what is in the lightweight Mageia distribution?

[shengchieh]

Before I try a lightweight version of Mageia (not going to try run KDE or GNOME on this dinosaur), what softwares are on it? I.e., what is on
the LXDE, LDXE, openbox, and fluxbox versions? Or do the users get to choose what softwares when installing? There is no liveCD for
the lightweight versions and I don't want to install to find out. Is there a release note for specific lightweight versions? Or just that one long
release note for for all versions?

Also, how stable are the lightweight versions? Of the four (XFCE, LDXE, Openbox, fluxbox), which one do you recommend or dis-recommend?

Sheng-Chieh

[Ken-Bergen]

I think you're asking about the Dual-Architecture CD. Right?

If so you get a working LXDE from the installer and that's about it.
After installation and setting up your online repositories everything that Mageia has to offer is available for installation on your system.
It's really meant as a minimal install that you build up to suit your needs so no games, office suites and other things that you may not want but are installed by default with the DVD or Live CD.

[djennings]

If you install from the DVD or the dual arch CD or do a network install using the boot.iso then you can choose many different desktop environments.
(If installing from the Dual Arch CD you have to be internet connected during the install in order to be able to get access to those packages not on the CD)

After partitioning the hard drive you are presented with a menu asking if you want to install KDE, Gnome, or Custom Desktops. On selecting custom you can select from the following desktops
KDE, Gnome, LXDE, IceWm, OpenBox, Enlightenment, WindowManager (maybe some others I forget)

After installation is complete you can also install using the Software Install GUI, XFCE, Fluxbox, Blackbox, Matchbox, fvwm
You can also choose which Desktop manager you use, and can choose kdm, gdm, xdm, and lxdm
At login you can choose which desktop you want to start.

[shengchieh]

Thank you for replying.

It sounds like I can choose my desktop environment/window manager, and then, choose my own software, i.e., I wouldn't want Kmail and other KDE softwares,
etc. I like bare-minimum distros, then I don't need to load junks on it - only have 14.x GB - good news so far.

2nd question:

With a lightweight distro, how easy it is to add sun java (not the open source java - I need the security camera to work)? Is it in the repository - a simple
urpmi or rpm or add in installation OR do I need to do a geeky install with tarball?

Sheng-Chieh

[Ken-Bergen]

java-1.6.0-sun-1.6.0.25-1.mga1.i586 is in the non-free repository.

[shengchieh]

Thank again for the help. So far, looking good. 2 more questions.

3rd question:

Has anyone successfully run skype (yes, I know Micro$oft brought it, but I need to communicate with my window friends).
A plus, if someone successfully got skype running on a lightweight version of Mageia.

4th question:

Is there a way to see what is in the repository (don't worry if not in alphabet or group order - I'll search around)?

Sheng-Chieh

[barjac]

There is a new package called get-skype which is as yet only in the Cauldron non-free repo.
You can install it on 32 or 64 bit installations of mga1 using :-

Code: Select all

su
rpm -Uvh ftp://distrib-coffee.ipsl.jussieu.fr/pub/linux/Mageia/distrib/cauldron/i586/media/nonfree/release/get-skype-2.2.0.35-16.mga2.nonfree.noarch.rpm

You may need to also install libalsa2 if it's not already on your system as it was missing from the requires in that version. All other needed libraries will be installed automatically.
I hope that helps.

EDIT The release in the command above has been updated and the note about libalsa2 no longer applies

[doktor5000]

And please pay attention to the general rule: Only one problem per thread.
If you have more questions, please use the search function, or open up a new thread.

Regards

[zugunder]

shengchieh
As an option, you can always try a static Skype version.
In my case on Mandriva 2010.2 it worked even better than any rpms.

[doktor5000]

@zugunder:
This is not the preferred way to do it. If there are packages in a distribution package management,
they should always be preferred rather than "packages" from the produces of the software itself,
be it for updates, better integration into the distribution or even for bugreports.