Klaus knopper (the creator of Knoppix) he presented few hours ago the release of the new version of its Knoppix 8.6 distribution, in which this new version comes with the original set of bootstrap scripts and includes imported Debian Stretch packages.
The user interface is based on the LXDE lightweight desktop environment, built on the basis of the GTK library and capable of working in low power systems. Instead of the standard SysV initialization system, a new Microknoppix boot system is used, which significantly speeds up the distribution boot process due to parallel service launch and delayed hardware initialization.
Whereas when using USB Flash, user settings and additionally installed programs do not disappear after reboot: the data stored between sessions is placed in the KNOPPIX / knoppix-data.img file, which, if desired, is It can encrypt with the AES-256 algorithm.
Knoppix 8.6 Key New Features
As mentioned at the beginning, in this new version of Knoppix 8.6 syncs with the Debian Buster base, while for video drivers and desktop components they are imported from Debian / testing and Debian / unstable.
The components of the graphics stack is updated to xserver 1.20.4, new versions of the graphics drivers are included in the delivery and compiz compositing manager support is also provided.
For the heart of the system, Linux kernel has been updated to version 5.2 with cloop and aufs patchesIn addition, Knoppix 8.6 supports two sets of kernels for 32-bit and 64-bit systems.
When using LiveDVD on systems with a 64-bit CPU, the 64-bit kernel is loaded automatically.
For computers equipped with only a CD drive, a shortened boot image is placed in the Knoppix directory, allowing you to boot from the CD and use the rest of the distribution package with a USB drive.
Now in Knoppix 8.6 LXDE is used with the Pcmanfm 1.3.1 file manager, but the package also includes KDE Plasma (activated by the boot option "knoppix64 desktop = kde") and GNOME ("Knoppix64 desktop = gnome").
For the part of the system parcel, we can find the new versions including Wine 4.0, qemu-kvm 3.1, Chromium 76.0.3809.87, Firefox 68.0.1 (complete with Ublock Origin and Noscript), LibreOffice 6.3.0-rc2, GIMP 2.10.8.
It is also important to highlight that "Tor" web browser was added and is available for launch through the Knoppix menu.
Also included are video editors such as: kdenlive 18.12.3, openshot 2.4.3, photofilmstrip 3.7.1, obs-studio 22.0.3, Mediathekview 13.2.1 media library management system, OwnCloud and NextCloud clients for cloud storage (2.5.1 ), Caliber 3.39.1 e-book collection management system, Godot3 3.0.6 game engine, RipperX 2.8.0 audio / video transcoders, Handbrake 1.2.2, gerbera 1.1.0 media server.
On the other hand, and no less important, there is also a selection of programs to work with 3D printers and the creation of 3D models: OpenSCAD 2015.03, Slic3r 1.3 (for 3D printing), Blender 2.79.b and FreeCAD 0,18, XNUMX
De the other changes that stand out in this new version of the distribution is:
- Full support for UEFI and UEFI Secure Boot
- The delivery includes the ADRIANE sound menu, which includes the implementation of a user environment based on the idea of sound navigation. For the voice reading of the contents of the pages, the Orca system is involved. The engine to recognize scanned text is wedge-shaped.
- The ability to automatically increase the section with user data in USB Flash, which does not require a reboot.
- The ability to customize the layout when copying to USB Flash using the flash-knoppix utility.
- Added modes to start Knoppix on containers and virtualization systems: "Knoppix on Knoppix - KVM", "Knoppix on Docker" and "Knoppix on Chroot".
Download and get Knoppix 8.6
For those who are interested in being able to test or install this new version of the distribution on their computers. You should know that the 4.5 GB distorted LiveDVD image is available for download.