exGENT is an open source and completely free Linux distribution derived from the Gentoo operating system and distributed in multiple editions, with the LXDE, Xfce and LXQt desktop environments. It is one of the most easy to install distributions of Linux that uses a Gentoo base, as Gentoo is known to take a couple of days to install.
Available as Live DVDs for mainstream architectures
While the distribution is available for download as an Xfce + LXQt edition for the 64-bit architecture (doesn’t work on 32-bit computers) and a LXDE edition that contains software package optimized only for 32-bit hardware platforms and it is compatible only with both 32-bit and 64-bit computers.
Boot options
All ISO images come with the same boot screen, allowing the user to start the live environment with default boot options or in safe graphics mode, as well as to perform a system memory (RAM) diagnostic test. Please note that you must write the ISOs to DVD discs in order to boot them from the BIOS of a PC.
Includes two great desktop environments
As mentioned, the distro features Xfce/LXQt and LXDE editions. All three desktop environments look great, tweaked to be easy to use, helping the novice user to manage his way through a complex Linux environment, such as Gentoo. However, when booting the LXDE edition, you will be dropped to a shell prompt when booting the Live CDs, where you must login with the username “root” and the password “root” (without quotes) and then run the “startx” command to access the graphical session.
Default applications
The LXDE edition comes with the Mozilla Firefox web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird email and news client, GIMP image editor, Leafpad text editor, GPicView image viewer, AbiWord word processor, AMD Catalyst Control Center and GParted partition editor.
On the other hand, the Xfce/LXQt flavor features four different web browsers, Mozilla Firefox, Chromium, Opera and SeaMonkey, as well as numerous other Xfce specific utilities. The Porthole Package Manager application is also installed in both editions of the exGENT Linux operating system, making installing of apps more user friendly.
Bottom line
All in all, exGENT is a great project that delivers multiple edition with different desktop environment, pleasing even the critical of Linux users. It is a rolling Linux distribution, meaning that you will always get the latest applications without the need to reinstall the entire system.
