Proxmox 6.3 "Virtual Environment"

 

Proxmox is a commercial company offering specialised products based on Debian. The company's latest release is Proxmox 6.3 "Virtual Environment" which integrates with the distribution's Backup Server software. The release announcement reports: "We are really excited to announce the general availability of our virtualization management platform Proxmox VE 6.3. The most notable new feature is the integration of the stable version 1.0 of our new Proxmox Backup Server. We have strong encryption on the client-side and we have made creating and managing encryption keys for you very simple, providing multiple ways to store keys. VM backups are blazing fast with QEMU dirty-bitmaps. This release also brings stable integration of Ceph Octopus 15.2.6, and you can now select your preferred Ceph version during the installation process. Many new Ceph-specific management features have been added to the GUI like for example displaying the recovery progress in the Ceph status panel or setting the placement groups (PGs) auto-scaling mode for each Ceph pool in the storage cluster. In general, we have added even more functionality and usability enhancements to the GUI." Additional information can be found in the company's release notes. Download: proxmox-ve_6.3-1.iso (812MB, SHA256, pkglist).

EuroLinux 7.9

 

 EuroLinux is an enterprise-class Linux distribution made and supported by the EuroLinux company, built mostly from code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The project's latest release is EuroLinux 7.9 which enters a new phase of support. "Because EuroLinux 7 is in the second phase of support, there are no revolutionary changes. It is the same stable, mission-critical, proved operating system in which many packages were updated and upgraded to a higher version. It should be anticipated since Enterprise Linux 7 during its life was repeatedly subjected to a reasonably common, aggressive rebase, that is, upgrading packages to recent, nevertheless proven and reliable, versions. Among the most significant changes are: sssd upgraded to version 1.165; pacemaker and stack responsible for clustering updated to version - 1.1.23; MariaDB database updated to this year's version - 5.5.68." The release announcement goes on to mention that EuroLinux 6 raches the end of its normal life cycle on November 30, 2020. However, customes can purchase extended support after this date. EuroLinux can be purchased through the distribution's contact page.

AV Linux 2020.11.23

 

Glen MacArthur has announced the release of AV Linux 2020.11.23, the latest version of the multimedia-oriented distribution with a collection of audio and video production software. This is the project's first build based on MX Linux and it also features separate editions for x86_64 (with Xfce) and i386 (with Openbox) platforms: "After several months of behind-the-scenes work, two ISO images of the brand new 'AV Linux MX Edition' have been released. With 32-bit Xfce/Openbox and 64-bit Xfce editions, this new project is based on MX Linux 19.3. The MX development team is aware of this project and have kindly provided assistance and a warm welcome but it is important to note that this project is an unofficial respin and at the current time not under the umbrella of the antiX/MX projects. MX is the new home base of AV Linux and I'm very excited about combining the phenomenal tools and utilities of MX with the well-known content-creation focus that has defined AV Linux since 2008. Highlights of this release: Linux kernel 5.9.1, includes the Bluetooth stack security fix; greatly expanded AVL-MXE Assistant; new custom 'Diehard' and 'Earth' themes...." Here is the full release announcement with a screenshots and video overview. Download (pkglist): AVL-MXE-2020.11.23-xfce4-amd64.iso (3,521MB, SHA512), AVL-MXE-2020.11.23-openbox-i386.iso (2,882MB, SHA512, username: demo, password: demo).

EasyOS 2.5

 

 EasyOS is an experimental Linux distribution which uses many of the technologies and package formats pioneered by Puppy Linux. The distribution features custom container technology called Easy Containers which can run applications or the entire desktop environment in a container. EasyOS 2.5 introduces a number of new changes which are highlighted in the project's release announcement: "EasyOS 2.5 is the latest in the 2.x Buster-series, built with Debian 10.6 DEBs. As well as the DEBs, other packages are updated, including SeaMonkey 2.53.5, and the Linux kernel is now 5.4.78. There have been many infrastructure and utility fixes and improvements, including hardware-profiling for the CPU temperature monitor. The single most significant application change relative to the previous release is the new BluePup bluetooth manager, replacing Blueman (though Blueman is in the repository, so can be installed if needed). The Multiple Sound Card Wizard has been integrated with BluePup." More detailed information can be found in the distribution's release notes. Download: easy-2.5-amd64.img.gz (549MB, MD5, pkglist).

