NEWS 221130 ABOUT ExLight
I’ve made a new version of ExLight with the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop environment, Refracta Snapshot (create your own Debian Sid System) and Calamares 3.2.61-1 Installer Framework. The very nice Enlightenment theme e25 Neonz is used.

New sources 221130
This new version of ExLight is based on Debian Sid (unstable/development). Build 221130 is a total rebuild of ExLight. The ISO file size is of only 1850 MB, which means that you’ll need about 3GB RAM to run ExLight even faster from RAM. I.e. load to RAM – screenshot. You can remove the DVD or USB stick when ExLight has booted.

KERNEL
ExLight Build 221130 uses kernel 6.0.10-amd64-exton-rt14 built from Debian kernel sources with Debian patches.

What’s new in kernel 6.0?

Installed packages
Study all installed packages in ExLight Build 221130.

LOGIN PROBLEMS IN BUILD 221130 (AND BUILD 220726)
To be able to login to the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop you’ll have to use a “fairly new” computer. According to my experience the computer can’t be older than about eight (8) years. After a live boot (from a USB stick or a DVD) you are supposed to be logged in automatically as the ordinary user user. If not you will end up in console mode logged in as user. For testing purposes you can do the following if you have a wired Internet connection. Run the following commands:
1. sudo apt update
2. sudo apt install lxde
3. nano .xinitrc
4. Change .xinitrc to exec startlxde
5. startx
You will now enter the LXDE Desktop. So the problem is really Enlightenment. I.e. not which Display Manager to use. I’ve tried with LightDM, SLiM and finally LXDM. I’m grateful if somebody find a solution to the problem Enlightenment/login and notify me. I’ve found only one Internet post about the problem (with no solution unfortunately).
CONCLUSION: Use a “fairly new” computer if you want to run Enlightenment 0.25.4 in ExLight. I wrote this as a comment at my SourceForge site yesterday (221129):  I tried ExLight Build 220726 on a really old computer – Acer Aspire 5102WLMi from 2006. Running ExLight on that computer I got the same problems as the ones you have described. I.e. I could only log in from console mode. I could never reach the Enlightenment Desktop. I have therefore decided to upload a new version of ExLight with a new kernel (possibly the newest) and upgraded packages. That will probably happen today. If the new version won’t run on my old Aspire I have to say that ExLight only runs on fairly new computers. ExLight Build 221130 has the same problem. I.e. using my old Acer I can’t reach the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop whatever I do. I can run LXDE (and possibly other Desktop Environments) without problem though. Watch this screenshot.

LOGIN and passwords
After booting up ExLight (built with Refracta) from DVD/USB stick you’ll end up in Enlightenment as the ordinary user user. The password for user is live. The password for root is root. After the installation of ExLight to hard disk you’ll get the chance to create your own ordinary user. When logged in as user you can use Sudo to become root. (Command: sudo su). NOTE: After a hard drive installation of ExLight you can still log in to Enlightenment as root, but you’ll have to create a new password for root. That’s done by running the command sudo passwd root (as the ordinary user user).

VirtualBox and VMware
ExLight Build 221130 runs very well in VirtualBox and VMware. Maybe you’ll have to use boot alternative 4 (failsafe). You can use Calamares Installer also in VirtualBox and VMware without any problems. VirtualBox Guest Additions are pre-installed. Watch a screenshot when ExLight is running in full screen in VirtualBox.

WIRELESS connections
In Build 221130 NetworkManager, WPA supplicant and ConnMan are installed. Use the one you prefer.
NOTE1: Study /etc/resolv.conf-WORKING and change it (if necessary) to suit your needs – screenshot. Keep a copy of resolv.conf-WORKING before you change the filename. Watch a screenshot showing how to use NetworkManager. NOTE2: For WiFi connections you should use NetworkManager logged in as root.

Running ExLight live as root
If you for some reason want to run ExLight live as root you shall do this.
1. Logout from Enlightenment
2. Leave X by pressing Ctrl Alt F1 simultaneously
3. Run the command sudo su followed by cd /root
4. Enter X/Enlightenment by running the command startx

MOVIE about Calamares Installer
Watch a movie about the Calamares installation process in VirtualBox. You can use the Calamares Installer Framework to install ExLight to your computer in any language. You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers. Watch this animated GIF. (It’s for DebEX Budgie, but works in the same way in ExLight).

Or watch this slideshow.

Spotify
You can easily install Spotify in ExLight (even while running the system live). Just run the command sudo apt update followed by sudo apt install spotify-client.

Important about Refracta
You can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed in ExLight) to create your own installable Debian Sid Live System once you have installed ExLight to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta Snapshot it will look like this. You don’t even have to install ExLight to hard drive before you can use the Refracta Snapshot. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian system while running ExLight from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) only will take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshot. Or change that by editing /etc/refractasnapshot.conf. NOTE: You may have to run Refracta Snapshot in three steps (1 – 3) before your new ISO is ready.

THE REAL McCoy
ExLight is a pure Debian system. I.e. no traces of Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc. New releases of Ubuntu are always based on Debian Sid. So is ExLight.

KNOWN ISSUES
After a hard drive installation using Calamares Installer (Not Refracta Installer) you’ll have three “problems”.
1. /etc/apt/sources.list will be different. Replace it with this file.
2. The root password will be gone. Fix it by logging in as the ordinary user user and run the command sudo passwd root.
3. In order to see all icons in the menu you may have to change icons – watch this screenshot.
4. You can’t login to the Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop unless you use a “fairly new” computer – see above.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop for user user
2. The Enlightenment 0.25.4 Desktop for root running Refracta Snapshot
3. Running ExLight in full screen in VirtualBox
4. Using NetworkManager for WiFi connections
5. Running ExLight from RAM
6. Refracta Snapshot has started
7. Running Calamares Installer

Watch a YouTube Video about ExLight…

The Video is called “ExLight Linux – Lightest Distro I Have Ever Tried“. (It is not made by me).

DOWNLOAD
This ExLight version has been replaced by version 231005…