The Libranet development team has released Libranet 2.8.1 as a free download for trial purposes.
Libranet 2.8.1 Available for Free Download
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Excellent move, Libranet team. Beta testing of the new 3.0 should start soon. The rumors are that there are some nice improvements to the awesome adminmenu utility.
Check out this interesting thread in the Libranet forum. Jon, one of the two Libranet developers, gives a progress report on 3.0:
http://forum.libranet.com/viewtopic.php?t=5042
Libranet rocks.
Yes I agree, I’ve been using libranet since 2.0. Libranet rocks. Anyone reading this that uses Linux (or doesn’t) should give it a shot. It’s an easy to install Debian.
Having said that, I have moved on to Debian proper. I find that using debian allows more flexibility and is simpler and more sound.
Libranet was a great (really underrated) stepping stone to move onto Debian. Adminmenu is a great tool to configure a distro with but I don’t care for the way it handles some files in /etc.
Everyone should give Libranet a try (no I do not work for them).
If they offer 3.0 on a trial basis, I’ll probably check it out. But 2.81 is just too dated now.
Er, does it mean that a nag screen will show up after thirty days? Or does it just stop booting? What do they mean by ‘trial’?
2.8.1 isn’t dated. Just install it and upgrade it to the latest and greatest available via apt. Of course, 3.0 will have some nice new features that I’m sure are not available to 2.8.1, otherwise nobody would upgrade, but the programs you get with 2.8.1 are quite current.
“Er, does it mean that a nag screen will show up after thirty days? Or does it just stop booting? What do they mean by ‘trial’?”
just means that you wont get any support from them and they wont fix bugs or anything. you can upgrade to debian proper and be happy with that if you want to. other than that there are no restrictions as such. gpl’ed stuff cannot be trialware
“gpl’ed stuff cannot be trialware”
AFAIK there is nothing in the GPL that would prevent them from releasing a distro with a 30 day time limit on it, as long as they released the modifications. Didn’t some other distro do that?
I used Libranet but not any more is debian base with good apt but I like more emerge
This is cool. Libranet just rocks and so do the Libranet users. They have one of the friendliest Linux forums around.
The new Debian Sarge installer, although still beta, is already quite easy to use — a big improvement over the Woody installer. And the Sarge installer will quite likely continue improving. If Debian proper is easy to install, that leaves Adminmenu the only potential reason why anyone would like to pay for a distro like Libranet, IMO.
Here is a webpage that introduces some of the system administration utilities that are natively available in Debian:
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Debian
Well, I’ve been following Libranet for awhile now, trying 2.7 Classic awhile back, and then finally getting 2.8.1 a couple of weeks ago when I saw the CD price at Linux Central was down to $30 (I don’t regret it, they’re good developers, and deserve the reward). I agree that it’s quite current once you get all the updates from apt, so nobody should let age get in the way. I’m sure 3.0 will be a little more current for the official Libranet sources, but you can always dist upgrade to Sarge, or even Sid if it’s a real problem and not just a psychological one.
On the other hand, a few things did concern me. First off, I ran into a bug with the official Libranet apt sources. I had nothing Gnome installed, yet when I ran an upgrade it would insist that there was a problem with gconf dependency versions, and cancel the upgrade early. I’d have to manually run ‘apt-get install gconf’ to get around it, and then reinstall gdm2 as the gconf operation for some inexplicable reason removed it. It’s not a huge issue, but it shouldn’t happen on a user friendly distro. Also, the configuration utilities for IceWM, the default on Libranet, were anorexic at best. I expect them to put in some much needed effort for 3.0, as it’s the one place the configuration utilities really lack.
I bought Libranet so that I could finally get rid of Windows after 2 years of occasional Linux fiddling, while I cycle other distros in the search for my golden Tux. But between the little bugs here and there, and the annoying abstraction layer for configuration, Debian Sarge took it’s place (my first distro being Woody, I’m back to the source). Like so many others, I decided that a user friendly distribution could only take me so far. That said, I’ve also begun suggesting Libranet to anyone looking for a simple Windows replacement. Even though it’s a bit buggy here and there, it’s less so than the alternatives like Mandrake, Fedora, and Lycoris. Plus it’s extremely fast, even with KDE and Gnome.
