Linux Remix v5.1 (Precise Pangolin 12.04)
Release date June 24, 2012 by Gregory D. Remington
DESCRIPTION
Linux Remix (formerly Lubuntu SOHO) is a custom portable VirtualBox
powered Linux Server and Desktop Computer you can run from a USB
flash drive to transform most Windows PCs into Scientific or Business
Marketing Research Internet Super Servers. No software installation
is required... it's stupid simple :)
SYSTEM CREDENTIALS
Username for all services (except EHCP and root):
ubuntu
Password for all services areas (including ECHP and root):
12345678
LOCATIONS OF WEB BASED APPLICATIONS
ECHP: http://localhost/echp/
username: admin
password: 12345678
phpMyAdmin: http://localhost/phpmyadmin
username: root
password: 12345678
The Virtual Machine (VM) is 3.9GB in size and will boot on both NTFS
or FAT32 to support Mac OS X (with VirtualBox installed). There are
no plans for a portable Mac OS X Linux Remix however, a VMware, Live
CD and embedded version produced with Linaro Cross-Over Tools (also
included) is being tested.
Scientific PPA metapackages, such as AIMS Desktop, have been added to
the package library for instant gratification. Please be aware that
these do contain Multiverse and Restricted packages with licensing
restrictions. AIMS Desktop requires 5GB or more of space. With only
3.9GB to spare, Linux remix could be compared to a red oak tree
seedling stuck in a 4-10" inch container... on steroids. While it may
make a great Bonsai for a thumb drive, it will need more space to be
increasingly useful.
CloneVDI, included in vBoxReMix\vbox\apps\CloneVDI, makes it an easy
chore to expand the VM from 3.9GB to a terabyte or more in a couple
minutes. Like most of the distributed software, it does include
instructions. GParted (already installed) can be used to adjust the
swap partition size if needed.
The R statistical computing platform, originally developed for
research in areas such as scientific, computational and financial
modeling, is fully functional and can be used for analyzing marketing
or business intelligence gathered with the Rattle Data Miner (also
available). We are currently evaluating Pentaho for similar features.
http://www.r-project.org
http://www.r-bloggers.com
http://www.pentaho.com
SELF HOSTED WEBSITE APPLICATIONS (The Private Cloud)
In addition to cramming more desktop applications into a smaller
space than we ever imagined possible, self hosted web apps like
WordPress and Feng Office are mixed into the desktop environment.
Since they are self hosted and don't require an Internet connection
to function, they can be treated like any other desktop application.
Web apps have advantages over traditional desktop apps such as
communicating or syncing with online services and similar application
s. These include Google apps, Facebook event and gallery feeds,
LinkedIn groups and websites built with WordPress, Drupal or similar
platforms.
PROCESS AUTOMATION AND ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE
Chat bots Gozer, Jabber and KGB have been introduce to begin testing
the best candidate for managing or automating social marketing
analytics and other business processes including scheduling, alert
notifications, followup or reporting completed tasks in real time.
These bots were originally developed to monitor and report abusive
language in chat rooms or link software failures to developers who
did not follow coding guidelines or compliance. They can be trained
to answer specific keyword related questions or hold a simple
conversation on a topic too.
KGB, Jabber or Gozer may come potty trained in future releases to
assist in carrying out redundant tasks or managing human resources
but for now they're no smarter than what you tell them to do.
BUILD ENVIRONMENTS AND EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
In order to get the most out of Linux Remix, developer application
support is included to increase the size of the VM, clone it or
produce entirely new virtual or embedded systems. Linaro Tools,
used in Android development and for creating embedded Linux desktop
systems is presently available for testing.
WARNING: Currently build environments like Linaro do not have enough
room to create a Live or embedded systems without expanding the VM
beyond the desired 3.9GB limit. To work around this limitation, we're
creating and mounting new VMs on Windows C: Drive to cross compile
Linux distributions using VirtualBox shared folders.
The Linaro Cross Build is undergoing testing and should not be used
in q production environments until we reach beta. Armel and Arm build
packages for compiling Linux Kernels are installed and ready to test.
You have the option to remove these build environments, as with any
package via "aptitude purge" or "apt-get autoremove --purge". Once
uninstalled it's recommended to grep or SU into terminal and launch
"gnome-search-tool" to search for and delete remaining directories
or risidual files.
Note: Sound still isn't available. Kernel modules, patches, drivers
and other attempts have been made to restore sound. If you find a
solution, please email gregremington@gmail.com or post it to the
Sourceforge project forum. We'll include your contribution in all
future releases along with an honorable mention :)
WHAT'S INSIDE
A 3.9GB VirtualBox VDI that can be run on FAT32 or NFTS. with 2.6GB
of software allocated to server and desktop applications and 300MG
of free space for upgrades and cached content. The remaining 768MG
partition is used for the Linux swap drive. Linux kernel image is
Linux-image-3.2.0-25.40-virtual with VirtualBox Guest Additions
installed.
