Rapid Pup V2 Released 1st May 2015 64-bit

[Barburo]

... the way I like it

[ETP]

Hi Barburo,

Nice wallpaper. Your setup looks particularly suitable for laptops.
I can confirm the FbBox GTK widget button issue that you reported in your previous post and am in contact with radky.
Currently it would appear that the behaviour is provoked by any change of font away from the
original Sans/Regular/10 in the Murrine themes. Such a change causes gtk-chtheme to segfault.
Reverting back to the original font before pre-viewing/selecting another theme avoids the problem.

[ETP]

.
Chrome & Firefox:

In the following post I commented about the current issues with Google Chrome:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 259#851259
It would be nice to be able to report that the latest stable version (Version 43.0.2357.130 64-bit) has improved but sadly it has if anything got worse.

If anyone else is frustrated by these issues I recommend also installing Firefox ESR 38.01 from xanad's thread & setting it as the default browser.
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=99789

The SS below shows both Chrome & Firefox icons on the Rapid Pup V2 desktop with JWM.
A full size SS can be seen here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_iVV ... G5rWDg3eE0
(Firefox theme is "Dark Fox" which suits the default JWM theme)

[Barburo]

Installed Firefox from 64 bit .pet no problems.

I have already switched to Firefox on other older puppies because of the difficulties of keeping Chrome current because there is no automatic updating.

I agree about the Chrome memory leaks etc. I have 4gig memory on this laptop and still get the occasional dramatic slowdown/freeze before it clears itself.

I like Chrome better (much easier sync) but it is much harder to keep up to date on Puppy Linux than Firefox. I guess it's just personal preference - there's not much to choose between them.

I will continue testing with both.

B

[Barburo]

After installing firefox I have begun to get this sort of thing when I restart X. I am not sure if they are related. The pattern of white-out is not always the same.
I read somewhere that Barry has had difficulties with Intel graphics and Quirky-April
Here are the details of my Setup for graphics: (it's Intel!)

Display Specifications:
• Monitor VertRefresh: 60.01 times/s
• Screen Dimensions: 1366x768 pixels (361x203 millimeters)
• Screen Depth: 24 bits (planes)

Xorg Startup Log (/var/log/Xorg.0.log):
• Xorg Driver in use: intel
• Loaded Modules: dbe dri2 extmod glx kbd mouse present synaptics
• X.Org version: 1.16.2

VGA controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 4 Series Chipset Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:2a42] (rev 07)
• Kernel Driver: i915
• Memory Used: 754.42 KB
• Path: /lib/modules/3.19.2/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/i915/i915.ko
• Description: Intel Graphics

[Barburo]

If I open up a window of some sort and move it around the screen it repaints the background but it happens again if I restart X.
Reboot is OK to begin with.

B

[ETP]

Hi Barburo,

Before suspecting an Intel graphics issue two other things come to mind:

1. Before installing Gkrellm did you first disable conky to prevent a dogfight?
If not you should do so. There are two scripts in /root/Startup/

conkyipstart
conkystart

Move both scripts to the /root/ex_startup folder then restart X

2. If that does not resolve the issue, Gkrellm itself may be the cause.
Can you provide a link to the 64bit pet that you installed so that I can test it?

[Barburo]

Hi ETP

Thanks for helping out with these problems.

I had already moved the conky startup entries to an "unused' folder I created.

I used Xanad's Firefox-38.0.1esr-64bit.pet Mozilla Firefox Extended Support Release 64bit
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz9e78 ... sp=sharing

These are links to the grellm and gkrellkam .pet and .deb files I installed:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3x-V7 ... 4T1E/view?
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3x-V7 ... MWUk/view?

I have never found in any puppy that gkrellm interferes with anything. It is a model of a good compact efficient effective app.

B

[ETP]

Hi Barburo,

Thanks for the link to the pet which seems to have been very well created by forum member aarf:
http://puppylinux.info/topic/quirky-april-7/page/3

Testing both without & then with the gkrellkam plugin I was unable to reproduce
the effects that you are seeing but am using a Nvidia Card with the nouveau driver.

Unless another installed pet has caused the problem it would seem to be down to
the Intel xorg driver. BK has commented upon that issue a number of times but
no real solution has emerged.

There is one last thing you could try from a post by MochiMoppel:

One more shot in the dark: If this white thing is indeed a message box and not just a video artifact you may be able to identify the owner.
Open a terminal and type xprop.
After you hit the Enter key the mouse coursor turns into a cross.
Now click on the white thing. With a bit of luck you will see the properties of this window.

