What is LibraNet?

Libranet is a packaging of the Debian distribution with design goals of

• getting you started quickly,
• providing a large number of packages, and
• making desktop configuration easier.

The subject of distributions has come up on the mailing list from time to time, and with somewhat greater urgency since the changes at Red Hat (the birth of Fedora, etc.). See gnhlug-discuss for early April 2004.

The Libranet folks have been kind enough to offer a current CD kit to GNHLUG so that members can give it a try. This "project" is simply the circulation list, members who have expressed an interest in trying Libranet.

The kit arrived (the Libranet folks even paid the postage!) yesterday, April 15th. The first person on the list (Bruce Dawson) has taken custody of it today (April 16th 2004). Good luck, Bruce! Let us know how it turns out for you.

Receipient list

The interest list, in order (BillSconce keeps track of the kit):

• Bruce Dawson (returned it to Bill Sconce)
• Ed Lawson <-- next up
• Rich Sharpe
• PaulC
• James Philipson

"The Deal"

The deal is simple. Anyone in gnhlug who would like to try Libranet is welcome to borrow the kit and give it a spin.

I'll be the courier when necessary (if mailing is required, for instance), and the kit can come back to me, or be transferred directly to the next person on the list, whatever is most convenient.

And if you would like to have a look at Libranet, just add your name to the list (and/or send me mail, especially if don't want your e-mail address posted here).

Rules

The only rules/requests are:

• Please write up at least a one-liner with your opinion, good or bad.

• Please check in (here on the wiki would be good, or with me) when the kit can be passed on to the next person.

• The Libranet folks hope you'll like it and buy it. (I do too.)

• The OS is Debian, Free Software, GPL. It's the packaging, administration stuff, and just simple convenience which are worth paying the Libranet folks for. But there is no obligation.

I hope you enjoy discovering the best Libranet distribution out there! :)

Bill Sconce sconce@in-spec-inc*REMOVE*.com

Reviews

Installation was smooth - especially on a system that had problems installing Gentoo. The only problem was the X server hung the machine when it tried to exit. The good part of this problem was that after the reboot, the install (apparently) picked up where it left off.

I have not yet had a chance to play with Apache to see how well the various Apache modules are integrated to the installation process. But so far, the software appears solid (I just wish the hardware was as solid).

-- BruceDawson - 26 Apr 2004