C A Exton © 2018                   

MeX 64 bit Linux based on Ubuntu 16.04.2 with Cinnamon 3.2.8

NEWS/CHANGES 170501
Mex Linux is no longer based on Linux Mint. MeX Build 170501 is based only on Debian 8.7 and Ubuntu 16.04.2. I have replaced the original kernel with "my" special kernel 4.10.0-19-exton (4.10.8). All packages in MeX Linux have been upgraded to the latest version by 170501. This version of MeX uses Cinnamon 3.2.8. Linux Mint 18.1 also uses Cinnamon 3.2.8 as Desktop environment.

MORE MeX NEWS 170501
1. The MeX ISO is now a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive.
2. Another big improvement is that MeX now can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 5 (load to RAM). When the system has booted up you can eject the disc (DVD)/USB stick. You'll need at least 2 GB RAM to run MeX that way. The ISO file is of only 980 MB so MeX will run superfast from RAM!
3. I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox. Google Chrome is no longer needed to be able to run Netflix in Linux.
4. The best thing with this new MeX build - Create your own installable Ubuntu 16.04.2 Live DVD with Refracta tools (pre-installed)! The whole “remasterprocess” is so simple that a 10 year old child can do it.

WHY NOT Ubuntu 17.04?
Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS (Long Term Support) is supported by Ubuntu until April 2021. Ubuntu 16.10 is supported until July 2017 and Ubuntu 17.04 until January 2018.

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta tools (pre-installed in MeX Build 170501) to create your own installable Ubuntu Live DVD once you have installed MeX to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Ubuntu 16.04.2 live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install MeX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Ubuntu system while running MeX from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 5 – 10 min! You can then install VirtualBox in MeX so you can test run your own created new Ubuntu ISO. Or do it in Windows. Btw: You can do the whole thing in VirtualBox. I mean install MeX in VirtualBox, change everything, create a new Ubuntu 16.04.2 system using Refracta tools and transfer your new ISO to your server with FileZilla (sudo apt-get install filezilla).

The system language is ENGLISH.

Program content etc
To make it possible to run MeX from RAM I have kept down the number of installed packages. The MeX ISO file is of 980 MB. All packages have been updated to the latest available stable version as of May 1, 2017. See a complete list of all installed packages.

Used KERNEL (4.10.8)
The best thing with kernel 4.10 is that it has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel.

What’s new in kernel 4.10?

COMPATIBILITY
Differences: Ubuntu 16.04.2 and MeX Linux is different only in principle to the terms of program content. A general truth: If an original system can run on a particular computer an "Exton remaster" of the same original system can run on the same computer. I never change a Linux system for the worse in terms of auto configuration and hardware detection, etc. It happens that I replace the original kernel (which I have done in this case), but always to a "better" one with even more native support for various hardware etc.

Password and login
The password for root (superuser) is root. When you start up MeX from the live dvd/USB stick you will end up at Slim's login screen. Log in to Cinnamon 3.2.8 as root with password root or as the ordinary user live with password live. After a hard drive installation you can still log in to Cinnamon as root. During the installation process (using Refracta Installer) you'll get the chance to create your own ordinary user.

Installation to hard drive
Note that you in advance (just in case) should create a partition of at least 6 GB for MeX Linux and a SWAP space double the size of your computer's RAM. I.e. if you have RAM of 1024 MB or less. If you have RAM of 2 GB or more it's enough with a SWAP space of 2 GB. The installation program in MeX is otherwise "intuitive". Choose manual partitioning and select the partition you created in advance for installation. Use Refracta Installer - Simple Installation or Expert Installation.

NOTE re. MeX Build 170501: If you want to add respositories with a command (for example: sudo apt-add-repository ppa:kubuntu-ppa/backports) you'll have change the first line in /etc/lsb-release to "DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu".

Language settings
After a hard drive installation you may want to change /home/YourUser/.bashrc. Also: If you want to have Firefox and Thunderbird (for example) in your language you'll have to install locale files via Synaptic.

Samba - connect to your Windows computers
Samba is running all the time so you can very easily reach your Windows computers. Just open up Nemo File Manager and go to Go >> Network and your Windows computers will be listed in a new window.