Of course, now I’m getting sick of Debian’s bloat and hijacking of config files. I’ve fallen in love with Arch, and her minimalism down to the bone with BSD style init scripts and the very simple apt-like pacman package manager. It doesn’t have any configuration scripts, so it takes quite some time to learn to setup, but once you’re there you have complete control. It’s a great mix between Slackware and Debian with a little Gentoo thrown in, one of the most underrated distros I think.
But I’ve rambled off topic. Libranet is a very strong distribution for what it sets out to do, and now that 2.8.1 is available for free, everyone with any interest in a user friendly Debian based distribution should give it a try. But if you’re just looking for a Debian installer, perhaps you’d be better off avoiding some extra abstraction, and use the new Sarge installer.
I, too, have used the Debian Sarge installer. As a Libranet user, I have the following to say:
Debian supports a Linux 2.6 kernel. It was the first installer that got the 2.6 kernel to work.
It failed on my sound card, and installed a VESA 800×600 display on my Ati Radeon 7500 based video card. I got the Debian video fixed by copying over the proper config file from my Libranet installation.
Libranet is indeed getting old. It runs Gnome 2.2 and KDE 3.1.2 (if memory serves me properly. The kernel is 2.4.21. Open Office is 1.0. That said, this is a distro that sweats the details. The stuff works, the hardware gets recognized.
I suspect that the next version will offer better wireless support and 2.6 kernel support. I also know that their version will not wipe out Windows, or do other nasty things. They will get it right.
It is true that 2.8.1 is a bit dated, but with the safe archive you can update it to make it completely up-to-date. E.g. you can perfectly install kernel 2.6.x and KDE 3.2.x.
quote: “If they offer 3.0 on a trial basis, I’ll probably check it out. But 2.81 is just too dated now.”
Please. If you’re going to make a comment, have the ability to make a realistic comment. Libranet is based on Debian. Ever heard of apt-get? Woody is outdated now as well, I don’t hear people bitching about it, they just pin to sarge/sid. Get over it.
The Libranet developers have introduced a ‘safe update archive’ – that pretty much combines a custom /etc/apt/sources.list file and /etc/apt/preferences file, pinning various sources. Libranet tested it to ensure that it would work and not throw up lots of conflicts, which over the 4 months that it’s been in it has lived up to.
I’m using 2.8.1 and i’ll sure as hell be buying 3. If 2.8.1 is not up to date, pray do tell how i’m managed to run openoffice 1.1.4, kde 3.2.2, gnome 2.4 etc? mmm?
Please – get your facts right. As to the trial – read the page. It says if you like it please consider buying. Support from Libranet is excellent. The forums are awesome. it’s simply the best linux distro i’ve ever used, best forums as well. And i’ve used Linux on and off since Redhat 5.2 thanks. I’ve played with Debian woody, a bit of slackware, Suse (dreadful), Mandrake (totally dreadful). So i’ve been around.
Dave
“morgoth” on the user forums
PS No – I do NOT work for Libranet, nor am I affiliated in any way, shape or form. This is my honest opinion.
I also have used the Debian Sarge installer (test candidate 1) and Libranet 2.8.1 The thing that people don’t get is that Libranet is targeted to desktop/workstation user and Debian is meant to be a “universal” operating system. As such, you can get Debian to do just about anything you want if you have the skills and the time. However, if you want to quickly set up a working desktop/workstation, Libranet wins hands down. Just try it and you will see that Libranet makes life a lot easier by handling lots of little things that take up time. The greatest thing about it though, is Libranet is only “polished” where needed and otherwise sticks to standard Debian, so you can upgrade to Debian Sid without breaking anything. Other desktop-oriented distributions like Xandros or Linspire are Debian based very heavily modified.
P.S.- I also do NOT work for Libranet, but I am a paying customer and a beta tester.
OK, fair enough. I admit that Libranet is likely to save time and make things a bit easier for beginners. That’s definitely a good thing because it brings more happy users to Debian. I tend to forget that I’ve used Debian for quite a long time and I know exactly how to make Debian do what I want. For beginners things are always more difficult.
I’ve used Libranet for a few month and I have updated pretty much everything and it still works.
I am not sure I will install 3.0 since I am already running kernel 2.6.6 (lack of time to compile 2.6.7) and very recent versions of kde, oo.org, mozilla, k3b,blender. That was made really easy with Debian tools.
I was a bit disappointed with the libranet safe update archive. I had to rely on unstable for most of my upgrade needs.
