| Debian live CD distro rev'd |
Mar. 05, 2010
 The Elive team has released a long-awaited upgrade to its Debian-based, live CD-ready distro. The New Stable version of Elive 2.0, code-named Topaz, is equipped with the Enlightenment E17 desktop environment, but now offers an alternative Compaz desktop, plus new autolaunchers, system-recovery tools, and "configurators."
Elive 2.0 represents the first major Elive release in almost three years, bringing the Debian-based live CD distribution up to date with many new features, says the Elive team. Based on the Linux 2.6.30.9 kernel, Elive 2.0 is said to provide new hardware support, as well as features like tuxonice (hibernation) and the Reiser4 and Ext4 file-systems.
Elive offers an Enlightenment E17 desktop (see images below), but Compiz is also supplied as an alternative. The Elive team, however, only recommends using Compiz as a demo "since it makes your system unstable." Applications are said to include an Office suite, Firefox, the usual communications features, and as well as audio and video editors.
 
Elive's Enlightenment E17 desktop with visual effects (left) and video playback in night mode (right)
(Click on either to enlarge)
Elive is known for supporting older, lower-powered systems, and it still can handle a base system with a 100MHz CPU and 64MB of RAM, although a 300MHz processor and 128MB of RAM are recommended. Now, however, Elive 2.0 can take advantage of higher end systems. For example, special kernels are available that include support for more than 4GB of RAM, and without the need for a 64 bit-OS, says the Elive team.
Although provided on a live CD, the distro can also be booted from a USB key or installed on a hard disk drive. In addition to providing the Debian installer, Elive offers its own easier to use installer, which features an upgrade mode, enabling a system to maintain its users and files while upgrading. The installer can also migrate any Linux system to an Elive system, including users, files, passwords, and some configurations, says the team.
Aiming to make Debian Linux more user-friendly, Elive 2.0 offers shortcuts such as the ability to convert files to MP3 by selecting them in the file manager. Other user-friendly features are said to include search, screenshot, and disk usage tools, and a streamlined admin mode.
A new "nurse" mode offers recovery and repair features aimed at non-experts, such as recovering all "Elive default" configurations, performing hardware tests, monitoring free disk space, and installing newer kernels. The nurse mode can even ensure that the system contains all default packages, says the Elive team.
 
Elive communications features (left) and improved language support (right)
(Click on either to enlarge)
Autolaunchers have been entirely rewritten with better stability and more features, and numerous user configurators have been added for features such as the touchpad, says the Elive team. A new audio configurator is said to let users perform tasks like switching between audio cards or simultaneously supporting multiple audio sources.
Additional new and upgraded features in Elive 2.0 are said to include:- 3G phones supported with 364 providers worldwide
- Bluetooth supported
- Trayer included
- Shared Samba folders supported (thanks to LinuxNIT)
- OSS compatibility provided for games and obscure applications that don't support Alsa
- Entrance autologin supported
- Broadcom 43xx works now with two optional drivers
- Ssh support improved with special prompt coloring, direct access to "enlightenment_remote" features, and ability to switch to a "graphical system without need to set special variables"
- Translations are offered for more languages (see image above, right)
Availability
Elive 2.0 New Stable "Topaz" is available for download now, here.
-- Eric Brown
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