Knoppix Preview

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01-07-2004, 06:14 PM
aay

Knoppix Preview

Ok. I don't want to get too many mouths watering, but Klaus posted an update as to what the next release of Knoppix and Knoppix 3.4 should look like. There's some very cool stuff there.

Here's the lowdown

Preliminary release plan:

- Update to Kernel 2.4.23 for the download edition of Knoppix 3.3,
should be finished next week. Note that the stated kernel brk
vulnerability is a local exploit, and does not breech too many new
security holes into Knoppix since you can alway switch to the root
account without password anyways there, if you are already logged in.

- Parallel working on version 3.4 with some major changes:
- switching to IsoLinux plus a 2 floppy boot option in order to
allow inclusion of more drivers in the kernel and initrd (USB and
Firewire, possibly), since the space on the 1.44 MB floppy is
exhausted for Kernel 2.6 alone already.
- Inclusion of ACPI. I know this will break many things, and you may
have to boot with "noacpi" on many machines.
- Kernel 2.4.23+ and/or 2.6.0+, depending on the first stability checks.
Maybe a dual boot option for different kernels.
- More utilities in the Knoppix service menus.
- Some more interactive options for selecting language/services on
bootup via dialog menus.
- NTFS write support by using a linux kernel loader for native
windows ntfs.sys (if present on the corresponding ntfs partition).
- Experiments with an overlay file system to allow easier on-the-fly
installations of new software and possibly eliminating the need of a
separate /ramdisk virtual partition.
- Project fork of a beginner and blind-friendly "talking" version with
different voices and languages, with most of the "complicated
expert-only stuff" removed. This version may rely on Kernel
2.6.0 because of the newer soundcard drivers for
cheap/badly-designed/windows-only soundchips.
- first release scheduled for the end of the first quarter of 2004,
maybe a download location for adventurous people who don't mind
destroying their hardware with the first Kernel 2.6 releases, will
be provided. I hope to be able to have a release ready for CeBit
2004 (end of march).

Regards
-Klaus Knopper

Klaus' original post can be found here.

Thanks Fabian for pointing this out to me!

Adam
01-07-2004, 09:12 PM
Rootman

Re: Knoppix Preview

Quote:

Originally Posted by aay

Ok. I don't want to get too many mouths watering . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Too late. Man I may put off my remastering efforts and wait for this.

Is KDE 3.2 in the works also?
01-07-2004, 11:29 PM
aay

Re: Knoppix Preview

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rootman

Quote:

Originally Posted by aay

Ok. I don't want to get too many mouths watering . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Too late. Man I may put off my remastering efforts and wait for this.

Is KDE 3.2 in the works also?

No, but Klaus has usuall upgraded KDE whenever it turns up in Debian Sid. I won't be putting it in there until it is officially released though. No betas.
01-08-2004, 01:51 AM
EmDee

Quote:

NTFS write support by using a linux kernel loader for native windows ntfs.sys

There's another thing from the 'dirty-hacks-using-windows-binaries-department' that i'd like to see in knoppix someday; this emulator for 54mbit wlan drivers: http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/
01-08-2004, 02:05 AM
aay

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmDee

Quote:

NTFS write support by using a linux kernel loader for native windows ntfs.sys

There's another thing from the 'dirty-hacks-using-windows-binaries-department' that i'd like to see in knoppix someday; this emulator for 54mbit wlan drivers: http://ndiswrapper.sourceforge.net/

I agree. I wrote Klaus about it. No word back yet.
01-08-2004, 05:26 PM
TheWind

It would be also the occasion to include an another nice tool, it is NTLM Authorization Proxy Server http://apserver.sourceforge.net/ it allow you to authenticate via MS Proxy Server using the proprietary NTLM protocol, this is very useful for all the peoples wo need access to the net by an proprietary proxi server. It work great with 3.2 and 3.3 knoppix version, but to have it included in the cd will be great for all the people who need a fast access on the net without the need to install linux or customize knoppix!

Piero
01-08-2004, 05:55 PM
aratux

What about adding support for the Arabic language too ?
We as Arab users, don't have Arabic fonts installed on KNOPPIX ??
Here is a link for a bug report where I have submitted a link to GPLed Arabic fonts.

http://www.knoppix.net/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=345

Also, what about enabling the Arabic language in OpenOffice ??
It won't cost space, and will help Arabic users greatly.

