Sidux info - for anyone interested.
 

I used to use kanotix (which used to be described as "polished Knoppix" optimised for hard disc install).

All of a sudden, there were changes afoot. I learned that the lead kanotix developer wanted to use different repositories and that had caused a "political spat" amongst the other developers.

This resulted in the founding of Sidux.

It's debian based - well it's described as "pure debian SID". Which anyone can find out, is the debian unstable branch (which shouldn't frighten people off - however "scarey" that might sound).

As it's still reasonably new, I understand that there have been some reports at places like distrowatch.

At the moment, there is no ISO for it, but I believe that "they" are working on that.

The easiest way of installing it, is to get a copy of a recent version of kanotix (theres a 2006 version that works just fine), and then download "h2's script" (see below) install and run it
I understand that this can also be done but using a debian etch netinstall and then doing the script stuff above.

Once you have it installed, you can either keep it updated with the script (a series of reasonably painless Q & A) or by using the "usual debian tools" like apt and synaptic etc.

They have their own forums though I suspect you will also find relevant info here at LQ's debian forum.

They also have their own IRC channel. Being forked from kanotix, the forums are mainly in English and German.

Oh and the script mentioned above (h2's script is maintained by "h2" - strangely enough).

Currently, it gets my vote. A good, usable distro. Loads of help and assistance at the forums and IRC channel. It's made it so that even a nugget like me can manage it.

ttfn

regards

John

p.s. Oh and no, this isn't an advert, just my suggestion for someone who wants to try something thats a bit further on from the new user type stuff. I've been running it for between a month and six weeks. Debian unstable ? it hasn't crashed on me yet. Plus it keeps me up to date with stuff.

The thing I don't get is this; if Sidux is pure Debian Sid then why not just install Debian Sid in the first place (it would seem less involved) and have the very considerable support of the Debian community proper? Or to put it succinctly, what is the point of this distro?

My understanding is the the controversy surrounded the change to a new source. First I heard it would be based on Ubuntu, then I heard maybe Etch. Overall, I agree with mikieboy, why bother.

I agree with newbies starting out with a distro other than Debian proper for reasons I won't go into here, but if you're sophisticated enough to use Sid, it's time to leave the derivatives behind.

Well as I understand it, the idea is "to make debian unstable - stable". Plus to have (eventually) a live version that will be installable (like the *buntus - but without the limitations of the *buntus).

A larger number of "us" were refugee's from Kanotix - i.e. when kano decided about the changes of repositories - ubuntu ones being mooted, a considerable number of the developers preferred to have a similar facility to what they'd had under kanotix but using the SID ones.

I certainly can't say for the others, but try as I might I never did manage to install _ANY_ version of "proper" Debian all the way to GUI. I invariably would stumble at some of the early fences. It was the same motivation for having a go at Gentoo - Just because it was supposed to be a bugger to install but a dream to manage, shouldn't preclude users like myself (not natural Techie types) from having an easy to manage, though oft considered "Advanced" distro to use, particularly if it's easy to manage.

Debian Sid does indeed fulfill that. Though I suspect that installing it as "proper" would have me swearing at my monitor (Ha ha! not unusual in my case).

So in summary, as far as I can see, it's Debian Sid, but without the hassles of debian - obviously it's all relative as to whether you follow my meaning as to the "hassles".

Besides, what was the point of kanotix in the first place? It was a "polished" version of knoppix, more aimed at hard disc install and using a far greater number of proper debian repo's/mirrors and not the knoppix ones. Even just as a live disc, I much prefered it.

I don't see it as any different to deciding which version of an rpm based distro. With the original fork of Mandrake from Redhat - the point was kde instead of gnome - if you then factor in SuSE, does that mean that either the relevance of SuSE or Mandrake (whichever came first) was diminished by the second ??? Don't know really but doubt it.

I'm just happy that it's helping me learn, is easy to install and manage.

regards

John

Just wish they would hurry up and come out with an iso.

My Etch install is very unstable and freezes for no reason that I can ascertain.

One of the reasons for running Kanotix/Sidux is the friendly community and support you get while running Debian Sid. Try asking in #debian about a problem and telling them you run Sid. The Sidux team put together a very nice Manual, h2's d-u and backup scripts are fantastic, and slh's kernels rock.

sidux 2007-01 preview 1 iso released
 

sidux 2007-01 preview 1

So it's not "pure Debian Sid" then. What it is is yet another Debian child. I just hope for the sake of its users that the name of the new release (Chaos) does not prove too descriptive of the experience. These distros with a mixture of sources have a bad history for breaking systems.

Stick with Stable if thats what you want. I have ran both Debian Sid and Kanotix for 2 yrs, the only difference is a couple of packages and a few scripts. Not once has anything broken that couldn't be fixed.

Same goes for Sidux. As for the name "Chaos" all of the release are planned to be based on the names of the Greek gods.

The only thing that is "pure" Debian is Debian itself. Sidux has a few packages just like Kanotix did that make things a little easier while running Debian unstable. 99.9% of the packages are straight from the normal Debian Sid repos.

Craigevil, my choice of Sarge was down to lack of experience with Debian. I'm moving to testing after Etch becomes stable. As for Sid, I still having too little experience of fixing things, but then I'm aware that running distros like Slackware and Debian Sarge isn't going to give me any! Ultimately I need a box I can use without having to spend hours sorting out problems but maybe I need Sid or similar on a separate partition just for the experience.

