VectorLinux STD

VectorLinux (VLocity Linux) is an open source distribution of Linux based on the well known Slackware operating system and built around the lightweight Xfce desktop environment. It is available in multiple editions.

Availability and boot options

By default, the project is distributed as an installable-only CD-size ISO image that lets users to directly install the operating system. However, a Live CD is also provided as a separate download. Supported hardware platforms include 64-bit and 32-bit.

The ISO image can be written to a USB flash drive using UNetbootin or burned onto a blank CD or DVD disc using any CD/DVD burning software. From the boot prompt you can simply hit the Enter key to directly install the operating system, or boot an existing one by running a certain command.

A graphical installer is used by default, but if you’re a nostalgic Slackware user and want to install VectorLinux in text mode, you can do that by running the install command at the boot prompt.

Easy to use graphical installer for a Slackware-based distro

The VectorLinux operating system uses an in-house built graphical installer that provides users with two installation methods, automatic and advanced. If you’re new to Slackware-based distributions, we strongly recommend to use the automatic method.

When using the automatic installation, users will only have to choose a target location, as well as to add a user and setup the root (system administrator) password. The username created will be used on the login prompt.

Default applications

As mentioned, the desktop session is powered by a highly customized version of the Xfce desktop environment, which provides users with a single taskbar located at the bottom edge of the screen, from where users can launch applications or interact with existing ones.

Default applications include the Thunar file manager, Mozilla Firefox web browser, AbiWord word processor, Brasero CD/DVD burning software, Evince document viewer, Exaile music player, GNOME MPlayer video player, GIMP image editor, Geany IDE, Gslapt package manager, HexChat IRC client, Gnumeric spreadsheet editor, Leafpad text editor, and Pidgin multi-protocol instant messenger.

Bottom line

In conclusion, VectorLinux is an open source operating system that has been designed from the ground up to be deployed on low-end machines or computers with old hardware components.

What is new in this release:

• The release features light a minimal desktop version using icewm and seamonkey as its base of operation. The standard version is xfce based with the lastest firefox version as the browser. Both versions can be installed with our semi automatic gui installer or thru a text based installer depending on your needs. We feature all the latest linux based software from kodi to libreoffice all easily installed with our gui or text based package manager. We are using the latest 4.4.14 lts kernel for the best hardware support and system speed. Please give this a try and submit any bugs you might find so that we can make our final releases as perfect as possible. Last note for the diehards we are systemd free.

What is new in version 7.1:

• The VectorLinux team is proud to announce the final release of VectorLinux 7.1! This release is the culmination of years of work to make our distro the standard which all others hope to achieve. We have successfully developed an easy to use installer that can be used in both gui and text mode depending on the hardware involved that requires very little user intervention to achieve a successful installation of the system. We have completely automated our internal package system so that all packages are constantly up to date and patched as necessary. The system is available both in 32 bit and 64 bit versions and features the latest linux 3.18.16 lts kernel. We use the latest Xfce as our gui desktop with Fluxbox as an alternate if the user is so inclined. The repo contains the bigger systems like KDE and thousands of other programs easily installed thru the tried and true gslapt/slaptget installer. We hope you find that the blend of programs included in the standard install to be best of breed and covers all the day to day tasks that a user expects of his/her system and maybe some unexpected extras. Lastly I would like to thank our small but very dedicated team of developers for making this a reality for all to enjoy!!!

What is new in version 7.0 / 7.1 RC1:

• We include Xfce4, the gimp, firefox, cups, exaile, popular multimedia plugins, and many other programs to maximize the desktop experience.
• Also new is an update to our very own installer, this was written from scratch and is a major improvement from previous installers.

What is new in version 7.0:

