Rhino Linux is an Ubuntu-based distribution launched back on August 8th, 2023. It follows the rolling release model which many Ubuntu users have been wanting for years. The current version as of writing this is 2023.2 released on August 28th, 2023. If you’re interested in trying it out, the ISO is available for download.
But is a rolling release of Ubuntu enough for someone to migrate to a totally new Linux distribution? As a Linux user who hops around new distros all the time, it got me interested. So I powered up VirtualBox and tried out this cute purple distribution. Let me share my findings with you.
What Does Rhino Linux Offer?
Before trying out a new distro, you should know everything that it has to offer. So what else does Rhino Linux offer that sets it apart from other Ubuntu derivatives? Let’s find out!
Unicorn Desktop
Rhino Linux uses a highly customized version of XFCE they named Unicorn Desktop. Since it’s based on XFCE, it’s lightweight and fast. But this version makes your desktop more modern and sleek. The developers put some good effort into the UI/UX aspect, providing an elegant feel to your desktop.
The modified ULauncher allows you to launch apps and navigate through directories rapidly. It also has fuzzy search support.
Rhino Linux uses Lightpad for its application grid. You get a full overview of all the installed applications on a single screen. No need to scroll through to find the app you’re looking for. It’s also compatible with Wayland.
Another notable feature is the inclusion of intuitive keyboard shortcuts. If you’re more comfortable operating through the system using your keyboard, this should be something you may consider. Some shortcuts include:
- Super + A – Opens the App Grid
- Super + S – Opens the Search Bar
- Super + D – Launches the Dashboard
A Unified Package Management System
Rhino Linux takes a unified package management approach. That is, it allows you to use multiple package managers at the same time. Upon installing Rhino, you go through the configuration wizard where you can enable the package managers to use. Flatpak is enabled by default, and you can enable Snap packages and AppImages manually.
But what makes it more interesting is that you won’t need multiple utilities to handle all the package managers. Rhino Linux utilizes a single package manager wrapper called rhino-pkg to install, remove, update, and manage packages from all available package managers and repositories. For example, if you use rhino-pkg to install VLC, you get to choose the package format you want to install.
Rhino Linux at its core uses the Pacstall package manager, which offers a bleeding-edge experience similar to Arch’s AUR but is tailored for Debian and Ubuntu derivatives. Pacstall facilitates the distro by distributing up-to-date packages fast. Most distro-specific applications and modifications done by Rhino Linux are shipped through Pacstall.
Customized Calamares Installer
Unlike Ubuntu, which uses the Ubiquity installer, Rhino Linux uses the popular distro-agnostic system installer, Calamares. Calamares is highly customizable and the team behind Rhino Linux took advantage of that by branding it with a custom theme.
When booting for the first time from the ISO, you’re welcomed to a live environment. You can explore around to get a feel for it. If you decide to install it, you can do that by pressing the “Install Rhino Linux” icon.
EXT4 is the default installation file system. You can opt for other options as you’ll see later in the installation process.
How to Install Rhino Linux
Let’s go through the installation process to get a feel for the distro. You can either use a live CD, USB stick, or virtualization software—whatever your preferred method for trying Linux is.
Once you boot Rhino Linux, you should see this boot screen:
Choose the “Try or Install Rhino Linux OS” option. You will be welcomed with the home screen. In the top left corner of the screen, you should see the installation option.
Double-click the icon to start the installer. Choose your preferred language for installation. Then press the “Next” button.
In the next screen, you’ll be asked to set your region, zone, system language, and number and date locale. After you set them, press the “Next” button.
Now you have to select your keyboard model, keyboard language, and the keyboard layout. We’ll go with the default options. Press the “Next” button.
This next window is about partitioning. From the top dropdown menu, choose your storage device. Then you have two options. You can either erase the whole selected disk or perform manual partitioning. If you’d like to encrypt the system, you can tick the checkbox for that. After that, press the “Next” button.
Now you need to create a user for the system. Fill in the blanks with your appropriate information. If you want to log in automatically without a password, tick the checkbox for that. Then press the “Next” button.
The next screen will give you an installation summary. Check if all the settings are correct. If so, then proceed by pressing the “Install” button.
You will get a final confirmation prompt. If everything looks fine, press the “Install Now” button.
This should start the installation process immediately. You can follow the progress bar to see what’s happening currently in the process.
When the installation finishes, you’ll see an option to restart your system. Tick that checkbox and press the “Done” button to reboot.
After the reboot, you will be taken to the login page. Type in your password to log in.
Set Up Rhino Linux After Installation
When you log in after the reboot, you need to go through a Setup Wizard called Rhino Setup. Through this wizard, you can perform some quick customization and set your preferences. Press the “Let’s Start” button.
The first option is to choose a color theme. You only have two choices—dark and light. We’ll choose the light theme. Choose your preferred theme and press the “Next” button.
After that, you need to choose your package managers. You can choose one or multiple options from here. There’s also a hidden “Flatpak Beta Channel” option you can reveal if you click on the small arrow on the Flatpak option. After choosing your package managers, press the “Next” button.
The next screen asks you to install some additional settings such as Nala, a front-end for APT, GitHub CLI, and Apport, a crash reporting system. The Rhino Linux team recommends you install Nala, so we’ll check that box. Then press the “Next” button.
When done, you’ll be asked for your password. Type in the password and press the “Authenticate” button.
After finishing the process, you’ll be required to reboot one last time. Press the “Reboot Now” button to continue.
And you’ll be welcomed to a fully functional Rhino Linux.
The very next thing you should do is update your system. For that, open the terminal by pressing Alt+Ctrl+T. Then run the below command:
rhino-pkg update
Once you’ve done that, let’s now upgrade the system. From the applications tray on the right side, click on the desktop icon at the bottom.
Now press the “System Upgrade” button at the bottom.
Type in your password into the prompt. The system upgrade should start immediately.
When the upgrade is complete, you’ll get a message. Press the “Exit Application” button to exit.
And that should take care of the post-installation setup. Feel free to explore the operating system and customize it.
Should You Use Rhino Linux?
As a long-time Ubuntu and Windows user myself, would I consider going all in into this new shiny distro?
Probably not. At least, not yet.
It’s only been three weeks since it’s out as of writing this, and Rhino Linux requires a lot of polishing. Many of the popular distros come with a unique color scheme by default, but it’s typically easy to customize. Then you have Rhino Linux, which uses its “Unicorn” color scheme for its branding throughout the distro. For many users, this may require some getting used to. Especially due to the flashy nature of the design. Right now, there isn’t any easy way to change the color or theme (you can use a different wallpaper, of course). Some users would much prefer a non-customized XFCE. But these are mainly preference issues.
While I was using and testing the OS, I found it to be a bit slow at some points, especially when dealing with the packages. On one occasion, I thought it totally froze, so I had to close out of the terminal window.
The 2023.2 version has dealt with many bugs of the earlier version such as LUKS Disk Encryption not working, LightDM issues on certain devices, Thunar hidden file problem, and the setup wizard freezing bug. Other changes include a major UI enhancement, masking incompatible packages, Linux kernel 6.5 shipped by default, and more. So rest assured, the team behind this OS is working to improve it based on user feedback. And of course, it’s a rolling-release distro, so you get updates frequently.
Rhino Linux seems to target a niche audience. If you’re a big fan of Ubuntu but want a rolling release-based distribution, and a unified package management system that looks convenient to you, then Rhino Linux might be worth a shot.
Want to learn more about Rhino Linux? Check out their official website to follow the latest development news.