grml 1.1 (codename Skunk) was announced today by its main developer, Michael Prokop. This release includes updated software, new features and a lot of buxfixes and improvements. Let's have a look over the main features of this release:

- all grml ISOs are automatically generated using the new grml-live framework
- completely reworked initial bootprocess, based on live-initramfs now
- Squashfs with LZMA support
- optimised the system to have as few wakeups as possible (<25 wakeups/s in default startup)
- updated to X.org 7.3
- updated to libc6 2.7
- added support for loop-aes
- the lang=-bootoption supports dvorak keyboard layouts (using parameters dvorak, dvorak-iso or dvorak-utf8)
- support for Virtualbox guest additions



As you can see, the X.org software was updated to the latest stable version (7.3) which is a very good thing for grml users. Moreover, it now includes support for VirtualBox guest additions, loop-aes (a fast and transparent file system and swap encryption package) and Squashfs with LZMA.

Now, let's take a closer look to other improvements in grml 1.1:

New grml-scripts:

- arename.pl: rename audio files by looking at a file's tagging information
- grml-live: build framework based on FAI for generating a grml and Debian based Linux Live system (CD/ISO)
- grml-paste: command line interface for paste.grml.org
- grml-vnet: create persistent tun/tap devices with bridge handling



New bootparameters/cheatcodes:

- micvol: configure mixer/ volume settings of microphone channel; usage: micvol=$number
- noconsolefont: skip setting console font via consolechars
- nogrmlacpi: disable acpi stuff inside grml-autoconfig without having to boot using noacpi (which triggers kernel code actions)
- lvm: activate present Logical Volumes (LVM)
- nolvm: completely disable LVM code/checks; by default (so without using a special bootoption) grml runs 'lvdisplay' and if something can be found, the user gets a hint to execute 'Start lvm2' to set it up

grml2hd (install grml to hard disk):

- use --insecure for passwordbox so user gets feedback when typing password (it's '***' of course and not plaintext). - check for dmraid signatures - support installation on LVM devices. Usage example: 'LVM=/dev/mapper/grml2hd-lvm grml2hd'



About grml

grml is a Debian-based Live CD Linux distribution. It includes a collection of 100% FREE software especially for users of text-mode tools (geeks!) and system administrators. grml provides automatic hardware detection and can be used as a rescue system, for analyzing systems/networks or as a working environment. It is not necessary to install anything to a hard disk, you don't even need a hard disk to run it, unless you want to (use grml2hd for this). Due to on-the-fly decompression, grml includes about 2.1 GB of software and documentation on the Live CD.

Download grml right now from Softpedia.