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MX Linux 21 Released with Debian 11, KDE Plasma 5.20. This is What’s New
MX Linux 21 code named “Wildflower” is released. We wrap up the release and give
you the download and upgrade information.
The popular systemd-free Linux distribution MX Linux is becoming more mainstream with
every passing day. The reason behind this is mainly the lightweight nature, 32-bit support,
legacy hardware compatibility and preloaded applications. In addition to that, MX Linux
gives you its own native applications to make your life super easy.
This Debian based Linux distro brings it first stable release of 21.x series. MX Linux 21
brings the latest Debian 11 package base, Kernel 5.10, Xfce 4.16, KDE Plasma 5.20 and
fluxbox 1.3.7.
Here’s what’s new.
MX Linux 21 – What’s New At the core of this release is Debian 11 bullseye
which is released a while back. Debian 11 brings the latest Linux Kernel 5.10, and entire
package base updates. So you get those in this MX Linux release.
On the desktop environments front, you get the latest Xfce 4.16. But KDE Plasma version
is little behind, mostly due to Debian base. You get KDE Plasma 5.20 which is almost 3
versions behind. But on the other hand, Plasma 5.20 is stable and well-tested, so you get
the most stable KDE Plasma version.
The fluxbox edition features Fluxbox version 1.3.7 with mx-fluxbox 3.0 configurations.
A new installer partition selection area introduced, which includes some lvm support if lvm volume
exists already.
New UEFI live system boot menus. Now you can select your live boot options (persistence,
etc…) from the boot menu and submenus rather than using the previous console menus.
This release uses user password (sudo) for admin tasks by default. You can switch this
in mx-tweak->Other tab.
Many small configuration changes, particularly on the panel with new default panel plugins
lands.
The live menus now include special features like rollback options for remasters gone wrong.
The team added the mesa Vulcan drivers to the default package set, with better support
for realtek wifi devices.
A new theme called “mx-comfort” is introduced.
The tour app MX-Tour gives an overview of each desktop environment
MX-Comfort default theming, including dark variants and “thick border” Xfwm variants.
A ton of customization and custom scripts in MX-Fluxbox
Translation updates and bug fixes across MX core and desktop environments.
Download MX Linux 21 You can download the latest .ISO from the
below links. Torrents are available as well. There are many variants of .ISO files available.
For example, separate ISO for 32-bit, 64-bit, and extended hardware support .ISO.
Upgrade from MX Linux 19.x to MX Linux 21.x There is no official upgrade path available.
The main reason is the Debian base change and no upgrade options are provided by MX
Linux. So, it is recommended that you back up your data and do a fresh installation.
Closing Notes There are very few systemd-free distribution
out there which works for older hardware. And MX Linux is one of those. And the team
is continuously pushing the productivity of this distro with native apps, easy scripts
and performance tweaks. Being based on Debian and pre-configured, you can easily consider
MX Linux as your daily driver. It can easily run for years.
:: More ::
The MX Linux team proudly announced today the release and general availability of MX
Linux 21, a major release of their Debian-based, systemd-free and lightweight GNU/Linux distribution.
Dubbed “Wildflower”, MX Linux 21 has been in development for the past six months and
comes as an upgrade to the MX Linux 19.x series, based on the latest and greatest Debian GNU/Linux
11 “Bullseye” operating system series, and shipping with the Xfce 4.16 and KDE Plasma
5.20 desktop environments, as well as, for the first time, an official edition featuring
the Fluxbox 1.3.7 window manager with mx-fluxbox 3.0 configs.
The Xfce edition, which remains the flagship edition of MX Linux, introduces the Thunar
Shares plugin for the Thunar file manager to access Samba shares, which you can access
from a folder’s properties dialog, updated dock-like plugin, as well as various other
updated Xfce packages.
The Fluxbox edition comes with a Fluxbox settings manager similar to Xfce’s settings manager,
Tint2 as default panel with a collection of pre-built configurations and an expanded set
of tools for panel management, tiling options using Ctrl + 1-9 or arrow keys, mxfb-quickshot
and mxfb-timer, and revised Help docs with ten translations.
Highlights of MX Linux 21 include a new installer partition selection area with LVM support,
new UEFI live system boot menus with “rollback” option and the ability to select boot options
directly from the boot menu and submenus instead of using the previous console menus, and user
password (sudo) for administration tasks by default.
This new MX Linux release also introduces a new app called MX Tour, which provides newcomers
with a brief overview of each desktop environment. On top of that, users will find a new default
theme for all three flavors called MX Comfort, a bunch of custom scripts in the Fluxbox edition,
as well as numerous other small configuration changes, especially on the panel with new
default panel plugins.
Hardware support has been improved as well, and MX Linux 21 is powered by the Linux 5.10
LTS kernel series from Debian GNU/Linux 11, but a AHS (Advanced Hardware Support) ISO
image featuring the Xfce desktop environment will be readied as well with the more recent
Linux 5.14 kernel series.
These new kernel version bring better Realtek Wi-Fi support from Dynamic Kernel Module Support
(DKMS) modules, which are installed by default, and better support for modern hardware. In
addition, the Mesa Vulkan graphics drivers are installed by default in this release for
a better gaming experience.
MX Linux 21 remains a systemd-free GNU/Linux distribution featuring SysVinit as default
init system. However, systemd is available as well in this release as a boot option,
but only on installed systems, not on the live ISO.
You can download MX Linux 21 right now using the direct download links below. Live ISO
images are provided for 64-bit systems for the KDE Plasma flavor, as well as for both
64-bit and 32-bit systems for the Xfce and Fluxbox editions. Please note that the live
ISOs won’t boot on systems with Secure Boot enabled.
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