Emnix
Encyclopedia
Emnix is a Linux distribution
built off the popular Slackware
-based distribution Slax
. It does not need to be installed on a computer system's hard drive, but it is an option. It boots and runs from either a Compact Disc
or USB drive. There is also an option to run it from random access memory.
The developer, Joshua Merriman, works alone on Emnix. Slax, the distribution Emnix is built off, is developed by Tomáš Matějíček in the Czech Republic
using the Linux Live scripts.
It was abandoned after one month's production and replaced with Project Esma.
. Emnix is built directly off Slax, so all Slax-compatible .lzm modules are usable in Emnix. The Slax homepage
offers a software repository for downloading community-created and maintained .lzm modules.
Slax modules are rather simple for the average user to create, customize, and install. In addition to those built from Slackware packages, Slax .lzm modules can be created with the help of the Debian
package tools (dpkg
) module available on the Slax website module page, which enables one to convert Debian .deb packages into Slax modules using the deb2lzm command, the syntax being deb2lzm source_filename.deb [output_file.lzm]. Additionally, one can create modules from folders containing the full path of the folders and files intended to be installed using dir2lzm, the syntax being dir2lzm source_directory output_file.lzm. An example of a folder made to place a file entitled 1.txt in a folder located at /root/Desktop/1/ would contain the following file and folders:
/root/
/root/Desktop/
/root/Desktop/1/
/root/Desktop/1/1.txt
Emnix stores all its modules in compressed read-only files (SquashFS
file system
images using the LZMA
compression patches). The various modules are stacked together to build the complete Slax root file system. A supplemental writable layer (a TmpFS
file system) is put on the top of the stack to implement the write functionality.
On more recent computers, the possibility to boot directly Slax from a USB key represents an advantage over booting from a CD. USB key being a writable media, it is easier to modify the content of the installation. In addition, USB media is faster than CD media at boot up and during the operation of the software. The Slax USB install from the downloaded .tar file is quite efficient, comparatively to the burning of a CD with the Slax .iso file.
4 instead of KDE 3. If Lemnix and Xemnix are to go well, an Xfce
and Lxde
-based Aphrodite may be released. The main focus here is aesthetics and achieving a beautiful look.
1.00 Dionysus - The current, unreleased version of Emnix, expected to be released soon. It contains a few advantages over the old 0.10 Apollo release, such as the default inclusion of Google Earth
and GIMP
. The aim here is to create a release that's big on software and "Stripped-down" in other places.
0.10 Apollo - The beta release version of 1.00 Dionysus. It contains most of what Dionysus does, with the exception of a custom splash screen
. It only runs on the KDE environment. Only one unknown site hosts this release.
Linux distribution
A Linux distribution is a member of the family of Unix-like operating systems built on top of the Linux kernel. Such distributions are operating systems including a large collection of software applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, media players, and database applications...
built off the popular Slackware
Slackware
Slackware is a free and open source Linux-based operating system. It was one of the earliest operating systems to be built on top of the Linux kernel and is the oldest currently being maintained. Slackware was created by Patrick Volkerding of Slackware Linux, Inc. in 1993...
-based distribution Slax
SLAX
Slax is a LiveCD Linux distribution based on Slackware and is currently being developed by Tomáš Matějíček. Packages can be selected in a website where users can build a custom Slax iso image. Slax slogan refers to the software as a "Pocket Operating System"...
. It does not need to be installed on a computer system's hard drive, but it is an option. It boots and runs from either a Compact Disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
or USB drive. There is also an option to run it from random access memory.
The developer, Joshua Merriman, works alone on Emnix. Slax, the distribution Emnix is built off, is developed by Tomáš Matějíček in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
using the Linux Live scripts.
It was abandoned after one month's production and replaced with Project Esma.
Features
Many people who use Slax find the .lzm module system to be extremely convenient, smart, and fast—instead of extracting archives and using executable files with terminals, all that is required is to copy the .lzm module into the module directoryDirectory (file systems)
In computing, a folder, directory, catalog, or drawer, is a virtual container originally derived from an earlier Object-oriented programming concept by the same name within a digital file system, in which groups of computer files and other folders can be kept and organized.A typical file system may...
