Libranet GNU/Linux 2.0 Coming Soon

tal256 writes: "As a proud employee of Libranet, I'm pleased to announce that Libranet has started taking pre-orders for Libranet GNU/Linux 2.0. I feel I should note, of all the vaunted Debian based commercial distributions (Stormix, Corel, Progeny) Libranet is the only one left. We got started before they did and here we still are. Libranet has proven that to stay in the race what you need is a good product rather than millions of dollars behind you; but that's what the world of Free/Open software is all about, isn't it? - Tal" I love Debian, but have never tried Libranet. (The machine I'm typing on was installed with a Stormix CD; my laptop started as a Progeny machine...) Since we seem to be running out of other Debian-based distros, looks like Libranet is my next choice. :)

Comments

Running out?

[Isle]

I am waiting for Xandros :)

And then there's Lindows, but I dont really consider that a linux distro.

Just for your infomation.

xandros

[Anonymous Coward]

>I feel I should note, of all the vaunted Debian based commercial distributions (Stormix, Corel, Progeny) Libranet is the only one left.

Not quite, Xandros - formel Corel Linux, is coming with a new version within a few weeks, and a beta within a few days.

Why Libranet?

[benmhall]

I've read a post here asking why bother with a commercial Debian distro, let me explain:

I have been a Linux user for about 4 and a half years now. In this time I've run the gamut, bouncing from distribution to distribution. For the last year and a half I've stuck with Debian. Why? It's stable, fast, light, well integrated and, if you use Testing, Sid or Ximian with Potato, very up to date. After getting used to Debian's quirks there's no going back for me. I played with RH7.2 lately, but I miss being able to decide that I need a new compiler and then being able to apt-get it.

Great, so that's why to bother with Debian. If you want more reasons please see the links below.

Okay, so why a commercial Debian? For convenience. Libranet adds a really nice adminmenu that consolidates pretty much every aspect of system management, from kernel compilation to X setup, to adding new users, changing your clock or setting up a DSL connection. It's all there in one spot. In addition, the setup is a little simpler than Debian's. Personally, I don't have a huge problem With the Debian installer. What it lacks in looks and polish it more than makes up for in flexibility. It's a great base installer. What Libranet has done is slightly massage it, rather than completely replacing it. This makes the parts that normally trip up new users go away, but still retains much of the underlying flexibility.

Another reason for Libranet is the initial package selection. If you're new to Linux, Debian can be a little... stark. Libranet bundles packages into sections and asks you easy questions like: Do you need a web server? Or, Should I install Office Suites. It's a little thing, but it's nice.

Then there's their support. The small knowledge base succinctly answers 90% of all new questions. Things like "How do I set up ADSL?" or "How do I share my internet connection?" are there, with very simple step-by-step guides on how to accomplish each task. If you need to ask them a question they will get back to you pretty much within a day. It's a small operation (about 6 people, I think.) and they have a nice personal touch.

Finally, at least with 1.9.1, they have kept a solid base (Potato) and added to it. They added reiserfs support, Kernel 2.4, XFree86 4.x, KDE 2.1, and Ximian Gnome. All of this can be done with pure Debian Potato, but it means understanding apt, searching out unofficial apt lines, manually configuring or even compiling packages. Libranet took this all away.

In short, Libranet is important because it takes away the annoying details.

Pure Debian most definitely has it's place. I use it on a laptop with an old video card and no CD-ROM, and have used it for an Alpha and NetWinder that I own. However, for end users who either don't want to learn what each package does or who want to save a bunch of time by letting someone else make some pretty safe assumptions, a commercial Debian distro such as Libranet is the way to go.

Okay, here are some links:

A bunch of testimonials from Libranet customers:
http://www.libranet.com/testimonials.html

Here's a review of 1.9.0:
http://www.thedukeofurl.org/reviews/misc/librane t1 90/index.shtml

Debian for BeOS users:
http://tinyplanet.ca/pubs/debian/html/book1.html

Reasons I like Debian: (Shameless self-promotion)
http://www.moses.cx/reviews/debian/debian.php

Re:Why Libranet?

[Howie]

Or you can install apt-rpm, and then you can apt-get things.

Re:Why Libranet?

[Brandon T.]

The difference is with RPM you actually have to find and download the RPM before you run the aforementioned command. With apt-get all you have to do is type in "apt-get install gcc" and it automatically fetches the package and any dependencies off of debian's ftp (or whatever other ftp you set up in your source list) and installs it automatically. Anyone who has used Redhat has a story about 'dependency hell', where one missing rpm caused another to fail, and then when the missing rpm was replaced, it had another dependency as well. apt-get and debian (for the most part) avoids this problem and makes upgrading a sinch. As someone noted below, apt-get has been ported to rpm by connectiva, so it is now possible to have a similar system with Redhat (though I have not tried it personally).

Other commercial Debian distributions

[kyrre]

feel I should note, of all the vaunted Debian based commercial distributions (Stormix, Corel, Progeny) Libranet is the only one left.
I do believe trustix is based on Debian. And it is a commercial distribution.

Re:Other commercial Debian distributions

[Anonymous Coward]

No. Trustix is based on Redhat. Although the main developer uses Debian. I wish Trustix was based on Debian. A server only based distro would rock.

Re:What do I get?

[daserver]

Take a look again. kernel 2.4.16 kde 2.2.1 gnome (can't remember probably 1.4). xfree 4.1

Re:Where can i download it from ?

[Anna Merikin]

ftp.metalab.unc.edu/pub/Linux/distributions/libran et

Re:Any test/trail versions ?

[Brandon T.]

You can download Libranet 1.9.1. If you installed and liked that version, then it would follow that you would like the new and improved version as well.

Brandon Tallent.

Re:Butt-ugly interfaces

[stankyho]

You mean like here: http://www.linuxartist.org/ or Tigert: http://tigert.gimp.org/

Some great gaphic designers there. Oh yea and some of the Eazel/Nautilus/Ximian guys were Mac designers.