XUbuntu
From Xbox-Linux
| Table of contents |
What is xUbuntu?
xUbuntu is an PC-/Xbox-enabled version of Ubuntu GNU/Linux distribution. xUbuntu is not a stand-alone, independent distribution. However the install process - and naturally the bootloader, the kernel and the kernel modules - are all customized for PC and Xbox (i386).
As far as the author is aware, xUbuntu Linux does not contain any Microsoft copyrighted code or any illegal code.
XUbuntu is also the name of the official lightweight version of Ubuntu. The project can be found on http://xubuntu.org/
LiveCD
"xUbuntu" Live-CD boots on hardware of PC (i386) and Xbox (Intel Pentium III 700 MHz, 64 MB RAM). The live system itself does not require any space on your hard disk. But only for Xbox, there is a SWAP-file inside partition Z to force perfomance.
- "xUbuntu" linux system is a lightweight system with the desktop interface "Xfce4".
- "xUbuntu" linux system is lightweight alternative for systems with lower memory configurations.
- "xUbuntu" Live-CD ( initialize release ) is a dual Boot-CD for PC and Xbox (i386).
- "xUbuntu" linux run with a customized kernel 2.6.12-9-386-cd on normal PCs and with a customized kernel 2.4.31-xbox on a modified Xbox.
- Optionally you can install "xUbuntu linux system on a hard disk of PC and/or Xbox.
"xUbuntu" GNU/Linux for PC and Xbox
The base system of "xUbuntu" linux system is a base linux system of GNU/Linux Ubuntu distribution ("Breezy Badgar, Version 5.10") with kernel 2.6.X (udev) and without a graphical environment.
As the base system run on PC, the base system was ported to the hardware of a modified Xbox. Therefore, it was necessary to downgrade the kernel and the kernel environment from 2.6.X to 2.4.X. Furthermore the graphical environment was added to the base linux system (x-window-system "xorg" and desktop "Xfce4" environment) and some "Xfce4" / "Gnome" applications. You can run Gnome applications, because desktop "Xfce4" environment provides the possibility to initialize Gnome base system at start-up.
As the linux system run on Xbox, the linux system was re-adapted to PC-hardware with a customized kernel 2.6.12-9-386-cd. The customized kernel 2.6.12-9-386-cd boots up on PC from LiveCD and from hard disk.
"xUbuntu" GNU/Linux for PC and Xbox was born.
The "xUbuntu" linux system LiveCD provides a working solution for PC and Xbox by dual booting.
Development background
The actual release of "xUbuntu" linux system LiveCD is based on sources of Ubuntu "Breezy Badger, Version 5.10" and some packages of Debian "Sarge 3.1".
Ubuntu is Copyright (C) of Canonical Ltd. ( http://www.canonical.com ).
No relationship between the author and Canonical Ltd. or/and Debian distribution exists.
There is no relationship between "xUbuntu" linux and "Xubuntu" or "XUbuntu" linux system ( http://wiki.ubuntu.com/Xubuntu ) developed from MOTU Xfce team.
"Xubuntu" is also an Xfce flavoured Ubuntu derivative for middle ranged hardware like "xUbuntu".
There is no relationship between "xUbuntu" linux and http://www.ubuntulinux.org .
There is no relationship between "xUbuntu" linux and "UbuntuLite" linux system ( http://www.ubuntulite.org ).
To develop "xUbuntu" linux system for XBox the author uses Know-How from Xbox distributions Xebian and Gentoox (http://gentoox.shallax.com). But, "xUbuntu" linux system is no Update and no Upgrade from Xbox distribution "Xebian" or "Gentoox".
Memory configuration (RAM/SWAP size) on PC and Xbox
Live-CD uses only hardware RAM. A linux system installed on hard disk uses RAM and SWAP.
Normally, there are 256 MB RAM or 512 MB RAM inside the hardware of PC. But, there are only 64 MB RAM available inside the hardware of Xbox. Some software applications need a size of 128 MB RAM or 256 MB RAM to start. For example the Web browser "Mozilla Firefox" needs a minimum size of 128 MB RAM to run. If you want to see Video you need a minimum size of 256 MB RAM.
The Live-CD will freeze on Xbox (64 MB RAM), if you run "Mozilla Firefox" on it without an additional SWAP-File.
The hardware RAM size can be extended by adding a SWAP-partition/SWAP-file.
So, there is a SWAP-File inside partition Z of Xbox (only for Xbox) after the LiveCD is started.
If you install "xUbuntu" Linux inside hard disk choose a suitable SWAP size ofswap-partition/swap-file.
Customizing Xfce-Desktop
The actual Xfce4-desktop manager "xfdesktop" does not allow showing and drawing desktop icons to desktop. So, "xfdesktop" is actually deactivated and replaced with the utilities "idesk" (for customized desktop icons) and "deskmenu" (for a customized desktop menu).