[ETP]

.
Popcorn Time Beta 3.8 64-bit Linux

The above was released yesterday and P/T will notify you that it is upgrading to this new version.

Following the upgrade you will find that PT will not launch as some additional dependencies and
symlinks are needed for 3.8

If you are using PT and wish to continue to do so, please install the attached pet.

Rapid Alert has been turned on & will remain so for 72 hours.

[Barburo]

Popcorn upgrade took a while but works with the .pet installed.
... continuing to test!.

[ETP]

.
Google Chrome:

Version 44.0.2403.107 (64-bit stable) was released yesterday.
It seems to be an improvement on the 43.xxx series.

Please use PPM to uninstall the existing version then run
"Get Latest Chrome Version" from the Internet sub-menu.
Follow the prompts and await a final invitation (White text on a blue background) to launch the above version.

Thunderbird:

Thunderbird 38.1.0 is now available.
To update Thunderbird – in T’bird click on help/about/update.


Google Chrome Extensions:

The new "Stars" bookmarks feature is available again as an extension.
It is switchable between a grid or tile view and can be found here:
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/deta ... nfo-dialog

Google Chrome Theme:

The following theme (Morpheon Dark) sits well with the default JWM, GTK & FbBox themes.
It also matches the recommended "Dark Fox" theme for Firefox when that is also installed.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/deta ... d?hl=en-GB

Rapid Alert has been turned on & will remain so for 72 hours.

[ETP]

Google Chrome:

Version 44.0.2403.130 (64-bit stable) was released yesterday.

Please use PPM to uninstall the existing version then run
"Get Latest Chrome Version" from the Internet sub-menu.
Follow the prompts and await a final invitation (White text on a blue background) to launch the above version.

Optional Pet - Chrome App Launcher:

Attached is a .pet that creates 2 additional .desktop files in /usr/share/applications.
They may be dragged onto the desktop from that location & the text beneath then edited.
The first file provides an additional PupShutdown icon (psd) if required.
The second file gives access to the Chrome App Launcher the main benefit of which is the
ability to perform a Google search straight from the desktop. A choice of icons can be found in /usr/share/icons.
The .pet also places some additional choices of icons for both Firefox & Popcorn Time in /usr/share/pixmaps.

Rapid Alert has been turned on & will remain so for 72 hours.

EDIT 11:45 am:

Popcorn Time have just issued an automatic hotfix which takes the version to 0.3.8-2

[ETP]

PureFTPd

There is a bug in PureFTPd within Quirky April 7.0.4.1 x86_64 k 3.19.2 which is used as a base for Rapid Pup.

The problem is that no PID file is written to /var/run/ when the FTP server is started. This results in the
menu item only ever offering the option to start the server. It should offer the option to stop it when it is
already running.

For anyone using PureFTPd the attached .pet fixes the issue. It also changes the icon and the .desktop file in
/usr/share/applications may be dragged onto the desktop to provide a convenient means of starting and stopping
the server. (Edit the text beneath the icon - see screenshot)

The root share may be accessed from any browser on another linux box.
For more info on the "Creation of and access to Linux shares" please see the end of this post together with
the link within it to the slides & notes on Google Drive:

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=97655

Rapid Alert has been turned on & will remain so for 72 hours.

[ETP]

Rapid Pup V2 - Update 7th Sept plus VLC.

Google Chrome:

Version 45.0.2454.85 (64-bit stable) was released on 1st Sept.

Please use PPM to uninstall the existing version then run
"Get Latest Chrome Version" from the Internet sub-menu.
Follow the prompts and await a final invitation (White text on a blue background) to launch the above version.

Firefox ESR - 64-bit: (When also installed)

Now on version 38.2.1 (Upgrade via its inbuilt utility)

Thunderbird:

Version 38.2.0 is now available.
To update – in T’bird click on help/about/update.

Popcorn Time:

This should now be on Version 0.3.8-3. Updates are automatic.
Additional themes are available in this latest version & are worth checking out.


VLC & Xine:

In Rapid, Xine is included OOTB but VLC is not. To install VLC 2.1.5 64-bit:

1: In PPM search for vlc then load it together will ALL its dependencies.

2: Install the dbus-1.8.0-x86_64-1 pet (517KB) from within the "Optional Pets" folder here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_iVV ... FU0TVVnM3M

3: Install the attached fix pet.

4: Reboot.

Rapid Alert has been turned on & will remain so for 72 hours.

