Stephenson's Rocket (formerly Ye Olde SteamOSe) is an open source Linux operating system based on the SteamOS distribution created by Valve. It has been engineered to support computers that still run a legacy BIOS (Basic Input/Output System).
Features at a glance
The distribution comes with a modified SteamOS installer, adding support for virtual machines, as well as older computers. In other words, with this project you will be able to run the SteamOS desktop on your old, BIOS powered computer or under a virtualization software, such as VirtualBox or VMWare.
In addition, this remix of the SteamOS Linux distribution supports dual boot, LVM (Logical Volume Management) and RAID Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID). It allows users to resize NTFS partitions, includes built-in support for many sound cards and wireless/wired networking cards.
Another interesting feature is the built-in support for older AMD/ATI Radeon graphics cards, by using open source video drivers. Furthermore, it includes all the necessary tools to help users update the distribution with all the latest stuff themselves.
Distributed as an installable-only DVD
The project is distributed a single, installable-only DVD ISO image that provides users with the ability to rescue an existing operating system, as well as to install the SteamOS distro, with or without RAID. Both expert and automatic (recommended) installation methods are available.
Features a standard GNOME desktop environment
We should also mention that the GNOME desktop environment is used by default after installation, and includes the Iceweasel web browser, Evince document viewer, Eye of GNOME image viewer, Nautilus file manager, and, of course, the Steam for Linux client, which will be automatically updated and started when the OS is booted for the first time.
Bottom line
Summing up, you should definitely download and use the Stephenson's Rocket Linux distribution if you want to install the SteamOS operating system on an older computer or laptop that uses BIOS and a video card that’s not supported by Valve’s edition.
What is new in this release:
- Rebase against Valve 2014-02-17 ISO combined with updatelevel 93 packages from alchemist_beta (Rocket GitHub issue 29, 30, 33)
- Added support for dmraid (software RAID; tested on Intel only)
- Added support for ATI cards not supported by proprietary fglrx driver. Tested on Radeon 4550
- Include patched partman-target.udeb (Valve GitHub issue 161)
What is new in version 2014-01-08u1:
- Rebase against Valve 2014-01-08 release
- Added support for Logical Volume Management (disables recovery partition if used for /, /boot/recovery, or swap)
- Added support for md software RAID (disables recovery partition if used for /, /boot/recovery, or swap; may also support FakeRAID but untested!)
What is new in version 2013-12-19 Beta 2:
- Fixed regression in audio between first and second releases (added steam and desktop users to pulse-access group)
- Modified Pulse config to not force a specific sound card, and to restore card volume on boot
- Shipped a replacement debootstrap, which will not fail at random on users' systems when generating their own image
- Included all non-Free firmware from Debian Wheezy
- Added ntfsprogs-udeb to allow NTFS resizing in the installer
- Deleted unneeded 32-bit installer files, freeing about 300MB from the image size
- Include pavucontrol in the installaton
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