Bridge Linux Xfce

Welcome to the Xfce edition of Bridge Linux, which is also the first Bridge Linux flavor that was ever created, based on the powerful Arch Linux operating system and built around the lightweight Xfce desktop environment.

Availability, supported architectures and boot options

Bridge Linux Xfce is available for download as Live DVD ISO images, supporting both 64-bit (x86_64) and 32-bit (i686) instruction set architectures. The user must burn these ISO images to blank DVD discs or write them to USB flash drives of 1GB or higher capacity in order to boot them from the BIOS of the PC.

The boot loader is identical with the ones of other Bridge Linux editions, enabling the user to start the live environment with default options or by forcing the VESA framebuffer and using the nomodeset option, in case the first boot entry won't recognize some devices. In addition, it is possible to start a memory test, view detailed information about your computer's hardware components, as well as to reboot or shutdown the computer.

Traditional and clean desktop environment with lightweight apps

The Xfce project is well know for offering a traditional and clean desktop environment to Linux-based operating systems no matter the package management used. It is a flexible graphical environment that can be blended in many ways, such as the two-panel layout provided in this distribution.

While the top panel can be used for accessing the main menu and launching applications, the bottom one will help users to quickly interact with running programs.

Among the preinstalled apps, we can mention Chromium web browser, Thunar file manager, Terminator terminal emulator, Leafpad text editor, Mozilla Thunderbird email and news client, Transmission torrent downloader, and DeaDBeeF audio player.

Bottom line

Summing up, after Bridge Linux LXDE this yet another lightweight and fast operating system suitable for low-end machines or computers with old hardware components. Also, don't hesitate to check out the KDE, GNOME and LXDE editions of Bridge Linux.

What is new in this release:

• Fixed the /etc/hosts file
• Switched to systemd
• Switched from consolekit to polkit
• Installer now changes the locale settings on the installed system based on selection at beginning of installation
• Added Russian, Italian, Czech, Spanish, and Catalan translations
• Updated (U)EFI boot method
• Updated configuration options and only run mkinitcpio once
• Use xdg-user-dirs to create personal directories (documents, etc.) with proper icons
• Minor application changes

What is new in version 2012.5:

• Added (U)EFI support and updated README
• Fixed live GNOME screensaver lock issue
• Fixed gcc-libs issue
• Fixed "db not found" errors when running pacman for the first time
• Replace sudoers.d with sudoers
• Fixed problem with sudoers
• Add vbox additions to all editions
• Replace LightDM with LXDM in Xfce
• Updated mirrorlists
• Added mobile broadband provider info
• Xfce updated to 4.10

What is new in version 2012.1:

• Pacman 4
• Kernel 3.2.2
• LightDM replaces SLiM
• NetworkManager replaces Wicd
• The iso is now small enough to fit on CD