• This release is the result of nearly two years of blood sweet and tears since the very successful release of VectorLinux 6.0. With the enthusiasm of a small group of packagers, our repository now hosts over a thousand up to date packages. VectorLinux is the fastest Linux desktop in it's class bar none. We have exceeded our original goals of VectorLinux 7 and produced a beautiful, full featured stable desktop that is fun, fast and efficient.
• The main desktop is based on Xfce-4.8 with a custom theme and artwork again unique to VectorLinux. FluxBox is installed as a secondary desktop option. Much work has been done on localization and we know users from all over the globe will find VectorLinux usable in their language of choice.
• All the VectorLinux trademarks are included: DVD playback, Audio and Video Codecs, Multimedia and Java plugins are installed and working out of the box. The best of the Open Source world is included: Gimp, Inkscape, Geeqie and Shotwell for Graphics; the latest Firefox and Opera for Internet Browsing; Pidgin and Xchat for instant messaging; Brasero for CD burning (K3B is available in the repo); Mplayer, UMplayer, Xine and Exaile for playing most available media formats. The office applications are Gnumeric and Abiword (Libreoffice and many others available in the repo).
• Wireless networking has been extended with updated drivers and firmware, Wicd has been employed to manage wireless and non wireless networking. Ufw with the Gufw gui is included for firewall protection and there is added support for several webcam makes and models.
• The Kernel is version 3.0.8 and there have been improvements in installation, usability and hardware Support. We believe this release will fulfill all the hardware requirements of even the most modern equipment.

What is new in version 6.0:

• This release is a major milestone in the 10-year history of VectorLinux. With the unbridled enthusiasm of a community gone wild, we have forged our very own stable GUI installer and our repository now hosts over a thousand packages. VectorLinux is the fastest Linux desktop in its class. The main desktop is based on Xfce 4.4.3 with a custom theme and artwork unique to VectorLinux. LXDE is installed as a secondary desktop option. Much work has been done on localization and we know users from all over the globe will find VectorLinux a stellar experience.

What is new in version 6.0 RC4:

• There were more issues then we anticipated and some major upgrades to key programs that we feel requires another RC before we can feel comfortable with a final release. This release builds on the previous release candidate with a all new 2.6.27.12 kernel and the new ALSA sound release 1.0.19 that insures functionality for many of the new netbooks and fixes a ton of problems with the intel-hda sound module. The GUI installer has been further tweaked with more bug fixes that address some smaller problems. More hardware-related issues that were reported in the last release have been fixed. There have been security updates to critical packages such as OpenSSL and NTFS-3G. We have included 4 versions of NVIDIA drivers that should cover all generations of video chipsets.

What is new in version 6.0 RC2:

• This release builds on the previous betas and release candidate, using an all new 2.6.27.10 kernel with patches to the ALSA sound drivers that ensures functionality for many of the new netbooks. The GUI installer has been further tweaked with bug fixes and some new language translations. Many hardware related issues that were reported in the last release have been fixed. There have been security related updates to critical packages, such as Samba. Xfce has been rebuilt to include patches for better audio and video functionality. LXDE went through a major overhaul so that all works as expected. There were some minor tweaks to the graphics and some new packages were added.

What is new in version 6.0 Beta 2:

• We have worked hard to debug the first beta release based on reported bugs, and we have also refined the look and feel with a brand new theme. The GUI installer is just about there - more feedback is welcome. This release features the 2.6.27.7 kernel with the latest wireless drivers and firmware updates. The default window manager is Xfce, with LXDE as an alternate. We have the latest Firefox, Opera and SeaMonkey with all the media codecs and Flash so all the web and personal media content is available out of the box. We have some of the all-time favorite games, including Penguin command, Pysol and Xgalaga. The latest stable Perl 5.10 has also been added.

What is new in version 6.0 Beta 1:

• The big news is that VectorLinux has a new GUI installer for the first time! This was built from the ground up and not a rehash of any of the other GUI installers. This release features the 2.6.26.8 kernel, with the latest wireless drivers and firmware updates. The default window manager is Xfce with LXDE as an alternate. We have the latest Firefox, Opera and SeaMonkey with all the media codecs and Flash so all the web and personal media content is available out of the box. For light office work you will find the latest AbiWord and Gnumeric. The included multimedia applications are the latest MPlayer, Xine, K3b and VLC.

What is new in version 6.0 Alpha 2:

• VectorLinux Standard 6.0-alpha2 is up and ready to be tested. There are many changes since the first alpha release. The testers were pretty unanimous in stating that GNOME was not the proper development environment for the Standard edition and Xfce 4 should remain, with LXDE as the secondary choice. So with this release there is no GNOME and Xfce 4 has been reinstated as the primary desktop. We have spent a tremendous amount of time on the new GUI installer and we really need you to test that part as 80% of our effort has been on improving the installer. The GUI installer is not complete yet, but we need your feedback as to the present state of development.