Hardware detection for x-window-system (for PCs only)
"xUbuntu" linux LiveCD boots up into graphical environment, therefore a hardware detection tool to recognize the display driver, mouse driver, network driver, etc. is necessary.
If booting hang up in a black screen of x-window-system the needed graphical display driver is not recognized by hardware detection.
Be aware, there is a conflict between the auto-configuration of "xorg.conf" (with dpkg-reconfigure) and the hardware detection of "xUbuntu" linux system (Live-CD).
So, if hardware detection of "xUbuntu" works, your new generated "xorg.conf"-file
(with dpkg-reconfigure) will be replaced.
A static "xorg.conf"-file will solve the problem. Deactivate the hardware detection for x-window-system on your hard disk and create a static configuration file
"/etc/X11/xorg.conf".
With a static configuration file "/etc/X11/xorg.conf", you can also change screen resolution permanently.
Hardware detection for x-window-system (for Xbox i386 only)
"xUbuntu" linux LiveCD boots up into graphical environment, therefore a hardware detection tool is started automatically. A suitable graphical driver and alsa sound driver is preinstalled inside "xUbuntu". So the hardware detection tool do only need to recognize mouse hardware.
If you have successfully installed "xUbuntu" on hard disk, you can deactivate the hardware detection script for x-window-system and create a static configuration file
"/etc/X11/xorg.conf".
With a static configuration file "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" on your hard disk, you can change screen resolution permanently.
Edit the file "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" manually and set the suitable screen resolution for graphical environment.
Default netconfig of "xUbuntu" Live-CD after start-up
IP : 192.168.2.4 NETMASK : 255.255.255.0 GATEWAY : 192.168.2.1
Local login
There is only one user "live" (password: live).
No user "root" exists.
Use "sudo" (SUperuser DO) to get the privilege of user "root"
(for example: # sudo mkdir /debinst) or create the user "root" by: # sudo passwd root.
Hint: By default, the login into Gnome Login-Manager (graphical environment) as user "root" is disabled.
- 04/21/2006 : On the last live-cd version of xUbuntu, the user name change. Now it's "ubuntu" without password.
Remote login
via SSH from Linux (user "live"): # ssh live@192.168.2.4
via SSH from Windows: ssh-client "Putty" (for example)
X11vnc-Server via VNC-viewer, VNC-Passwort: xUbuntu ( encrypted in file /home/live/.vnc/passwd ), Change password: # vnc4passwd home/live/.vnc/passwd
VNC-viewer [tightvnc(win)->host:display or host::port] : # 192.168.2.4:0 or 192.168.2.4::5900
X11vnc-Server can be started inside of "xUbuntu" linux (from a desktop menu),
Warning: X11vnc-Server shows the real display 0 and not virtual displays like other VNC-servers.
Installation
The ISO-image should be burned to CD (as is). The CD is prepared to boot on PC and modified Xbox.
- Login via Gnome Login-Manager or via remote terminal (SSH-client)
- Wait until the graphical environment starts the preconfigured Xfce4 desktop interface.
- The next step is to start the installation program via desktop menu or via terminal.
- The installation script is called "xUbuntuInstall".
- Be aware the installation script is not perfect !
- You can select to install on PC or Xbox.
If you choose to install "xUbuntu" to Xbox the starting system for kernel 2.4.X will be installed. If you choose to install "xUbuntu" to PC the starting system for kernel 2.6.X (udev) will be installed.
The installation process needs some time.
| Missing image Icon-admonition-warning.png Caution | If you run the Live-CD installation process, do not mount anything on directory "/mnt". |
|---|
On PC-hardware, there is the "GRUB" boot loader to boot into a normal running linux system.
If problems occur booting your system, you can use the "xUbuntu" Live-CD to reconfigure or re-install the "GRUB" boot manager.
Credit to Canonical Ltd. and Debian distribution
Ubuntu linux distribution would not exist, without the work of Canonical Ltd. or/and the Debian team.
Credit to team "www.xbox-linux.org"
No linux distribution for the Xbox would have been possible, without the work of the team
"www.xbox-linux.org".
Credit to "Xebian" and "Gentoox" Xbox Linux distribution
Xebian Linux distribution - Author: Edgar Hucek- for the Xbox is really the inspiration for all of other Xbox distributions and Xbox developments. He has obviously put in an extremely large amount of work into his project and has released a great working distro.
Gentoox (http://gentoox.shallax.com/) Linux distribution - Author: Thomas "ShALLaX" Pedley Pass:ShaLLaXXbox - for the Xbox is an inspiration for Xbox distributions and development. He has obviously put in an extremely large amount of work into his project and has released a great working distro.
Warning
The author takes no responsibility of hardware or software damages. But, try it its very pritty!
Contact
"xUbuntu" is maintained by Dietmar Hubmann.
For support and usage-related questions, please use the Mailing Lists.
Links
- Download page
- CD-Label page (http://www.xbox-linux.org/wiki/Image:CD-Label-xUbuntu.jpg)
- The Ubuntu Project main web site (http://www.ubuntu.com/)
