Abstract

OpenSUSE 13.1 Rescue is todays fastest way to get Linux up & running on persistent removable media. The dualsession Xfce4 / IceWM ISO & robust bootloader combine with a comprehensive uptodate package repo to create the most usable fullfeatured yet resource conservative USB image in the GNU/Linux/X11 world. Downloadable as a 600M isohybrid image, the ISO itself merely needs to be copied via the linux dd command from any booted distro (eg a Lubuntu or SysRescCD LiveCD) to flashdrive storage, whereupon it will not only boot viably (with plop assist on older hardware) but can be repartitioned subsequently to reclaim & use the remaining space on the destination drive.

OpenSUSE 13.1 Rescue: Xfce4/IceWM with instant repartitionable persistence

Discussion

OpenSUSE is "yanmirx": Yet Another Nano / Midori ISO Running X11, & -- while familiarity with the RPM-based package manager is cultivated -- "noobmaz" as well: No Obvious Obstacles Between Midori And Zypper, meaning the small number of nearly standalone packages necessary to perfect its config (IceWMdefault, irssi, lynx, beaver, galculator, gFTP, gkrellm, htop, iperf3, mtpaint, nitrogen, rman, telnet, xpenguins) can be downloaded thru the browser itself from the webmirrors of the openSUSE project.

It runs Opera 12.15, & plays MP3s via VLC 2.1.5.

Some Technical Notes

Despite its colourful history, the openSUSE 13.1 Rescue ISO conveys the impression of a Linux implementation built by someone with a clue. In every case the proper cut has been made, the ideal base packages selected, & a fault-tolerant, redundant, robust environment established & adequately configured. Xfce is a fullfeatured Desktop Environment, vital on a modern Linux, yet the far more resource conservative IceWM is also installed as an alternative Window Manager, providing lightweight access to the Thunar FM & utilities such as Midnight Commander & the nm-connection-editor. Above all, both Opera 12.15 & FlashPlayer 11.2.202 are present in the non-OSS repo, & the incomparable forum leads one immediately to the VLC 2.1.5 install which effortlessly brings in the codecs & translators necessary to play MP3s & beyond.

But Wait, Theres More

The openSUSE 13.1 Rescue system can support internet IMAP/SMTP easily via the claws-mail program, & the Thunar file manager is even capable of mounting local partitions without root signon once a simple adjustment is made to a udisks2 / polkit policy. Most incredibly, both Stellarium 0.12.3 & Celestia 1.6.0 are readily available, the latter still installable from the openSUSE 11.4 repo.

openSUSE 13.1 Xfce4/IceWM: it runs Stellarium

Conclusion

As always my thanks to all the fine individuals who in any way contributed to the success of this project.