Kali Linux 2020.4

 Kali Linux is a Debian-based distribution with a collection of security and forensics tools. The project's latest release, Kali Linux 2020.4, makes zsh the default command line shell, introduces new users to resources at login, and adjusts the bash shell to appear more like zsh. "In our previous quarterly release, 2020.3, we gave a heads up that we will be switching from Bash to zsh as our default shell going forwards (where possible). We are happy to announce that after testing and feedback from users, the switch has now happened. Say hello to to zsh. Thank you to everyone who provided positive and constructive feedback. We are happy with it, and hope you are too. With that said, we know we cannot please everyone with it (so if you wish to revert back to Bash, please do: 'chsh -s /bin/bash')." Further details along with screenshots of the new bash shell style can be found in the distribution's release announcement. Download (SHA256) (pkglist): kali-linux-2020.4-live-amd64.iso (3,354MB, torrent), kali-linux-2020.4-installer-netinst-amd64.iso (471MB, torrent).

IPFire 2.25 Core 152

 

IPFire is a Linux-based distribution for network appliances such as routers and firewalls. The project's latest release is IPFire 2.25 Core Update 152. The project's new version includes a number of package updates and a big upgrade for Samba users. "Samba, has been updated to 4.13.0. Because of various reasons and lack of development time, we were stuck on Samba 3 which is unmaintained for a while. With this new version of Samba, new protocol features like SMB3 and encryption are supported. We have also rewritten large parts of the web user interface, made them tidier and fixed some usability issues. We also dropped some features which we believe are not being used any more. This mainly concerns compatibility to MS-DOS clients, WINS, and using IPFire as Primary Domain Controller for Windows NT domains." Further details can be found in the distribution's release announcement. Download (SHA256): ipfire-2.25.x86_64-full-core152.iso (303MB, torrent, pkglist).

PrimTux 6

 

 PrimTux is a French Debian and Ubuntu-based distribution developed by a small team of school teachers and computer enthusiasts for educational environments. The project's latest release, PrimTux 6, is available in both Debian (32-bit) and Ubuntu (64-bit) editions. An English translation of the release announcement (in French) reads: "PrimTux6 is available in two editions: an edition based on Ubuntu and intended for recent computers and an edition based on Debian 'Buster', intended for older computers, to meet its vocation of upgrading computers for educational purposes. Whichever edition you use, PrimTux is designed to be extremely lightweight. Version 6 continues to build on what makes the strength of the distribution: student environments adapted to the different cycles of primary education, protected from bad handling; a selection of quality educational software adapted to the different ages of schooling; secure Internet browsing thanks to CTparental, which provides filtering since version 5, and to the Qwant junior search engine." Download (MD5, pkglist): PrimTux6-Debian10.6-i386-2020-11-11.hybrid.iso (3,580MB), PrimTux6-Ubuntu20.04-1-amd64-2020-11-11.iso (3,195MB).

ArcoLinux 20.11.9

 

Erik Dubois has announced the release of ArcoLinux 20.11.9, a new stable version of the project's Arch-based distribution with Xfce as the default desktop. As always, the distribution is available in a vast range of other desktop environments through its community-built ArcoLinuxB editions. This version also delivers a new dwm variant: "dwm might be one of the most intriguing desktops we have in our collection. dwm stands for dynamic window manager and it comes from suckless.org. Let me copy/paste the intro of their website: 'dwm is a dynamic window manager for X. It manages windows in tiled, monocle and floating layouts. All of the layouts can be applied dynamically, optimising the environment for the application in use and the task performed. In tiled layout windows are managed in a master and stacking area. The master area contains the window which currently needs most attention, whereas the stacking area contains all other windows. In monocle layout all windows are maximised to the screen size.'" See the full release announcement for further details. Download (pkglist): arcolinux-v20.11.9-x86_64.iso (2,201MB, MD5). As usual, ArcoLinuxD (a minimal distribution with scripts that enable power users to install any desktop and application) and ArcoLinuxB (a set of community editions with many popular desktops and window managers) are also available.