Regards
Mohamed Eldesoky
Linux-Egypt
01-09-2004, 09:16 AM
tiscw

what about a cdfs. to readout every session of a iso9660 formated cd
http://www.elis.rug.ac.be/~ronsse/cdfs/

regards
carsten
01-09-2004, 10:52 AM
bitey

Quote:

NTFS write support by using a linux kernel loader for native
windows ntfs.sys (if present on the corresponding ntfs partition).

Yes!
01-09-2004, 02:04 PM
mhelleboid

and what about support for lm_sensors with a patched kernel http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5176#24095 ???
01-09-2004, 05:11 PM
archtron

Quote:

Experiments with an overlay file system to allow easier on-the-fly
installations of new software and possibly eliminating the need of a
separate /ramdisk virtual partition.

I wanted !!! :roll:
01-09-2004, 09:20 PM
zainabia

Quote:

Originally Posted by aratux

What about adding support for the Arabic language too ?
We as Arab users, don't have Arabic fonts installed on KNOPPIX ??
Here is a link for a bug report where I have submitted a link to GPLed Arabic fonts.

http://www.knoppix.net/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=345

Also, what about enabling the Arabic language in OpenOffice ??
It won't cost space, and will help Arabic users greatly.

Regards
Mohamed Eldesoky
Linux-Egypt

I second to this recommendation.

It seems that Open Office for Windows already have this support for right to left written languages.

I have also written to Mr. Knopper to add Urdu Keyboard (i.e. Pakistani Language), as it is spoken by 295 million people (of Pakisatan and India).

Nevertheless, I don't know any font which support Urdu completely for Linux. (Urdu has 6 more alphabets than Arabic).

At moment, only Helvitica and ClearlyU font seems to give partial support to Arabic/Persian/Urdu language.

Regards.
01-10-2004, 06:56 AM
chAos

still not the 2.6 kernel? :?
01-10-2004, 03:40 PM
Silicon_vampire

I would like to see the inclusion of the forcedeth patch for those brave souls who use an NForce chipset motherboard and would like to use it's onboard NIC without having to compile NVIDIA's drivers or keep a module file on floppy. I use it personally myself and it seems to be stable.
01-11-2004, 12:20 AM
wooac

Build RAID into the kernel

How about including RAID into the kernel instead of module?
01-11-2004, 12:41 AM
Superstoned

I guess KDE 3.2 will be in testing very soon after it was released (will be on 2nd februari), so it will appear on knoppix not long after that...

hmmmmmm 3.2 8)
running beta2 now, very nice & quite stable already.
damn lot improved
beats 3.1.4 on every point...
01-12-2004, 12:53 AM
mache

Quote:

Originally Posted by bitey

Quote:

NTFS write support by using a linux kernel loader for native
windows ntfs.sys (if present on the corresponding ntfs partition).

Yes!

Already available in LinuxDefender - Knoppix variant:

http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=32873

developers.slashdot.net

Have fun ;)
01-12-2004, 06:39 AM
EdlinUser

Quote:

Originally Posted by aratux

What about adding support for the Arabic language too ?
We as Arab users, don't have Arabic fonts installed on KNOPPIX ??
Here is a link for a bug report where I have submitted a link to GPLed Arabic fonts.

http://www.knoppix.net/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=345

Also, what about enabling the Arabic language in OpenOffice ??
It won't cost space, and will help Arabic users greatly.

Regards
Mohamed Eldesoky
Linux-Egypt

Give Arabix a try. You'll like it.
I found it at Distrowatch.com
01-13-2004, 05:20 PM
Rootman

[quote="EmDee"]

Quote:

NTFS write support by using a linux kernel loader for native windows ntfs.sys

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Man oh man, I have this (captive ntfs) on my dual boot laptop and have to say it works like a charm. I held my D: partition as FAT32 to enable file sharing between XP and Linux, but I hate the 2 gig file limit. With this I can convert it to ntfs and won't have to put up with it anymore.

Just have to remember how to load XP with LILO. I'm using XOSL now so when XP blows the MBR I can restore it super fast.
01-14-2004, 10:07 AM
emj

Quote:

Originally Posted by zainabia

Quote:

Originally Posted by aratux

We as Arab users, don't have Arabic fonts installed on KNOPPIX ??

I have also written to Mr. Knopper to add Urdu Keyboard (i.e. Pakistani Language), as it is spoken by 295 million people (of Pakisatan and India).

I really would like arabic suport as well, but the question is if this should be included on a international Knoppix, isn't it better to do a national version? Well there really should be more collaboration between local versions and Knoppix MAIN... ;-/
01-15-2004, 06:59 PM
jdn

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silicon_vampire

I would like to see the inclusion of the forcedeth patch for those brave souls who use an NForce chipset motherboard and would like to use it's onboard NIC without having to compile NVIDIA's drivers or keep a module file on floppy. I use it personally myself and it seems to be stable.

