14 DAY TRIAL // Grml, a Debian-based Linux distro aimed at text tools users, has been updated bringing newer packages, a new kernel and several new features and changes, like the inclusion of the ratpoison window manager. Grml 2011.05, codenamed Just Mari, is based on a recent snapshot of Debian Unstable.
The Linux kernel 2.6.38.7 is now included along with several patches from Grml developers. The kernel shipped with Grml also includes modules not included by default to add support for aufs, openafs, drivers for VirtualBox and so on.
Another new feature in Grml 2011.05 is a new compression method for Initramfs, it now uses XZ. /run has been added to store temporary files during boot, before /var becomes available, a departure from the standard Debian path.
The "dns=" boot option has been added enabling users to specify static name servers at boot. The latest release also adds "grml-feedback" a command line tool to provide feedback to the developers.
There is a new option for grml2iso, enabling users to create very small ISOs containing only the kernel and initrd. These ISO weigh in at about 20MB and fetch all other needed packages from a remote location.
Other changes in Grml 2011.05:
· iPXE has replaced gPXE. · Core scripts previously found in grml-scripts are now shipped as grml-scripts-core to facilitate reuse on plain Debian systems; · Due to popular demand, the ratpoison window manager is included once again; · grml-debootstrap adds the security repository for stable and testing installations; · grml-quickconfig will be executed on grml-small; · More complicated disk configurations (LVM and SW-RAID, though not stacked on each other) are supported when booting Grml via grml-rescueboot or with the findiso= and live-media= bootoptions.
Grml is based on Debian, the latest version is on par with Debian Unstable as of 15 May 2011, and is aimed at system administrators and text tool users. It's a live distro and can be run from a CD or USB drive.
Grml 2011.05 is available for download here on Softpedia.