USB installation
You can use UNetbootin in Windows or Linux. See a picture how it looks before the installation starts in Windows 10. There's other ways to do it, but using UNetbootin is the best/safest way. I.e. if you want to do the installation to a USB stick in Windows. You can also use Refracta2USB (pre-installed in MeX). A bit complicated, but... - Read also my USB INSTRUCTION.

Who can benefit from MeX?
All who like Debian/Ubuntu and want a system that is easy to use and maintain. And of course those who want to create their own Ubuntu system in a very simple way with Refracta tools. Regarding MeX also those who want to run a Linux system super fast from RAM and/or like to run Linux from a USB flash drive. And those who want a new kernel – 4.10.

DOWNLOAD
MeX Linux can be downloaded from SourceForge.net - Fast, secure and free downloads from the largest Open Source applications and software director.

MeX can also be downloaded from the Swedish Linux Society.

md5sum for MeX Linux ISO which is of 980 MB.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Other EXTON Linux Live CD's/DVD's in English you may like

Exton|OS 64bit Linux Live DVD » version 170609 (Mate) and 170918 (Light) based on Ubuntu 17.04/17.10 and Debian Stretch/Sid with Mate 1.18.0/Openbox 3.6.1 and kernel 4.11.0-5-exton respectively 4.13.0-11-exton

ExTiX 18.0/17.8/16.5 64bit » version 171123 based on Debian and Ubuntu 17.10/16.10 with Deepin/KDE/LXQt and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton

MeX 64bit Linux » version 170501 with Refracta Tools based on Ubuntu 16.04.2 with Cinnamon 3.2.8 and kernel 4.10.0-19-exton

LFA (Linux for all) 64bit DVD » version 170827 with Refracta Tools based on Ubuntu 16.04.3 LTS and Debian Stretch with Fluxbox combined with Cairo-Dock and kernel 4.12.0-12-exton

EXTON OpSuS Tumbleweed Linux live USB » version 180114 based on openSUSE Tumbleweed with KDE 4.14.38 and Cinnamon 3.6.2 as Desktop environments. Coming as an IMAGE file for direct installation on a USB pen drive

ExLight Live DVD 64bit » version 171121 based on Ubuntu and Debian with Enlightenment 0.22, Refracta Tools and kernel 4.13.0-16-exton

ArchEX 64bit Linux Live DVD » Build 171129 based on Arch Linux with kernel 4.13.12-1-ARCH and Deepin 15.5 and Calamares

SlackEX 64bit Live DVD » version 171223 based on Slackware 14.2 with KDE 4.14.38 and kernel 4.14.8-x86_64-efi-exton

CruxEX 3.3 64bit 2017 Linux Live USB » version 170216 based on CRUX 3.3 with LXDE and kernel 4.9.9-exton

Exton|Defender Linux Super Rescue System version 170909 - 64 bit - based on Fedora 26 with Cinnamon 3.4.6 and kernel 4.12.9

Contact

LINUX.EXTON.NET

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

• Twitter
• Facebook

MeX Linux >> PayPal
If you like MeX, please use the
button below...

Screenshot 1 - Refracta tools running

Screenshot 2 - Spotify running (install Spotify with sudo apt-get install spotify-client)

Screenshot 3 - Cinnamon 3.2.8 Desktop with Samba

Screenshot 4 - Cinnamon 3.2.8 Desktop with Refracta2USB running

Screenshot 5 - Cinnamon 3.2.8 Desktop with SMPlayer running

Screenshot 6 - Firefox with Netflix running

Screenshot 7 - Boot screen live

Screenshot 8 - Boot screen Grub




EXTON distributions: The number of Exton distributions has decreased from 66 (all time high in June 2011) to 16. See a complete LIST. It was a bit too much for me to keep 66 distributions up to date. All Exton distributions on the Swedish Linux Society's FTP Server can be reached HERE. All exton distributions in English (English locale) can also be dowloaded from SourceForge.net.



UPGRADE packages to latest VERSION
If you install MeX Linux to hard disk you will always get the latest package versions if you run the following commands: sudo apt-get update and then sudo apt-get upgrade.



ABOUT wireless configurations
Use Network Manager to configure your wireless network. It works perfect.