Yes PLEASE include support for the nForce onboard NIC.
01-16-2004, 03:38 AM
outanet

thinkpad

it would also be really nice if

sound worked on my thinkpad600
linneibourhood would connect in the last version
abiword was still there
qtparted was upgraded
preconnect didnt keep cutting in and stalling my machine
Bush had brains
dope was legalised
we could move to mars tomorrow.

:twisted:
01-16-2004, 06:09 PM
CrashedAgain

A couple of other (minor) wish list items:
-KDE games (Kpat) instead of that archaic Ace-of-penguins stuff
(I have tried to install kpat in knx 3.1,3.2&3.3 but always get filled by dependency conflicts)
-Use the default cursor, or include an option to use the default cursor. The new white one is impossible to see on a laptop.
-Continued improvements to the HD installer. I suspect a LOT of Knoppix users are really using it as a system installer rather than a run-from-CD system (as I am). Some current problems: As a 'Knoppix' system, it redoes setup each boot, rewriting fstab & other setups which makes setting up a system difficult. As a 'Debian' install, Automount for floppies still does not work (but it does for CD's); sound is a problem, sound works for root login but not for user; most systems will not power down on shutdown; alternative languages kick in unexpectedly ('Localepurge' should be included and automatically run on a HD install, there is really no need for universal language support on a HD install). There are perhaps others but this is what I can think of off hand.
01-20-2004, 05:56 PM
miauman

Hi,

:arrow: And what about a kernel compile with i2c to run sensor-detect when you install knoppix??

:arrow: And a posibility to chose between lilo and grub when you install the distro into your hard disk?

With this 2 includes and some wizard for USB (for cameras, flash disk, etc), knoppix will be great, perfect. :D
01-21-2004, 02:24 PM
EmDee

Does anybody who reads the knoppix mailinglist know how far Klaus has come with 3.4 so far? I'd be willing to do some beta testing, that's for sure;-)
01-22-2004, 05:54 AM
diablo266

my only request is full support for the radeon 9800's.
01-22-2004, 02:35 PM
gowator

My 2c

acpi = bad experience for many.
why not just leave it as users passing it specifically.

What impressed me most on knoppix is it worked 1st time. Sure Im an experienced linux user and my next step would have been to turn off acpi BUT many noobies might not.

Leave it for people to specifically enable.....

arabic....
non latin fonts is a whole new ball game.
Adding French/german etc is just a case of translation but adding arabic is ... well beset by probs for a non native speaker. Theres the filenames to think of .. right to left and swapping the dialog boxxes left/right ....
Look what a hash MS made of it, although I haven\t used Arabic windows since 3.11 ....
Its not impossible BUT itis specialist. In other words find the people, talk to arrabix and ask them to help ....
Its a worthwhile proposition just who would do it??

NFORCE
Well works for me. I keep the compiled modules on the USB keychain for this and my broadcom at work....
its a pain but ..... I just leave the bare minimum <1MB and do a make install since the kernel is the same.
then start pump and /etc/init.d/networking restart.

I think driver support is important, thats what makes it work outa the box but applications are not so important.

Perhaps some easier APT tools with knoppix support to help people upgrade, once you have a nic working and broadband then applications are never more than a apt-get away.
01-23-2004, 09:19 AM
windos_no_thanks

Re: My 2c

Quote:

Originally Posted by gowator

acpi = bad experience for many.
why not just leave it as users passing it specifically.

What impressed me most on knoppix is it worked 1st time. Sure Im an experienced linux user and my next step would have been to turn off acpi BUT many noobies might not.

The current situation sucks for many laptop users since on many laptops the only way to enable some of the hardware is to turn on ACPI. What I personally would like is an option to choose either APM or ACPI at boot time. At least with the current 2.4.x kernels I think that would require two kernel images instead of one but it would make it possible to run the same CD on far more machines than now.
01-23-2004, 11:49 AM
felicino

Xfce4

I'd like to know if Xfce4 will be included into
the next Knoppix release ?
This could be a very good idea :wink:

Andrea
01-23-2004, 01:54 PM
gowator

Re: My 2c

Quote:

Originally Posted by windos_no_thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by gowator

acpi = bad experience for many.
why not just leave it as users passing it specifically.

What impressed me most on knoppix is it worked 1st time. Sure Im an experienced linux user and my next step would have been to turn off acpi BUT many noobies might not.

