About Exton|Defender SRS
Description
Exton|Defender 2012 SRS is a Linux system available as a bootable DVD or USB stick for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash. It aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the hard disk partitions. It comes with a lot of Linux software such as system tools and basic tools (editors, Midnight Commander, network tools). Exton|Defender can, however, also be used as a normal Linux Desktop System. It requires no installation, but can easily be installed to hard drive or to a USB stick.
System Tools included
NTFS-3g, GParted 0.10.0, PartImage 0.6.9, Shred 8.11, Sfdisk (util-linux-ng 2.19), Rsync 3.0.8, Ddrescue 1.14, FSArchiver 0.6.12 and Midnight Commander 4.7.5.2. Other programs (among many others): Wicd, Firefox 8.0, Gimp, Samba, Java Runtime Environment (JRE), Emacs and many compilation tools.
  
About Slackware
Slackware is the first widely-used Linux system, which is still developing. Slackware has existed since 1993. In comparison with for example Ubuntu and Linux Mint, many people believe that Slackware is "difficult". Any novice can quickly learn to use Ubuntu they say. My remaster Exton|Defender 13.37 is however just as easy to use as Ubuntu and/or Linux Mint. Some tend to complain that the Program Management in Slackware is awkward. That was perhaps earlier the case, but not anymore. Now we have the Application Managers Slackpkg, Sbopkg and Gslapt - a GTK version of slapt-get. They are a piece of cake to use! All three Program Managers are preinstalled in Exton|Defender SRS 2012. Users of Synaptic will feel at ease with Gslapt.
Special features in version 111115 of Exton|Defender
I have replaced Slackware´s 13.37 original kernel 2.6.37.6 with kernel 3.0.9-exton with support for "everything".All component software is upgraded to the latest version by now (20111115). Most importantly, however, is that I have arranged for all of your changes to the system to be saved even if you run Exton|Defender from disc (DVD) or USB stick. If you run Exton|Defender from a USB stick, all your changes can be saved directly on the stick. That will make you really portable. I have also arranged so this new version of Exton|Defender (111115) can be downloaded for free.
Note that Exton|Defender advantageously shall be installed on a USB stick of at least 2 GB. The system is running really fast then and you won't hear the sound from CD/CD-ROM drive. Note also that, among other things, Exton|Defender 2012 can be seen as an alternative to Mandriva Flash (which costs 50 Euro).
Passwords
The password for root (superuser) and live (normal user) is: root/live.
Configuring X
X is auto-configured during the boot from disc (DVD) or USB stick.
Running in computer's RAM
The system can run from your computer's RAM. RAM of at least 3 GB is required for such an execution. Start alternative 3.
Default language
The default language (locale) is set to English. However, you can easily change the default language to Swedish or any other language by editing the files /etc/profile.d/lang.sh and /etc/profile.d/lang.csh. Most programs and menus will then be in your chosen language.
Sudo
Ubuntu/Kubuntu/Mint and many other so-called beginner distributions (and other Linux systems) use sudo to do something that requires root (superuser) privileges. There really is no need for a root password. "Examples of Command": sudo mkdir /usr/MyFiles. You can also directly become root with sudo su. Read HERE about how sudo works. I have installed the Sudo program in Exton|Defender 13.37. This means, among other things, that Linux users used to Ubuntu also can identify with Exton|Defender.
The ISO file is of 1038 MB.
Installation of missing programs with Slackpkg, Sbopkg or Gslapt
I have installed Slackpkg and Sbopkg. With Slackpkg/Sbopkg all software can easily be installed or uninstalled. The entire system can also be upgraded with Slackpkg. Command: slackpkg upgrade-all. Read more about how to use Slackpkg HERE. It is very easy/intuitive. Thus, installing a new program with the command slackpkg install MyNewProgram. With Sbopkg you can manage so-called Third-party programs. Read HERE about how to use Sbopkg. You can also run the command sbopkg -help as root to list all possible commands. The corresponding command is re. Slackpkg is slackpkg help. You can also use the Application Manager Gslapt - a GTK version of slapt-get. Gslapt works in the same way as Debian/Ubuntu's Synaptic. You can easily upgrade your entire system with Gslapt.
Installation of Exton|Defender to hard disk - method 1
I call the installation program Slack-Installer.
Follow these steps:
1. Create a Linux partition of about 6 GB and a swap space of approximately 1 GB or double the size of your computer's RAM (if you have RAM of 2 GB or less).
