After three years of inactivity the SLAMPP project has just releases SLAMPP Live 2.0 code named “KALINDA”. The newest version includes pre-configured servers and related utilities to make setting up a home server as easy as possible. This release features a full web and Linux environment, LAMPP and Ruby on Rails. SLAMPP Live 2.0 also features a fancy bootsplash, progress bar, and desktop wallpaper. A good selection of applications is available including the entire OpenOffice software suite, Blender, Inkscape, GIMP, Dia, Scribus, Exhaile, Totem, Brasero, Iceweasel, Opera, Pidgin, Liferea, goobox and many more.. SLAMPP also now supports persistent partitions for USB install. The new SLAMPP is easy to update and upgrade by using Zenwalk and Slackware repositories with Netpkg, slapt-get, and zpm package management tools.

Although the focus of SLAMPP has been shifted and many changes have been implemented into the website and the distro itself SLAMPP is still comitted to being a live DVD designed to be an instant home server.  SLAMPP now focuses on being a good blend of desktop and server. This is evident as the new version mixes GUI applications and the command line together.

SLAMPP is great for users looking for a quick pre-configured server distro with a ton of features. The SLAMPP 2.0 .ISO file is 1.9GB. you can buy SLAMPP 2.0 for $5.95.

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I thought it was time to find out what ExTix was all about having never used it. While previous versions of ExTix were based on Knoppix/Debian, the ExTix 7.0 release is based on the Swiss Linux system named Paldo stable 1.18. The latest ExTix release comes on a Live Linux DVD featuring full Sweedish language support, more programs and many other additions to its Paldo base. The ExTix 7.0 Live DVD features 2.6.30 -extix kernel by default, GNOME, OpenOffice.org, GIMP, Skype, Apache, win32 codecs, VLC, GParted, aMule, Firefox community edition, WINE, and more. Managing packages can be done through the upkg tool which is suppose to be something like the apt-get commands I’m used to.

Buy The ExTix Live DVD $5.95

First Impression
The boot was pretty quick for me and I was immediately impressed with the background, and icon setup. I could tell right away that this polished up version of GNOME had some unique features. I also noticed icons across the top panel that pointed to GIMP, Skype, aMule, OpenOffice, VLC and a few others. The placement of everything was impressive however I would have liked the top panel icons to be spaced closer together. Details like the weather and  force quit icons on the bottom panel by default were really a nice touch.

Packages
I was able to use quite a few upkg commands while using ExTix 7.0. The documentation I read was right, it is a lot like apt-get. Here’s some commands to get started with upkg.

upkg-add – to add a package
upkg-build – builds a package
upkg-buildd – builds a daemon
upkg-install – installs a package
upkg-remove – removes a package

Add your package name after the command like this.

Network
When my desktop booted up, I was automatically connected to my wired connection and able to access to internet through the Epiphany web browser. I also noticed that ExTix uses the Wicd wireless manager.

Media
The VLC media player is a great choice to include by default. Other media tools I found useful were the Cheese webcam app and trusty old Rhythmbox was also installed by default. Having instant access to aMule makes getting those media files easier than ever.

Overall this Live DVD worked like a charm for what I would use it for. Applications opened quickly and the navigation and interface was well thought out. I was impressed to see that a distro with such great development tools on board also included such a nice desktop and interface.

Buy ExTix Live DVD

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