VL-5.8.6-SOHO-Release Candidate One

[uelsk8s]

VectorLinux is pleased to announce the availability of the rc-1 release of 5.8.6 for the VectorLinux SOHO product. This RC release includes the following improvements: upgrade to Xorg-7.2 from the previous 6.9 series which adds many gui improvements and 3D enhancements: rebuilt many core packages so they install properly in new Xorg-7.2 file structure: rebuilt the core font subsystem to take advantage of the new Xorg release: Updated many packages such as pidgin (including spellcheck) and Xscreensaver..., general bug fixing and driver updates. Beryl is an installable option for those wishing the ultimate 3D desktop experience. There are many other enhancements to numerous to mention.

Please be aware this is a rc release so expect bugs and please help us by reporting bugs to:
http://www.vectorlinux.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3852.0
The 700 mb iso release is here: http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclinux-5.8/iso-release/VL5.8.6-SOHO-RC1.iso
md5sum: http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclinux-5.8/iso-release/VL5.8.6-SOHO-RC1.iso.md5.txt
Enjoy and let us know via the forum any challenges or recommendations!
Cheers,
The VectorLinux team

[Artthou]

Which kernel version comes with this release?  I feel myself getting excited!!!

[caitlyn]

Download in progress for testing...    I'll let you know...

[maddog]

I have SOHO v5.8 installed and love it but wouldn't want to do a complete wipe and reinstall (at this time anyway). Is there a way to "update or upgrade" a SOHO v5.8 install to v5.8.6?

BTW, been gone from VL for almost 2 years. It's great to be back!

--Ray.

[nigerag]

I've just downloaded a file called  VL5.8.6-SOHO-RC1.iso from http://vectorlinux.osuosl.org/veclinux-soho-5.8/iso-release/.
After I burnt that file to CD and installed it, I've found out that it's the same VL5.8-SOHO.
I thought it was supposed to be VL5.8.6-SOHO.
Is this just me? Did I miss something?

[The Headacher]

It's pretty much the same, but there are some changes, like an upgraded xorg and included beryl. If you downloaded and installed 5.8.6 rc1 you should be able to see that in /etc/vector-version

Code:

cat /etc/vector-version
Vector Linux 5.8.6 SOHO Release Candidate 1   Aug-01-2007

[blurymind]

i just got my internet back and saw the great news.

I will wait for a vl-5.8.6 standart (xfce4) release with the upgraded stuff from slack12.

kde+beryl < xfce+beryl (a supperior combo)

(and i dont have a big root partition- 4.2 gigs aint much)


the greatest Linux-beryl-distro ever would be Vector linux with xfce (lightness) and beryl on board, with an included launcher to my great "turn on/off beryl" switch script in the start menu (somewhere):
http://garbagewars.com/ora/misc/tools/startberyl.sh

Code:

#!/bin/bash

if pgrep xfwm4 &>/dev/null; then
 killall xfwm4
 sleep 1
 beryl-manager
else
 killall beryl-manager
 killall beryl
 sleep 1
 xfwm4
fi

When executed,this script starts beryl if its not running, and stops it to launch xfwm4 while its running.
It is a turn on/off switch,which i though would ease turning it on/off... I also made a nice vl-custom splash screen for beryl for the beryl live cd. You can use it for the beryl packages at the repo. I could make a beryl-vl-customisation package or something like that..


-at least for me, that was what i thought as the best linux distro+bery experience.
Xfce's lightness, served with no bloat on a stable and fast base.

[Vanger]

Ok, I finally broke X on my 5.8 SOHO by updating it from slackware-current and just downloaded the fres iso and installed.

Well, so far:

1) Why is installation on xfs filesystem is so painfully slow?
I use xfs for root partitions mainly because it allows resizing without unmounting the partition (actually, you have to mount it ). You never know, when you can need a little resize and GParted LiveCD just don't work on my i965/E6600 workstation.
Well, I noticed it on 5.8. The installation was equally slow on my:
- workhorse: E6600 / 3Gb / 320 Gb 7200 SATA2 8Mb cache
- home machine: A64 2800+ / 1.5Gb / 80 Gb 7200 IDE 2 Mb cache
- notebook: Celeron-M 1,5Ghz / 256Mb / 40 Gb 4200 IDE 2Mb cache
And installation on ext2/3 is a breeze..

2) I use VNC at my work. tightvnc, downloaded via gslapt, need libXaw8, which is absent. Ok, I try to compile it, but it needs libXprintUtil then for 8 version. Ok, ok, but the libXprintUtil needs xp and xprint protos. xprint.pc I got from Slackware package, compiled libXp for xp.pc and everything started working.
But shouldn't it just go from the box? All the protos and needed libs?

3) There is no

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection

in xorg.conf by default, though in 5.8 SOHO it was.

4) Beryl can't get dbus plugin at start. beryl-manager crashes in KDE. beryl-settings behave very badly in non-UTF8 locale (KOI8-R) - just ? instead of any non-english liters.
When I actually start beryl, and then start a konsole - to test transparency - it wasn't transparent. It had the same background as a desktop - in smaller size, of couse. When I changed it's dimensions - it became transparent. But I saw no real transparency - to see windows, that are "below" it.
Switching desktop by mouse wheel doesn't work. You stay on Desktop 1 always.
When I try to exit beryl, KDE doesn't work normally. I have to reboot X-server.

Well, maybe it's my i965 fault, but I'm tired and I prefer fluxbox+3ddesktop!

[blurymind]

is this release build on the base of slack12. My interest is- does this have upgraded core components,such as glibc?

[farid]

Hi Friends. I last downloaded the VL Gold 5.8 which did not install on my system which is P IV 3.0, 1 GB DDR and Intel GC 101 Mobo.
 what will be the system requirements for the new VL 5.8.6 SOHO. Please someone advise before I start downloading or wait for the final release.Thanks

[M0E-lnx]

is this release build on the base of slack12. My interest is- does this have upgraded core components,such as glibc?

No.. This release still has the old glibc and gcc... That's why I had to upgrade the toolchain to slack 12's to get fusion going.

[lagagnon]

Why did it not install? What errors did you have? We can help. I have installed VL5.8Gold now on almost 150 different machines, and rarely had any major problems.

With that standard of machine you could easily run VL5.8 SOHO, rather than Standard Gold. It includes KDE and has heavierweight applications. It would be the right distro for you. I do not recommend 5.8.6 yet as it is still not fully tested and unless you really need the new xorg and Beryl for some reason there is little reason to want it.