for DVD playback, Java, Realplayer, Flash, etc.
You can install them by following the steps in the the wiki page of Ubuntu.
Here is a nice list of many torrent files for downloading your linux CDs.
http://linux.mybookmarkmanager.com/
After reading the live CD article, I think you must be interested in Linux. Live CDs are useful to try out linux, but as it runs from the CD, it isn’t as fast as a installed version. Also you can’t save any files to your harddisk.
So you think it is time to switch over to installed version of your favourite GNU/Linux. Here is a guide to do how…
I am going to write this guide with Ubuntu 5.10 (breezy) in mind and so you need to download the CD or order for free.
First stage
- Put the CD in your CDROM drive and boot off it (change your BIOS configuration)
- After the installer starts, press enter to start.
- Choose your language, country and keyboard layout. The installer detects some hardware.
- Now configure your network, if you are on one.
Partitioning the harddisk
This is the most important step and be careful as you can lose your data. Please take a backup of important data.
You have got two choices here
- Automatically partition an entire disk - will erase the harddisk and install only Ubuntu.
- Manually partition the disk. Resize your disk so that you get atleast 4GB for your root (/) partition and 256MB for your swap.
- After finishing with the partition, save it and the installer formats your disk.
- Then the base system is configured and then the packages are copied to the disk
Installing the boot loader
The bootloader is used to boot into many different operating systems by means of a menu. The installer automatically detects your OS and installs the GRUB loader.
After this, remove your disk and reboot.
Second stage
- After rebooting, you need to configure your timezone.
- Enter your full name, username and password. There is no root account in Ubuntu and there is a nice explanation for it.
- If you have not setup your network, then you can setup your PPP to have a dial-up account for internet.
- All the set of packages required for a basic desktop installation will be setup.
- Now you can login to the system with your username/password.
I have written this guide using the Installation guide from the Ubuntu wiki. Hope it was useful for newbies. You can also try this book Beginning Ubuntu Linux by Keir Thomas to know more about Ubuntu Linux.
If at all you encounter any problems, please feel free to post here. Also tell me how good I am at writing such articles?
I am writing this article for those of you who want to know more about the GNU/Linux system and how they can try it without risking their data.
GNU/Linux is a free (free as in freedom) operating system which can run on many platforms. GNU/Linux has many features like greater security, ability to run on low-end systems and so on. Moreover there are loads of free software preinstalled with a GNU/Linux that it make common tasks that you used to do with your Windows easy with GNU/Linux.
For those of you who would like to try GNU/Linux but would not want to install it before seeing the power of Linux, there is a solution. There are Live CDs of GNU/Linux that can be put in your CDROM drive to boot directly into a feature rich GNU/Linux system.
I would suggest two popular Live CDs
- Knoppix is based on the Debian system which has more than 2GB of free softwares compressed onto a single CD.
- Ubuntu is based on the now popular Ubuntu system (which is based on Debian).
So you have chosen your Distribution. Here are the steps to boot into your Linux box.
- You just have to download the ISOs of the distribution you like and burn it onto a CD.
- Pop it in your CDROM drive and adjust the boot sequence of your system to boot from the CD.
- Boot your system and press Enter when shown.
- Bingo! You have just booted into your GNU/Linux system.
If you want to return back to Windows, you just have to remove the CD and reboot, and you are back with your old Windows.
Play around with your system and wait for more articles on how to continue from your Live CD to a full fledged installed GNU/Linux system.
If at all you face any problems, feel free to comment here.
An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) installation mode is now available for Ubuntu 5.10. This will help OEMs (lke HP, Dell or even your local computer store) to pre-install Ubuntu on a computer and sell it to you. Once you buy the computer, the first time you power up, you will be asked to set your time zone, create a new user and basically customize the computer for your use.
With the OEM installation mode, it is hoped that more and more vendors will pre-install Ubuntu on the computers they sell. This would increase the number of Home users using Free Softwares like GNU/Linux. OEM Installation can be done easily using the Install CD.
Here are the steps for OEM Installation:
The Ubuntu Wiki has some documentation about the OEM Installer. Here are the seven easy steps.
- Place the Ubuntu 5.10 Install CD in the CD-ROM Drive and power on the computer.
- At boot:, type oem and press Enter.
- The Ubuntu 5.10 installer will run. Follow the on-screen instructions to start the installation.
- Once the installation is complete, you will be informed that Ubuntu 5.10 has been fully installed and the computer is ready for shipping.
- You can also run a system test to check if the installation of Ubuntu 5.10 OEM mode went smoothly. The system test will run the Ubuntu Hardware Database and will check if the hardware is configured correctly.
- Sell the Computer (The next step is for the potential buyer)
- Power on your new Ubuntu-powered computer (or laptop!). You will be asked to select your language, keyboard layout, time zone configuration, and create your first user account. The first user account created has administrative rights via sudo. Since Ubuntu 5.10 is a multi-user system, you can create more user accounts as needed.