You seem to be saying that while there are few differences between Sidux and Sid those differences make things easier. In what way? Could you give an example?

Does that mean they have changed their minds about migrating to Ubuntu or anywhere else for primary sources?

I run the same basic mix of Testing/Unstable (with occasional forays into Experimental) on two different partitions, one 32-bit, one 64-bit. If one breaks, I'd rather it was the 32-bit, so I update that first with anything really questionable. Since the Etch freeze, I've been doing my weekly dist-upgrades from Sid with absolutely zero problems. The Etch freeze also slows down packages moving into Sid, for a couple reasons. Right now Sid is a pretty good indicator of what Lenny will look like when the dust settles.

If you want to set up a separate partition right now, I would do a fresh install whether from Sidux, Etch, or anywhere else. At any rate, I think it's kind of a waste of time to have Stable running on a home desktop. Testing Debian will always be stable enough for that, and if you have a second partition for experimenting, it makes your primary OS safer and better.

Kano was considering going with Ubuntu for Kanotix, but last I heard he was going with Etch.

Sidux is Debian Sid, with a few tweaks, and scripts like h2's dist-upgrade script.

So Kanotix and Sidux are two separate, active, distros?

Yes. When Kano decided he no longer wanted to stay with Sid, most of the devs and people that helped make Kanotix what it was left and started Sidux.

sidux—New Star in the Linux Galaxy

OK. Now I get it.

I take it this the ISO your waiting for, hence the install from kanotix + "h2's script".

Which would better fit the bill for me as an experimenting distro, Sidux or Sid?

Sidux is great. i've used a bunch of Debian Distros, and none of them can compare. The only changes from Debian Sid that I can see is the amount of support you get with the Sidux community. h2's script when run on a regular basis takes the guesswork out of updating your system, and keeps everything running real smooth. theres also extensive support for Beryl, by 'shame'. He keeps it very up to date. I have beryl running with all of the plugins "out of the box" . . . .cleanly! with frequent updates.

There is really no difference between running Debian Sid and running Sidux.

The only real difference is the support and upgrade warning you get from a community that runs Debian Sid. Especially since all of the Debian documentation only deals with Debian Stable.

Any time there are dist-upgrade problems there is a warning and a fix if there is one in the forum, and h2's d-u script will have the same warning and a fix if there is a one.

There are a few scripts like the networkcard config, and the fact that the Sidux kernels work on more hardware than vanilla Debian kernels. Plus installing nvidia/ati drivers and other drivers like wireless can be installed/configured using a cool script that has been tested.

The only other things are shame's beryl repo, and a community of knowledgeable people that run Debian Sid and know how to fix the inevitable problems that come with running unstable.

I run a Kanotix installed that has been upgraded to Sidux and a Debian Etch install that has been dist-upgrade to SId+ Sidux. There is very little difference between the two, other than the fact that my Etch install tends to freeze for no apparent reason using the default Debian kernel and my Kanotix/Sidux install has never froze in almost 2 yrs of running it.

cheers for the "backup" craigevil. Basically what I was "trying" to say (rather badly I might add).

Personally I wouldn't even try debian sid "proper". Like all pure debian installs it asks to many questions for my liking. Whereas kanotix to sidux asks very few, but the wonderous magic that is the h2 script, well I think it caused me a very tiny concern on one occassion - but it didn't screw anything up, because like you already mentioned, I bothered to read the warning that h2 included and just waited a while.

As far as I'm concerned it's "bloody marvellous" (hence my initial post - I reckon that others should give it a go, and I hadn't seen much of a mention).

regards

John

Originally posted by bigjohn:
I confess to having been converted from highly sceptical to very interested, so well sold by both yourself and craigevil. :cool:

Tell ya what mikieboy, you get good help from the forums - very friendly as craigevil said, if you fire up their IRC channel, it's even quicker. Quite a number of the developers/"glitterati" of sidux can be found there - especially in the evenings. It's brill'.

The only downside being, that theres also lots of questions asked in German, but that only reflects "their" kanotix roots i.e. kano (Jorge) is German (ha! then again, so is matey bollocks who "does" knoppix).

If I've managed to convinced one person to at least have a look, I'm happy. I was a bit dubious at first (having had kanotix running for a good few months, updated by the h2 script), but when the sidux stuff appeared in the script I just figured it was worth a look.

I'm vvv glad I did, because I'm not a "techie type" (I leave that to my older brother), I'm just a user who doesn't want to have to use windows.

regards

John

Originally posted by bigjohn:
Me too!
I'd love to have a look at the live CD. Is it downloadable yet?

Wow this conversation got me very intrested, debian proper is just a little too much hasle to set up, but this looks very promising. Shame im running on powerpc other wise id be apt-geting myeslf sidux right now

To be honest, I don't know. I haven't checked to see whats going on for a couple of days now (work :mad: ).

I'd say, have a look - but I just checked and there seems to be a public test version available - this is the thread that I found in the news forum at the sidux forum. Theres torrents for i686 and x86_64.

Might be worth a try, but remember it's their first one. Maybe if you had a spare partition or even a hard drive, you could just install the 2006 kanotix, the "h2 script" and then run the script to update to sidux - it's very easy and straight forward (it has to be for a nugget like me to make it work ;) ).

Or just wait a while longer. I don't know how long or how much work it is to do this, but I get the impression that "they" are keen to get one up and running.

regards

John

p.s. @ Indiestory - you'd have to ask 'em at sidux forums or on the IRC if theres any way round that.

...but you run Slackware?