The current situation sucks for many laptop users since on many laptops the only way to enable some of the hardware is to turn on ACPI. What I personally would like is an option to choose either APM or ACPI at boot time. At least with the current 2.4.x kernels I think that would require two kernel images instead of one but it would make it possible to run the same CD on far more machines than now.

Point taken but I think its important it boots at all.
Once it boots you have the FAQ and cheatcodes so you can reboot with a tenative acpi or apm passed as a kernel option.
The prob with acpi is when it sucks it really sucks.

Mandrake (for example) enables it by default and 90% of install probs relate to this. It gives a rather poor impresion to the first time user....
Experienced users can make an image with it enabled, its really only a case of adding an append to the lilo.conf
01-26-2004, 07:00 PM
Henk Poley

Quote:

Originally Posted by miauman

:arrow: And what about a kernel compile with i2c to run sensor-detect when you install knoppix??

Hmm, that means lm-sensors will be enabled at boot time? Then I know at least one category of users that would dislike that idea. Asus Pundit owners.

The Asus Pundit is a quite silent machine, but running lm-sensors triggers Q-Fan (the automatic fan control) to turn the fan up to it's max, which is quite loud. I'm unsure if other Asus motherboards with Q-Fan also have this deficency.
01-29-2004, 07:25 PM
sn0wflake

Startrek boot

Please remove the annoying Startrek woman voice at bootup! By deleting the voice entirely, space could be saved :)
01-31-2004, 05:39 AM
andymadigan

General Comments

Startrek voice:
I think that's kind of cool, and I always use it as an indicator as to whether my snd card is working

ACPI:
Current knoppix version seems to have some troubles with this, if it's done well it would be fine with me (I haven't been able to use knoppix recently because ACPI doesn't work right on my machine (or rather, it works sometimes but not always). But the HD installer DEFINITELY should be improved. There's nothing else out there with this many installed programs included, not to mention hardware support.

XFCE:
From what I 've seen of XFCE, it has no desktop icons; maybe it's just an ugly habit of mine as a Windows user, but I like my desktop. Also, the file manager I used with XFCE was terrible, I like icon views, not list views. Note: I used Morphix LightGUI. If XFCE had a desktop and a better filemanager, I'd go for it.
01-31-2004, 08:40 AM
tearinghairout

My vote is to replace the startrek voice for shutdown with the bit in the movie "Dark City" where the alien says in his ominous and forbidding voice "Shut it down... Shut it down Forever".
02-04-2004, 06:30 PM
quadratic

Re: My 2c

Quote:

Originally Posted by gowator

Quote:

Originally Posted by windos_no_thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by gowator

acpi = bad experience for many.
why not just leave it as users passing it specifically.

What impressed me most on knoppix is it worked 1st time. Sure Im an experienced linux user and my next step would have been to turn off acpi BUT many noobies might not.

The current situation sucks for many laptop users since on many laptops the only way to enable some of the hardware is to turn on ACPI. What I personally would like is an option to choose either APM or ACPI at boot time. At least with the current 2.4.x kernels I think that would require two kernel images instead of one but it would make it possible to run the same CD on far more machines than now.

Point taken but I think its important it boots at all.
Once it boots you have the FAQ and cheatcodes so you can reboot with a tenative acpi or apm passed as a kernel option.
The prob with acpi is when it sucks it really sucks.

Some laptops do not actually boot at all. As noted in other threads, some notebooks freeze on boot with Knoppix 3.3 due to problems with ACPI and SMP. My Toshiba 2430 freezes after the boot prompt, no matter what cheatcodes I enter. There is an ACPI-enabled non-SMP version that someone created, but I am really hoping to be able to boot my laptop on 3.4.
02-04-2004, 07:16 PM
c123

Re: General Comments

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymadigan

Startrek voice:
[...] I always use it as an indicator as to whether my snd card is working.

Same here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by andymadigan

XFCE:
From what I 've seen of XFCE, it has no desktop icons; maybe it's just an ugly habit of mine as a Windows user, but I like my desktop. Also, the file manager I used with XFCE was terrible, I like icon views, not list views. Note: I used Morphix LightGUI. If XFCE had a desktop and a better filemanager, I'd go for it.

Tried XFCE last night in Morphix LightGUI. Was expecting it to look prettier :( BTW any idea if it's possible to mve the mouse pointer just using the keyboard (in KDE, I think it's CTRL+F12 then you can use the mouse using jjkl; or four similar keys).
02-17-2004, 12:55 AM
tboege

from http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6600

Shift+NumLock gives you movement of the mouse by using the keypad (5 clicks)