OliveBSD is a live CD based on OpenBSD 3.8. It uses IceWM as its desktop environment (using ROX-Filer as file manager), and comes with the usual suspects when it comes to software. Firefox, Thunderbird, GIMP, Gaim, Xmms; they require no introduction. There are enough screenshots in there, boys and girls, so enjoy.
I must say that I enjoy seeing some effort going into to the various *BSDs – especially in order to make them more userfriendly (most notably PC-BSD and now this). Now, if only some sort of search functionality* would be built into the various package managing systems that vanilla OpenBSD/NetBSD use, I’d be a happy camper.
* Yes, the OpenBSD manual suggests that you install the ports system, search in it and then installs packages UNLESS you know exactly what package including version you want. That on the other hand requires more or less a browser so one can look up what the package file name. If anyone knows of a easier and saner method, feel free to share.
Now, if only some sort of search functionality* would be built into the various package managing systems
Using a browser to search the packages list (http://www.openbsd.org/3.8_packages/ ) has always served me pretty well. True, it’s still an extra step away from the command-line, but it doesn’t bother me too much. At any rate, the packages system seems to be one of the things that has been improving lots lately and has some momentum so maybe you’ll get your wish
Or, I could pretend to be an OpenBSD dev and tell you: “Shut up and hack!!” 😉
As for OliveBSD, it seems to be getting some pretty serious attention around the various bsd news sites. The main download site got hammered right away and there’s all sorts of mirrors going up all over the place now. Looks like the guy found a void that really needed to be filled
Well, there are two ways of finding out the package that you want. First, you can check this page http://www.openbsd.org/3.8_packages/ Of course, the easier way is to download the package. Try this:
1) download the index of packages:
ftp ftp://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/3.8/packages/i386/index.txt
2) add the package patch to your environment
export PKG_PATH=ftp://ftp.openbsd.org/pub/OpenBSD/3.8/packages/i386/
3) find the package you want and install it
pkg_add thepackagenamehere.tgz
Its a pretty simple process, really. This method does not require one to install the ports. Enjoy… of course, all this was in the man pages…
Damn typos, heh.
Edited 2006-02-22 09:11
Okay, that seems to do the trick somewhat. I’d still like to see a system/process/base configuration that makes steps 1 and 2 redundant. Sort of adding a search feature to pkg_add or a pkg_search command.
I guess I don’t have a problem with the filemanager and wm they chose.. maybe they’re going for simplicity? Maybe they’re going for getting the somewhat lesser-known software out there? But.. rox and icewm? Ew.. *dons tinfoil hat* couldn’t they have picked.. (imo) a better general environment?
He probably took a) what he likes to use himself and b) components that are easy on the requirements. Gnome and KDE LiveCDs has been done to death.
I guess that’s what package managers are for then.
I don’t think s/he meant ‘easy on the requirements’ as GNOME and KDE have complicating dependencies(software requirements), but about requirements on resource(in another word, hardware requirements) I think some, if not all, Live CDs shouldn’t require much resources to be used. I don’t mind if it’s installed onto HDD of a desktop/laptop with enough resources, though.
back to topic, it is good to hear about OpenBSD Live CD.
“I don’t think s/he meant ‘easy on the requirements’ as GNOME and KDE have complicating dependencies(software requirements), but about requirements on resource(in another word, hardware requirements)”
Indeed I did refer to hardware. And I’m a ‘he’ by the way (props for not making any assumptions though). 🙂
try slax!!!
Subtle advertisment. Here I was thinking this was a thread about OliveBSD.
Silly ol’ me.
IceWM and rox-filer, hmm, that’s just great for us PII users in the 3rd world. I guess that’s the reason i never tried PC-BSD, kde is too slow on old boxes. I hope the ports have xfe and xzgv.
Thanks for putting something fast instead of the usual behemoths (gnome and kde).
I used to work with NetBSD. I have never used OpenBSD in a “desktop” type capacity. I’m going to download this and cook me a desktop.
With OpenBSD’s security, this with alot of work could be made [i]very,/i> user friendly. Looking forward to following the project.
One other thing, you guys should maybe ditch IceWM, and use FluxBox 0.9.15-cvs with the ROX-Filer desktop. This is my opinion anyways.
/my nickel’s worth
:: Peace Out ::
I’m downloading now to try in a qemu session. Sounds like an interesting project and I hope he continues development on it.
Just curious but why use qemu? This is a Live CD, you can boot from it and run it without installing it. It won’t even touch your hard drive. A much better way to evaluate it than using an emulator in my opinion.
1. To see if it actually is worth burning to cd, so I don’t have to waste a cd like I have in the past with other live cds.
2. Just to try it out without having to reboot the computer. I’m usually doing other non-important tasks like chatting on an IM client and browsing the web. I hate to interrupt midconversation just to try out a live cd.
So knowing it won’t touch my harddrive I’m ok with, but I found a few live cds just not to work properly with my system so its a wasted effort on my part to download then not be able to try.
but I found a few live cds just not to work properly with my system so its a wasted effort on my part to download then not be able to try.
Except that qemu really doesn’t tell you anything about whether or not it’ll work with your hardware, no? I thought qemu presented a completely mundane set of hardware so that any operating system should theorectically be able to handle it.
Ok, I admit replying to myself is lame. Just wanted to say this livecd will work under qemu for those of you who don’t feel like ripping it to cd or do not have a cd burner. Its got a nice GUI to it, mac os x type of theme. And networking actually worked, I was able to browse the internet using it. There have been a few other live cd’s I have tried where this wasn’t possible. Overall I’d say its pretty nice image. Keep up the good work.
Good to try probably…
But, for all those who are gonna try it, I would consider changing the original Wallpaper of the distro…
You need to be “Popeye” and/or take a lot of spinachs to use a desktop with a white wallpaper…
LOL… it seems the author used GIMP to create the wallpaper!
Plain ugly… Get a life, why not using professional OpenBSD wallpapers on Deviantart?
It’s like asking a graphic designer to code a driver in ASM.
The “man” behind OpenBSD, Theo De Raadt, is the chief reason several wireless chipsets have released specifications. His hard work and dilligence, allow developers to create Linux drivers for many of these chipsets. He even won the FSF “award for advancement of free software” mainly due to his talks with taiwanese wireless chipset manufacturers and the development of OpenSSH.
http://kerneltrap.org/node/4118
http://www.fsf.org/news/fsaward2004.html
In other news, an OpenBSD livecd will be fun to play with. I wonder if anyone will use these at the OpenBSD hackathons?
That was a good way to start the day
At least not on my system. It starts booting up then says “Panic – Could Not Mount Root”. I tried it in virtual PC and it did the same thing so maybe it doesn’t like my processor. I have an Athlon XP, 1GB RAM and an nForce2 motherboard.