Oracle Linux 8.3

 

 Simon Coter has announced the release of Oracle Linux 8.3, a new update of the distribution designed for enterprise deployment and built from the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux: "Oracle is pleased to announce the availability of the Oracle Linux 8 Update 3 for the 64-bit Intel and AMD (x86_64) and 64-bit Arm (aarch64) platforms. Oracle Linux 8 Update 3 includes the UEK R6 on the installation image, along with the Red Hat Compatible Kernel (RHCK). For new installations, UEK R6 is enabled and installed by default and is the default kernel on first boot. UEK R6, the kernel developed, built, and tested by Oracle and based on the mainline Linux Kernel 5.4, delivers more innovation than other commercial Linux kernels. Oracle Linux 8 Update 3 release includes: improved support for NVDIMM devices; improved support for IPv6 static configurations; installation program uses the default LUKS2 version for an encrypted container...." Read the release announcement and the release notes for more information. Download: OracleLinux-R8-U3-x86_64-dvd.iso (8,808MB, pkglist).

CentOS 7.9.2009

 

Johnny Hughes has announced the availability of CentOS 7.9.2009. This is the current release of the legacy branch of distribution which is built from the source code of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.9: "We are pleased to announce the general availability of CentOS Linux 7 (2009) for the x86_64 architecture. Effectively immediately, this is the current release for CentOS Linux 7 and is tagged as 2009, derived from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.9 source code. This release supersedes all previously released content for CentOS Linux 7, and therefore we highly encourage all users to upgrade their machines. Note that older content, obsoleted by newer versions of the same applications are trimmed off from repositories like Extras/ and Plus/; however, this time we have also extended this to the SIG content hosted at mirror.centos.org, and some older End of Life content has been dropped. Everything we ever release, is always available on the vault service for people still looking for and have a real need for it." See the release announcement, release notes and upstream release notes for more details. Download (SHA256, signature, pkglist): CentOS-7-x86_64-DVD-2009.iso (4,494MB, torrent), CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-2009.iso (973MB, torrent).

MX Linux 19.3

 

MX Linux, a desktop-oriented Linux distribution with a choice of Xfce or KDE Plasma and based on Debian's latest stable release, has been updated to version 19.3: "We are pleased to offer MX Linux 19.3 for your use. MX Linux 19.3 is the third refresh of our MX 19 release, consisting of bug fixes and application updates since our original release of MX 19. If you are already running MX 19, there is no need to re-install. Packages are all available through the regular update channel. The standard MX Linux 19.3 releases (32-bit and 64-bit) feature the latest Debian 4.19 Linux kernel and, unlike in the past, the kernel will now auto-update along with Debian sources by default. The AHS (Advanced Hardware Support) ISO image features a Debian 5.8 Linux kernel, MESA 20, as well as a new updated firmware package. The KDE ISO image has also been updated and, being based on AHS, also has the 5.8 Linux kernel, together with updated firmware and MESA packages." Here is the full release announcement. Download (pkglist): MX-19.3_x64.iso (1,586MB, SHA256, signature, torrent), MX-19.3_KDE_x64.iso (1,892MB, SHA256, signature, torrent), MX-19.3_ahs_x64.iso (1,607MB, SHA256, signature, torrent), MX-19.3_386.iso (1,609MB, SHA256, signature, torrent).

How to Install Adobe Flash Player on Ubuntu

 The Flash Player is a plugin for web browsers that you need in order to watch videos and interactive content on some websites. Although most of the modern websites use HTML5 that does not require Flash, there are still some websites that need it enabled.

In this article, we will tell you how to download and install the Flash Player through your Linux command line and then enable it through any of your available web browsers.

We have run the commands and procedures mentioned in this article on an Ubuntu 20.10 LTS system and used the Firefox web browser in order to enable the Flash Plugin.