. Emnix is built directly off Slax, so all Slax-compatible .lzm modules are usable in Emnix. The Slax homepage
Homepage
A home page or homepage has various related meanings to do with web sites:* It most often refers to the initial or main web page of a web site, sometimes called the front page ....
offers a software repository for downloading community-created and maintained .lzm modules.
Slax modules are rather simple for the average user to create, customize, and install. In addition to those built from Slackware packages, Slax .lzm modules can be created with the help of the Debian
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
package tools (dpkg
Dpkg
dpkg is the software at the base of the Debian package management system. dpkg is used to install, remove, and provide information about .deb packages....
) module available on the Slax website module page, which enables one to convert Debian .deb packages into Slax modules using the deb2lzm command, the syntax being deb2lzm source_filename.deb [output_file.lzm]. Additionally, one can create modules from folders containing the full path of the folders and files intended to be installed using dir2lzm, the syntax being dir2lzm source_directory output_file.lzm. An example of a folder made to place a file entitled 1.txt in a folder located at /root/Desktop/1/ would contain the following file and folders:
/root/
/root/Desktop/
/root/Desktop/1/
/root/Desktop/1/1.txt
Emnix stores all its modules in compressed read-only files (SquashFS
SquashFS
SquashFS is a compressed read-only file system for Linux. SquashFS compresses files, inodes and directories, and supports block sizes up to 1 MB for greater compression...
file system
File system
A file system is a means to organize data expected to be retained after a program terminates by providing procedures to store, retrieve and update data, as well as manage the available space on the device which contain it. A file system organizes data in an efficient manner and is tuned to the...
images using the LZMA
LZMA
The Lempel–Ziv–Markov chain algorithm is an algorithm used to perform data compression. It has been under development since 1998 and was first used in the 7z format of the 7-Zip archiver...
compression patches). The various modules are stacked together to build the complete Slax root file system. A supplemental writable layer (a TmpFS
TMPFS
tmpfs is a common name for a temporary file storage facility on many Unix-like operating systems. It is intended to appear as a mounted file system, but stored in volatile memory instead of a persistent storage device...
file system) is put on the top of the stack to implement the write functionality.
On more recent computers, the possibility to boot directly Slax from a USB key represents an advantage over booting from a CD. USB key being a writable media, it is easier to modify the content of the installation. In addition, USB media is faster than CD media at boot up and during the operation of the software. The Slax USB install from the downloaded .tar file is quite efficient, comparatively to the burning of a CD with the Slax .iso file.
Emnix (KDE Environment)
2.00 Aphrodite - A future release which comes with KDEKDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
4 instead of KDE 3. If Lemnix and Xemnix are to go well, an Xfce
Xfce
Xfce is a free software desktop environment for Unix and other Unix-like platforms, such as Linux, Solaris, and BSD – though recent compatibility issues have arisen with regard to BSD Unix platforms...
and Lxde
LXDE
LXDE is a free and open source desktop environment for Unix and other POSIX compliant platforms, such as Linux or BSD. The goal of the project is to provide a desktop environment that is fast and energy efficient...
-based Aphrodite may be released. The main focus here is aesthetics and achieving a beautiful look.
1.00 Dionysus - The current, unreleased version of Emnix, expected to be released soon. It contains a few advantages over the old 0.10 Apollo release, such as the default inclusion of Google Earth
Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographical information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole, Inc, a Central Intelligence Agency funded company acquired by Google in 2004 . It maps the Earth by the superimposition of images obtained from satellite...
and GIMP
GIMP
GIMP is a free software raster graphics editor. It is primarily employed as an image retouching and editing tool and is freely available in versions tailored for most popular operating systems including Microsoft Windows, Apple Mac OS X, and Linux.In addition to detailed image retouching and...
. The aim here is to create a release that's big on software and "Stripped-down" in other places.
0.10 Apollo - The beta release version of 1.00 Dionysus. It contains most of what Dionysus does, with the exception of a custom splash screen
Splash screen
A splash screen is an image that appears while a game or program is loading. It may also be used to describe an introduction page on a website. Splash screens sometimes do not cover the entire screen, but only a rectangle near the center...
. It only runs on the KDE environment. Only one unknown site hosts this release.