[ETP]

Upgrading Rapid Pup V2 to kernel 4.1.7 (Quirky (April) 7.2) 09 Oct 2015

Rapid Pup V2 is currently based on Quirky April 7.0.4.1 x86_64 k 3.19.2
On Tues 06 Oct 2015 BarryK released the latest in the April series - 7.2
which uses the 4.1.7 kernel & includes a number of bug fixes. In addition he has
provided a Service Pack PET to upgrade from Quirky 7.0.4.1

http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic. ... 717#866717

That service pack will be offered within Rapid Pup when you next access PPM or
"Quirky Version Upgrade Manager" on the filesystem sub-menu.

Upgrading is recommended BUT before doing so you will need to download the new 16Meg 7.2 boot utility image
from the link below and place it on your boot card or stick. (See next post for how to do that) It contains the new kernel so that
you will be able to boot once you have upgraded. The final line of syslinux.cfg should be edited to
point at the partition you are using. (OOTB it points at sda6)
No 4Meg hybrid boot ISO images are to be offered unless there is a demand for them.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_iVV ... VQ1MDJaRjA

If you are currently using the JWM or OpenBox desktop within Rapid V2, following the upgrade you will find
that Barry's green themes & icons will appear. To correct that:

JWM:
1. In "JWM Window Manager Settings/Themes" change back to the "Blue Pup" theme.
2. In "GTK-Qt theme chooser" change back to "ETP-gtk-rapid".
3. In "Desktop icon switcher" change back to "ETP-Moka".
4. Reboot.

FbBox (OpenBox):
1. In FbBox "Desktop Appearance" change the Icon Theme back to "Ardis".
2. In the Window Widget (GTK) section change back to "windows8OB".
3. Reboot.

SAMBA ISSUE:

There is currently an issue with "Samba Simple Management" which I need to investigate. Pending a fix I
suggest that in BootManager/services you untick rc.samba [EDIT Sun 11 Oct - Sorry false alert on Samba]

Testing has revealed no problems with VLC, Google Chrome, Popcorn Time, Firefox, Thunderbird or Voice Control when installed.
Rapid Alert has been turned on & will remain so for 72 hours.

[ETP]

Install Procedure – 16meg 7.2 Boot Image for Rapid Pup k4.1.7

Windows:

In Windows use Win32diskimager to write it to a stick or card. A guide to using Win32diskimager can be found here:

http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewto ... 457#765457

Linux:

If using Linux to place it on a card or stick proceed as follows:

Tips:
Find out the name of your USB drive with blkid.
Make sure that it is not mounted.
Note that any contents on the target will be wiped.

Run the following command, replacing /dev/sdx with your drive, e.g. /dev/sdb

Do not append a partition number, so do NOT use something like /dev/sdb1
Modify the path to the image file if need be.

Code: Select all

dd if=/root/Downloads/boot_utility_7.2_k4.1.7.img of=/dev/sdx && sync

END

[gcmartin]

Should an ISO/hybrid version emerge, I would be interested in testing and running RapidPUP this way.

[ETP]

Hi gc,

I do not intend to issue an ISO for this Pup as it would defeat the first two objectives in the OP:

Overview:

This Pup is based on BarryK’s Quirky April 7.0.1 x86_64 k 3.17.4
Its main attributes are:

1. Speed.

2. Straight to HDD/SSD install, with boot provided by a separate 4MB hybrid ISO image.

3. The Main image is in tar.gz form and is to be copied onto an empty 10G f2fs partition (sda8 in the screenshots) then simply extracted in situ.
Boot is from a 4 Meg hybrid ISO that contains the kernel. The ISO can be written to any old USB stick/SD card > 4Meg or CDR if preferred.

4. Simplicity of install with no need to modify any existing bootloader.

Installed in the fashion described it is a speed daemon. If however you are prepared to sacrifice some speed the main image rather than
being placed on a HD or SSD partition and then extracted, can be placed on a second stick or card. (8GB would do)

The second card or stick need only contain a single f2fs partition.
In order to boot such an arrangement you would need to boot from the 16Meg boot utility image placed on the first stick or card.

A single line in syslinux.cfg as follows would be required:

default /vmlinuz root=/dev/sdc1 rw
(Change sdc1 depending how your second card or stick appears)

The boot utility card or stick can be extracted once booted as Rapid is a full install.
I will wean you off those DVDs one day

[gcmartin]

Thanks @ETP

Question
@Barryk's ISO when run from my DVD runs in ZRAM. Does that impose a speed penalty? Or does it impose some other operational disadvantage?

Just curious