A copy of CloneVDI can be found in vBox\vbox\apps\CloneVDI to expand
the VM. GParted (already installed) can be used to adjust the swap
partition size on a cloned disk.
VirtualBox OSE v4.1.16 is included courtesy of the VirtualBox OSE
Project.
http://code.google.com/p/vbox-ose/
DESKTOP APPLICATION HIGHLIGHTS
LibreOffice, R Rattle Data Miner, Thunderbird with Lightning Calendar
TOR onion routing, Vidalia, VLC Media Player, VLMC Video editor, Tux
Free TV, X2Go remote desktop, Gimp graphic editor, Social messaging
plugins Pidgin and Specto, Cairo Dock, GPredict Satellite tracking
and assorted Amature Ham Radio tools, Gnome Control Panel (with a few
bugs), GParted and a collection of network discovery and security
apps like Bleachbit, Pyrit, Wireshark, PackETH and Zenmap.
WEB SERVER APPLICATION HIGHLIGHTS
ECHP (Easy Hosting Control Panel), Icecast Streaming Media Server,
WordPress CMS FengOffice Project Manager, ZoneMinder Video
Surveillance and phpMyAdmin
Please see \vBoxReMix\vbox\docs\packages.Remix.06.24.2012.list for
complete inventory.
WARNING! BE SURE TO CHANGE ALL PASSWORDS AND USERNAMES AND REMOVE
UNUSED SERVICES AND DESKTOP APPLICATIONS BEFORE USING IN A PUBLIC
ENVIRONMENT, CLIENT PROJECTS, LIVE WEBSITES OR INTERNAL PRIVATE
NETWORKS.
HOW TO USE
1) Drop the vBox folder containing all files in a top level directory
such as C:\vBox or D:\vBox, E:\vBox, etc. if running from an external
USB device (Flash or HDD drive).
2) Click vbox.exe then select the Location of the VM folder by clicking
File > Preferences > Default Machine Folder: and select "Other".
3) Locate the VirtualBox VMs folder
Drive:\vBox\vm\VirtualBoxVMs\linux-remix.v5.1
click on it, then click OK.
4) Go to Machine > Add, click on the folder linux-remix.v5.1 then
click on the file linux-remix.v5.1.vbox.
5) Click the green Start button to start the VM. Once the VM has
booted to the username and password screen enter the following.
username: lubuntu
password: 12345678
6) If you need root access, type the command "sudo -s" (without quotes)
7) Type the comman "tasksel" (without quotes) to install additional
server, desktop, or individual software packages manually.
SUPPLEMENTAL
32 & 64 bit OSE Windows 7 Guest Extensions are included courtesy of
the Google hosted VirtualBox OSE Project. The differences between
the Google hosted VirtualBox OSE Project and official Oracle
VirtualBox OSE builds are:
1. All testcase programs are included. 2. Compiled with Visual C++
2010 3. Built with the latest QT library (QT 4.7.4)
Launcher script and VM locations:
\vBoxReMix\vbox\source\vbox.au3
\vBox\vm\VirtualBoxVMs\linux-remix.v5.1\linux-remix.v5.1.vdi
VMs are sanitised with Bleachbit and overwritten using the following commands.
{ dd if=/dev/zero of=/zero & }; sleep 1; rm /zero; fg
history -c
cruft -d /
The package includes binaries from VirtualBox-4.1.16_OSE-r77440-amd64.msi
and VirtualBox-4.1.16_OSE-r77440-x86.msi, Signed drivers from Oracle's
VirtualBox-4.1.16-r77440-MultiArch_amd64.msi, VirtualBox-4.1.16-r77440
MultiArch_x86.msi distributions, related documentation and a small portable
AutoIT / SciTE package.
http://www.autoitscript.com/site/autoit/
BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS LICENSED FREE OF CHARGE, THERE IS NO WARRANTY FOR THE
PROGRAM, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW. EXCEPT WHEN OTHERWISE
STATED IN WRITING THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND/OR OTHER PARTIES PROVIDE THE
PROGRAM "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED,
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO THE QUALITY AND
PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM IS WITH YOU. SHOULD THE PROGRAM PROVE DEFECTIVE,
YOU ASSUME THE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION.
IN NO EVENT UNLESS REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE LAW OR AGREED TO IN WRITING WILL
ANY COPYRIGHT HOLDER, OR ANY OTHER PARTY WHO MAY MODIFY AND/OR REDISTRIBUTE
THE PROGRAM AS PERMITTED ABOVE, BE LIABLE TO YOU FOR DAMAGES, INCLUDING ANY
GENERAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE
OR INABILITY TO USE THE PROGRAM (INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF DATA
OR DATA BEING RENDERED INACCURATE OR LOSSES SUSTAINED BY YOU OR THIRD
PARTIES OR A FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM TO OPERATE WITH ANY OTHER PROGRAMS),
EVEN IF SUCH HOLDER OR OTHER PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.
For more information please read http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.txt
Cheers,
Gregory Remington
gregremington@gmail.com
