exGENT

exGENT is an open source and completely free Linux distribution derived from the Gentoo operating system and distributed in multiple editions, with the LXDE, Xfce and LXQt desktop environments. It is one of the most easy to install distributions of Linux that uses a Gentoo base, as Gentoo is known to take a couple of days to install.

Available as Live DVDs for mainstream architectures

While the distribution is available for download as an Xfce + LXQt edition for the 64-bit architecture (doesn't work on 32-bit computers) and a LXDE edition that contains software package optimized only for 32-bit hardware platforms and it is compatible only with both 32-bit and 64-bit computers.

Boot options

All ISO images come with the same boot screen, allowing the user to start the live environment with default boot options or in safe graphics mode, as well as to perform a system memory (RAM) diagnostic test. Please note that you must write the ISOs to DVD discs in order to boot them from the BIOS of a PC.

Includes two great desktop environments

As mentioned, the distro features Xfce/LXQt and LXDE editions. All three desktop environments look great, tweaked to be easy to use, helping the novice user to manage his way through a complex Linux environment, such as Gentoo. However, when booting the LXDE edition, you will be dropped to a shell prompt when booting the Live CDs, where you must login with the username “root” and the password “root” (without quotes) and then run the “startx” command to access the graphical session.

Default applications

The LXDE edition comes with the Mozilla Firefox web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird email and news client, GIMP image editor, Leafpad text editor, GPicView image viewer, AbiWord word processor, AMD Catalyst Control Center and GParted partition editor.

On the other hand, the Xfce/LXQt flavor features four different web browsers, Mozilla Firefox, Chromium, Opera and SeaMonkey, as well as numerous other Xfce specific utilities. The Porthole Package Manager application is also installed in both editions of the exGENT Linux operating system, making installing of apps more user friendly.

Bottom line

All in all, exGENT is a great project that delivers multiple edition with different desktop environment, pleasing even the critical of Linux users. It is a rolling Linux distribution, meaning that you will always get the latest applications without the need to reinstall the entire system.

What is new in this release:

• I've made yet a new version (20160123) of exGENT based on Gentoo Linux. Now with Xfce 4.12.1 and kernel 4.4. It's for the 64 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2016 Xfce4 Live DVD. It replaces version 20141227. The ISO file is of 2280 MB due to the fact that this version has a lot of packages pre-installed. Among them two different Web Browsers: Firefox and Opera. Despite this exGENT version 160123 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox. Faster than most other Linux live systems. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 160123.

What is new in version Build 141227 Xfce / Build 141205 LXDE:

• Now with Xfce4 and Lxqt. It is for the 64 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2015 Xfce4 Live DVD. It replaces version 20141130.
• Version 141227 of exGENT uses kernel 3.18.1. (The latest stable kernel).
• The ISO file is of 1690 MB due to the fact that this version has a lot of packages preinstalled. Among them four different Web Browsers: Firefox, Opera, Chromium and Seamonkey.
• Despite this exGENT version 141227 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Faster than most other Linux live systems.
• All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 141227.

What is new in version Build 141205 LXDE:

• The new version (141205 of 1170 MB) uses LXDE as Desktop environment. All installed packages in exGENT 32 bit have been updated to the latest available version by 141205. I have included Porthole Package Manager also in this version of exGENT. Used kernel: 3.16.5-gentoo-exton.

What is new in version Build 141130 Xfce:

• I've made yet a new version (20141130) of exGENT. Now with Xfce4 and Lxqt. It is for the 64 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2015 Xfce4 Live DVD. It replaces version 20140212 of exGENT with Gnome.
• Version 141130 of exGENT uses kernel 3.17.4. (Latest stable kernel).
• The ISO file is of 1630 MB due to the fact that this version has a lot of packages preinstalled. Among them four different Web Browsers: Firefox, Opera, Chromium and Seamonkey.
• Despite this exGENT version 141130 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Faster than most other Linux live systems.

What is new in version 32-bit Build 131017:

• Based on Gentoo with GNOME 3.8.4 and genkernel 3.11.5-gentoo-exton.

What is new in version 130423:

• Four desktop environments (Cinnamon, Gnome, LXDE and Fluxbox).
• New kernel 3.8.8-gentoo-exton.

What is new in version 130318:

• I've made a new version (20130318) of exGENT 32bit (Gentoo) Live CD. The old version of exGENT is from 20130215. My new exGENT Linux live system uses LXDE as Desktop Environment and "my special" Gentoo genkernel 3.7.10-gentoo-exton. Kernel 3.7.10 is the latest Gentoo kernel. LXDE is used because of its speed. The system language is English. Quite new is that I've found a suitable installation program, in which a Grub installation (Grub Legacy) is included. I've also added more support for Atheros and Broadcom wireless cards.