I am still looking for the Graal of the Linux distro : a good install base with a long life (2/3 years), and a wide range of APPLICATIONS being updated rapidly without losing support from the vendor and that, for a reasonnable fee. Mandrake leaves updates to volunteers (no support but still a fee), libranet to “unstable” (unsupported by definition).
But that being said, Libranet has worked well for me so if you are interested in Debian, jump right in.
I tend to forget that I’ve used Debian for quite a long time and I know exactly how to make Debian do what I want. For beginners things are always more difficult.
I wouldn´t call myself a beginner, I have 10 years of GNU/Linux experience, and 8 years of BSD experience. But still, I like Libranet. It is a comfortable desktop distribution, though it is not intimidating for (most) long time GNU/Linux users. It just comes with a good default configuation, has a good selection of extra packages in the Libranet repository. The safe archive is really handy and good. And besides that adminmenu is a nice tool to do things quick.
Being a user with alot of GNU/Linux experience doesn´t mean that you have to hurt yourself to configure a Linux box (ok, that is an overstatement
). I do all the manual configuration for servers, but for workstation/desktop machines it is much nicer to have it installed in a snap, and to have a usable system. I know that it can be done with plain Debian, but tastes differ 
.
I´ll add the obligatory statement too
: I am not a Libranet employee, just a happy customer and beta tester.
I have libranet 2.7 classic, it’s a good distro, I’m sure 2.8.1 is even better. But is a 1400MB download really necessary?
Libranet 2.7 is a one cd distro, and I’ve never used most of that. It makes more sense to do a minimal install, then update, upgrade, and apt-get the apps you want. That way you get a more recent version of the apps you want – and only the apps you want.
Why do the distro makers feel they are doing the downloaders some great favor by bundeling everything-but-the-kitchen-sink? Can’t they at least give the downloaders an *option* of just downloading a core system, and then let the downloaders decide for themselves what windows managers, and which apps the downloaders want? Not everybody wants openoffice, or gnome, or kde. At 1400MB, the libranet download will about 1000MB more than most users want. Why waste all the bandwidth, why make all those coasters?
In a way debian proper is worse. I think standard debian comes on about 12 cds – practically all of which is about two years out of date. But, at least debian give you the option of doing what I did: download a 100MB core system, then update/upgrade/download from there.
Quite right.
In a way debian proper is worse. I think standard debian comes on about 12 cds
That’s probably because there are people out there who don’t have a network connection.
Libranet is really good for people who want to learn how Debian works but find installing and configuring Woody too daunting.
When I installed Libranet I was able to have a working system, including Java support and more, without having to delve into tutorials and man pages. I knew nothing about APT, but was able get my system updated with no problems. In other words, I could spend time learning how to Use Debian instead of Installing it.
Since Libranet is fully compatible with Debian, I am able to use Debian Tutorials and How-tos to get things done. I can use Debian sources to install packages not included with Libranet.
I love Libranet and can’t wait for 3.0 to come out.
You can just fetch the first CD, and choose “minimal” in the package selection. You wel get X + IceWM, adminmenu and some other basic stuff. You can add other software with APT and the safe archive.
This is what I do. I just use the first CD to do a minimal install, and APT the rest after that. Works fine…
Please. If you’re going to make a comment, have the ability to make a realistic comment. Libranet is based on Debian. Ever heard of apt-get? Woody is outdated now as well, I don’t hear people bitching about it, they just pin to sarge/sid. Get over it.
If I knew enough about Debian to update the whole system (and actually wanted to do it), what use then would I have for Libranet? Part of the appeal of distros like this is to install it and have a nice ‘out of the box’ experience where at least the DE’s are the most current, so that I can take it for a test drive without having to upgrade half the OS first.
Part of the appeal of distros like this is to install it and have a nice ‘out of the box’ experience where at least the DE’s are the most current,
Really, typing apt-get -t unstable kde or fireing up synaptic is not that hard
. Besides, if you want up-to-date stuff out of the box: Libranet 3.0 will be out soon.
I like the release cycle of Libranet, it is not as long as Debian, and not as short as many other distros out there. With one major release per year you are not upgrading all year, but it is just good enough not to get too stale. Besides, most Libranet users track the safe archive and have software that is as up-to-date as they want.
Really, typing apt-get -t unstable kde or fireing up synaptic is not that hard
.
So if I did this, would my setup be as clean/stable as if I had installed all the new stuff ‘fresh’ instead of updating over the old stuff?
