should Debian *follow* Knoppix?

**dougvega** · 07-25-2003, 06:41 PM

I must say that since i came across knoppix i became a Debian user after many failed attempts to install debian now is there a definitive litterature on debian that i could use the ones i've seen at the bookstore are very general and not for the Newbie

**aay** · 07-25-2003, 06:55 PM

Originally Posted by hiweed

Hi aay, I come from China.
Some friends ask me to add the Knoppix's auto detection and configuration abilities to Debian's miniCD ISO.

Hmm. Do they want this in order to make installing debian easier? Perhaps just showing them how to use the installer on knoppix would be a better route. There is a new installer on the new release and it has some significant improvements.

If you are looking for something that will fit on a small CD, then you ought to check out Bonzai Linux. Bonzai is debian based, on a small CD, and has been tweaked to make the install easier than Debian. It doesn't use the same hardware detection process that Knoppix does, but it's easier to use than a stock Debian.

Hope this helps

**aay** · 07-25-2003, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by dougvega

I must say that since i came across knoppix i became a Debian user after many failed attempts to install debian now is there a definitive litterature on debian that i could use the ones i've seen at the bookstore are very general and not for the Newbie

Probably the best thing to do is to download and print off some of the documentation here.

You can also look at http://www.aboutdebian.com for an overview.

I'm not sure about published material that is solely about Debian. There are some general books about Linux that would be applicable to Debian.

Rute: http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html.gz (Also available in book form at Amazon)

The Linux Newbie Administrator Guide: http://www.icon.co.za/~psheer/book/index.html.gz

**aay** · 07-25-2003, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by rickenbacherus

Saying "pure Debian" is like "purebred"- nothing but a meaningless term. Afterall that 'purebred' dog may have existed in its present form for 1000 years but before that, it was something else. The strongest survive, the cream rises to the surface, etc.

So right!

Originally Posted by rickenbacherus

Some Debian users and devs that I have spoken with consider Knoppix to be a bastard child, an affront. Whatever..........

Sad but true.

There is no doubt that people will take Debain and continue to streamline it and implement their own ideas. Sometimes I wish this process would go a little faster. I don't mind taking Knoppix, installing it, and using it as me defualt Desktop, but I've got some friends and family members who wouldn't be able to manage w/o an easier install and more configuration tools. I'd like to be able to give them something oneday. I'm sure it will happen it will be just a matter of time.

**Stephen** · 07-25-2003, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by aay

If you are looking for something that will fit on a small CD, then you ought to check out Bonzai Linux. Bonzai is debian based, on a small CD, and has been tweaked to make the install easier than Debian. It doesn't use the same hardware detection process that Knoppix does, but it's easier to use than a stock Debian.

Hope this helps

I'll second that recomendation Bonzai is a great way to get a small (about 150mb) base install of Debian, if you don't install KDE, on the HD you just have to know your hardware and select the proper options during the install.

**Fabianx** · 07-25-2003, 10:01 PM

This is my Project ...

No, seriously I am working on that and the first step is to get almost all packages into debian.

Next step is to wake up and make udebs for the new debian-installer, to be able to use the still developed kudzu instead of the by progeny once developed discover. (It did not work for me on miniwoody).

I'll have an own Knoppix-Repository ready soon nad will also get this packages back to Klaus.

cu

Fabian

**aay** · 07-25-2003, 11:01 PM

Originally Posted by Fabianx

This is my Project ...

No, seriously I am working on that and the first step is to get almost all packages into debian.

Next step is to wake up and make udebs for the new debian-installer, to be able to use the still developed kudzu instead of the by progeny once developed discover. (It did not work for me on miniwoody).

I'll have an own Knoppix-Repository ready soon nad will also get this packages back to Klaus.

cu

Fabian

Woohoo! Sounds great.

BTW, I LOVE the new installer. I just gave it a trial run and am going to post some thoughts in the Lounge when I get a chance. The improvements in this installer are really nice!

**hiweed** · 07-26-2003, 03:53 AM

Originally Posted by aay

Hmm. Do they want this in order to make installing debian easier?

Oh yes, it is so hard to install some hardwares via Debian. So we want to replace the bootfile of Debian's boot CD with Knoppix's. So, our small CD can install these hardwares easilly like Knoppix.

Originally Posted by aay

If you are looking for something that will fit on a small CD, then you ought to check out Bonzai Linux. Bonzai is debian based, on a small CD, and has been tweaked to make the install easier than Debian. It doesn't use the same hardware detection process that Knoppix does, but it's easier to use than a stock Debian.

Thank you so much!
I am downloading the bonzai_2_1.iso now. Then I'll work on it.
Thanks and regards!

Hiweed.

**three eyes open** · 07-29-2003, 11:37 PM

Some Debian users and devs that I have spoken with consider Knoppix to be a bastard child, an affront.

That's funny: I thought Debian was open-source and that the point of open source software was that anyone could change it to suit them. I'm still a Linux newbie; have I misunderstood the open source movement?

**aay** · 07-30-2003, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by three eyes open

Some Debian users and devs that I have spoken with consider Knoppix to be a bastard child, an affront.

That's funny: I thought Debian was open-source and that the point of open source software was that anyone could change it to suit them. I'm still a Linux newbie; have I misunderstood the open source movement?

Well you're right in theory, but I think that there are a lot of Debian users who think that the installer is no good unless it's a pain in the ass to use. I've never understood this personally. It would be nice if the new installer had used an auto detection / configuration process like Knoppix, but had an expert or manual option for people who want to do everything themselves.