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newsQuirky Xerus 8.6 released
Quirky Linux 8.6 is the latest in the "Xerus" series,
binary-compatible with x86_64 Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS, though built with
woofQ and architecturally very different from Ubuntu.
Quirky is an experimental distribution, that forked from Puppy Linux a
few years ago, and has followed a different path, exploring some new
ideas. Continuing the Puppy tradition, Quirky has a "complete" suite of
applications, drivers and utilities, in a very small size.
Version 8.6 is an incremental upgrade from 8.5, with package upgrades
and architectural improvements. The SeaMonkey web browser is now 2.49.4
and the Linux kernel 4.14.63. EasyShare, simple network file and printer
sharing, continues to evolve, and now supports connection to an Android
phone.
Release notes:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.6/release-xerus64-8.6.htm
There is a choice to download either a ISO file for a CD, or an image for a USB flash drive:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.6/
Instructions to install:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.6/howto-install.htm
There are some alternative install scripts, for those experienced on the Linux commandline:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.6/alternatives/
The latest woofQ, as used to build Quirky 8.6, is here:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/project/woof-project/woof-project-20180816.tar.gz
Forum feedback thread, discussion of 8.6 starts on page 53:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=106460
Have fun!
Tags: quirky
Quirky Xerus x86_64 version 8.5 released
Version 8.4 was released February 9, 2018, and the pace of
development has continued rapidly, just 18 days later and we have 8.5.
release notes are here:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.5/release-xerus64-8.5.htm
Install instructions:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.5/howto-install.htm
Download:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.5/
Forum feedback:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=984243#984243
Have fun!
Tags: quirky
Quirky Xerus x86_64 version 8.4 released
It has been awhile since the last release of Quirky. That was version 8.3, in July 2017:
http://bkhome.org/news/201707/quirky-xerus64-83-final.html
Now, a brand spanking new version. Announcement and release notes here;
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.4/release-xerus64-8.4.htm
A brief announcement:
Quirky Linux 8.4 x86_64 is codenamed "Xerus" and is built using the
woofQ Quirky Linux build system, with the help of Ubuntu 16.04.3 binary
packages. Thus, Xerus has compatibility with all of the Ubuntu
repositories.
Quirky is a fork of Puppy Linux, and is mainly differentiated by
being a "full installation" only, with special snapshot and recovery
features, and Service Pack upgrades, though recently there is limited
support for live-CD session-saving and "frugal" installation.
Version 8.4 has many architectural improvements and package upgrades,
including new packages Sakura, Refind, EasyApps, PupControl, VTE and
EasyShare. EasyShare is a simple "one top shop" for network file sharing
and printing, using Samba and SSHFS. Upgraded applications include
Pclock (0.8.2) and seaMonkey (2.49.1). The Linux kernel is now version
4.14.17.
Quirky is shipped as an ISO file or a Flash-drive image file. Instructions to install are here:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.4/howto-install.htm
Primary download site:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.4/
This is a third option, install scripts:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/xerus-8.4/alternatives/
...for experts only.
To join in with discussion on Xerus 8.4, go to the Puppy Forum:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=982545#982545
Have fun!
Tags: quirky
Toto Link wifi/ethernet router/repeater
In the Puppy Forum thread where we are testing Quirky Pyro64 0.6,
it was reported that Samba is not working. I wasn't much help, as I had
to admit that I have never used Samba. A bit embarrassing really,
considering what I "do".
Yesterday, decided that the time has finally arrived when I would
setup Samba. First though, I need a little local network. I access the
Internet via my mobile phone, no land line. So, wifi tethering turned on
in my Android phone, no problem connecting to the Internet for any of
my PCs.
I did wonder whether the phone itself could be used as a local wifi
network. That is, each of the PCs connected to the phone being able to
share files between each other. I have read conflicting reports about
whether that is possible.
