FrameOS

FrameOS is an open source and completely free distribution of Linux derived from the award-winning Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) operating system and geared towards Ruby developers. It’s backed by the Linode and Github companies.

It’s distributed as an installable-only dual-arch ISO image

While the distribution supports both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x86_64) hardware platforms, it is distributed as an installable-only ISO image that has approximately 350MB in size and fits well on a CD disc or a USB flash drive of 512MB or higher capacity.

The Live CD boot menu includes advanced options

From the Live CD boot menu you can install a new system or upgrade an existing one, perform a Kickstarted install, install the operating system with basic video drivers, rescue an installed system that won’t boot anymore, boot an existing OS from the local drive, as well as to perform a system memory diagnostic test.

Uses Red Hat’s graphical installer

Thanks to Red Hat’s graphical installer, anyone can install this distribution on a computer. The installer will require you to choose a language to use during the installation process, select a keyboard layout, choose an installation method, select an installation type, set the hostname and configure the network interfaces, select a timezone and configure the system clock.

In addition, you must enter a password for the root (system administrator) account, select a disk partitioning method, as well as to select which software packages to install. This is a minimal distribution of Linux and includes only 192 package in total.

Features an up-to-date Ruby stack

Being designed to be used by Ruby developers worldwide, the FrameOS distribution features an up-to-date Ruby stack, which includes the ruby-enterprise 1.8-2010-02 and rubygems 1.3.7 packages, installed by default. Additionally, the Chef 0.9.12 and Xen stack 4.0 are also included.

What is new in this release:

• Derived from RHEL6 sources
• Ruby Enterprise 2010.2 (default ruby)
• Chef 0.9.12
• Ruby 1.9 (not installed by default, available in the core repo)
• JRuby 1.5.6 (not installed by default, available in the core repo)
• RubyGems 1.3.7