DSL v3.4.1

Forum: Site News
Topic: DSL v3.4.1
started by: roberts

Posted by roberts on Aug. 14 2007,03:41

Change Log for DSL v.3.4.1

* Updated nano-tiny to v2.0.6.
* Fixed non-critical bug in dsl-config concerning hard drive installations.
* Fixed bug in Cron when started from DSLpanel.
* Added dsl 3 runlevel for multiple user dsl consoles.
* Fixed bug in iwconfig-setup
* Updated functions5.lua
* Updated fluxbox menus to use system default (helvetica)
* Added vim link
* Patched knoppix-autoconfig to correct language issues.

Posted by florian on Aug. 14 2007,20:54

Nice to see one more 3.x release for those who haven't yet made their mind about switching to 4.x

Posted by roberts on Aug. 14 2007,21:14

Version 4 is still very much in a state of flux. At least as far as what the boot defaults should be. The alpha cuts were showcasing that which was new. 4.0 final may not be that much different from 3.4.x

I will try to issue maintanence (bug fix) releases for v3.4.x while and until 4.0 settles down.

Please continue to leave feedback so corrections can continue.

Posted by tinker on Aug. 15 2007,12:59

Quote (roberts @ Aug. 14 2007,17:14)

4.0 final may not be that much different from 3.4.x

I for one am happy to hear that, I know others want to change a lot, perhaps in the interest of "modernising" but DSL works for me quite nicely as it stands. Gosh, I even like emelfm and fluxbox. I appreciate the time you spend on this Robert, thanks.

Posted by andrewb on Aug. 16 2007,00:14

I'll put a vote in for emelfm as well. On systems with small screens (e.g. Toshiba Libretto) emelfm is great - easy to move files around & easy to navigate. MC would be good if it would resize with the window, but until I can get that sorted I'd be very sorry to lose emelfm, though I could do without dfm as it opens far too many windows (can it be made to reuse the same window - is there a shortcut to close all the open windows (like shift-left-click on the 'X' in M$-windoze))

Posted by roberts on Aug. 16 2007,01:28

Quote (andrewb @ Aug. 15 2007,17:14)

That is why I am still maintaining a 3.4.x series.

Emelfm has not been removed.
So there is really nothing to be complaining about!

Gosh, I used to get thanks, now instead I get this.

With non-changing tiny hardware, I suppose one could just stay with a release that works best for that particular hardware.

But to suggest not to try to adopt more capabilities through user friendlyness then I might was well as call it quits.

Alas, I have been through this before. I can recall those who said v0.5.3.1 was the last good version of DSL, then again when I came out with 1.0, and 2.0, and when unionfs was the default.

But here we are talking about 4.0 in a 3.4.1 thread when such is really not even necessary as I have taken the extra effort to keep 3.4 series going.

Posted by andrewb on Aug. 16 2007,12:30

Robert,

I was not intending any criticism. I like the way DSL4 is moving forward, I only find it a bit more problematic without emelfm as I have become so used to it. Like many others I am more than happy with MC & as it works in CLI mode it is a more useful tool to have. I used to use it a lot in early work with linux in CLI mode & find it a great tool. I have been frustrated by not being able to figure out how to get MC to fill a given window size. Once X has been started it doesn't matter whether MC is started from the prompt, or from an xterm in a maximised window- the size of MC remains fixed. I've posted this question elsewhere, but so far no-one has suggested a solution.

Posted by curaga on Aug. 20 2007,07:27

The front page is still showing 3.4 as current..

Posted by roberts on Aug. 22 2007,17:37

Quote (curaga @ Aug. 20 2007,00:27)

The front page is still showing 3.4 as current..

Front page is now updated with both current and RC info.

Posted by jls legalize on Aug. 23 2007,01:26

I don't see a reason why u need to mantain the 2 versions when u can easily use the emelfm present in the mydsl optional extensions repository.
The file manager of dsl 4.0 is for me slow for moving and copying files, but for sure nicer then emelfm. The fact that u now have a usable desktop is an important evolution too.

legalize cannabis, etc.:rock:

Posted by roberts on Aug. 23 2007,03:08

emelfm.dsl Which is emelfm v 0.9.2 as in dsl v3.x is now available in the mydsl repository apps section.

