Gentoo Linux

Gentoo Linux is an open-source and independent Linux kernel-based operating system designed from the ground up as a DIY (Do It Yourself) distribution of Linux where each package must be manually configure and compiled prior to installation or update.

Supports a wide range of hardware platforms

The distro is available for download as bootable ISO images, which contain a very minimal, bootable base from where you start to customize the operating system and add as many packages as you want.

It supports a wide range of hardware platforms, including 32-bit (x86), 64-bit (amd64), ARM, SPARC, Alpha, Hewlett Packard Precision Architecture (HPPA), Itanium 64-bit (ia64), MIPS, PowerPC (PPC) and IBM ESA/390 (s390).

The boot prompt of the Gentoo Linux Installation Live CD

Despite the fact that it is a Live CD image, the Gentoo Linux media is called ”Gentoo Linux Installation Live CD” because it can be used to install the operating system on a local drive.

It features a minimal boot prompt where you can press the Enter key to boot the system and being the installation, the F1 key for accessing available kernels, or the F2 key for available boot options.

If the user does not press a key during the default 15-second timeout, the ISO image will try to boot an existing operating system that is currently installed on the first disk drive detected by the BIOS.

Installing Gentoo could take days

While the boot process of the Live CD is mostly automatic, you will be asked to choose a keyboard layout at some point, which is totally optional of course. Installing Gentoo could take days, as you will have to manually compile every package, including the kernel. Detailed installation instructions are provided on the project’s homepage.

Bottom line

Summing up, Gentoo remains an operating system for the hardcore Linux user who has enough time to configure and compile each package prior to installation. It is also one of the most stable and reliable distributions of Linux.

What is new in this release:

• Packages included in this release: Linux Kernel 3.6.8, Xorg 1.12.4, KDE 4.9.4, Gnome 3.4.2, XFCE 4.10, Fluxbox 1.3.2, Firefox 17.0.1, LibreOffice 3.6.4.3, Gimp 2.8.2-r1, Blender 2.64a, Amarok 2.6.0, Mplayer 2.2.0, Chromium 24.0.1312.35 and much more ...

What is new in version 20140904:

• Packages included in version 20140904: Linux Kernel 3.6.8, Xorg 1.12.4, KDE 4.9.4, Gnome 3.4.2, XFCE 4.10, Fluxbox 1.3.2, Firefox 17.0.1, LibreOffice 3.6.4.3, Gimp 2.8.2-r1, Blender 2.64a, Amarok 2.6.0, Mplayer 2.2.0, Chromium 24.0.1312.35 and much more ...

What is new in version 12.1:

• Packages included in version 20140904: Linux Kernel 3.3.0, Xorg 1.12.0, KDE 4.8.1, Gnome 3.2.1, XFCE 4.8, Fluxbox 1.3.2, Firefox 11.0, LibreOffice 3.5.1.2, Gimp 2.6.12, Blender 2.60, Amarok 2.5 , VLC 2.0.1 and much more ...
• If you want to see if your package is included we have generated both the x86 package list, and amd64 package list. You may also be interested in checking out the FAQ. There is no new artwork for the 12.1 release, but you can still get the 12.0 artwork plus DVD cases and covers for the 12.0 release.
• Special Features:
• ZFSOnLinux
• Writable file systems using AUFS so you can emerge new packages!
• Persistence for $HOME is available; press F9 for more info!

What is new in version 12.0:

• Packages included in version 20140904: Linux Kernel 3.1.5, Xorg 1.10.4, KDE 4.7.4, Gnome 3.2.1 XFCE 4.8, Fluxbox 1.3.2 Firefox 9.0, LibreOffice 3.4.99.2, Gimp 2.6.11, Blender 2.60, Amarok 2.5 , VLC 1.1.13, Chromium 16.0 and much more ...
• If you want to see if your package is included we have generated both the x86 package list, and amd64 package list. You may also be interested in checking out the FAQ or the updated artwork plus dvd cases and covers for the 12.0 release.
• Special Features:
• Writable file systems using AUFS so you can emerge new packages!
• Persistence for $HOME is available; press F9 for more info!

What is new in version 11.2:

• System packages include: Linux kernel 3.0 (with Gentoo patches), Accessibility Support with Speakup, Bash 4.2, GLIBC 2.13-r2, GCC 4.5.2, Binutils 2.21.1, Python 2.7.2 and 3.2, Perl 5.12.4, and more.
• Desktop environments and window managers include: KDE 4.7.0, GNOME 3.0.0, Xfce 4.8, Enlightenment 1.0.8, Openbox 3.5.0, Fluxbox 1.3.1, XBMC 10.1 Awesome 3.4.10, and LXDE-Meta 0.5.5.
• Office, graphics, and productivity applications include: LibreOffice 3.3.3, XEmacs 21.5.31 GVim 7.3.244, Abiword 2.8.6, Scribus 1.3.9, GIMP 2.6.11, Inkscape 0.48.2, Blender 2.57, XSane 0.998, and much more.
• Web browsers include: Mozilla Firefox 5.0, Chromium 13.0 Arora 0.11.0, Opera 11.50.1074, Epiphany 3.0.4, Seamonkey 2.2, and other favorites.
• Communication tools include: Pidgin 2.9.0, Quassel 0.7.2, Mozilla Thunderbird 5.0, Claws Mail 3.7.9, QTwitter 0.10.0, Irssi 0.8.15, and many more.
• Development applications include: KDevelop 4.2.3, KDESvn 1.5.5, Qt-creator 2.2.1, Bluefish 2.0.3, and many more.
• Multimedia applications include: Amarok 2.4.3, MPlayer 1.0_rc4, MPlayer2 2.0, DVDAuthor 0.6.14, LAME 3.98.4, FFmpeg 0.6.90, GNOME-MPlayer 1.0.4, SMPlayer 0.6.9, and several others.
• Special Features:
• Writable filesystems using AUFS so you can emerge new packages!
• Persistancy for $HOME is available; press F9 for more info!

What is new in version 10.0:

• System packages include:
• Linux Kernel 2.6.30 (with gentoo patches), Accessibility Support with Speakup 3.1.3, BASH 4.0, GLIBC 2.9, GCC 4.3.2. Binutils 2.18, Python 2.6.2, Perl 5.8.8, and more.
• Desktop Environments and window managers include:KDE 4.3.1, GNOME 2.26.3, Xfce 4.6.1, Enlightenment 0.16.8.15, Openbox 3.4.7.2, Fluxbox 1.1.1, TWM 1.0.4, and more.
• Office, graphics, and productivity applications include:
• OpenOffice 3.1.1, G/Vim 7.2.182, Abiword 2.6.4, GNUCash 2.2.9, Scribus 1.3.3.11, GIMP 2.6.4, Inkscape 0.46, Blender 2.49a, XSane 0.996, and much more.
• Web browsers include:
• Mozilla Firefox (Minefield) 3.5.3, Arora 0.7.11, Opera 10.0, Epiphany 2.26.3, Galeon 2.0.4, Seamonkey 1.1.17, and other favorites.
• Communication tools include:
• Pidgin 2.5.9, Quassel 0.5, Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.23, Claws Mail 3.7.2, Ekiga 2.0.12, Qtwitter 0.7.1, irssi 0.8.13, and many more.
• Multimedia applications include:
• Amarok 2.1.1, MPlayer 1.0_rc4, DvdAuthor 0.6.14, LAME 3.98.2, FFMPEG 0.5_p19928, GNOME-MPlayer 0.9.7, SMPlayer 0.6.6, and several others.