Puppy 4.1alpha4 released

I drove to Perth last night, partly because I get access to ADSL2 high speed Internet at my relative's place. I am typing this using a nice keyboard on my desktop PC that I brought along!

The iso's are uploaded to here:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/puppylinux/test/puppy-4.1alpha4/

There is some uncertainty about whether the 'evdev' module is stuffing up the mouse on some hardware. So, I have created an alternate iso which has 'evdev' blacklisted. So, Lobster and others, try that one.

Why do we need 'evdev' anyway? We never had it before, and my computer works fine without it. Is it like the 'ub' module, a "Swiss Army knife" that tries to do everything, but not very well? ...heh, heh, don't mind me, I'm just being deliberately provocative.

If you want to see how fast 4.1alpha4 boots, time the third boot. The reason is, the first boot is your PUPMODE 5, with no save-file, then you shutdown and create a save-file, but on the second boot the 'rc.update' script takes awhile as it analyses the Unionfs layers for correctness -- I need to look at this script and see if I can streamline that, or at least put a little message "checking layered f.s., next boot will be faster!".

Still stuck on the 2.6.25.9 kernel. The next release should have the 2.6.25.11 kernel, which I intend to stay with for a long time.

I need to update the Event Management web page, as now using the 'udevd' daemon. I'll see if I can do that later today.

So, what's special about this latest pup?
1. Much faster boot.
2. Udevd with my custom backend scripts for module loading/hotplugging.
3. Event manager frontend, including desktop drive icons.
4. SeaMonkey full suite.
5. Pmusic audio player.
6. Psip VOIP and IM client.
7. Pppoeconf, new setup GUI tool -- nobody responded to my request to test.
8. Ayttm replaces Pidgin.
9. PPLOG personal blog.
10. Xfprot virus scanner.

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Comments

kernel 2.6.26
Username: Raffy
Just for your info, kernel 2.6.26 is now being discussed in the forum, especially in connection with its readiness to boot the XO. Try looking for "olpc" (the forum is unresponsive now). Downloading alpha 4 now... Thanks, Barry.

USB keyboard
Username: GeorgR
"Both puppy versions have same behavior on two different pc: booting with only one saved file starts puppy without any problems => usb mouse and keyboard working. If puppy founds more then one saved file and asked for input to select one saved file => no usb keyboard available -> no way out....

4.1alpha4 forum feedback
Username: BarryK
"Lobster has started a thread for feedback: http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=31455

Kernel config
Username: Dougal
"CONFIG_USB_KBD and CONFIG_USB_MOUSE should be disabled.

pppoeconf
Username: Oli
"I tested the pet-package you offered some days ago. It doesn't work for me. This is what I did: # /usr/sbin/pppoeconf chown: unknown user/group root:dip cp: cannot stat `/etc/network/interfaces': No such file or directory /usr/sbin/pppoeconf: line 380: /etc/ppp/ip-down.d/0clampmss: No such file or directory chmod: cannot access `/etc/ppp/ip-down.d/0clampmss': No such file or directory chmod: failed to get attributes of `/etc/network/interfaces': No such file or directory run-parts /etc/network/if-pre-up.d run-parts /etc/network/if-up.d mv: cannot move `/tmp/interfaces.pppoeconf.Q15437' to `/etc/network/interfaces': No such file or directory # pppoe-start ......... Doesn't connect, I press <CTRL+C> # ifconfig eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:13:8F:E7:59:6A UP BROADCAST RUNNING MULTICAST MTU:1500 Metric:1 RX packets:1 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0 TX packets:1 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0 collisions:0 txqueuelen:1000 RX bytes:60 (60.0 B) TX bytes:64 (64.0 B) Interrupt:10 Base address:0x2000 lo Link encap:Local Loopback inet addr:127.0.0.1 Mask:255.0.0.0 UP LOOPBACK RUNNING MTU:16436 Metric:1 RX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 frame:0 TX packets:0 errors:0 dropped:0 overruns:0 carrier:0 collisions:0 txqueuelen:0 RX bytes:0 (0.0 B) TX bytes:0 (0.0 B) # Hint: /etc/resolv.conf is a symbolic link to /etc/ppp/resolv.conf. But /etc/ppp/resolv.conf doesn't exist.

Alternate Download Links
Username: Prit1
"Here is the alternate download location: http://puppylinux.ca/puppyfiles/test/puppy-4.1alpha4/ Barry, Just wanted to mention, I find Unipup boot much faster (20 secs) than this alpha4 (40 secs) on my 4 year old laptop.

Download
Username: DreamsToGo
"404 is available from, http://ftp.nluug.nl/ftp/pub/os/Linux/distr/puppylinux/test/puppy-4.1alpha4/ Fast dowload. Mirrored from iBiblio.

Kernel Config
Username: DreamsToGo
"Dougal, Why should CONFIG_USB_KBD and CONFIG_USB_MOUSE should be disabled? On one of my machines I have a remote wireless USB keyboard. I cannot type anything into the initial Puppy boot screen because the drivers are not loaded at that time. Its only once Puppy is booted that I can type anything and the touchpad works. My workaround is to temporarily plug in a wired keyboard and mouse...until configuration is complete and then revert to the wireless version.

boot time
Username: jeffrey
"Comes up fast on first boot. Takes a long time to save pup_404.sfs to hard disk for some reason. Waits maybe 30s checking if version update on subsequent boots. This has been the case for many releases. Is it doing something more than a version check? If not it should only take a second surely. Finishing that check with "Done" and putting out "Please wait" would be less frustrating. No mouse problems for me. This version works with Xorg on an Acer 4100 with a ATI 3D Rage Pro AGP, while no previous Puppy 4 has done this (to my hazy recollection).

PPPOE-GUI
Username: wuwei
"The GUI is a big improvement over Roaring Penguin. But: The routine ends with the question "start at boot?"; it does not establish a connection then and there. And...at next boot from the saved CD it does not connect. Am I missing something here? The "sudo pppoeconf" routine in Ubuntu solves this problem better and instantly. Otherwise, good work, Barry.

Mr
Username: Mike Lane
"Hi I'm a linux newbie just tried installing Puppy Dog 4.2.1 on my laptop & pen drive, all ok. I tried to wirelessly connect to the internet, entered all of the setting for my router but no connection available. Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong please? Thanks

4.2.1 did connect, but now
Username: Dave Nevin
"I set up PL in Macao, and ran it sometimes in China, connected with no problem. I reloaded the USB save files, and the CD works, and R Penguin (non-GUI) says it's connected but SeaMonkey won't go anywhere. I'll try re-setting up RP with different settings - fixed IP, etc. I might also set the LAN to Fixed, insead of DHCP? Am I doing anything obviously wrong? Toshiba on 1GB ram.

4.2.1 does connect
Username: Dave Nevin
"Roaring Penguin, non-GUI, I redid the configuration and Powee zoom. I read elsewhere RP likes an IP in the entry, server/default, so I put in my ISP (China Net) and added 255.255.255.0 to the next question - alternative IP ? I guess this lets RP use the DHCP settig in LAN connection, whatever, it works... So I downloaded Opera, and it didn't quite lock up when I tried to get HP printer software from linuxprinting... said HP printer I still have to get working... Petget seems to take an awful long time 'resetting menus' and PL wont do anything else while that's 'happening'. cheers

Tags: puppy