Posted by g1gop on Aug. 23 2007,20:52

Hi All,
First, Thanks to all who work on DSL. I use it a lot on a stick and in Vm's
Reading this thread has prompted me to ask this question (sorry if it has been answered already). Which is the most appropriate versions of DSL for various types of hardware?
For example, a 486 dx2 66 (all typical setups for there type of machine)
Pentium 90/100 etc?
and so on.
is version 3.4 likely towork on a 486?
Perhaps a list somewhere that is linked to would be usefull.
Again if this has already been done,then sorry for repeating.
Alan

Posted by lucky13 on Aug. 24 2007,01:29

Quote

Which is the most appropriate versions of DSL for various types of hardware?

Use the version in the folder marked "current" in the mirrors. Older versions are still available but they weren't released in order of hardware suitability.

Posted by g1gop on Aug. 24 2007,05:06

Quote (lucky13 @ Aug. 23 2007,21:29)

Quote

Which is the most appropriate versions of DSL for various types of hardware?

Use the version in the folder marked "current" in the mirrors. Older versions are still available but they weren't released in order of hardware suitability.

I am not sure how that helps?
I know that they are available, but which version is best for which level of hardware?
Alan

Posted by lucky13 on Aug. 24 2007,06:10

Quote

I am not sure how that helps?

It does. Trust me.

Quote

...which version is best for which level of hardware?

Read my reply again, especially the part that says they weren't released in order of hardware suitability. That means the current one suffices for whichever i486+ hardware you have.

Posted by g1gop on Aug. 24 2007,12:37

Quote (lucky13 @ Aug. 24 2007,02:10)

Quote

I am not sure how that helps?

It does. Trust me.

Quote

...which version is best for which level of hardware?

Read my reply again, especially the part that says they weren't released in order of hardware suitability. That means the current one suffices for whichever i486+ hardware you have.

Hi,
Thank you for your reply. For some reason from posts in the forum, I was under the impression that the latest version was not as good as earlier versions with the much older hardware.
But that appears to be wrong.
Alan

Posted by lucky13 on Aug. 24 2007,13:39

Quote

I was under the impression that the latest version was not as good as earlier versions with the much older hardware.

No, it's not quite that simple. There was a kernel change (to 2.4.31) in DSL 2.1 that improved hardware support to a degree but it was an unpopular move. So DSL went back to the previous kernel (2.4.26) in subsequent releases (through 3.4x which is current). The early release candidates of DSL 4 have a newer kernel (2.4.34.1). It apparently didn't resolve some of the new hardware issues so the developer went back to the kernel from DSL 2.1 because it had more support than the more recent kernel.

The issue is trying to support NEWER hardware. There's no loss of support (yet) for older hardware in recent versions (so use current unless you have SATA, etc.). DSL remains among the best options for people with functional vintage hardware because it's continually (make that incessantly) developed without sacrificing older hardware.

Posted by g1gop on Aug. 24 2007,14:29

Thank you for clearing that up for me.
Alan

Posted by roberts on Aug. 24 2007,14:38

General questions should not be posted in Site News.

However, for least capable hardware, use combinations of the boot codes to not use all features available.

Press F2 and/or F3 at the initial boot prompt to view such.

We even have a lowram option which is a combination of boot options.

Posted by florian on Aug. 25 2007,10:24

The net 'man' command is no longer working as it seems the url used to fecth the man pages (http://www.mcsr.olemiss.edu/cgi-bin/man-cgi?) is no longer valid.

I noticed that in DSL 3.4.1.
I'd guess this probably affect DSL 4.0 RC1 too.

Posted by roberts on Aug. 28 2007,04:22

Quote (florian @ Aug. 25 2007,03:24)

Thanks for reporting. I have passed this along to the script's author, John, for an update. I have made several tweaks to 3.4.1 already. Once I receive and update for this, then I will issue another minor update