 

Step 1: Enable Ubuntu Canonical Partners Repository

In order to install the latest Flash plugin, you need to have the Canonical Partners repository enabled on your system. By default this repository is disabled. Open your Ubuntu Terminal either through system Dash or the Ctrl+Alt+D shortcut. Then enter the following command as root in order to enable the repository:

$ sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://archive.canonical.com/ $(lsb_release -sc) partner"

$ sudo apt update

Now, your repository is in line with the latest package available in the Internet’s Canonical Partners’ repository.

Step 2: Install the Flash Plugin through the apt package

You can install the Flash Plugin easily by running the following command as sudo in your Linux Terminal:

$ sudo apt install flashplugin-installer

 

 The system will prompt you with a Y/n option in order to begin the 
installation procedure. Please enter Y and hit Enter to begin. The Flash
 Plugin will then be installed on your system. Exit the Terminal by 
entering the exit command:

$ exit

Step 3: Enable the Flash Player through the Adobe website

Open one of the available web browsers on your system. Restart the web browser if it is already open and then open the following link on the official Adobe website.

https://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player.html

You will see a few points in the Flash Player Help. Move to point number 5 and see if you can view an animation running in the window:

If not, click on the Run Adobe Flash link on the animation window. The following pop-up will appear in your browser:

 

Click the Allow option in order to allow Adobe Flash to run on the browser. Now, look at the animation in Help point number 5. You should be able to see the following clouds and tree animation running in your browser.

This animation ensures that the Flash Plugin is successfully installed and enabled on your Ubuntu system.

In this article, we have learned how to download and install the Flash Plugin apt package from the Canonical Partners’ repository. We have also practiced the important step of enabling the Flash Player on our web browsers.

 

Emmabuntüs DE3-1.03

 

The Emmabuntüs project develops a lightweight distribution based on Debian for lower-end computers. The project's latest release is based on Debian 10.6 and features the Xfce and LXQt desktop environments. "The Emmabuntüs Collective is happy to announce the release of the Emmabuntüs Debian Edition update 3 1.0-3 (32-bit and 64-bit editions), based on the Debian 10.6 'Buster' distribution, featuring both Xfce and LXQt desktop environments. This new update of our distribution provides an OEM installation mode in the frame of our reuse campaign for all that we launched beginning of September. The following fixes and improvements have been made: addition of the OEM install mode via Calamares; addition of Warpinator; addition of the zram-tools utility; update of Multisystem 1.0451 dated 2020-10-03, with the Emmabuntüs DE 4 support and addition of a specific theme for the reuse campaign; updates of HPLip 3.20.6, Firefox ESR 78.3.0, Thunderbird 78.3.1, TurboPrint 2.50-1, VeraCrypt 1.24-Update7." The new version also includes some cloning options for OEM providers. Further details along with screenshots of the new OEM options can be found in the project's release announcement. Download: emmabuntus-de3-amd64-10.6-1.03.iso (3,369MB, SHA256, torrent, pkglist).

elementary OS 5.1

 

 elementary OS is an Ubuntu-based desktop distribution. Some of its more interesting features include a custom desktop environment called Pantheon and a custom software centre. The project's latest release is elementary OS 5.1 "Hera", which introduces many package updates, a refreshed login screen, and an onboarding application to guide new users through available features. "The newly redesigned login and lockscreen greeter looks sharper, works better, and fixes many reported issues with the previous greeter including focus issues, HiDPI issues, and better localization. The new design in Hera was in response to user feedback from Juno, and enables some nice new features. It now always shows usernames for all users, shows users' backgrounds as cards so you can more easily find users who maybe haven't set differentiating avatars, notifies when Caps or Num Lock are on, and makes 'Log In as Guest' more distinct when it's enabled. The new Onboarding app that ships with Hera introduces key features to users and handles common first-run tasks like managing privacy settings." Further details and screenshots can be found in the project's release announcement. Download: elementaryos-5.1-stable.20191202.iso (1,399MB, pkglist).

