4MLinux mini-distribution
Multifunctional

Many Linux distributions seek to be all-around systems, fulfilling the user's every desire on the desktop. The 4MLinux distro offers feature-oriented variants without the bulk.
Lean Linux distros for older hardware are a dime a dozen. Mostly, however, they offer only limited functionality because, instead of the usual standard programs, they come with less capable alternatives.
4MLinux [1] takes a completely different approach: The project divides the distribution into six different variants that cover different software priorities and thus avoids unnecessary ballast. Additionally, a Multiboot edition allows users to install four of the best-known Linux distributions retrospectively.
4MLinux takes its name from the focal points of its four variants: Maintenance (system rescue and maintenance), Miniserver, Multimedia, and Mystery (games). On top of this, an all-in-one edition combines all of these variants under one umbrella.
On the 4MLinux blog [2], you will find download links to the current versions of the operating system. Here, you'll find the Multiboot edition and an antivirus variant; the latter is also suitable for use in heterogeneous operating system environments and includes the free virus scanner ClamAV.
Multiboot
The Multiboot edition of 4MLinux offers users the option of installing Debian 7.3, Fedora 20, Slackware 14.1, or Ubuntu 13.10 from the GRUB boot menu (Figure 1). To do so, the routine calls specially developed scripts that download the required packages from the Internet and then dump the selected distribution onto the hard disk.

As a prerequisite, the computer requires a functioning Internet connection at boot time (i.e., a wired connection); a wireless connection will not work. The Multiboot edition therefore is primarily designed for rapid installation of the four distributions on a system if you want to simplify the cumbersome process of downloading and preparing an ISO image.
Additionally, the Multiboot variant contains the Rescue Edition of 4MLinux. This program initially starts in text mode and prompts you to enter a new root password as the first step. Then, you can log in at the command line. Typing startx
opens a modern, unobtrusive-looking desktop with the wbar starter and the Conky system monitor.
The desktop itself is the lightweight JWM window manager, which also supports fast work on older hardware. The 3D On/Off entry in the main menu lets you enable and disable 3D effects. Right-clicking on the desktop takes you to the main menu, which is divided into the usual subgroups, but the Maintenance, Miniserver, and Mystery menus already hint that the distribution includes the full functionality of the all-in-one version.
The Maintenance | Backups submenu contains three backup applications. In addition to optical discs and USB sticks, network servers can also be used as target media. The Maintenance | Recovery menu includes TestDisk and Photorec, two tools that allow users to recover accidentally deleted files or partitions.
In Maintenance | Partitions, the Master Boot Record (MBR) and GUID Partition Table (GPT) menus offer numerous applications for partitioning of storage devices. The gdisk and cgdisk tools from the GPT menu are the modern counterparts to the older fdisk and cfdisk programs and thus are suitable for recent data media that use a GPT instead of MBR. Both gdisk and cgdisk can easily cope with hard drives of more than 2TB capacity.
Four in One
4MLinux provides four server services that you can enable by clicking on StartAll (Figure 2). Within seconds, the system enables FTP, HTTP, SSH, and Telnet servers. You can test these individually in the Tests menu using text-based routines. StopAll lets you stop the services again. The QuickHelp menu item under Miniserver gives users the opportunity to familiarize themselves further with the use of the servers and their syntax at the command line. Here you will also find references to the firewall, proxy server, and SQL database configurations.
Payload
Because 4MLinux does not have its own package management tool or software repositories, some restrictions apply when installing new programs. For example, proprietary programs that are only available as DEB or RPM archives and that are not available as source code cannot be used on 4MLinux in most cases.
Many programs listed in the submenus also are not included initially with the distribution: Although you can launch LibreOffice from the main menu, this step actually tells a script first to download the software from the network and then proceed to install. The same thing applies to many games and to the popular Internet applications Firefox and Thunderbird. The default browser is the very slim QupZilla, which is based on Firefox in terms of its interface and operations, but without achieving the same functionality.
Another surprise in this context is that when you call the installation routines for the Mozilla programs (Figure 3), the distribution does not retrieve the native Linux versions from the Internet but instead fetches the Windows versions. 4MLinux then integrates them using Wine, although the basic installation only contains an incomplete version of the Windows emulator. Before you can use it, Wine expects you first to download the Gecko and Mono packages and some free TrueType fonts.

This cumbersome procedure not only dumps non-free software on your system, but the detour via Wine also partly compromises any speed benefits the system might have on older hardware. For some games, you have no option for Linux integration, because they are only available as Windows or DOS versions.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
Kubuntu Focus Announces XE Gen 2 Linux Laptop
Another Kubuntu-based laptop has arrived to be your next ultra-portable powerhouse with a Linux heart.
-
MNT Seeks Financial Backing for New Seven-Inch Linux Laptop
MNT Pocket Reform is a tiny laptop that is modular, upgradable, recyclable, reusable, and ships with Debian Linux.
-
Ubuntu Flatpak Remix Adds Flatpak Support Preinstalled
If you're looking for a version of Ubuntu that includes Flatpak support out of the box, there's one clear option.
-
Gnome 44 Release Candidate Now Available
The Gnome 44 release candidate has officially arrived and adds a few changes into the mix.
-
Flathub Vying to Become the Standard Linux App Store
If the Flathub team has any say in the matter, their product will become the default tool for installing Linux apps in 2023.
-
Debian 12 to Ship with KDE Plasma 5.27
The Debian development team has shifted to the latest version of KDE for their testing branch.
-
Planet Computers Launches ARM-based Linux Desktop PCs
The firm that originally released a line of mobile keyboards has taken a different direction and has developed a new line of out-of-the-box mini Linux desktop computers.
-
Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak
In a move that probably won’t come as a shock to many, Ubuntu and all of its official spins will no longer ship with Flatpak installed.
-
openSUSE Leap 15.5 Beta Now Available
The final version of the Leap 15 series of openSUSE is available for beta testing and offers only new software versions.
-
Linux Kernel 6.2 Released with New Hardware Support
Find out what's new in the most recent release from Linus Torvalds and the Linux kernel team.