Does anyone prefer an older version of Knoppix over 6.2? Why

[chip.ling]

To me, 5.1.1 is my stable version.

The reason is that it works great on all my wireless machines. (i.e. they are old) However, I found that 5.1.1 is not really compatible with the latest hardware especially the video and SATA support.

I still cannot find a better CD compilation since 5.1.1, most of the newer version seems to missing a great deal of important apps/components in the CD distro. (i.e. wireless connection, ssh, samba etc) I don't know the others, but these are critical to me, I use it on my daily life and cannot live without it.

Rgds,
Chip

[Capricorny]

To me, 5.1.1 is my stable version.

The reason is that it works great on all my wireless machines. (i.e. they are old) However, I found that 5.1.1 is not really compatible with the latest hardware especially the video and SATA support.

I still cannot find a better CD compilation since 5.1.1, most of the newer version seems to missing a great deal of important apps/components in the CD distro. (i.e. wireless connection, ssh, samba etc) I don't know the others, but these are critical to me, I use it on my daily life and cannot live without it.

I just wonder why you must have these programs inside the compressed image? I installed the missing parts on the persistent image with the CD version of 6.0.1 , and that works very well. Even the DVD versions of 6.2.1 will most probably miss
something you need (e.g. samba server), so by the in-compressed-principle you may never be able to go beyond 5.X. Unless you remaster, then. Which I guess may be the best option for you

[chip.ling]

I just wonder why you must have these programs inside the compressed image? I installed the missing parts on the persistent image with the CD version of 6.0.1 , and that works very well. Even the DVD versions of 6.2.1 will most probably miss
something you need (e.g. samba server), so by the in-compressed-principle you may never be able to go beyond 5.X. Unless you remaster, then. Which I guess may be the best option for you

Good question, Knoppix, to me, is a LiveCD. That means boot it up from the CD when I needed them. It will leave no trace on my harddisk at all. (That is the part I like it)

For a permanent installation, I only consider the real distro. I have a couple of machines already have Ubuntu server version or CentOS server version in place.

Rgds,
Chip

[Capricorny]

For a permanent installation, I only consider the real distro. I have a couple of machines already have Ubuntu server version or CentOS server version in place.

I run Knoppix mostly from USB stick (easy) or USB harddisk (even easier). No permanent installation on the harddisk then. And with 6.2.1, it is always possible to boot from the CD, and run from USB drives. I find that the hard disk installs of complete distros get less and less use, but I have them.

[fergus]

My must have is gcc with /libreadline and I'm incredibly disappointed that 6 doesn't have /libreadlne.
5.3.1-DVD does, along with gnuplot, gv, latex, xdvi, xpdf and a few other needs.
I think 4.2.1-DVD was almost as well resourced.
Unfortunately 5.3.1-DVD doesn't understand my wireless adapter (and I can't follow the command script to render it viable) but that is really the ONLY lack.
I just loved some of the older desktop backgrounds, particularly "LINUX IN USE" (3.something?) Hated the car speedo on 4.2, but not as much as all recent feelgood landscapes/ seascapes/ etc.
And, in ALL CASES, wish I could turn off the fiendish SYSTEM STARTUP and SYSTEM SHUTDOWN "sexy" (don't think so) hag. On 6.2 even when started at level 2 (console only) she still chimes in at shutdow, though not

[carolus]

Unfortunately 5.3.1-DVD doesn't understand my wireless adapter (and I can't follow the command script to render it viable) but that is really the ONLY lack.

I agree 100%.

For me fortran is a necessity. Since 6.2 and 6.3 contain libgfortran (for scilab?) I assume that the lack of gfortran is simply an oversight. The version of gfortran in 5.3.1 is pretty old, but since I don't use the fancy new features it doesn't matter. 5.3.1 also includes the g77 fortran compiler, which is a plus, though I have not had problems so far compiling my old g77 code with gfortran. It is only the new gfortran features that are flaky.

I expect to switch to 6.x whenever gfortran is included on the DVD. The visible advantages over 5.3.1 are 1) wireless support (I now boot Puppy Linux for wireless) and 2) inclusion of scilab. Meanwhile, it would be nice if package lists were routinely posted for new versions, to save me the trouble of downloading a DVD that lacks gfortran.

[GCMartin]

There is the, now, OLD Knoppix and there is the NEW Knoppix.

I am NOT a developer. A developer writes codes/scripts. On the other hand, I am an administrator. Someone who practices keeping usable systems in front of their users.

In the old Knoppix, supported by much documentation, the startup and management of a LiveCD/DVD system was structured. There is methods designed to allow a user/administrator to managed a LiveCD/DVD system without going thru an installation. In essence, you should have been able to go from release to release by merely changing to the latest LIveCD/DVD.

That's all changed, with the new Knoppix. (And its not reflected in the Cheatcodes.) The new Knoppix has "dropped" these facilities.

In version 6.2+, I have found that the following is either NOT SUPPORTED or not there for some other reason. There is no desktop management tools that exist to allow a user/administrator to create the facilities of home=, myconfig=, tohd=, or swapfile. Thus any customization that you do in a LiveCD/DVD environmetnt cannot be saved across reboots.

And, even though there are Cheatcodes that seem to reflect there existence, they do not appear to work.

There are some very good reason why one would want to run a LiveCD/DVD based system. The most compelling of them is the contents of a LiveCD/DVD cannot be attacked or changed by errant or malicious program activity. The "home= & config=" are personalization and the ONLY FACILITIES THAT ONE NEEDS TO WORRY ABOUT. It seems that new Knoppix didn't see this as a benefit.

Lastly, WikiPedia has tremendous documentation about Knoppix and its inner workings. New Knoppix IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH WIKIPEDIA. Whose responsibility is it to update WikiPedia; and "who has courage enough to say that there are 2 entirely different Knoppix!"

Maybe its time to label the sharp departure by calling the latest Knoppix, "Knoppix2/NewKnoppix/NotKnoppix" or something else to distinguish its departure. Or add an upgrade to allow users to bring the functionality back into the New Knoppix's fold.

I am sure the developers of Knoppix have ideas and simple techniques to alleviate at least this one sticking point. As this is a show stopper for me, currently.

[carolus]

I use 5.3.1 with home= and bootfrom= cheatcodes. The comments in the forum leave me uncertain whether 6.* has functional equivalents. But until gfortran is added, I won't bother to experiment.