Dressing Puppy 215CE Up

Now that Puppy linux is installed and ready to go it is time to 'customize' it by adding packages. These come in all different forms. I download all my puppy related packages to my host OS first into a puppy files directory for safekeeping, and then load them into puppy from there.

The first I add are sfs packages, which integrate several different programs into the OS at once at a root level. Go here and scroll down to the section titled ".SFS EXPANSION PACKS" and devx_215.sfs, and web_215.sfs. You can also get Ooo_215.sfs, which contains the full open office suite, and pgs_215.sfs which has a lot of great graphics programs like Gimp. The devx package is used for compiling programs, which I don't know much about but you need it to install some stuff later. The web package contains firefox and vncserver, which we will use later.

Next go here and download the sfs installer. Bookmark the forum mainpage because this is where all your questions can be answered!! Next go here for your ssh server. DOWNLOAD THE PACKAGE AT THE END OF THE THREAD-TITLED SSHD-SFTP.PUP- NOT THE FIRST ONE. We will use this later to set up an ssh server for use like I describe in a previous blog.

You may notice that you have trouble seeing video in the Flashplayer 9 format, especially with firefox. To correct this go here and download the Flash9.pup. Look through this site and the parent directories for anything else you might find interesting. Be aware there are several flash9 fixes, but the one above is the one that worked for me on Puppy 215CE.

There are several methods for getting these files into puppy. The easiest and most reliable I have found is making an .iso file from the above files and then mounting this file in puppy as a cd. A great program for making an iso is CDBURNERXP PRO. It is a great little piece of freeware. I believe AlZip will make an iso as well. With CDBurner be sure to save the project because that will make it easier to add files later if you want. Another great piece of software is PowerISO.

Once you have your iso then add it to the list in VirtualBox by choosing Manage disks. When you are in Puppy, because remember you need to use the Live iso to start the program, you can change the mounted iso file from Puppy215CE-Final.iso to your new Puppyfiles.iso. Next choose "Disks" from the desktop icon. You should see a label for hdc with a red disc icon. Click on this and the program automatically mounts the Iso as if it were in a cd player. The files you added should appear in the ROX file manager window.

Now first click on the sfsinstaller.tar.gz and choose select all, then extract to /root/my-applications. Next go to the start menu and then to file systems and ROX filesystem. The folder that opens is your root folder. Google linux or unix directory structure for some insight into how linux sets up its directories. In my applications open sfsinstaller_fullHD and click on sfsinstaller.gtk. NOTE: PUPPY REQUIRES ONE-CLICK TO OPEN APPLICATIONS AND DIRECTORIES although I'm sure you have found that out by now! Follow the directions and the .sfs packages will be installed. Check the start menu and if you installed web or pgs you will see new program entries. Devx does not show anything.

Explore the forum, dotpups and puppy start menu items as well as skip around and familiarize yourself with the directory structure and have fun. Take a snapshot of your current machine state in case you screw anything up.

Coming up.... Setting up your ssh server, vncserver, and commandline control of puppy: REMOTE CONTROL PUPPY!! I'm also working on installing Ubuntu 7.04. It is a more mature Linux distro and a serious alternative to Windows.