Debian2Debian Represented Visually

Click for the full image. Solid lines are complete features. Dotted lines indicate planned features.

The Debian2Debian Server-Client 0.05 Packages Have Arrived!

I had to figure out how to make a meta-package for this one, but it's here and done. Install the d2dserver.deb to enable easy file sharing, a DAAP music server, and a cache for apt installation.

The d2dclient installs software which makes the client aware of the server and allows easy communication with other clients.

• gnome, 
• empathy and telepathy-salut, 
• giver, 
• conduit, 
• gnome-user-share, 
• gnome-office, 
• ttf-liberation, 
• gnome-office, 
• service-discovery-applet

It also sets the apt process to use the cache on the server.

Read the project page and don't ignore the warnings, please.

Sid Pre-seeds available

You can now get the same desktops (Gnome, KDE, XFCE, and LXDE) with Sid instead of Lenny.

Download the Sid pre-seed .iso

The Demo Video of the KDE Pre-seed Desktop

This video shows the following:

• Iceweasel with Flash and Java plugins.
• Playing an MP3 file with Noatun
• Organizing music with Juk
• Playing an MP4 using Kaffeine
• Kopete IM

Demo Video of the Gnome Pre-seed

This is a demo video of the Gnome pre-seed desktop. It shows the following:

• Epiphany browser with Flash and Java plugins.
• Double-clicking an MP3 file and playing in Totem
• Playing an MP3 file using Rhythmbox
• Playing a WMV in Totem with full screen
• Abiword
• Some menus

Click the post title or the image to view.

Demo Video of the XFCE Pre-seed

The video shows the following:

• The Iceweasel brwser with Flash and Java plugins.
• The Thunar file manager with XDG directories.
• Double-clicking an audio file to play it in MPlayer.
• Using Quod Libet to manage music.
• Double-clicking a WMV file to play it in MPlayer (the slowness is due to the VM).
• Pidgin.
• Gimp.
• Other stuff.

Click the video or the blog title (really, this time!) to see the demo.

Video overview of the LXDE desktop with the pre-seed .iso

This is a video showing the LXDE desktop in action. Click the image to view.

1. Kazehakase shows Flash and Java plugins in use
2. The file manager is shown with all the XDG folders (Music, Videos, Documents, etc.) in place
   
3. Audacious plays an MP3 file
4. MPlayer plays a WMV file
5. Pidginis shown
   
6. GPicView is shown
7. Various themes are shown
   

The size of the install is 922MB, including Iceweasel in addition to Kazehakase.

What's Next After Preseed 0.1?

I'm going to create another, virtually identical set for Sid. That should take less than an hour.

Next, I'm going to work on the Debian2Debian project, which creates an easy home network of Debian clients with a Debian server. The initial goals are:

• File sharing with the server with no setup
• Music sharing from the server using DAAP and Zeroconf
• Video sharing, possibly using uPnP, but maybe DAAP.
  
• Apt-zeroconf to limit update bandwidth

Later work should include

• Pooled backups
• Networked /home
• LDAP
• E-mail, Jabber, etc.

The setup will use the mini.iso as a base and install from the network.

The Debian Pre-Seed Project Release 0.1

  Summary: This is the initlal announce ment for the Debian Leeny Pre-seed Project which sets up desktops for Gnome, KDE, XFCE, and LXDE complete with extra repositories, codecs, and plugins.

What is a Pre-seed File?

A pre-seed file is simply a file which gives answers to the questions offered by the Debian installer. It also offers the ability to add additional repositories, install additional packages, and run post-install commands.

That means we can use a pre-seed file and a net install iso to create the perfect Debian desktop.

Because the .iso is only 7MB and does a network install, you will need a broadband connection which is unmetered. The system has been tested on a couple of pieces of hardware and in a VM, but I could use a lot more help testing and making recommendations about missing functionality.

The install is completely destructive, using the entire disk with LVM and a separate /home partition. Beware!!!


Edit: There were some errors created when I cleaned up the pre-seed files. After a couple of tests, I think I've got them all.

Gnome Desktop

The Gnome desktop installs a standard Debian Gnome desktop, including:

• Evolution (PIM)
• Epiphany (browser)
• Totem (Movie player)
  
• Rhythmbox (Music manager)
  
• GThumb (Photo manager)
  
• Serpentine (CD ripper)
  
• Synaptic (Package manager)
  
• Tomboy (Notes)
  
• Deskbar (Search applet)
  
• Liferea (Feed reader)
  
• Ekiga (SIP client)
  
• Cheese (Webcam viewer)
  
• Games
• Gnome Office
• Too much other stuff to list.

To this, I've added the Debian Multimedia repository and installed the following:

• Really Bad codecs
• Flash
• Sun Java
• w32codecs
• Non-free archive formats
• Iceweasel

Test it and see if it works for you. If you have any suggestion, please let me know.

KDE Desktop

The KDE desktop installs a normal Debian KDE 3.5 desktop, including:

• Networking
• Graphics
• PIM
• Games
• Educational
• Toys
• Web development stuff
• and much more

To this base, I've added OpenOffice.org, Flash, Java, codecs, and more. I don't use KDE, so let me know if it's missing something important.

XFCE

The XFCE desktop installs a normal Debian XFCE4.4 desktop, including:

• Orage (Calendar)
  
• Thunar (File manager)
  
• Panel
• Themes
• and more.

To this, I've added

• XFMedia, (Movie player)
• Quod Libet and plugins (Music player)
• Codecs
• Flash
• Java
• Kazehakase (Light browser)
  
• Iceweasel (Full browser)
  
• Non-free archives

I don't use XFCE much, so let me know if there's a problem.

LXDE

LXDE is a new light-weight desktop based on the  Openbox WM and PCManFM file manager. LXDE desktop installs the lxde package, which includes these plus Leafpad, GPicview, and XArchiver.
In addition, I've installed:

• Kazehakase (Light browser)
  
• Iceweasel (Full browser)
  
• MPlayer (Movie player)
  
• Audacious and plugins (Music player)
• Pidgin (IM)
  
• Flash
• Java
• Codecs
• Non-free archives
  

Let me know about missing fuctionality, but remember that this is a light-weight desktop.

Download and Try It Now!

Dowload the preseed.iso file.