Besides, if you want up-to-date stuff out of the box: Libranet 3.0 will be out soon
Well, yeah .. that was my whole point
If they offer the 3.0 release like this, I’ll prolly check it out.
I think Darius misses the point. With Libranet 2.8.1, you do a minimal install. Out of the box Libranet uses Debian Sarge. I have gone back to Sarge, as I find it simple and reliable. If you want KDE, you simply type “apt-get install KDE.”
There is no installing over previous software. That said, I have updated KDE continuously since installing Libranet last fall. I am up to 3.2.2. It runs fine.
If Darius is the kind of person who jumps from distro to distro, then Libranet probably isn’t for him. It costs money. He should stick to the latest and greatest like SUSE, Mandrake, Fedora, and Knoppix. For lack of bugs, ease of setup, and ease of maintenance, it’s hard to beat Libranet.
quote:
If I knew enough about Debian to update the whole system (and actually wanted to do it), what use then would I have for Libranet? Part of the appeal of distros like this is to install it and have a nice ‘out of the box’ experience where at least the DE’s are the most current, so that I can take it for a test drive without having to upgrade half the OS first.
Please. Have you not looked at Libranets website? Or read the other posters? No? 2.8.1 is nearly a year old. I’d rather a year between releases but have stable releases than the junk that Fedora and Mandrake and Suse peddle. If I want bugs i’ll go look in my back yard. If I want unstable then i’ll go buy Microsoft Windows. It’s not that hard to use apt-get, if you’re not prepared to at least learn a bit of *basic* then Libranet, Debian, Knoppix, Lycoris, Lindows, Xandros aren’t for you. Stick to rpm based distros, but then, they’re using crappy package management systems (or some have seen the light and use apt-get now).
If I sound annoyed, it’s because of lazy people who don’t even want to learn a bit of the basics.
Dave
PS Daniel nice to see you posting on here!!!
That’s exactly it, Peter. As long as you have a strong package manager, you can always be up to date with a few keystrokes or mouse clicks. You don’t really need fresh CD’s every 3 months, which is an even bigger advantage for a commercial distribution.
Darius, when playing with a new distribution, is it the versions of the software that’s important, or the package management and configuration tools? KDE 3.2.2 is KDE 3.2.2 (basically), no matter which distribution you’re running.
And honestly, could there be a connection between the quantity of ISO updates on a distribution, and how smooth the experience is? Sure Fedora has all the bleeding edge software off the CD (allowing for the quick test drive you’re looking for), but in my experience, that just makes for a bloody mess. If you only release a new version once or so a year, and have strong package management, you’re able to better refine the experience, patching the holes and ironing out the wrinkles.
Darius, when playing with a new distribution, is it the versions of the software that’s important, or the package management and configuration tools? KDE 3.2.2 is KDE 3.2.2 (basically), no matter which distribution you’re running.
Well, actually … both would be nice if you could swing it
So if I’m understanding you right, I just install the bare minimum (I’m assuming this is an option in setup somewhere) and then I apt-get everything but the kitchen sink? How the hell am I supposed to know what I should be apt-getting? What if I don’t know KDE from the hole in my ass? Is it going to provide me with a list of all the GUIs from which I have to choose from and what are the main features of each?
If I remember correctly, the minimum installation of Libranet starts you off with IceWM. Once logged in, you can launch Synaptic that lists the available packages with descriptions. From there on it’s pick and choose.
So if I’m understanding you right, I just install the bare minimum (I’m assuming this is an option in setup somewhere)
Yep, you can select that at the package selection.
and then I apt-get everything but the kitchen sink? How the hell am I supposed to know what I should be apt-getting
Just fire up adminmenu, do an adminmenu update, it will ask you if you’d like to use the safe archive. Say “yes”, fire up synaptic when it is done, and use synaptic to install KDE. There is one meta-package named “kde”, which will install KDE, dependencies wil be installed automatically.
Is it going to provide me with a list of all the GUIs from which I have to choose from and what are the main features of each?
Libranet has a graphical log-in screen, you can select which of the installed desktop environments you’d like to use.
Much of the package installation is described in the following book that is under development, and is written by members of the Libranet community:
http://libranet-basics.taickim.net/
If you want a fast mirror for libranet you can use this:
http://www.debianworld.net/pub/mirror/libranet/
Here is the official torrent
http://dl2.libranet.com/Libranet-2.8.1-trial.torrent