 

ArchBang Linux 0111

 

ArchBang developer "mrgreen" has announced the release of ArchBang Linux 0111, the minimalist, Arch Linux-based distribution's first stable release after the recent switch from Openbox to i3 as the preferred window manager. From the release announcement: "November release, i3 tiling window manager based. Have just uploaded a release for November, usual thing - updated packages and configurations. The guide can now be viewed by using Super + g; it includes some basic keybind shortcuts in i3. Firefox is back for now; while huge, it does support many features that other lighter browsers do not have. Minor changes in abinstall fixes to remove installers from Conky post install." The switch from Openbox to i3 was initiated a couple of weeks ago: "ArchBang has been Openbox-based for over ten years. Over the next few weeks I will be working towards switching to i3 tiling window manager. It might be a little different at first but once you get used to it, you will never look back." ArchBang Linux 0111 can be downloaded from SourceForge: archbang-i3-0111-x86_64.iso (914MB, pkglist).

Voyager Live 20.10

 

The Voyager Live project has published a new version of their desktop distribution. The new release, Voyager 20.10, is based on Ubuntu 20.10 and offers nine months of package updates and security fixes. "I introduce you Voyager GE 20.10 which continues the adventure with the GNOME Shell desktop version 3.38 by introducing new features. With the promise finally made to have a light, fast, modern, fluid and efficient GNOME system. This version is based on the Linux 5.8 kernel and the Ubuntu Groovy Gorilla distribution . 20.10 is an intermediate version with 9-months of updates that prepares for the future 5-year LTS - long-term support - version. With integrated options like Tablet PC, Wine-staging and Steam Gaming in the Box Voyager. Voyager comes in 2 desktop versions, with Xfce by default and GNOME Shell for this version called GE, Xfce is only offered in LTS version. Also you can choose according to your wishes and machine capacities. The general idea of Voyager, is to introduce into GNOME Shell pre-installed GNOME extensions and scripts grouped in a box which optimize the system with a choice of necessary software. All in a redesigned ergonomics with many wallpapers." Further information can be found in the project's release announcement. Download (MD5): Voyager-GE-20.10.amd64.iso (2,851MB, torrent, pkglist).

OpenIndiana 2020.10

 

Andreas Wacknitz has announced the release of OpenIndiana 2020.10, the latest version of the project's community effort to keep alive the OpenSolaris distribution and its many popular technologies, such as ZFS, DTrace or Zones. This version updates the MATE desktop environment to version 1.24: "After almost 6 months of development, we have released the new OpenIndiana 'Hipster' snapshot 2020.10 right on time on October 31st, 2020. Some of the noticeable changes are: after BHyVe has been upstreamed into illumos-gate, we automatically got it and we were able to supply this with a bhyve branded zone for OpenIndiana; FreeRDP and Remmina have been added; the Squeak Virtual Machine (v4, v5 and v5 Cog) have been added and so it's possible to run older and newer versions of Squeak Smalltalk and also Cuis Smalltalk on OpenIndiana; MATE, our main desktop environment, has been updated to 1.24; GCC 10 has been added; a buch of other packages have also been updated." See the release announcement and the release notes for further information. Download (pkglist): OI-hipster-gui-20201031.iso (1,598MB, SHA256), OI-hipster-minimal-20201031.iso (345MB, SHA256).

Pop!_OS 20.10

 

 System76, a US-based manufacturer of Linux desktops, laptops and servers, has announced the release of Pop!_OS 20.10, the latest version of the company's Ubuntu-based Linux distribution. It includes various usability improvements, such as stacking tiled windows, floating window exceptions, fractional scaling or external monitor support in hybrid graphics mode: "Pop!_OS 20.10 is the result of fine-tuning features released in version 20.04. Similar to the tabs in your web browser, stack tiled windows atop one another for easier organization. First, use Super + S to convert a window into a stack. Using Super + Enter and your arrow keys or Vim shortcuts will add a window to your stack. You can also launch an application into the stack using Super + / to add it automatically. Super + Left or Right arrows cycles between windows in the stack. Lastly, move windows out of the stack and press Super + S to convert it back to a standard window." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information, screenshots and screencasts. As always, there are separate ISO images for computers with Intel and NVIDIA graphics cards; download (SHA256, pkglist): pop-os_20.10_amd64_intel_1.iso (2,295MB), pop-os_20.10_amd64_nvidia_1.iso (2,619MB).