Release Notes

Version: 1.0.1 Stable Release
Base: openSUSE Leap 16.0
Arch: x86_64-v2 only
What's New in 1.0.1

The one-command full experience

AXEM-SX 1.0.1 keeps the ISO slim by design — fast to download, fast to boot. After install, a single zypper line unlocks the full curated desktop. Highlights below; full notes follow.

  • ◆Slim ISO by design. The download is small. The full curated experience is one zypper command away — on your terms.
  • ◆One-command edition wrappers. axem-sx-pro-full, axem-sx-light-full, and axem-sx-gold-full (coming) pull apps, codecs, Flatpak, and the guided third-party installer in a single line.
  • ◆Repository plumbing fixed. $releasever expansion now resolves cleanly to 16.0 on first boot. No more half-broken refresh cycles.
  • ◆Branding refresh. Updated Plymouth boot splash, SDDM login, and wallpapers across all editions.

Continue reading below for full release notes.

1

About AXEM-SX 1.0.1

AXEM-SX 1.0.1 is the latest release of the 1.0 stable line — a sovereignty-oriented workstation built on openSUSE Leap 16.0. The ISO ships slim by design, and one zypper command unlocks the full curated desktop.

Purpose

Test the Boot-to-Studio workflow and Cockpit-based management.

Stability

Enterprise-grade core with some Beta edges from upstream.

Feedback

Specifically seeking reports on local AI and Wayland on NVIDIA hardware.

2

Full Desktop in One Command

The ISO is intentionally slim — fast to download, fast to boot. After a quick zypper refresh, a single command unlocks the full curated experience: LibreOffice, Inkscape, VLC, multimedia codecs, Flatpak with Flathub, and the guided third-party app installer.

Pro · KDE Plasma 6

sudo zypper refresh sudo zypper install axem-sx-pro-full

Light · LXQt

sudo zypper refresh sudo zypper install axem-sx-light-full

Gold · GNOME 48

sudo zypper refresh sudo zypper install axem-sx-gold-full

(coming soon)

Tip:Want more? Run axem-sx-install-thirdparty for a guided menu of Spotify, Discord, VS Code (Flathub) and Anti-Gravity (OBS). For full multimedia codec coverage (H.265, AAC encode), run sudo /usr/bin/axem-sx-codecs-upgrade-to-packman.
3

AXEM-SX System Profiles

AXEM-SX provides distinct system profiles, each designed as a complete and coherent working environment. Only one profile is intended to be active at a time.

Light · LXQt

A minimal, fast, accessible Wayland environment designed for essential computing and lower-resource systems.

Available now

Pro · KDE Plasma 6

A complete, capable Wayland environment with extended tools and features for advanced users and professional workflows.

Available now

Gold · GNOME 48

A polished GNOME Wayland experience for users who prefer the GNOME paradigm — refined, focused, distinct.

Coming before end of 2026

Why one profile at a time

  • · system clarity
  • · predictable behavior
  • · a consistent user experience
Tip:Advanced users may choose to combine components manually, but AXEM-SX does not rely on mixed-profile configurations by default.
4

A First Glance

A glimpse of the AXEM-SX environment — desktops, menus, and applications curated for sustained, serious work.

Click any thumbnail to view full size

5

Desktop Architecture — Strict Wayland

AXEM-SX 1.0.1 is a pure Wayland system. We have aligned fully with the upstream decision to remove legacy display servers.

  • Xorg is Gone: No fallback X11 session at the login screen.
  • Legacy App Support: Older applications run transparently via XWayland.
  • NVIDIA Boot-to-Studio: Open kernel driver and user-space drivers install automatically on supported GPUs.
Tip:If you experience black screens during installation, boot with the nomodeset kernel option.
6

The Civic-Minded Console (Boh-IO)

AXEM-SX introduces Boh-IO — Bridge Our Humanities with Input & Output. A specialized console with a Bash terminal on the left and a local AI Sidecar on the right.

  • Local & Private: axem-sx/boh-io via Ollama. No data leaves your machine. History exists only in RAM.
  • Setup required: The axem-console package is in both ISOs. The BOH IO model (~2 GB) is downloaded separately via: ollama pull axem-sx/boh-io
  • Status in 1.0.1: Active — see the Features page for the full step-by-step setup guide.
7

System Administration — Cockpit

Unlike most distributions that have dropped YaST entirely in favor of generic web tools, AXEM-SX preserves and curates YaST through the AXEM-SX Control Hub — giving you the power of a proven administration layer with a refined, workstation-focused interface alongside Cockpit.

  • Access: localhost:9090 in your browser.
  • Modules: Storage · Networking · Logs — curated for workstation tasks.
Irritant:A gray line visual glitch may appear in the storage menu when activating certain disks. This is cosmetic and does not affect data.
8

Workstation Optimizations & Pre-Applied Fixes

These are currently manual steps in base Leap 16.0 — AXEM-SX applies them for you out of the box.

  • Container Networking Fixed: Docker and KVM (libvirt) work side-by-side immediately. Firewall backend forced to iptables to prevent the known upstream conflict.
  • Audio: PipeWire is the default sound server — PulseAudio fully replaced.
  • Networking: NetworkManager only — the legacy wicked tool suite is removed.
9

Security & Privacy Defaults

  • Root Login Disabled: Cannot log in as root via SSH using a password. SSH key required.
  • SELinux Enforcing: Strict security policy enforced — AppArmor is not the default.
  • No Phone Home: All remote services are disabled by default.
10

Hardware Requirements

  • CPU: x86-64-v2 required (approximately post-2009).
  • 32-bit: Not supported — AXEM-SX is strictly 64-bit.
  • /tmp: RAM disk (tmpfs) — cleared on every reboot.
Warning:Running AXEM-SX in a Virtual Machine on an older host will cause a kernel crash. Set the VM CPU type to host-passthrough or host-model.

🔑 Live Session Credentials

Both the Light and Pro ISOs boot into a live session. No installation is required to test.

Live useraxem
Passwordaxem

Log in with user axem and password axem to access the full live desktop.

11

Known Issues

Known Issue:Installer Network Config: Complex network setups (bonding) are limited during install. Use DHCP for installation, configure via Cockpit after.
Known Issue:Zypper Repository: A bad repository source may be added after install. If zypper complains, remove it with zypper rr 1.
Irritant:Pro Desktop Icons: Trash and Home icons may appear on the desktop after first login (Plasma containment / pcmanfm-qt artifact). Right-click and remove them — AXEM Pro routes Trash through the top panel by design.