Ubuntu 9.04 based Linux - Kiwi 9.04 released

**Solomon** · 01-05-2009

Hey Guys!
Kiwi Linux - An Ubuntu based Linux distribution released version 9.04 based on Ubuntu 9.04.

Differences from Ubuntu 9.04 :

* The supported languages on the CD are English, Hungarian and Romanian.
* GUI for pppoeconf and support for Speedtouch 330 USB ADSL modem firmware.

A graphical tool for restoring GRUB boot menus lost after installing other OSes.

Evolution removed, no mail client at all on the CD

Flashplugin-nonfree and gstreamer codecs for restricted audio and video formats

Encrypted DVD playback via libdvdcss2

Compiz extra settings GUI

p7zip, unrar

The Kiwi Moto :

With the abundance of distributions, and the burden and confusion that too much choice can cause, that is a very appropriate question

The main purpose of Kiwi is promoting free software among users to whom even switching to Ubuntu is a challenge. The modifications included, which for various reasons are not on the Ubuntu CD, aim to overcome the main obstacles that we have seen novice users bump into while trying Ubuntu, such as lack of local language support on the CD, inability to easily connect to some ISP's networks and missing multimedia features out of the box. As such, with limited effort and a small amount of nonintrusive changes Kiwi is an easier to set up Ubuntu system. Switching between Kiwi and Ubuntu is simply a matter of adding or removing the extra apt sources Kiwi uses.

**Solomon** · 01-05-2009

Why is it not an Ubuntu remix?

Ubuntu 'remix' derivatives are required to only use software available in the official repos. With the use of some packages that do not qualify (speedtouch, libdvdcss2), as much as I would have liked calling it Ubuntu Eastern European (or whatever) edition, it is not a fair use of the Ubuntu trademark.

What variants of the CD are available?

As of 9.04, Kiwi is for i386, Desktop CD only and Ubuntu/GNOME based. This is unlikely to ever change.

Which repositories do the packages come from?

The regular Ubuntu repositories are used and in addition a small repository at http://kiwilinux.org, which contains packages not in the Ubuntu archives, or modifications to a handful of existing ones. The Medibuntu repositories are added as well. Our changes are carried in Launchpad in the Kiwi team's Personal Package Archive.

**Solomon** · 01-05-2009

How to switch to/from Ubuntu?

The main difference between Ubuntu and Kiwi is the default package selection and the addition of these package repositories:

Code:

deb http://kiwilinux.org/archive jaunty main #Kiwilinux
deb-src http://kiwilinux.org/archive jaunty main #Kiwilinux
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ jaunty free non-free #Medibuntu
deb-src http://packages.medibuntu.org/ jaunty free non-free #Medibuntu

Install this package on Ubuntu 9.04 to set up the Kiwi and Medibuntu APT sources and GPG keys :

Code:

http://kiwilinux.org/archive/pool/main/k/kiwilinux-desktop/kiwilinux-settings_9.04-4_all.deb

Which languages does it support?

As of 9.04, full language support for English, Romanian and Hungarian are included on the CD.

What are the main differences from a standard Ubuntu install?

There is no mail client included. The restricted GStreamer plugins, encrypted DVD support and Adobe Flash are installed by default. There is a GRUB menu restoration GUI on the LiveCD. To make space for the additions Asian fonts and input methods are removed.