2. Start the installation program Slack-Installer. See the menu under System or in the panel.
3. Follow the application instructions. Skip partitioning (because you pre-created an installation partition and a swap space).
4. Slack-installer will recognize your created partitions. Choose them.
5. The actual installation takes 10-20 minutes.
6. In the end, you get the option to install the LILO boot loader. Choose to do it if you do not already have a Linux system installed on your computer. If you have a windows system (eg. Windows 7) installed on /dev/sda1 (C drive) you'll also be able to start it after the installation of Exton|Defender.
7. NOTE: If you already have at least one Linux system on your computer and already use the GRUB boot loader then finish the Slack-Installer when the question of installation of LILO arise. Instead add the following lines to your /boot/grub/menu.lst. (in the Linux system into which you have installed GRUB). Then restart your computer.
####################
title Exton Defender 2012 SRS
root (hd0,4)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/sda5 vga=0x318 video=vesafb:mtrr,ywrap
boot
####################
# In the above example, the installation of Exton|Defender was made to /dev/sda5
INSTALLATION of Exton|Defender to hard disk - method 2
Please read my instructions.
Installation of Exton|Defender on a USB stick of at least 2 GB
The installation is easiest to do in Windows XP/Vista/7. Follow these steps:
1. Format the USB stick with the file system FAT/FAT32. (Right click and select Format)
2. Insert the disc with Exton|Defender and wait until Windows 7 automatically displays disc content on the Desktop. You will see that there are two folders on the disc - boot and defender.
3. Copy the aforementioned folders to the USB stick.
4. Open up a command prompt and make sure you are in G: (or the name your USB stick got on your computer).
5. Run the command /boot/bootinst.bat. This is because the USB stick must be bootable. Important: Do not run the command when you are in the C:. (If you do then, Windows 7 - or whatever you have in your C drive - can not be started). If you get error messages when running the command /boot/bootinst.bat, you should not worry about them. Just click a few times on "Retry". If you still get an error message saying that the operation has failed, do not worry about that either. The USB stick is bootable if you followed the steps in paragraph 1-5 above.
6. Set the BIOS so your computer primarily will boot from USB HDD (or similar).
7. Restart the computer with the USB stick in place. (See also additional info on this page below).
Install Exton|Defender to USB stick - method 2
Exton|Defender can be installed to the USB stick in two ways. This method saves all your changes to the system directly on the stick in the folder slackchanges. To create such a pendrive, please read and follow my INSTRUCTIONS for installation. If you are installing on a pendrive of at least 4 GB, you can install lots of new programs. If you later decide to install Exton|Defender from pendrive to hard disk all your changes will be saved to hard disc too.
NOTE: It appears that not all USB sticks are suitable for topical purposes. I. e. they can not be made bootable. I myself have experience of brands Kingston DataTraveler, SanDisk Cruzer Micro and Sony Micro Vault. The first two works (for me). You may not use USB sticks of older model. They may work, but mostly bad. If you - after the installation of Exton|Defender to the USB stick - get different error messages when you try to run the system from the stick it is because the stick is not "good" enough. If you were able to run Exton|Defender of/from the disc (DVD), you should also be able to run the system from your USB stick.
You can read more about Exton|Defender´s features HERE - (in Swedish).
Download
The ISO file (exton-defender-2012-1038mb-111115.iso) can be downloaded from the Swedish Linux Society server » DOWNLOAD
Exton|Defender LiveDVD can also be downloaded from Sourceforge.net - Fast, secure and free downloads from the largest Open Source applications and software directory » DOWNLOAD
md5sum file for Exton|Defender ISO
Feedback
Slackware 13.37 is at least as "good" as Ubuntu 11.10/Linux Mint 11 and/or OpenSUSE 11.4. I think. Tell me what you think of Exton|Defender SRS 2012 in combination with Xfce 4.8 and kernel 3.0.9. Did you find the included Rescue System Tools useful? I am also interested in hearing about how the save features in Exton|Defender works for you. They should normally cause no problem, but ... |
Contact
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Other considerations »
Disclaimer: This is experimental software. Use at your own risk. Under no circumstances may C A Exton or exton.net be held liable for damage to hardware or software, lost data or other damage either direct or indirect caused by using this software.
Connect With Me
You can install Exton|Defender on a USB stick and save your settings on the stick.
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