Anyway, I have an old router, have put it back in service. This is a Toto Link N100R+ V2, picture here:
This is old technology, 150mb/s wifi, 100mb/s ethernet, but OK for now. My model is no longer sold, the latest is N100RE:
http://www.totolink.net/sub/product/detail.asp?product_num=100079
On my desk there are two PCs, my midi-tower and Mele mini-PC. The
latter dual-boots Linux and Windows 10, so I plugged it into "LAN1" on
the N100R and powered up, then went to the "http://192.168.0.1" in my
browser. Default login is "admin", "admin".
I clicked "Operation Mode" then the "Wireless ISP" radiobutton. Then
clicked "Wireless" from left side, then "Basic Settings" and the
"ScanAP" button. It detected my phone SSID and chose "WPA2-PSK" and
"CCMP", and entered the password. That's it, had Internet access!
On the Win10 mini-PC, was now connected to the Internet via ethernet.
In the "Setup", looked around a bit, but basically just enabled "Turn
on network discovery" and "Turn on file and printer sharing".
For the midi-tower, plugged an ethernet cable into "LAN2" on the
N100R, and fired up Quirky Xerus64. Fiddled around a bit, but
essentially just ran 01micko's Samba Simple Management.
Over on the Win10 machine, in the file manager, there is "Network" on
the left side. Clicked that, then right-clicked on the right-side and
chose "Refresh". Yay, got "PUPPYPC11067", which is my midi-tower.
Clicking on that, it asked for username and password, which is "root"
and "woofwoof".
Next step is to get it going on Quirky Pyro64...
Quirky Pyro32 0.6.1 released
Another one! Download Quirky Pyro32 0.6.1 from here:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/x86/releases/pyro-0.6.1/
This is for 32-bit (i686) CPUs, with BIOS (not UEFI) firmware
PCs.
Tags: quirky
Quirky Pyro64 version 0.6 released
Quirky Pyro64 0.5 was released on October 29, announced here:
http://bkhome.org/news/201710/quirky-pyro64-05-released.html
And Quirky Pyro32 0.5 was released on November 5, announced here:
http://bkhome.org/news/201711/quirky-pyro32-version-05-released.html
Pyro64 0.6 is now out, testers are welcome.
Download:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/quirky6/amd64/releases/pyro-0.6/
...as usual, choice of three files. The 8GB image is interesting
for UEFI-firmware PCs, as it has rEFInd.
There is also a Service Pack for upgrading from 0.5:
...it is a bit large, due to many changes since 0.5, such as a
complete recompile in OE, updated kernel, icu and SeaMonkey.
Feedback is welcome here:
http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=110541&start=120
Tags: quirky
PPLOG now works in Quirky Pyro64
I had reported that PPLOG, our simple local personal blog, does not work. Now it does.
I am using this PET:
http://distro.ibiblio.org/quirky/pet_packages-noarch/pplog-1.1.3-1.pet
In OpenEmbedded, I had compiled these extra Perl modules and they are included in the Pyro64 build:
libdbd-mysql-perl
libdbi-perl
libxml-parser-perl
Yesterday I did a recompile in OE, and added these Perl modules:
libcgi-perl
libdigest-sha1-perl
libhtml-parser-perl
liburi-perl
libxml-simple-perl
PPLOG worked after I installed 'libcgi-perl' and 'libhtml-parser-perl' in Pyro64. Yippee.
I have decided to include all of these modules in the next release of Pyro64.
Tags: quirky
OE recompile, SM 2.49.1, kernel 4.14.1
I mentioned recently that some library packages compiled in
OpenEmbedded were too old. I ended up only bumping 'icu', 'nss' and
'nspr', to versions 58.2, 3.31.1 and 4.16. Then did a complete rebuild
in OE.
Built Pyro64 0.5.2, and compiled SeaMonkey 2.49.1, this time using
the system icu, nss and nspr, making the package considerably smaller.
The PET is here:
I also compiled the 4.14.1 kernel, and was most surprised when "make modules_install" did not create /lib/firmware. A quick google, and it seems the firmware is no longer in the kernel source tree.
I didn't know how to respond to this situation, but decided to take the /lib/firmware from the compile of kernel 4.13.11, for inclusion in the kernel PET. The PET is here:
The source, patches, and build scripts are here: