Linuxin was a Debian-based Linux distribution developed in Spain. Linuxin employs graphical installation, hardware detection and basic configuration options during installation.
The first preview of the upcoming GeeXbox media centre version 2.0 is now available for testing: "Time has come to let you discover our very first technological preview of GeeXboX 2.x series. The decision has been taken to make use of Freevo 2.0 (still work in progress, but so is GeeXboX 2.x) and Kaa, its multimedia framework, as our new user interface reference. As a consequence, many new packages had to be added (such as Python) to our distribution. In the near future, GeeXboX and Freevo projects will be closer than ever, and we should be the official Freevo live CD, still keeping in mind our embedded and easy-to-setup approach. Unfortunately, ISO grew up radically (it is now 20 MB) and so did RAM usage (at least 128 MB is now mandatory)." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download from here: geexbox-sherkhan-20061231-en.i386.iso (20.8MB).
PC-BSD 1.3 has been released: "Just in time to ring in the New Year, the PC-BSD team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of PC-BSD version 1.3 for public download. This release incorporates many new features and options which make desktop computing easier than ever. Some of the new features include KDE 3.5.5, the 'PF' firewall, HAL backend support, a new 'Services' menu and much more! Additionally, the team is launching a web design contest for PC-BSD's new web site." Find more details in the release announcement, changelog and release notes. Download (MD5): PCBSD-1.3-x86-CD1.iso (686MB), PCBSD-1.3-x86-CD2.iso (525MB). PC-BSD is a user-friendly, desktop-oriented operating system based on FreeBSD, with a simple graphical installer and an intuitive package management utility.
Returning to a biannual release cycle, the developers of Mandriva released a few days ago an initial alpha build of what will eventually become Mandriva Linux 2007.1: "Mandriva Linux 2007 Alpha1 (Hangzhou). This alpha version is available via two means. Firstly via the public FTP and HTTP sites mirroring the Mandriva Linux repository. Second, the preferred way, via either the provided One CDs (installable live CDs), or the installation mini CD i586 and x86_64." The miserly changelog only reveals that the new alpha comes with kernel 2.6.17, Drakxtools 10.4.88, KDE 3.5.5 and GNOME 2.17. Please read the release notes for information about the alpha release. Download the dual-architecture installation CD or the installable "One" live CDs from here: mandriva-free-cooker-Hangzhou-CD.iso (700MB), mandriva-one-cooker-Hangzhou-Gnome-CD.x86_64.iso (666MB), mandriva-one-cooker-Hangzhou-KDE-CD.i586.iso (699MB).
The second beta of Pioneer MigrationSERVER has been released for testing: "Technalign, Inc. has released its Beta 2 of MigrationSERVER. Beta 2 includes many more requested applications, such as SSH, Fetchmail, DHCP Server, Shorewall firewall, and the Squid proxy server. Beta 2 of MigrationSERVER is reaching the final stages based on feedback received on its Beta 1 released. RC 1 is expected to be released in early January 2007. Dianne Ursini, CEO of Technalign, Inc. stated, 'Beta 2 now includes more applications interfaced with Webmin as requested from both our business community as well as our community users.' Pioneer MigrationSERVER will be free to individuals and non-profit organizations wanting to run a web server." Please read the full press release for further information. Download: Ta_MigSERV_Beta2_1230.iso (648MB).
Klaus Knopper has announced the release of KNOPPIX 5.1.0 live CD and DVD: "Finally, it's done. Just in the past couple of months, there has been quite a lot of new and exciting development in the GNU/Linux world, which of course should also be present in the current KNOPPIX version, even if some of the new and optional features (like the 3D desktop with Beryl) are still experimental. New kernel, KDE and OpenOffice.org releases have spoilt our planned release dates, but now all these are available in the new release. New: update to Debian Etch; Linux kernel 2.6.19.1 + FUSE 2.6.1; Cloop 2.05 real-time decompression; replace Unionfs with Aufs...." See the comprehensive release notes for more details. Download: KNOPPIX_V5.1.0CD-2006-12-30-EN.iso (698MB, MD5), KNOPPIX_V5.1.0DVD-2006-12-30-EN.iso (4,113MB, MD5). The CD and DVD images are also available via BitTorrent.
The first ever 64-bit release of SimplyMEPIS is now available for download and testing: "Today MEPIS LLC has released Beta1 of SimplyMEPIS-64 Version 6.0-4. SimplyMEPIS is a complete and safe desktop computing environment designed to meet the needs of everyday computer users and software professionals alike. The 64 bit version of SimplyMEPIS offer the same advanced hardware auto-detection, multimedia integration, and easy-to-use installer that is included with the 32 bit edition. This release includes Firefox 2.0.0.1, Flash Player 9, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2, the very stable 3.5.3 build of KDE desktop, and a rock solid, security patched 2.6.15 Linux kernel with support for the newest sound chips and Apple hardware." Read the full press release for further details. Download: SimplyMEPIS-CD_6.0-4-beta1_amd64.iso (687MB, MD5).
Gordon Rowell has announced the first release candidate for SME Server 7.1: "The SME Server development team is pleased to announce the release of SME Server 7.1. This release has many new features and fixes for previously reported issues. All SME Server users should upgrade to this release. Major changes from SME Server 7.0: the CD no longer boots automatically into the installer; the installer now provides many Raid and LVM configuration options; the Software Installer has been enhanced to provide better feedback during installs and to deal with large update sets; local mail delivery is noticeably faster." More details in the release announcement. Download the latest release of the CentOS-based distribution from here: smeserver-7.1rc1.iso (475MB, MD5).
Those who intend to install a Linux distribution on a Sony PlayStation 3 will be pleased to learn that Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 is now available for free download. Originally released on 27 November, Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 is a Fedora-based distribution tailored to run on Sony PlayStation 3. It features a graphical installation program and includes the Linux kernel 2.6.16, X.Org 7.0 (3D acceleration not supported), Enlightenment 17 as the default desktop (KDE 3.5.3 and GNOME 2.14 are also available), Firefox 1.5, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 and other popular open source software applications for desktops, servers, media playback and software development. For more information please read the Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 product pages. Here is a quick link to the latest DVD image: yellowdog-5.0-phoenix-20061208-PS3.iso (3,409MB, MD5).
Ken Smith has announced the availability of the second release candidate of FreeBSD 6.2: "Since RC1 we have been working out a few more bugs in device drivers, a few device drivers were updated, BIND was updated, and bugs in several other areas of the kernel have been worked out. We also wound up having hardware problems with the primary distribution machine that took some time to resolve. All problems we felt needed to be addressed before 6.2 could be released have been taken care of. Unless further testing turns up something new RC2, which is available now for downloading, will be the last of the Release Candidates and 6.2-RELEASE should be ready in about 2 weeks." Read the full release announcement for further information. Download (i386, MD5): 6.2-RC2-i386-disc1.iso (573MB), 6.2-RC2-i386-disc2.iso (639MB).
The second release candidate of Damn Small Linux 3.2 is out: "DSL v3.2RC2 is now ready for testing. Cumulative changelog: added wpasupplicant; new mouse configuration Lua GUI; added default tone generator for XMMS; improved MyDSL download via the Lua GUI; moved powerdown to use standard RC scripts; new dsl-dpkg.unc and adjustments to core; dsl-pendrive.bat for QEMU to detect booted pen drive; dsl2unc converter; updated madwifi-ng modules; updated BusyBox with >2GB file support; new cron - a Perl cron, with new boot option 'cron' and toggle from control panel; new boot option 'checkfs'; new mkmydsl - simplified custom ISO maker now even easier; updated MyDSL to support direct downloading to all supported and mounted drives and directories; added volume setting to persist via .umix...." There is more in the release announcement. Download: dsl-3.2RC2.iso (49.9MB, MD5).
A new stable release of B2D Linux, a Taiwanese desktop distribution based on KNOPPIX, has been released. The most important change is the addition of the light-weight LXDE desktop, which can be selected as an alternative desktop environment after booting, alongside the default KDE and the optional GNOME. Other changes include: upgraded to kernel 2.6.18.1; removed the proprietary NVIDIA kernel module, added NdisWrapper; removed StarDict; solved the problem with multiple programs accessing the audio device and other bug fixes; added Kdenlive video editor, KlamAV front-end for ClamAV anti-virus scanner, Cheops graphical utility for managing network connections; updated some packages available for installation with Klik (OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, Java Development Kit 6, Sodipodi and Songbird). Please read the release announcement (in Chinese) for further details. Download: B2DpureKGB20061226.iso (698MB, MD5).
A bug-fix update of Elive "Revolution" has been released. Here is a brief list of some of the changes: "Fixed SCSI emulation CD-ROM driver; fixed Czech boot option; fixed special character problems in menus; added new sounds to the 'Elive look'; installer updates which will fine-tune a new installation on first boot; new drivers for wireless networking; added Flash 9 beta browser plugin; removed OpenOffice.org from the ISO image due to space reasons; added Java; added Transmission - a small, fast, simple and effective BitTorrent client; added Torus trooper - a game; made Thunar the default file manager; updated Cinelerra to version 2.1; added KQEMU, a KDE front-end from QEMU; added measures to prevent root login into graphical desktop...." Visit the project's news page to read the full release announcement. Download: Elive_Revolution_rl2.iso (655MB, MD5).
Eric Harrison has announced the release of K12LTSP Linux 6.0.0: "Still looking for the perfect Christmas gift for the spouse? K12LTSP 6.0.0 is now available for all of your gift-giving needs!" What's new in this release? "K12LTSP 6.0.0 is based on Fedora Core 6, with a large number of changes including: LTSP 4.2 update 4; a bunch of packages from Fedora Extras; hundreds of updated FC6 packages; a handful of K12LTSP packages, just to spice things up. This release of K12LTSP is slightly different than past releases in that there is no specific 'LTSP' install option. If you want do a 'normal' Fedora Core 6 install from K12LTSP 6, simply uncheck the 'LTSP' package group. The 'Education' package group has been split up into two groups." More details in the release announcement. Download: K12LTSP-6.0.0-32bit-dvd.iso (3,841MB, MD5), K12LTSP-6.0.0-64bit-dvd.iso (4,369MB, MD5).
The second beta of the m0n0wall firewall, version 1.3, is available for download and testing. Changes since beta 1: "enabled NAT-T support for IPsec VPN (enable via webGUI); compiled SNMP agent with support for memory usage information MIB; back-ported MSS clamping fix from MPD 4.0b5 to MPD 3.18 (fixes MTU problems with PPPoE client); enabled hostap for wireless cards supported by the ral(4) driver; forced PIO mode for ATA driver to work around problems with quirky hardware (IDE controllers, CF cards); automatic keyboard detection for generic-pc(-cdrom); fallback to serial console if no keyboard found; enabled AES for IPsec phase 1; Captive portal fix (jdegraeve): now always sends the session time in RADIUS accounting messages instead of only sending it within an Accounting-Stop." Please visit the project's development pages to find out more. Download: cdrom-1.3b2.iso (8.09MB, MD5).
The MEPIS project has announced the beginning of a testing process for SimplyMEPIS 6.0-4, an updated version of its user-friendly, desktop-oriented Linux distribution: "MEPIS LLC has released Beta1 of SimplyMEPIS version 6.0-4, aka SystemUpdate1. SimplyMEPIS is a complete and safe desktop computing environment designed to meet the needs of everyday computer users and software professionals alike. MEPIS continues to offer advanced hardware auto-detection, multimedia integration, and an easy-to-use installer. Of special note, this update includes Firefox 2.0; the latest updates of other packages; and a rock-solid, security-patched 2.6.15 Linux kernel with support for the newest sound chips and Apple hardware. The current development cycle at MEPIS is on a fast-track schedule with a targeted release date of approximately January 10, 2007." Read the complete press release for further information. Download: SimplyMEPIS-CD_6.0-4-beta1_i386.iso (687MB, MD5).
A new version of Nonux, a Slackware-based live and installation CD designed for Dutch-speaking office environments, has been released. Version 4.0 is a major update, now based on Slackware Linux 11.0 and Linux kernel 2.6.18.2. The Dropline GNOME desktop environment has been updated to version 2.16.2, with many speed tweaks and other optimisations, while Firefox now comes in version 2.0 and OpenOffice.org in 2.0.4. Other changes include better hardware detection and power management, improved email notification applet, updated GParted partitioning tool and its associated components, and several newly included applications (graphics editing, graphical application for encryption and key management, and software for retrieving stock market quotes). Please visit the project's news page (in Dutch) to read the full release announcement. Download (MD5) from here: nonux-4.0.iso (691MB).
David Zeuthen has announced the release of an official Fedora 6 live CD: "After lots of feedback, bug fixing and testing of the beta live CD announced 3 weeks ago, I'm pleased to announce the first official Fedora live CD. This live CD is based on packages from the Fedora Core 6 (code named 'Zod') and Fedora Extras package collections and is 100% free software. At a glance, the live CD features: Linux 2.6.18, GNOME 2.16 desktop environment, GStreamer 0.10 multimedia framework, X.Org 7.1, AIGLX and Compiz for 3D desktop, lots of applications including, but not limited to Beagle (desktop search), F-Spot (photo management), Evolution (email and calendering), Firefox (web browsing), Ekiga (IP telephony)...." Read the complete release announcement for additional details. Download via BitTorrent or directly from Red Hat's server: FC-6-i386-livecd-1.iso (683MB, SHA1).
The third beta release of Trustix Secure Linux 3.0.5 is ready for testing: "We are pleased to announce that the third beta release of Trustix Secure Linux 3.0.5 is now available. Thanks to many reports and suggestions, this release contains some critical fixes and improvements in the installer and other software. The highlights of third beta are: kernel 2.6.19.1; MySQL 4.1.22; Postfix 2.2.11; multiple security fixes; major upgrades to some critical packages; added support for XFS, ReiserFS and JFS; enabled keyboard selection screen; fixed partition table sync issue during installation. Trustix Secure Linux is a small Linux distribution for servers. With focus on security and stability, the system is painlessly kept safe and up to date from day one using swup, the automated software updater." Here is the full release announcement. Download: trustix-3.0.5.beta3.i586.iso (632MB, MD5).
A new development build of SmoothWall Express 3.0 has been released for public testing: "Express 3.0 is our latest version of the long running and successful SmoothWall Express firewall. This is an alpha release, code name "koala". This means that although this build is working and usable, it is not feature-complete." Some of the new features relative to version 2.0 include: "Based upon the latest 2.6 kernel; brand new theme; includes many new NIC drivers; brand new update system; NTP service for the local network; local hosts list that can be served through the DNS proxy; replacement traffic stats page; SIP NAT support; many internal changes to make the code more organised and easier to work with...." See the release announcement and release notes for further details. Download: smoothwall-express-3.0-koala.iso (48.1MB).
Technalign has announced the first beta release of Pioneer MigrationSERVER: "Technalign, Inc. has released its SOHO/SMB server with the ease of use that Windows users have been looking for. MigrationSERVER Beta 1 is out for testing and available for download immediately on the TaPioneer web site. The new server is targeted toward the SMB market as well as workgroup servers in enterprise networks. The server provides not only a robust and simple to use interface for server administration using Webmin 1.300 as the interface, but the familiar KDE interface. MigrationSERVER uses Kubuntu as a base and includes additional features which were found in Version XI including clustering support." Read the rest of the press release for further information. Download: Ta_MigSERV_Beta1_1119.iso (632MB).
The Freespire development team has announced the availability of the third alpha release of Freespire 2.0: "This is the third release of Freespire 2.0 Alpha 3 (Build 1.1.84)." The most interesting feature of the release is the newly added upgrade path from Freespire 1.0. As always, Freespire's alpha releases are designed for testers, rather than production machines; some of the known bugs and missing features include: "Automatic boot menu management does not always work; KDE su dialog appears when attempting to change settings from within the start-up wizard; 'Configure Network Settings' in Startup Wizard does not function at this time; KNetworkManager does not auto-start and requires root permissions to load properly; firewall is disabled; modem drivers are not included; CNR is not included; some wireless cards don't work...." Read the release announcement and release notes for more details. Download via BitTorrent: freespire_1.1.84.iso (694MB).
Kate OS 3.2 has been released: "Kate OS 3.2 is the third edition of the III series. It brings, as usual, many fixes, updates, and novelties the community has been waiting for. It includes a new graphical package management tool, KatePKG, which allows for easy and intuitive installation, removal, and updating of packages. KatePKG can handle any number of repositories, including user-created ones on the local drive. KatePKG was written in PHP using the PHP-GTK2 library. Kate OS 3.2 uses glibc library 2.5 which ensures binary compatibility with future editions. It also includes the Xfce environment version 4.4RC2, GNOME 2.16.2, KDE 3.5.5, OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, Firefox 2.0, and many other current applications." Read the rest of the release announcement on the project's home page. Download: KateOS_3.2-DVD.iso (2,199MB, MD5). The CD images are also available for download via BitTorrent.
A new major version of SystemRescueCd, a Gentoo-based live CD with tools for system repair, data recovery and partition editing, has been released. From the changelog: "Updated the kernel to Linux 2.6.18.5 with Reiser4 file system; added X.Org graphical environment with WindowMaker; added GParted 0.3.3 to replace QtParted; added ntfs3g (full NTFS read and write); added graphical editors (gVim, Leafpad); added graphical web browsers (Firefox 2.0 and Dillo); updated the file system tools (Parted, e2fsprogs, xfsprogs); updated the system (glibc, ClamAV); updated the bootdisks." Download SystemRescueCd 0.3.0 from here: systemrescuecd-x86-0.3.0.iso (141MB, MD5).
A new stable version of Linux Mint has been released: "Linux Mint 2.1, code name "Bea", is out and available for download." Here is a brief list of some of the changes since version 2.0: "OpenOffice.org 2.1; mintDesktop, which adds a lot of desktop improvements; quick access to the computer, home places and terminal; ability to delete files directly without sending them to the trash; mintDesktop home folders; Beagle search; Tomboy notes; network manager; mintWifi, the purpose of which is to configure a wireless card without an Internet connection; tutorials to install and configure WiFi cards; a collection of WiFi drivers to support about 40 different wireless card models; RealPlayer was replaced with MPlayer plugins with support for QuickTime, AVI, MPG and a lot of other web content; Flash plugin was upgraded to version 9 Beta 2...." Read the detailed release announcement for further information. Download (MD5): LinuxMint-2.1.iso (695MB).
The Zenwalk Linux project has announced the release of ZenEdu 0.3, a distribution whose main goal is to provide an easy-to-install, stable and free operating system to nurseries and primary schools. ZenEdu includes a good collection of teachers' tools for their daily educational work as well as games dedicated to children. ZenEdu 0.3 is based on Zenwalk Linux 4.0, with a number of applications removed and replaced with educational software, such as Dr Geo, GCompris, GNU Chess, OpenOffice.org, TuxMath, Tux Paint, Tuxtype, and many others. The distribution currently supports French only. For more information about the project and its goals please read the release announcement and visit ZenEdu's presentation page with screenshots (both links in French). The CD image is available for download from here: zenedu-0.3.iso (663MB, MD5).
LinuxTLE is a community distribution developed in Thailand and targeting the Thai speaking audience. The project's latest release is a beta build of LinuxTLE 8.0 (code name "Patong"), a distribution now based on Ubuntu instead of Red Hat and Fedora Core as was the case with the previous versions. The release is a re-mastered edition of the Ubuntu 6.10 installation CD, with kernel 2.6.17.10, GNOME 2.16, Firefox 2.0, LibThai 0.1.7 (a set of Thai language support routines), updated TLEDict Thai dictionary and TLE-Center administration module, APT and Synaptic package management utilities, and the usual range of open source software packages and some proprietary kernel modules. More information can be found in the release announcement (in Thai). Download from here: linuxtle-8.0-20061218-i386.iso (645MB, MD5).
The first alpha release of Arch Linux 0.8 is ready for download and testing: "Hi Arch community, I'm sure you all saw the bump to 0.8 'Voodoo' yesterday; new release also means new installation ISOs. Short summary what happened and what still needs to be done: full mkinitcpio support; updated packages (including Linux 2.6.19.1); installation on PATA and IDE possible (PATA is default now); ide-legacy option included for old IDE subsystem; dropped install floppy support; switched from BusyBox to archboot usage; USB devices (keyboards, CD, DVD) should now work; usage of hwdetect and udev auto-detection during boot; added Memtest86+ to ISO; added installation support on CCISS devices..." Read the full release announcement for further information. Download: current-0.8-20061218-i686.iso (546MB, MD5), current-0.8-20061219-x86_64.iso (529MB, MD5).
After several months of beta testing, Pardus Linux 2007 final has been released. Here is a brief list of the distribution's most interesting features: "Multilingual installer - it is possible to install Pardus in Turkish, English, Spanish, German or Dutch; smaller packages, faster updates - thanks to the improvements to the Pardus package manager PiSi; package manager - the intuitive graphical interface of PiSi makes updates and installation of software much easier; fast start-up - the new init system developed using the Pardus configuration framework ÇOMAR makes the start-up much faster; new and up-to-date applications - more than 640 packages are installed from the CD, and more than 1000 available over the Internet." Read the release announcement and release notes for more details. Pardus Linux 2007 is available for download as an installation CD (Kurulan) or live CD (Calisan) from here: Pardus-Kurulan-2007.iso (676MB, SHA1), Pardus-Calisan-2007.iso (694MB, SHA1).
VectorLinux 5.8 has been released: "The VectorLinux development team is proud to announce the release of VectorLinux 5.8 Standard, code named 'Santa' (Merry Christmas!). This is the fruit that has resulted from several months of coding, debugging and testing by the core development team and the VectorLinux community. This release follows our legendary tradition of stability (inherited from Slackware 11.0), blazing speed on even modest hardware, and simplicity of design and function. The release features fully-working browser plugins, including Flash 9, Java, mp3, Real and Windows media, and DVD playback. Additional features include: Linux kernel 2.6.18.5, fully customized Xfce 4.3.99.2, SeaMonkey 1.0.6, Firefox 2.0 and Opera 9.10, the GIMP and Xara LX for your graphic needs, AbiWord and Gnumeric for your office tasks...." More details in the release announcement. Download: VL-5.8-std-Gold.iso (551MB, MD5).
Iuri Stanchev has announced the release of NetSecl 2.0, a security-focused distribution based on Slackware Linux: "NetSecL 2.0 is out! This release has packages for i486 machines up to 64 bit, it includes the NetSecL firewall that has the ability to work with Snort Inline, more than 200 updates! The security was improved thanks to the new Binutils supporting PT_PAX_FLAGS - all i486_64 packages are compiled with it. Also I have included Tork and with it you can use tor to anonymize yourself on the web. Most hardened distros still go with the X.Org 6.8.2, well guess what - we have Xorg 6.9.0. I have finally fixed most problems with the PAX permissions and we now use a generic 2.6.x kernel which is also a paranoia kernel. The hardware recognition was also improved with the new version of Discover and some additional modules." Here is the brief release announcement. Download: netsecl-2.0-cd1.iso (599MB, MD5), netsecl-2.0-cd2.iso (486MB, MD5).
Ken VanDine has announced the availability of Foresight Linux 0.9.9, the latest development build of the desktop-oriented distribution based on rPath Linux and its Conary package management system: "I am very pleased to announce the release of Foresight Linux 0.9.9. What is new in this release? Compiz is now included. Also included GnuCash, GnomeScan, and the Synaptics driver. There have been a number of version updates, here are a few of the highlights: added Compiz 0.3.4, GnuCash 2.0.3, GnomeScan 0.3.1, Synaptics 0.14.6; updated kernel 2.6.19.1, Conary 1.1.13, Beagle 0.2.14, GIMP 2.3.13, OpenSSH 4.5p1, Tomboy 0.5.1, Gaim 2.0.0beta5, CUPS 1.2.4...." Read the release announcement for a more complete list of changes. Download the DVD image from here: foresight-0.9.9-x86-dvd1.iso (1,201MB).
The first beta of the FreeBSD-based m0n0wall firewall, version 1.3, has been released. What's new? "Changed base system to FreeBSD 6.2-RC1 (final 1.3 version will be based on FreeBSD 6.2-RELEASE); added support for new wireless features in FreeBSD 6; Atheros cards are finally supported; channel selection on interface setup page now reflects actual capabilities of card; wireless status page shows scanned APs in client mode and associated stations in hostap mode; WPA support is expected in the next release; the configuration may now also be stored on an USB memory stick (instead of a floppy disk); removed MTU option from Interfaces: WAN page; a rather intrusive kernel patch was required to make concurrent traffic shaping + NAT on the WAN interface possible." Read the full changelog on the project's beta page for more details. Download: cdrom-1.3b1.iso (8.14MB, MD5).
Linux-EduCD is a Polish live DVD based on KANOTIX, with focus on education, graphics, office, multimedia and software development. Version 0.7 was released yesterday; some of the more important new features include: addition of the Compiz desktop; integration of GParted into the hard disk installer; new boot options; Linux kernel 2.6.18 with extra drivers and modules; KDE 3.5.5; OpenOffice.org 2.0.4; a range of educational software (Celestia, OpenDX, PyMOL, Rasmol, DrGeo, Yacas); multimedia applications (GIMP 2.2.13, Blender 2.42, Amarok, Audacity, Xine); network and system administration software (Wireshark, Nessus, Iptraf, EtherApe, Cheops); new development packages (DrScheme, Ruby, VisualPython, GPS, GNAT, Glade). Read the release announcement (in Polish) for further details and download links. The Linux-EduCD 0.7 live DVD is available from here: linuxeducd_07dvd.iso (1,352MB, MD5).
After a long, involuntary break, the Symphony OS project is back with a new development release - version 2006-12: "The Symphony OS Project is pleased to announce the release of Symphony OS 2006-12. This release, the first since May, brings more stability and enhanced features to the young desktop environment and Linux distribution. Based on Debian Testing, Symphony OS 2006-12 now includes the GNOME System Tools within its System target menu, finally providing GUI system management functions that were sorely missing from previous releases. The system also features Firefox 2, many other updated packages, and performance improvements." Read the full release announcement for more information. The Symphony OS 2006-12 CD image is available for download via BitTorrent: symphonyos-2006-12.iso (633MB).
The first release candidate of Damn Small Linux 3.2 is out. From the changelog: "Updated madwifi-ng modules; updated BusyBox with >2GB file support; new Cron - a Perl cron, with new boot option 'cron' and toggle from control panel; new boot option 'checkfs'; simplified MyDSL structure using the level 1 default auto-scanned /mydsl directory or user specified level one directory which contains extensions; new mkmydsl - simplified custom ISO maker now even easier than before and supports new MyDSL layout and works for both isolinux and syslinux CD versions; updated MyDSL to support direct downloading to all supported and mounted drives and directories; added volume setting to persist via .umix...." Download from here: dsl-3.2RC1.iso (49.8MB, MD5).
A new version of the single-CD edition of SabayonLinux has been released. From the changelog: "Linux kernel 2.6.18.4 with Intel Pro wireless 3945 out-of-the-box support; improved and production-ready GPU automatic detection; OpenGL sub-system wrong auto-detection and user error detector (will greatly improve the number of NVIDIA and ATI supported cards); new HAL 0.5.8.1, supports full NTFS read and write out-of-the-box through FUSE and in general much more powerful; NVIDIA drivers 1.0-9631 (fixes bug on GeForce3/4 video cards); ATI drivers 8.31.5; KOffice 1.6.1; fixed nohdparm boot option; improved NetworkManager; fixed installation from USB CD/DVD media." The release announcement. Download via BitTorrent: SabayonLinux-x86-3.2a.miniEdition.iso (697MB), SabayonLinux-x86_64-3.2.miniEdition.iso (698MB).
EnGarde Secure Linux has been updated to version 3.0.11: "Guardian Digital is happy to announce the release of EnGarde Secure Community 3.0.11. This release includes several bug fixes and feature enhancements to the SELinux policy and several updated packages. The following reported bugs from bugs.engardelinux.org are fixed in this release: SELinux stops ntpd from creating drift file; SELinux stops ntpq and ntpdc from access to NTP; ntpd cannot find time servers; aide log filter wrong again. Other bugs are fixed in this release as well. New features include: the latest stable versions of BIND, OpenSSH, PHP, Postfix, Samba, Snort, Squid." Read the full release announcement for more information. Download (MD5): engarde-community-3.0.11.i686.iso (570MB, MD5), engarde-community-3.0.11.x86_64.iso (568MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of PC-BSD 1.3 is ready for testing: "Version 1.3RC1 of PC-BSD has been uploaded to the mirrors, and is now available on our Beta download page. Many bugs have been squashed for this release in preparation for 1.3 final." What's new? "Fixed icon size issues in KMenu; installer now does not display extended partitions; installer now can use empty primary partition space to install; fixed issue with BSDStats not properly reporting usage; fixed problem with 'Start' icon text not being translated properly; fixed issues when using installer to upgrade system from 1.2 to 1.3; closed numerous other issues from BETA2." See the release announcement, release notes and changelog for further details. Download (MD5): PCBSD-1.3RC1-x86-CD1.iso (668MB).
A new unstable build of Elive is out: "Elive 0.5.5 development released." The release announcement hints at some reasons for the new release; as an example, those who wish to upgrade to the latest version of X.Org will find that their ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers no longer work, a new version of GCC from Debian will prevent the proprietary kernel drivers from installing successfully without recompiling the kernel, and there is also a serious bug affecting certain SCSI-emulated CD-ROMs. The new release comes with a downgraded kernel version 2.6.15.7 and several WiFi driver modules. Please read the release announcement for more information. Download: elive_0.5.5_unstable.iso (651MB, MD5).
The first beta of the all new SystemRescueCd 0.3 is ready for download and testing: "Version 0.3.0 beta1 of the SystemRescueCd project has been released. This is a major update. This new version comes with the X.Org graphical environment that allows running GParted. Several graphical software have been added such as Firefox 2.0 (we may need browsing the web to find how to repair a system) and graphical editors (gVim and SciTE). This new release also provides ntfs3g beta. It allows mounting an NTFS partition with a full read/write support, and replaces CaptiveNtfs. All the programs were updated, and several small network tools and utilities were added." Read the comprehensive release notes for further details. Download: systemrescuecd-x86-0.3.0-beta1.iso (144MB, MD5).
Atomix is a Serbian Linux distribution based on Fedora Core. Version 4.0, released today, is a major update bringing the following changes: includes more than 2,700 packages; major components: Linux kernel 2.6.18.2, KDE 3.5.5 and OpenOffice.org 2.0.4; development tools: GCC, Python, Perl, PHP, Ruby; complete support for Java development: Java 1.4.2, (GCJ), Eclipse 3.2.1, Jakarta Tomcat 5.5.17; support for virtualisation with Xen 3.0.3; Firefox 2.0 and Thunderbird 1.5.0.8; administration tools for configuring desktops and servers. Read the brief release announcement and release notes (both links in Serbian) for more information. Atomix 4.0 comes in the form of an installation DVD and a live DVD; download the ISO images from here: Atomix-4.0-DVD.iso (3,785MB, MD5), Atomix-4.0-live.iso (888MB, MD5).
Chen Pin-shiun has announced the release of a new edition of PUD GNU/Linux, an Ubuntu-based mini-distribution and live CD. The most interesting part of this release is the fact that it uses LXDE (Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment), a new GTK+-based, light-weight and standards compliant desktop environment designed for older computers and impatient desktop users. It also comes with a fast and versatile file manager called PCManFM. Firefox, Gaim, aMule, Thunar, Beep and VLC media players, GQview image viewer, and a number of popular utilities are also included. Please read the release notes for further information. Download from here: lxde-20061208-23.iso (182MB, MD5). PUD GNU/Linux supports English and Chinese (both simplified and traditional) languages.
The second development build of Freespire 2.0 has been released: "Freespire version 2.0 Alpha2 (1.1.73) is now available for download. This is the second alpha build that might not be good for the health of a production machine. Expect improvements as future builds are released." From the release notes: "Automatic boot menu management does not always work - do not install if you are not experienced at repairing GRUB configurations and MBRs; no upgrade path available from Freespire 1.0; kernel is not SMP enabled; apt repository is pointing to Debian sid; sound for quick switched user accounts inoperative...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download (BitTorrent only): freespire_1.1.73.iso (690MB).
Technalign, Inc. has announced the inaugural release of Pioneer Linux, a Kubuntu-based, desktop-oriented distribution for home and business users: "Technalign, Inc. has announced it has released its new Pioneer Linux operating system to the community. The first release is the 32-bit version to be followed immediately by the 64-Bit Version. The community edition includes many features found previously in Frontier and is available for download at the tapioneer.com website. Both Pioneer 32 and 64 include Firefox 2.0, Thunderbird and KMail email clients, OpenOffice.org, and many others." More details in the press release. Pioneer Linux comes in two flavours: as a freely downloadable live and installation CD, and as a commercial boxed edition with CrossOver Office and technical support. Here are the links to download the free edition: Ta_Pioneer_Free_i386_1124_05.iso (678MB), Ta_Pioneer_Free_i686_1125_05.iso (672MB).
Rene Rebe has announced the release of T2 6.0.2, a Linux distribution build kit originally forked from ROCK Linux: "We are pleased to announce the maintenance release T2 6.0.2 named 'Continuity'. It also comes with some updated packages, but mostly security updates, bug fixes and some improvements. The release primarily focuses on ironing out all known SPARC64 issues for smooth support on Sun T1 Niagara CPU systems such as the T1000 and T2000 - but also includes non-SPARC security fixes, updates and improvements along the lines." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. The scripts for building a custom distribution are available for download from here, while a pre-built minimal binary distribution for SPARC64 can be downloaded from this server: t2-minimal-6.0.2-sparc64-ultrasparc_cd1.iso (225MB, MD5).
openSUSE 10.2 has been released: "After a lot of work, we proudly announce the availability of openSUSE 10.2, formerly known as SUSE Linux 10.x As usual, we ship all the latest open source packages available at the time. But we want to give a special mention to the redesigned GNOME and KDE desktop, Firefox 2.0, ext3 as the new default file system, support for internal SD card readers, new power management and, last but not least, our improved package management. We'd like to thank you all for testing heavily, reporting bugs, giving feedback on mailing lists. Have a lot of fun!" Here is the full release announcement. The CD and DVD images for the i386, x86_64 and PowerPC architectures are available via the BitTorrent protocol or directly from the openSUSE download mirrors; here are a couple of quick links to the DVD images (MD5): openSUSE-10.2-GM-DVD-i386.iso (3,701MB), openSUSE-10.2-GM-DVD-x86_64.iso (3,750MB).
Sergei Mozhaisky has announced the first beta release of Frenzy 1.1, a light-weight FreeBSD-based live CD with a collection of utilities for security and forensic analyses. New features in this release include: support for Unionfs; experimental inclusion of "fem-modules" (Frenzy extension modules); option to boot from ISO image on hard disk; optional "combined boot" from CD and USB storage device; new boot parameter 'no-fem' to exclude loading Frenzy extension modules; new "devel" scripts; support for large MS DOS partitions; new "wheel" group with write privileges to mounted hard disk partitions. Read the full release announcement (in Russian) for further details. Download: frenzy-1.1-BETA-ru.iso (198MB, MD5).
Gaël Duval has announced the first test release of Ulteo, a new distribution that promises to introduce revolutionary concepts in managing and updating an operating system and applications. From the release announcement: "Here is the first public version of Ulteo! Its codename is 'Sirius' because we want to make it a star." The brief release notes explain some of the ideas behind Ulteo: "This installable live CD is based on Debian and Ubuntu packages. It's installed on the hard-drive using "Yuch". A daemon, called UGD (Ulteo General Daemon), is always connecting to Ulteo servers to see if a newer, more up to date system is available. It can then upgrade to this new system." This release of Ulteo is based on Ubuntu 6.06 and uses kernel 2.6.15, X.Org 7.0, KDE 3.5.2 and Firefox 1.5.0.8. The CD image is available for download from here: ulteo-kde-i386-sirius-20061206-1.iso (622MB, MD5) and via BitTorrent.
Michael Prokop has announced the final release of grml 0.9, a Debian-based live CD designed for system administrators and users of text tools: "We have a new release: grml 0.9 with codename 'Dioptrienotto'." Some of the new features include the following: "updated to X.Org 7.1.1; Unicode support; added FreeDOS 1.0 from the Balder project; new handling for added and removed devices; split package grml-etc into grml-etc + grml-etc-core (the latter one provides the core configuration files for e.g. zsh, Screen and Vim); boot option 'grub' boots into 'The All In One Boot Floppy' (which provides Grub)." More information in the release announcement and release notes. Downloadvia BitTorrent or directly from this FTP server: grml_0.9.iso (693MB, MD5). A new version of the project's minimalist edition, called 'grml-small', is also available.
The first development build of Ubuntu 7.04 "Feisty Fawn", also known as "Herd CD", has been released for testing: "Welcome to Feisty Fawn Herd 1, which will in time become Ubuntu 7.04. Herd 1 is the first in a series of milestone CD images that will be released throughout the Feisty development cycle. The Herd images are known to be reasonably free of showstopper CD build or installer bugs, while representing very current snapshots of Feisty. The primary changes from Edgy have been the re-merging of changes from Debian. Common to all variants, we have upgraded the kernel to 2.6.19." Read the release announcement and release notes for more details. Download (MD5): feisty-desktop-i386.iso (679MB), feisty-desktop-amd64.iso (686MB). On a related note, Herd 1 CD images for Kubuntu are also available.
Michael K. Johnson has announced the availability of an updated set of rPath Linux 1 CD and DVD images: "rPath Linux, the first Linux distribution built using the groundbreaking Conary software management system, has released updated images for rPath Linux 1. The new images incorporate installation fixes for certain installation methods and all package updates released as of November 22. The Xen dom0 images have been enhanced with several additional packages for various file systems and LVM support. For information on Xen technology and rPath Linux, see Xen Solutions Using rPath Technologies." Find more details in the release announcement. Download (MD5): rpath-1.0.5-x86-dvd1.iso (1,353MB), rpath-1.0.5-x86_64-dvd1.iso (1,463MB).
The VLOS project has announced the availability of the first release candidate of VLOS 1.3.1: "VLOS 1.3.1-rc1 is ready for download. This release includes the following updates and enhancements: updated to latest udev and dbus; new modular KDE-VLOS with revamped new look using new Kickoff menu; updated to Beryl 0.1.2, GNOME 2.16.2, KDE 3.5.5; new theme and icons in GNOME; updated ATI and NVIDIA drivers; Songbird now included as media player; new webcam driver; new rt73 driver for the RaLink RT73/2571 wireless chipset; new hardware auto-detection system based on udev and hotplug; faster boot time; new X.Org with AIGLX support; updated Azureus to latest version." Here is the full release announcement. Download via BitTorrent: vlos-1.3.1-rc1-dvd_i686.iso (1,418MB), vlos-1.3.1-rc1-dvd_amd64.iso (1,386MB).
The first beta of Linux Mint 2.1 has been released: "This release is based on [Linux Mint 2.0] Barbara. It is the first release candidate for Linux Mint 2.1 'Bea' which will be released on the 20/12/2006. Bea comes with improved artwork and better branding. The Ubuntu branding was removed and replaced with artwork made for Linux Mint. We received a lot of suggestions from the community and we decided to include the following new software in Bea: Beagle, which makes it easy to find stuff from the desktop; NetworkManager, which manages your wired and wireless connections, OpenOffice.org Impress, thanks to which you can now see Impress and PowerPoint presentations...." Read the release notes for further details. Download: LinuxMint-2.1-BETA-023.iso (686MB, MD5).
The Pardus Linux project has announced the availability of a Pardus Linux 2007 release candidate. According to the changelog, the new version comes with support for Spanish during system installation, a new graphical tool for managing disk partitions (Disk Manager) and updated versions of PiSi, the package management utility and Comar, the system administration module. The Linux kernel has been updated to version 2.6.18.4, while a number of other packages, including CUPS, GnuPG and NdisWrapper have also been upgraded to their latest versions. Many bugs reported on the distribution's bug tracker have been fixed. Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. The Pardus Linux 2007 RC installation CD (Kurulan) and live CD (Calisan) are available for download from here: Pardus-Kurulan-2007-RC.iso (663MB, SHA1), Pardus-Calisan-2007-RC.iso (624MB, SHA1).
Michael Creel has announced a new major release of ParallelKNOPPIX: "ParallelKNOPPIX 2.0 is released. The 2.x series makes setting up and using the cluster even easier than before. It is also much easier to save a ParallelKNOPPIX setup for re-use. Of course, it is also possible to use a ParallelKNOPPIX cluster without leaving traces on the host machines. The 2.x series is focused on MPI-based parallel computing - PVM is no longer supported. Some details: kernel 2.6.18.3, KDE 3.5.4, new non-parametric multivariate density estimation example using MPITB for GNU Octave." Visit the project's home page to read the release announcement. Download: parallelknoppix-2.0.iso (600MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Parsix GNU/Linux 0.85 has been released: "We are proud to announce that a brand new version of Parsix GNU/Linux is available now. This version brings the latest open source technologies to your PC. Highlights are: GNOME 2.16.2, X.Org 7.1, Linux kernel 2.6.18 with many extra patches and drivers including CK performance and Suspend2 patches and many wireless drivers, Intel ipw3945 wireless support, OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, GNU IceWeasel 2.0 web browser, seamless hibernation and suspend support, newly released xFarDic 0.8.0 multilingual dictionary, updated installer, new artwork, NTFS read/write support using ntfs3g, updated documentation and support for 3D desktop using AIGLX/Compiz. Packages are synchronized with Debian Etch repository as Nov 30, 2006." The release announcement. Download: parsix_085.iso (692MB, MD5).
The inaugural release of 64 Studio, a specialist distribution with a collection of software for digital content creation, is out: "The 64 Studio project produces a distribution of native free software for digital content creation on x86_64 hardware. After eighteen months of development, the project has made its first stable release available for free download. It is named in recognition of the work of Glyn Johns and Eddie Kramer at Olympic Studios in London. The distribution is based on the pure 64 port of Debian GNU/Linux, testing branch, but with a specialised package selection and lots of other customisations. The 64 Studio project also produces a 32-bit edition for legacy PC hardware." Read the full press release for more information. Download (MD5): 64studio-install_1.0.0_amd64.iso (698MB), 64studio-install_1.0.0_i386.iso (659MB).
Damn Small Linux 3.1 has been released. Excerpts from the final changelog: "Converted 54 Lua and Lua/Fltk programs to Lua 5.1.1 Fltk 1.1 via MurgaLua interface; Updated SQLite to 3.3.6; made Unionfs the default boot; improved mount tool for 'after boot' pen drive support; updated hard drive install for consistent fstab; New boot option 'dosswapfile' to auto-scan or specify DOS swap file; new boot option 'fuse' to load upon boot the FUSE file system; improved Antiword fonts; added right click to MyDSL Icon for easy UCItool access; changed color escape codes to echo commands; made mydsl boot option consistent with restore boot option; new theme - Envane...." Read the rest of the changelog for more details. Download: dsl-3.1.iso (49.8MB, MD5).
Xandros Corporation has announced the release of Xandros Desktop 4.1 (marketed as Xandros Desktop 4 Professional): "Xandros, the leading provider of easy-to-use Linux alternatives to Windows, today announced the addition of 'Xandros Desktop - Professional,' featuring advanced 3D desktop graphics effects, Bluetooth wireless support, desktop search and ISV support." The new product is based on Debian 3.1 "sarge" and includes the latest kernel 2.6.18, KDE 3.4.2, Firefox 2.0, CrossOver Office 5.9.1 and many other software applications for the desktop. 3D video effects with Xgl/Compiz and the Beagle desktop search tool are among the new features included in the distribution for the first time. Please read the press release and visit the product's feature page for additional information. Xandros Desktop 4.1 is available for purchase and immediate download from the company's online store (US$99.99).
Michael Prokop has announced the release of grml 0.9 RC1, a Debian-based live CD for system administrators: "The first release candidate of grml 0.9 is available." Besides several new scripts, "cheatcodes" and hard disk installation improvements, the release includes the following new features: "Updated to X.org 7.1.1; Unicode support through boot option; added FreeDOS 1.0 from the Balder project; new handling for added and removed devices; split package grml-etc into grml-etc + grml-etc-core (the latter one provides the core configuration files for zsh, Screen and Vim); boot option 'grub' boots into 'The All In One Boot Floppy'." Find more details in the release announcement and release notes. Download: grml_0.9-rc1.iso (695MB, MD5).
Ubuntu Christian Edition 2.0, the project's first release based on the recently released Ubuntu 6.10 "Edgy Eft", is now available for download: "We are excited to announce the release of Ubuntu CE v2.0. Improvements have been made all around, such as faster system boot up times, faster GNOME start up times, improvements to the user interface, a shiny new optimized kernel, GNOME 2.16 and much more." The release includes several new and upgraded software applications, notably F-Spot digital photo manager, Firefox 2.0, Evolution 2.8.0 and OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, as well as a better technical incorporation of the Ubuntu CE themes. Please read the full the release announcement for further details. Download: Ubuntu_6.10_i386_Christian_Edition_v2_0.iso (696MB, MD5). On a related note, Ubuntu Christian Edition 1.5.1 was also released.
Caixa Mágica is a Portuguese distribution for i586 and x86_64 processors, based on SUSE Linux. Caixa Mágica 11 is designed for both desktops and servers; it offers an easy-to-use desktop environment with KDE or GNOME, custom configuration utilities, intuitive installation program with an option to resize NTFS partitions, convenient software installation and updates via apt-get (for RPM) and Synaptic, improved hardware detection and support, and a complete desktop environment in Portuguese. The project's latest release, version 11, was originally announced (both links in Portuguese) two weeks ago, but only now have the CD and DVD images made available for free download; get the DVDs from here: CM11_32_final_dvd.iso (3,542MB, MD5), CM11_64_final_dvd.iso (3,633MB, MD5).
Terra Soft Solutions has announced the release of Yellow Dog Linux 5.0, a distribution designed for Sony PlayStation 3: "Yellow Dog Linux Enthusiasts, the wait is over! Six months of design, engineering, integration, and testing has culminated in the finest release from Terra Soft to date. Designed, not just assembled, Yellow Dog Linux v5.0 featuring Enlightenment 17 is immediately available via YDL.net Enhanced accounts for your PlayStation 3." Yellow Dog Linux is based on Fedora Core and Linux kernel 2.6.16. Besides the default Enlightenment desktop, it also includes GNOME 2.14, KDE 3.5.3 and the usual range of popular open source software applications. For more information please read the release announcement and visit the distribution's product pages. Yellow Dog Linux 5.0 is available for immediate download for the holders of YDL.net Enhanced accounts (US$69.95).
SabayonLinux 3.2 has been released: "We are glad to announce another big, even more powerful SabayonLinux release. These are the major improvements: reduced boot time thanks to the integration of Unionfs and parallel execution of some boot tasks; improved hardware support: new drivers, USB scanner support, implementation of NVIDIA legacy drivers infrastructure, ATI drivers support, JMicron ATA support, AM2 NVIDIA mainboards support; improved SabayonLinux installer speed and reliability; 2GB Squashfs limit broken - this means more applications and complete localization support; new accelerated desktop infrastructure for managing Beryl...." Read the complete release announcement for more details. Download the SabayonLinux 3.2 DVD images via BitTorrent: SabayonLinux-x86-3.2.iso (3,108MB), SabayonLinux-x86_64-3.2.iso (3,465MB).
The second beta release of PC-BSD 1.3 is ready for testing: "After much hard work, the PC-BSD team is pleased to announce that version 1.3 BETA2 is now available for download. This version adds support for installing in languages other than English, and addresses numerous bugs found in BETA1." Other changes in the latest release include switching to the "Crystal Clear" icon set for default install and a number of package updates, notably Freetype 2.2.1, GTK+ 2.10.6 GStreamer 0.10.10 and libgnome 2.16.0. Please read the release announcement and changelog for further information. Download from here: PCBSD-1.3-x86-BETA2-CD1.iso (666MB, MD5).
Matteo Riondato has announced the availability of an unscheduled release candidate for FreeSBIE 2.0, a FreeBSD-based live CD: "The circumstances make me release a fourth ISO image which is not FreeSBIE 2.0, but FreeSBIE 2.0-RC1 (Release Candidate 1). This is due to the number of bugs which had been fixed after 2.0-BETA was released. If no major bugs are found, FreeSBIE 2.0 is going to be released not too long after FreeBSD 6.2-RELEASE has been released. Hopefully you will be able to put a FreeSBIE 2.0 CD-ROM under your Christmas tree. FreeSBIE 2.0-RC1 is based on the RELENG_6_2 branch of the FreeBSD source tree and on the RELEASE_6_2_0 branch of the ports tree." Here is the full release announcement with a list of download mirrors carrying the CD image. Interested testers can download it from here: FreeSBIE-2.0-RC1-20061123.iso (636MB, MD5).
The second beta release of Pardus Linux 2007 is out. Code named "Sait Faik" after the great Turkish short story writer Sait Faik Abasıyanık, Pardus Linux 2007 comes with the following new features: multilingual installer supporting Turkish, English, German and Dutch; smaller packages and faster updates thanks to the improvements to the Pardus package manager PiSi; intuitive graphical interface of PiSi which makes software installation and updates much easier; fast start-up thanks the new init system developed using the Pardus configuration framework ÇOMAR. The new release also includes a new Tulliana icon set, and more than 200 bug fixes since the previous beta. Please read the full release announcement (in Turkish) for further details. Download: Pardus-Kurulan-2007-Beta2.iso (668MB, MD5).
An updated version of the OpenSolaris-based BeleniX live CD has been released: "A new release of BeleniX with several improvements is now available." What's new? "This release bundles the NVIDIA 3D accelerated driver; updated to OpenSolaris build 52; added a new X.Org configuration utility based on Perl-Curses; updated to Firefox 2.0 and Thunderbird 1.5.0.8; updated to KOffice 1.6.0 which fixes some issues with the earlier KOffice version; this release also bundles the C++ runtime libraries from the SUN Studio Suite; fixed the problematic bug that used to cause a boot-up error after hard disk install in the 0.5 release; fixed several other bugs including a problem with the zone creation script." Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. Download: belenix0.5.1.iso (679MB, MD5).
Steffen Joeris has announced a new test release of Skolelinux 3.0 (also known as Debian-Edu): "After two months of continuous improving and bug fixing the Debian-Edu/Skolelinux project is pleased to announce that the next test release of Debian-Edu/Skolelinux 3.0 codename 'terra' is ready. Highlights: installer support encrypting disks and partitions; added Flash web plugin support using Gnash; added the Adept graphical package manager; added much used package KTuberling; added site summary system to make it easier to keep track of a lot of machines in the network; fixed the NTP configuration; KDE upgraded to 3.5.5; new artwork; audio device access should work out of the box; X.Org upgraded to 7.1." More details in the release announcement. Download: debian-edu_etch-i386-test02.iso (695MB, MD5).
Denis "jaromil" Rojo has announced a new stable version of dyne:bolic, an independently developed live CD with a collection of open source tools for multimedia production: "This is dyne:bolic 2.3. Starting from this release dyne:II core runs efficiently on solid state devices, loading its system from a compact-flash or similar controller. Moreover, this release significantly improves stability and performance, running Linux 2.6.18 kernel well optimized for real-time low latency, shipped along with new and updated software. New and updated software include: VNC for remote desktop operation and recording, MPlayer and ffmpeg audio/video codecs, DVD recording tools, Ksubtitle editor, FUSE, and PCMCIA card auto-detection." Please read the rest of the release announcement for further information. Download from here: dyne-2.3.iso (638MB, MD5).
Almost there! The release candidate for openSUSE 10.2 has been released: "I'm glad to announce Release Candidate 1 (RC1) of openSUSE 10.2, code name Basilisk Lizard. It contains a large number of enhancements and updates done by the open source community and Novell's development teams. The next release will be in two weeks, our final version, we're now concentrating on fixing shipment blockers." Read the complete release announcement for further details. As usual, the CD/DVD images for three architectures are available for download via BitTorrent or directly from these FTP/HTTP mirrors; quick links to the i386 and x86_64 DVD torrents: openSUSE-10.2-RC1-DVD-i386.iso (3.44GB), openSUSE-10.2-RC1-DVD-x86_64.iso (3.45GB).
A new development release of Elive live CD is now available for download and testing. What's new? "Icedove is the new name for Thunderbird; many updates, the packages are updated from Debian, some of the important updates are: cdrecord, cdda2wav, dvd+rw-tools, nfs-common; Czech selection on the boot menu fixed; kernel and drivers all updated, new versions, some more drivers, all built with the actual GCC from Debian, kernel update from 2.6.18 to 2.6.18.2; Flash 9 beta; wireless bcm43xx; ATI driver updated and some little things fixed." Read the full release announcement for more information. Download from here: elive_0.5.3_unstable.iso (639MB, MD5).
The first development build of Freespire 2.0 has been released: "Freespire version 2.0 Alpha (1.1.57) is now available for download. New features: KDM login manager; KDE 3.5.5 with user switching and SuperKaramba; kernel 2.6.18; desktop directory names (no spaces); Lbrowser with Flash Player 9 beta; Lmail including FreeLinuxEmail; Gaim 2.0.0 beta4; OpenOffice.org 2.0.4." This early alpha release contains a number of known problems and is therefore not recommended for production systems. For more information please read the release announcement and release notes. The CD image is available for download via BitTorrent: freespire_1.1.57.iso (668MB, MD5).
An updated version of Inside Security Rescue Toolkit (INSERT) has been released. From the release notes: "This release brings minor updates and a few bug fixes. The latest version of ntfs-3g is included, so people interested in using the NTFS write support should upgrade. Changes: added tsclient on user request; fixed bug with ClamAV file permissions; reverted to the debianesque GRUB; rdesktop is now v1.5.0; ntfs-3g, ntfsprogs, FUSE, TestDisk and mdadm were updated; ClamAV and AVScan were updated; a few basic packages were updated; the virus database for ClamAV was updated to the latest version." Download: INSERT-1.3.8a_en.iso (59.9MB, MD5) or INSERT-1.3.8a_de.iso (59.9MB, MD5).
Vine Linux 4.0 for i386 and PowerPC processors has been released. From the release notes: "This is Vine Linux version 4.0. Desktop environment: GNOME 2.14.2, including GTK+ 2.8 and glib 2.12, changed the GNOME/GTK+ theme to a better-looking Vine Linux theme; Firefox 2.0 (custom build for Vine Linux); Anthy is now included in place of Canna, SCIM and kinput2; default Japanese fonts - VL Gothic Font family is included as a default font for user interface, TeX and printing; movie player Totem and music player BMP (Beep Media Player). Kernel: this version contains kernel 2.6.16.29 with many driver updates and backports, which in turn supports many new devices. System components: X.Org X11R6.9.0 with backported drivers, updated ATI, NVIDIA and Intel drivers...." Read the full press release (in Japanese) for further details. Download: Vine40-i386.iso (639MB, SHA1) or Vine40-ppc.iso (666MB, SHA1).
The Damn Small Linux project has released the fourth release candidate of the distribution's upcoming version 3.1. From the changelog: "Damn Small Linux v3.1 RC4 is now ready for testing. Cumulative changelog: improved mount tool for 'after boot' pen drive support; fixed reported issues with mount tool - sort order and missing devices; fixed incomplete Lua conversion of dslMirrorSel.lua and icontool.lua; updated .jwmrc for recent menu changes; updated hard drive install for consistent fstab; updated hard drive install - lilo to partition instead of Master Boot Record; updated frugal lilo - dropped hda requirement and lilo to partition; new theme - envane...." Download: dsl-3.1RC4.iso (49.8MB, MD5).
Yuichiro Nakada has announced a new unstable release of Berry Linux, version 0.76. According to the changelog, this is the first Berry based on the recently released Fedora Core 6, with most components updated to their upstream versions. Berry Linux 0.76 is based on Linux kernel 2.6.18 with SMP, ndev/udev and bootsplash patches, support for Unionfs 1.4, FUSE file system and proprietary kernel module from NVIDIA, version 1.0-9625. It also includes glibc 2.5, GCC 4.1.1, X.Org 7.1, KDE 3.5.5, OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, Firefox and Thunderbird 1.5.0.8, Xgl/AIGLX + Beryl 0.1.2, MPlayer 1.0rc1. The CD image is available for download from here: berry-0.76.iso (521MB, MD5). Berry Linux is a Fedora-based live CD with automatic hardware configuration, KDE, graphical hard disk installer, and support for Japanese and English languages.
Zenwalk Linux 4.0 has been released: "The major version number reflects that X11 is updated to version 7.1, which is a structural modification, system wide. All X software packages have been recompiled, including a large amount of software in the ZenCommunity repository. This is the biggest change since the beginning of the Zenwalk project; however, old Zenwalk 3.x and Slackware 11 X-software packages should be compatible with Zenwalk 4.0. This version of Zenwalk uses the new stable 2.6.18.1 kernel. Netpkg has been updated with a new GTK-based user interface - a total rewrite of the software to become one of the most advanced and intuitive network package managers." More details about the changes and updates in Zenwalk Linux 4.0 are available in the release announcement. Download: MD5).
AliXe, a Canadian project known for developing a SLAX-based live CD localised into French, has released a bi-lingual (English and French) edition of their latest version. Called "ICE Edition", the new live CD includes the IceWM window manager, together with a range of GTK+ applications, such as AbiWord, Gnumeric, Bluefish, GIMP, Inkscape, Firefox, Sylpheed, Gaim, GParted, Graveman, etc: "AliXe v0.09 ICE edition is a bilingual live CD (English and French). It's based on SLAX 5.1.8 Popcorn." Read the release announcements in English or French for further details and download information. Get the CD image from here: alixe09-ICE.iso (276MB, MD5).
Olivier Cochard-Labbe has announced a new stable release of FreeNAS, a tiny FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network Attached Storage (NAS) services. From the changelog: "Updated to FreeBSD 6.2 PRERELEASE; added new geom RAID5 module; fixed su permission; fixed FTP anonymous login; fixed the e2fsck bug, now EXT2 file system should be correctly repaired when errors are detected; added DHCP client option for LAN interface; changed default Samba buffer size to 16384; added option for not erasing the MBR when initializing disk - some RAID controllers store important data in the MBR; replace PHP 4 by PHP 5; replaced mini_httpd by lighttpd; replace sh shell with tcsh; upgraded Samba to 3.0.23a...." Download: FreeNAS-0.68.iso (38.1MB, MD5).
The third release candidate of VectorLinux 5.8 is ready for testing: "We are announcing the release of Vector Linux 5.8 Standard RC3, 'Cinderella', which follows our legendary tradition of stability (inherited from uncle Slackware 11.0) and blazing speed on even modest hardware. Also this release is more of what we have been doing for years now: fully working browser plugins (Flash 9, Sun Java 1.5 Update 9, audio and video, etc), codecs like mp3, Real media, Windows media and DVD playback (including encrypted movies). Features include: Linux kernel 2.6.17.13, Xfce 4.3.99.2, SeaMonkey Internet Suite 1.0.6, Firefox 2.0 and Opera 9.02, The Gimp and Xara LX for your graphic needs..." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: VL-5.8-std-RC3.iso (519MB, MD5).
A new version of MCNLive, a Mandriva-based live CD with KDE, support for popular media formats, wireless networking and 3D desktop, has been released: "I am glad to announce a new edition of MCNLive, code name Cherbourg, a portable live Linux system based on and 100% compatible with Mandriva Linux 2007. Highlights: 2.6.17 kernel; 3D desktop (AIGLX) with the free X.Org drivers for Intel and ATI video cards; desktop environment: KDE 3.5.4; office suite: KOffice; Opera 9.02; music, video and image applications with most common codecs; Internet and networking applications for all your needs; NTFS read-write support. All this on less than 360 MB." Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. Download: MCNLive-Cherbourg.iso (358MB, MD5).
Barry Kauler has released a new stable version of Puppy Linux. Version 2.12 comes in two editions - a larger "zdrv" edition with "a massive collection of kernel drivers and firmware," while the "standard" SeaMonkey edition "has a cut-down selection of drivers on a par with previous Puppies." From the release notes: "The greatest news for 2.12 is the support for a huge range of kernel modules, using a new 'fetch on demand' system. There are also exciting new mini applications developed by Puppy enthusiasts." Please read the release announcement for further information. Download: puppy-2.12-seamonkey.iso (68.0MB, MD5), puppy-2.12-seamonkey-zdrv.iso (83.1MB, MD5).
Ken Smith has announced the availability of FreeBSD 6.2-RC1: "We have now reached the Release Candidate stage of the FreeBSD 6.2 release cycle. A few significant problems had been discovered during the initial BETA testing and those issues should now be fixed. This is the first point packages have been included with the test builds and a few minor nits have been noticed already. In particular these are known problems which will be addressed before RC2: sysinstall tries to install the wrong package for Linux emulation on i386; if you install gnome2 off the distribution media it will fail to find packages for gmime and gmime-sharp; RC1 distribution media does not include the documentation tree." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download (MD5): 6.2-RC1-i386-disc1.iso (519MB), 6.2-RC1-amd64-disc1.iso (562MB).
Alan Baghumian has announced the third development release of Parsix GNU/Linux 0.85: "Third testing version of Parsix GNU/Linux 0.85 is available now. Major changes since test 2: fixed hibernation and suspend, changed font rendering default settings, GNOME 2.16.1, OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, Firefox 2.0, new artwork, updated documentation, fixed more that 20 bugs, added ltmodem and sl-modem drivers again, updated HSF/HCF internal modem drivers and many package updates, synchronized with Debian testing branch as Nov 16, 2006. We need to test new GNOME 2.16.1 desktop more and final version is planned for Dec 1, 2006. This is a RC quality release and you can report possible bugs here." Here is the brief release announcement. Download: parsix_085-test-3.iso (696MB, MD5).
Red Hat has announced the second beta release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5: "Red Hat is pleased to announce the availability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Beta 2. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 has been developed in close cooperation with the Fedora Core 6 and the upstream community. This is the first Red Hat Enterprise Linux release that includes Xen-based open source virtualization technology. The Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Beta 2 release contains virtualization support on the x86 and x86_64 architectures as well as a technology preview of Xen for Itanium 2. We are particularly interested in your testing feedback on the virtualization technology." For more information please see the release announcement and read the release notes (x86). Unlike the first RHEL 5 beta, the latest development release is only available to the subscribers of Red Hat Networks.
Linux Mint is an Ubuntu-based distribution whose goal is to provide a more complete out-of-the-box experience by including browser plugins, media codecs, support for DVD playback, Java, and other components. Linux Mint 2.0, code name "Barbara", was released yesterday: "This release is based on Ubuntu 6.10 and uses the Ubuntu installer. The desktop is GNOME 2.16.1 and the kernel is 2.6.17. Barbara comes with the following plugins: Macromedia Flash 9 beta, Sun Java 1.5 Update 9, RealPlayer 10. Support for MP3, Windows and various codecs, encrypted DVDs is installed by default. Barbara comes with Amarok 1.4.4 instead of Rhythmbox. The default artwork is a blue version of the 'Human' theme." Read the release notes for further information. Download (MD5): LinuxMint-2.0.iso (679MB).
Auke Kok has announced the first release candidate for Lunar Linux 1.6.1, a source-based distribution originally forked from Sorcerer: "I'm glad to release 1.6.1rc1-i686 for general testing into the Lunar community. This ISO is an incremental update to 1.6.0 and features full updated packages, including kernel 2.6.18.2. This ISO is meant as a refresher for newer systems and new installs, reducing the time to get those updated to the latest packages and providing support for newer systems that require a more recent kernel for hardware support. The ISO has the same size and packages as the 1.6.0 one. -mm, -prepatch and -rc kernels were removed altogether from the build code, as they are too out-of-date for the general user." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: lunar-1.6.1rc1-i686.iso.bz2 (239MB, MD5).
Free Ekanayaka has announced a new testing release of 64 Studio, a Debian-based Linux distribution with a collection of software for digital content creation: "This is just to let you know that I've built a new ISO with a new 2.6.18 kernel, which includes the latest 2.6.18.2 patches and version rt6 of the realtime-prempt patch. The kernel and the relevant modules are the only differences with respect to 0.9.5, so if you prefer you can just install them from the testing repository. The i386 kernel has been built with HPET disabled, so it should work fine on dual processors too. For AMD64 users, please give it a try and let me know if the new kernel solves the boot issues with 2.6.18." Here is the release announcement. Download (MD5): 64studio-install_0.9.7_amd64.iso (687MB), 64studio-install_0.9.7_i386.iso (664MB).
"Mayix is not dead," proclaims the web site of a project which, among other products, develops a Gentoo-based live CD for Spanish-speaking users. Mayix LiveCD 2006.2 was released over the weekend. It includes the so-called "stage 4" binary Gentoo packages with kernel 2.6.17, X.Org 7.1, GNOME 2.14, Firefox 2.0 and other popular open source applications. Read the full release announcement (in Spanish) for further details and known issues. The live CD images with (con) or without (sin) the X window packages and graphical applications are available for free download from here: mayix-2006.2-imagen-con-X.iso (642MB, MD5), mayix-2006.2-imagen-sin-X.iso (684MB, MD5).
A new version of the Slackware-based STUX GNU/Linux live CD has been released. What's new? "Based on Slackware current as at 8 October 2006 (Slackware 11.0); Linux kernel upgraded to 2.6.17 from KNOPPIX CD 5.0.1; KDE, and all programs executed from KDE, now run as unprivileged user; user management, also when running from live CD, is more sophisticated; various services have been hardened; added udev, Tor, 3D-Desktop, MPlayer, Icecast, lm_sensors, Lopster, wpa_supplicant; now using wireless and network initialization scripts from Alien BOB; all STUX utilities reviewed and enhanced; faster boot; enhanced wireless networking support; many other changes, fixes and enhancements." Visit the project's news page to read the release announcement and changelog. STUX 0.9.2 is available for download via BitTorrent: stux-linux-0.9.2.iso (654MB).
Matteo Riondato has announced the beta release of the FreeBSD-based FreeSBIE live CD, version 2.0: "After FreeSBIE GMV and FreeSBIE LVC (2.0-PREBETA), a new ISO is available from today. This is the third of a series of four ISO images: GMV, LVC, EW, and CE, with CE being hopefully FreeSBIE 2.0. The image being release today is EW, which is FreeSBIE 2.0-BETA. FreeSBIE 2.0-BETA is based on the RELENG_6 branch of FreeBSD as it was on 20061008. Ports are based on the RELEASE_6_2_0 branch. ... A known bug consists in the 'freesbie' user not allowed to use ping(8). Another problem is the date after boot: it is set to Epoch. This is still an issue in FreeSBIE-2.0-BETA but will be solved in future ISO images." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: FreeSBIE-2.0-BETA-20061108.iso (612MB, MD5).
The first beta of Pardus Linux 1.1 has been released: "Pardus operating system's latest beta version, codenamed 'ATA', is out for download and testing. Pardus 'ATA' incorporates a range of features enhancing the productivity and usability for personal desktop computing. Some highlights are OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, KDE 3.5.3, YALI installer 1.1 beta7 and Firefox 1.5.0.7, together with lots of entertaining games, educational software, desktop publishing packages, digital photography software and painting applications. Pardus 'ATA' is geared towards desktop users, developers, Linux enthusiasts and hobbyists." Read the full press release for further information. Download the installation CD (Kurulan) or live CD (Calisan) from here: Pardus-Kurulan-2007-Beta.iso (694MB, MD5), Pardus-Calisan-2007-Beta.iso (685MB, MD5).
Andreas Jaeger has announced the second beta release of openSUSE 10.2: "I'm glad to announce the second beta of openSUSE 10.2 codename Basilisk Lizard. It contains a large number of enhancements and updates done by the open source community and Novell's development teams. For openSUSE Beta 2 we updated to OpenSync 0.20 and would ask for some testing by the community. I also like to ask you to test especially the following areas and report bugs: Bluetooth - openSUSE 10.2 contains a new Bluetooth stack; Xen; power management; Firefox 2.0; OpenOffice.org - version 2.0.4 is the current version and is available natively in 64-bit." More details in the release announcement. As usual, the CD/DVD images are available via BitTorrent or directly from openSUSE mirrors; quick links to the DVD torrents: openSUSE-10.2-Beta2-DVD-i386 (3.98GB), openSUSE-10.2-Beta2-DVD-x86_64 (3.99GB).
An updated version of Ubuntu Christian Edition has been released: "We have just released Ubuntu CE v1.5! With this release we focused on the fixing some issues with the live CD installer. We have also made a subtle, but very important change to the Ubuntu CE installer, upgrade_me script, Convert_me script, Web Content Filtering Only script, and the DansGuardian GUI Only script. The Configure Parental Controls GUI has been updated to include a few new features. You can now easily adjust the naughtiness limit with the GUI. You can also lock and unlock your Firefox proxy settings via the GUI. The Firefox proxy settings come locked by default, but if you need to unlock them for some reason you can do that." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: Ubuntu_6.06_i386_Christian_Edition_v1_5.iso (700MB, MD5).
The NetBSD project has released a complete live CD with automatic hardware detection and an option to boot into a graphical desktop with KDE. Called NetBSD Live! 2007, the CD image is available for the i386 processor architectures: "This CD-ROM contains a specially constructed version of NetBSD 4.0_BETA sporting a modified kernel based on NetBSD-CURRENT. Booting is done using an adapted version of the GRUB boot loader. The CD contains the following software packages in addition to the base operating system files: XFree86, KDE 3.5.4 with multiple language sets; joe and kvim text editors; AbiWord word processor, Dia 0.9.4 flow-charting and diagramming application, Inkscape 0.44 vector graphic application; The GNU Image Processor (GIMP) 2.2; Firefox web browser...." Read the complete release notes for further information. Download: netbsd-live-2007.iso (701MB); also available via BitTorrent.
The first release candidate of Kaella 3.0 is out. Complete with support for French and common hardware used in France, the project's latest version is based on KNOPPIX 5.0, but includes a number of updated applications, such as NdisWrapper 1.23, CUPS 1.2.5, OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.7, GCompris 7.4 and Tuxpaint 0.9.16. The release also comes with new scripts to activate wireless networking and USB ADSL modems. If no major problems are found, this release candidate will become the stable Kaella 3.0. For more information please visit the distribution's home page and read the release notes. Download: Kaella-KNOPPIX_Linux_Azur_3.0RC1.iso (695MB, MD5).
Miklós Vajna has announced the first pre-release build of Frugalware Linux 0.6, code name "Terminus": "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.6pre1, the first technical preview release of the upcoming 0.6 stable release. New features: all installed-by-default packages are now built using gcj/ecj, javac is only provided as an alternate compiler; installing from a USB stick is now supported; added PHP documentation in 23 languages. Updates: Linux 2.6.18 with a much improved SATA layer and a few new drivers; GNU C Library 2.5 with support for the new ELF hash table format; Mozilla Firefox 2.0 with improved tabbed browsing and inline spell checking; Xfce 4.4rc1; KDE 3.5.5 with KHTML improvements and support for sudo in kdesu...." Read the release announcement for further details. Download (SHA1): frugalware-0.6pre1-i686-dvd1.iso (4,261MB).
A new, pre-stable build of Taiwan's B2D Linux is now ready for download and testing. The main reason for the updated release is the introduction of a new kernel, version 2.6.18.1, with improved hardware support. Other new features include: newly added support for the latest ipw3945 Centrino wireless network cards; newly introduced proprietary kernel drivers by NVIDIA (type "root xmodule=nvidia" at boot prompt); solved issues with multiplex sound effects; completed transition to Unionfs file system for the live CD; updated Skype to version 1.3, Gaim to version 2.0.0beta4; added "GTK Style and Fonts" dialog to the KDE Control Centre. For more details, screenshots and known issues please read the full release announcement (in Chinese). Download: B2DpureKGB20061108.iso (695MB, MD5).
A new version of EnGarde Secure Linux 3 has been released: "Guardian Digital is pleased to announce the release of EnGarde Secure Community 3.0.10. This release includes our new SELinux Control Console and our new context-sensitive Guardian Digital help system, along with bug fixes and upgrades to major applications including Apache, Postfix, and Snort." The newly introduced SELinux Control Console module allows users "to monitor the audit logs, toggle enforcing mode and booleans, download the policy to your local computer, and trigger a relabel of the file systems." More details can be found in the release announcement and release notes. Download: engarde-community-3.0.10.i686.iso (570MB, MD5) or engarde-community-3.0.10.x86_64.iso (568MB, MD5).
Onur Özdemir has announced the release of Truva Linux 1.0, a Turkish desktop distribution based on Slackware Linux. The most notable features of the release include: integration of GParted for disk partitioning tasks during installation; MPlayer with support for playing encrypted DVDs and many popular media formats; introduction of udev for device management; support for Turkish and English languages. Truva Linux 1.0 is based on Linux kernel 2.6.17 and ships with X.Org 6.9.0, KDE 3.5.4, Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.6, MPlayer 1.0pre8, and the usual range of open source software applications. Please read the complete release announcement (in Turkish) for further details. Download: truva-1.0-i486.iso (670MB, MD5).
The third release candidate of Damn Small Linux 3.1 has been released: "DSL v3.1 RC3 is now ready for testing. Cumulative change log: improved frugal_grub.sh, frugal_lilo.sh, dsl-hdinstall and dsl-installboot to support Poormans via Bootfloppy installs; updated mkdosswapfile; new boot option 'dosswapfile' to autoscan or specify dosswapfile; dpkg-restore and gnu-utils-restore made consistent with other extensions to use /opt/.mydsl_dir; fixed bug in mydslInfo to parse for new UNC area of repository; fixed bug in DSLpanel for Xvesa; improved root's PATH; new boot option 'fuse' to load upon boot the fuse system; improved Antiword fonts; changed color escape codes to echo commands...." See this forum post for a detailed list of all changes. Download: dsl-3.1RC3.iso (49.8MB, MD5).
Available since early last week, the fourth revision of Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 has now been formally announced and released: "The Debian project is pleased to announce the fourth update of its stable distribution Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 (code name 'sarge'). This update mainly adds corrections for security problems to the stable release, along with a few adjustment to serious problems. No new installation images will be created. Users are advised to update their system against an official Debian mirror after a new installation and update the kernel instead. Upgrading to this revision online is usually done by pointing the apt package tool to one of Debian's many FTP or HTTP mirrors." Please read the rest of the release announcement for further details and a complete list of security updates and bug fixes.
The AUSTRUMI project has released a new version of the Enlightenment mini live CD. From the changelog: "Version 1.3.0. Added front-end for Apache, vsftpd and Ample; updated AbiWord, Bash, Enlightenment, Ghostscript, Firefox, LILO, Linphone, OpenSSH, QEMU, Squashfs, XChat, X.Org; updated libraries: Freetype, glibc, GTK+, OpenSSL, Pango; removed Deco, Airsnort, gcrontab, gFTP; added NTFS write support; updated kernel to version 2.6.18.1." Visit the distribution's newly redesigned home page to read the complete release announcement. Download from here: austrumi-1.3.0.iso (49.5MB, MD5).
Heiko Zuerker has announced that the server oriented Devil-Linux has been updated to version 1.2.11: "Devil-Linux 1.2.11 is available for download! Change highlights: kernel 2.4.33.3, many program updates, better NFS and USB card reader support, updated all Perl modules and added all modules required by SpamAssassin, OCR plugins can now be used with SpamAssassin, corrected the location of various binaries and many more other changes." Read the release announcement and changelog for further details. Download: devil-linux-1.2.11-i486.tar.bz2 (183MB), devil-linux-1.2.11-i586-SMP.tar.bz2 (184MB), devil-linux-1.2.11-i686-SMP-server.tar.bz2 (181MB).
Madan Puraskar Pustakalaya has announced the availability of an updated release of NepaLinux, a Debian-based distribution with support for the Nepali language: "The new release, NepaLinux 1.1, is a relatively bug-free and revised version of the previous beta release. Special features: Linux kernel 2.6.17; localized GNOME desktop environment 2.14, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2, GnuCash accounting software 2.0.1 SeaMonkey suite; Pango-enabled Firefox 1.5 and Thunderbird 1.5.0.4 with complex text rendering support; updated input system (XKB, SCIM); upgraded spellchecker and thesaurus for Nepali; additional translations of applications (AbiWord, Bluefish, gvim, GnomeBaker, Grip, Gnumeric, etc); better hardware detection and compatibility; enhanced and consistent translation." Read the rest of the press release for further information. Download: nepalinux11.iso (646MB, MD5).
The second release candidate of VectorLinux 5.8 is now available for download and testing: "The VectorLinux team is proud to announce the second release candidate of VectorLinux 5.8 standard edition. This marks our third public release of 5.8 which includes bug fixes, and updates to some software packages since RC1. VectorLinux standard 5.8 is based on the just-released Slackware 11.0 as well as our own Dynamite version, which helped squash many bugs with its numerous releases. Updated software includes the full SeaMonkey browser suite as well as Firefox and Opera. This RC has 2 additional kernels and 1 additional initrd, so it should be installable on just about every piece of x86 hardware out there." Here is the full release announcement. Download: VL-5.8-std-RC2.iso (528MB, MD5).
A new development version of Elive has been released for download and testing. What's new? "The beta version of the future Flash 9 is included; update from X.Org 7.0 to 7.1; Intel wireless firmware updates for the ipw2x00 models of wireless cards; Torus trooper, an amazing game made by Kenta Cho, with a retro-futuristic style; Transmission, a small basic BitTorrent client; E16 fonts - fixed problem with characters on the E16 menus and messages; E16 sounds - helpful sounds added to the 'Elive look' of E16 (a nice girl's voice explaining the available options); Java was again added to the development versions; Evidence no longer be in the dock, replaced by Thunar; Thunar media tags and archiver plugins have been added to Elive; Gaim updated to the latest version." Read the complete release announcement for details. Download: elive_0.5.2_unstable.iso (640MB, MD5).
NetBSD 3.1 has been released: "The NetBSD Project is pleased to announce that version 3.1 of the NetBSD operating system is now available in both source and binary form. NetBSD is a general-purpose Open Source operating system that provides interfaces for running a wide range of applications on a big number of different hardware platforms, all from one source tree. NetBSD 3.1 contains many bug fixes, security updates, new drivers and new features like support for Xen3 DomU." Read the rest of the release announcement for a detailed list of changes and new features. Download (MD5): i386cd-3.1.iso (208MB), amd64cd-3.1.iso (151MB). The CD images for a large number of processor architectures are also available for download via BitTorrent. On a related note, NetBSD 3.0.2, an updated version of the NetBSD 3.0 branch, is also out.
André Detsch has announced the release of GoboLinux 013, a distribution with a radically revamped file system hierarchy: "We are pleased to introduce GoboLinux 013, the new major release of GoboLinux, the alternative Linux distribution. This release is the result of over an year of work on the build infrastructure used by the distribution. The new live CD build environment is highly customizable and package building was overhauled by using a dynamically-generated sandboxed environment which insulates the source code and its dependencies during compilation. These under-the-hood improvements resulted in cleaner builds when bringing the package set up-to-date: major upgrades include X.Org 7.1, KDE 3.5.3, glibc 2.4 and GCC 4.1.1." Read the release notes for detailed information about the new GoboLinux. Download: GoboLinux-013-i686.iso (700MB, MD5).
Daisuke Suzuki has announced a new release candidate of the upcoming Vine Linux 4.0. The system installer has received a number of updates and bug fixes, including better filtering of screen resolutions, removal of the "fbvesa" option in case when i810/ATI Rage cards are detected, automatic configuration of screen resolution, default use of UTC time zone in the PowerPC edition, and fixes of typographic errors. On the main system, Ruby, screen, gnutls and libgnomecups have all been upgraded to their latest upstream versions. Please read the release announcement and visit the beta information page (both links in Japanese) for more details. Interested beta testers can download the latest CD images from here: Vine40rc2-i386.iso (629MB, SHA1), Vine40rc2-ppc.iso (652MB, SHA1).
The Free Software Foundation has announced the inaugural stable release of gNewSense, an Ubuntu-based distribution, modified to include Free Software only: "gNewSense is a free software GNU/Linux distribution created by two Irish free software advocates, Brian Brazil and Paul O'Malley, and is based on the Ubuntu and Debian distributions. The goal of gNewSense is to provide users with a software package that offers the stability of Ubuntu with the addition of freedom. gNewSense will provide users with full security updates and is available for immediate download in live CD ISO format along with a version of the Ubiquity graphical installer." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: gnewsense-livecd-1.0.iso (631MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Yuichiro Nakada has released an updated version of Berry Linux, a Fedora-based live CD with support for Japanese and English languages, and with a hard disk installation option. According to the changelog, the latest Berry comes with an updated Linux kernel, version 2.6.18.1, with patches for symmetric multiprocessing and boot splash, and with support for ndev/udev. It also includes the latest MadWiFi wireless networking drivers, version 0.9.2, and updated versions of NVIDIA (1.0-8774) and ATI (8.29.6) proprietary kernel modules. Among other packaging changes, DirectFB has been updated to version 1.0.0-rc1, Qingq to 0.9.1, Whiz to 0.53 with Kimera 1.32, and WINE to 0.9.23. The SCIM and SCIM-Whiz packages for inputting Asian characters have been removed. Berry Linux 0.75 and Berry Linux Mini 0.75 are available for download (MD5) from here: berry-0.75.iso (514MB), berry-mini-0.75.iso (124MB).
The first stable release by the TrueBSD project development team is now available for download. TrueBSD is a general purpose FreeBSD-based live CD featuring the Xfce window manager and bundling a range of server and desktop applications, including Win32 media codecs and NVIDIA graphics drivers. From the changelog: "New: support for English, Belorussian languages for all utilities; algorithm for searching and loading language localisation depends on user settings; script for changing system language and font size in XTerm; saving profile to any available device (early only to floppy disc); script for installing TrueBSD on hard disk; script for network configuration; script for turning on OpenGL support for NVIDIA...." More information on the project's home page. Download: truebsd-0.1release_i386.iso (370MB, MD5).
Ken Smith has announced the third beta release of FreeBSD 6.2: "BETA3 for the FreeBSD 6.2 release is now available on most of the FTP mirror sites. There have been a lot of fixes to many things since BETA2. The most important of the things that have been worked on is the driver for em(4). We are hoping people who had been reporting problems with em(4) can test what has been done. Both positive and negative feedback would be appreciated, if you had been experiencing problems that are now gone we would like to know. We are getting much closer to something that is release-able. Your help with the testing up to now has been appreciated, and continued testing would be appreciated even more." The release announcement. Download (i386, MD5): 6.2-BETA3-i386-disc1.iso (412MB), 6.2-BETA3-i386-disc2.iso (31MB).
An updated version of the Gentoo-based redWall Firewall has been released: "Good day firewallers and spam fighters, redWall Firewall version 2.2.3 has been released. Release Notes: new features have been added; Vuurmuur has been installed again; the initial setup has been rewritten to be like a step-by-step configuration; a Webmin module for OpenVPN has been added; a comprehensive reverse proxy called VultureNG has been added." Please consult the release announcement and changelog for a more detailed list of changes. Download from here: redwall-2.2.3.iso (529MB, MD5).
Theo de Raadt has announced the release of OpenBSD 4.0: "We are pleased to announce the official release of OpenBSD 4.0. This is our 20th release on CD-ROM (and 21st via FTP). We remain proud of OpenBSD's record of ten years with only a single remote hole in the default install. As in our previous releases, 4.0 provides significant improvements, including new features, in nearly all areas of the system. New/extended platforms: armish - various ARM-based appliances, using the Redboot boot loader, currently only supporting the Thecus N2100 and IOData HDL-G; sparc64 - UltraSPARC III based machines are now supported; zaurus - support for the Zaurus SL-C3200." Improved hardware support, many new tools, new functionality features, and assorted improvements are all part of OpenBSD 4.0; find more details in the release announcement. As usual, the official OpenBSD 4.0 CD set is only available from the project's online store (US$50.00), but small CD images designed for network installation can be downloaded for free. Quick links to the i386 and AMD64 CD images: i386/cd40.iso (4.88MB, MD5), amd64/cd40.iso (5.05MB, MD5).
Michael K. Johnson has announced the availability of updated rPath Linux 1 CD and DVD images: "rPath Linux, the first Linux distribution built using the groundbreaking Conary software management system, has released updated images for rPath Linux 1. The new images incorporate installation changes, new kernels, and all package updates released as of October 27. New in rPath Linux 1.0.4 is support for the Xen 3.0.3 hypervisor, including Xen installation media. For information on Xen technology and rPath Linux, see Xen Solutions Using rPath Technologies. If you have already installed rPath Linux 1, you should update your current system using Conary rather than reinstall using the new images." More details in the release announcement. Download (MD5): rpath-1.0.4-x86-dvd1.iso (1,349MB), rpath-1.0.4-x86_64-dvd1.iso (1,459MB).
Oliver Schweissgut has announced the release of Xfld 0.3, a Xubuntu-based live and installation CD featuring the latest development build of Xfce: "The os-cillation team is happy to announce the release of Xfld 0.3. Xfld is a live demo of the Xfce desktop environment, version 4.4. Xfld boots from a CD-ROM drive and provides a complete GNU/Linux operating environment without the need to install anything. The new release features applications and tools like Xfce 4.4rc1 with Thunar, OpenOffice.org 2.0.4, GIMP 2.2.13, Firefox 2.0, Thunderbird 1.5, AbiWord 2.4.5, Wireshark 0.99.3a, Ruby, Python and Perl... Xfld 0.3 is now based on Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy), instead of plain Debian as before." Visit the project's home page to read the complete release announcement. Download the English and German editions from here (MD5): xfld-0.3-en.iso (697MB), xfld-0.3-de.iso (697MB).
René Rebe has announced an updated release of T2 SDE, a source-based distribution build kit originally forked from ROCK Linux: "We are pleased to announce the maintenance release T2 6.0.1 named 'From Zero To One'. This release includes bug fixes, security fixes, updates and even some improvements to the System Development Environment (SDE). Most notable are: login warning about unsupported keyword in login.defs was fixed; a fix for the build environment where relative file names could potentially be resolved incorrectly; GRUB installation to non-primary hard disk computing a wrong BIOS device number; live CD creation scripts to involve fewer hard coded presets...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Those wishing to build a custom distribution should download the source tarball and follow the project's quick build document. Also available for download are minimal binary CD images for the x86, x86_64, PowerPC and PowerPC64 architectures.
A bug-fix update to the recently released pfSense 1.0, a FreeBSD-based firewall distribution, is out: "1.0.1 is now making its way to the mirrors and here is a rundown of the bugs fixed: set maximum cache size for APC to 7 MB; re-start 'check reload status' if it exits; miscellaneous syslog.conf fixes; Snort now blocks traffic correctly; PF does not know about congestion flags, remove from shaper; miscellaneous OpenNTPD system logging tab fixes; removes states from a user when disconnected by Captive Portal; fix FTP helper when strict LAN or Optional LAN rules are in place; ZoneEdit now works; filter reloads rules correctly after changes; faster, snappier webConfigurator and console." Here is the full release announcement. Download: pfSense-1.0.1-LiveCD-Installer.iso.gz (26.3MB, MD5).
Ken VanDine has announced a new development release of Foresight Linux: "Announcing Foresight Linux 0.9.8.3. This release includes a bunch of version bumps and bug fixes. Most significant updates are Firefox 2.0 and Flash 9. Also sporting Conary 1.1.10 and rAA 1.0.7 which we have started to re-brand for Foresight. It still has the rPath look, but is now labelled 'Foresight System Manager' and will soon have a full Foresight look and feel. Mono, F-Spot, Banshee and Beagle have all been updated. Our installer has seen some major changes. The most noticeable change is the updated artwork, however behind the scenes there are some significant improvements." Read the complete release announcement for further details. Download: foresight-0.9.8.3-x86-dvd1.iso (1,194MB).
Daisuke Suzuki has announced the availability of the first release candidate of Vine Linux 4.0. Although it arrives some two weeks after its projected release date, if no major issues are found, the final version can be expected in about two weeks from now. The only major change since beta 4 is the status of apt-line, the Vine Linux package manager, which now points to the 4.0 repository by default, for both the main distribution and VineSeed packages. The developers also request that all testers run a media check on the installation CD before submitting bug reports; this can be done with a 'linux mediacheck' command at boot prompt. Please read the release announcement and visit the Vine Linux Beta information page (both links in Japanese) for more information. The i386 and PowerPC CD images are available for download from here: Vine40rc1-i386.iso (631MB, SHA1), Vine40rc1-ppc.iso (654MB, SHA1).
Jani Monoses has announced the release of Xubuntu 6.10: "The Xubuntu community is happy to announce the release of Xubuntu 6.10, codenamed 'Edgy Eft'. This release includes both installable Desktop CDs and alternate text-mode installation CDs for several architectures. Visible changes since Xubuntu 6.06: newer XFce desktop environment (4.4 RC1) which brings trashcan support in Thunar and the panel, accessibility settings for the keyboard, and other improvements and fixes; new artwork for the boot splash, login screen and wallpaper; more mature gxine media player replaces Xfmedia; newer versions of Firefox, AbiWord and Gnumeric...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Download (MD5): xubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386.iso (528MB), xubuntu-6.10-desktop-amd64.iso (533MB).
Alan Baghumian has announced the second development release of Parsix GNU/Linux 0.85: "A new testing release of Parsix GNU/Linux 0.85 is available now. Beside many fixed bugs, this version contains an updated 2.6.18 kernel with improved hardware detection, especially for SATA hard drives. Also there are many updated packages since test 1, synchronized with Debian testing branch on Oct 26, 2006. You are most welcome to test this release and report possible bugs. In other news, a special edition of Parsix GNU/Linux has been deployed on 6,000 PCs obtained for Iranian schools by the Ministry of Education." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download: parsix_085-test-2.iso (683MB, MD5).
The Scientific Linux project has released a set of live CDs and live DVDs of the latest version of their Red Hat-based Linux distribution: "Scientific Linux live CD and DVD 4.4 have been released for both i386 and x86_64. Changes: update to Scientific Linux 4.4; update Unionfs to 1.1.5, Squashfs to 3.1-r2, NVIDIA driver to 1.0-8776; add SMP kernel to live CD/DVD (support for Dual-Core and multiprocessor systems); add r1000 and ipw3945 drivers; add more packages to the live DVD; add boot options: nopasswd, serviceon, serviceoff; live CD/DVD now runs with native Scientific Linux 4 kernel (no more special live CD kernel); live CD/DVD can boot from USB CD-ROM or DVD." Here is the full announcement. The release is available for download in the form of live CDs (i386 and x86_64), live DVDs (i386 and x86_64) and mini live CD (i386 only); quick links to the two live CD images: livecd_SL44_2006-10-22.iso (699MB, MD5), livecd64_SL44_2006-10-22.iso (686MB, MD5).
Many readers have emailed us to report about the release of Oracle Unbreakable Linux. According to the project's web site, "Oracle starts with Red Hat Linux, removes Red Hat trademarks, and then adds Linux bug fixes." Although Oracle Unbreakable Linux is touted as a "support programme", rather than a distribution, it is also provided in the form of freely downloadable CD images with optional support packages starting at US$99 per year. Oracle Unbreakable Linux is, and intends to remain, fully compatible with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. While the distribution itself does not bring anything new or innovative to the table, the support programme does provide an extra choice for companies that require comprehensive support contracts for their Linux deployments. For more information please visit Oracle's Linux pages, read the press release, and consult the Linux Technology Centre. The 4-CD set of Oracle Unbreakable Linux, labelled as version R4-U4 (Release 4, Update 4), is available for free download from Oracle's E-delivery pages (after registration).
Edubuntu 6.10, a distribution specifically designed for classroom use, has been released: "The Edubuntu team is proud to announce the release of Edubuntu 6.10, codenamed 'Edgy Eft'. This release includes both installation CDs and installable live CDs for several architectures. This version introduces a host of new features, an improved interface and a wide variety of new applications and desktop tools making Edubuntu 6.10 flexible and user-friendly. Highlights: the very recent versions of well-known free educational software like the KDEedu suite in version 3.5.5, GCompris 7.4, SchoolTool 0.11 and the Tux4Kids applications; GNOME 2.16; substantially faster startup and shutdown; the latest Firefox web browser; proactive security features; Evolution 2.8.0." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Download (MD5): edubuntu-6.10-install-i386.iso (694MB), edubuntu-6.10-install-amd64.iso (698MB).
In between all the *buntu release announcements, here is something for the fans of openSUSE - the first beta of openSUSE 10.2 is now ready for testing: "I'm glad to announce the first beta of openSUSE 10.2, code name 'Basilisk Lizard'. openSUSE 10.2 Beta1 contains a large number of enhancements and updates done by the open source community and Novell's development teams. I'd like to point out especially the following , KDE 3.5.5, X.Org 7.2 RC; both KDE and GNOME feature improved start menus; improved desktop effects (Compiz 0.2); OpenOffice.org 2.0.4; numerous improvements to our package manager stack, including a new update notification applet and a console application called zypper...." Further details in the release announcement. Get the CD/DVD images for i386 and x86_64 architectures from FTP/HTTP servers or via BitTorrent: openSUSE-10.2-Beta1-i386 (3.93GB), openSUSE-10.2-Beta1-x86_64 (3.94GB).
The Kubuntu project has announced the release of Kubuntu 6.10, code name "Edgy Eft": "Kubuntu 6.10 has been released and is available for download now. Kubuntu 6.10 brings a bit of edginess to this release, including a new and improved desktop, artwork, applications and much more." Some of the more interesting features of Kubuntu 6.10 include: KDE 3.5.5 desktop; Digikam photo management tool; Guidance - a new power management system; a hardware database client; support for many special laptop buttons; accessibility profiles; an improved System Settings dialog; automatic setup of non-Latin writing systems. Read the complete release announcement for further details. Download (MD5): kubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386.iso (695MB), kubuntu-6.10-desktop-amd64.iso (698MB).
Ubuntu 6.10, the latest version of the popular Linux distribution for desktops and servers, has been released: "The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the release of Ubuntu 6.10, codenamed 'Edgy Eft'. This release includes both installable Desktop CDs and alternate text-mode installation CDs for several architectures. Highlights of this release include: Tomboy, an easy-to-use and efficient note-taking tool; F-Spot, a photo management tool that enables tagging, photo editing and automatic uploading to on-line web management sites; GNOME 2.16; substantially faster startup and shutdown with eye-catching high-resolution graphics; the latest Firefox web browser, version 2.0; proactive security features, preventing many common security vulnerabilities even before they are discovered; Evolution 2.8.0...." Read the press release, release announcement and release notes for full details. Download (MD5): ubuntu-6.10-desktop-i386.iso (698MB), ubuntu-6.10-desktop-amd64.iso (691MB).
A new development build of Ufficio Zero, an Italian desktop-oriented distribution based on Ubuntu, has been released. The most important new feature of version 0.8 is the ability to install it to a hard disk directly from the live CD, thanks to the new graphical installer from Ubuntu 6.06.1. A major innovation present in this release is the distribution's integration with ufficioSamente.it, an Italian web community which enables easy publishing of web logs and sharing of photos and videos on the Internet. Ufficio Zero 0.8 is considered a "technology preview" and not yet ready for production machines; however those who wish to test the product and provide suggestions for improvements are welcome to try it. Please visit the project's home page (in Italian) to read the full release announcement. Download: ufficiozero-0.8.iso (654MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of VectorLinux 5.8 is out: "The VectorLinux team is proud to announce the release of VectorLinux 5.8 RC1 Standard edition. This marks our second release of 5.8 which fixes bugs, updates software packages, and includes additions requested by our user community since the beta release. This release features the latest XFce desktop, kernel 2.6.17, and a myriad of performance, installation and usability enhancements. Updated software includes the full SeaMonkey browser suite, as well as Firefox and Opera. We also include the latest CUPS, ntfs-3g for full read/write capability with NTFS, the latest AbiWord, Gnumeric, Xara Xtreme and kernel drivers." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: VL-5.8-std-RC1.iso (508MB, MD5).
The second release candidate of Damn Small Linux 3.1 is ready for testing. From the changelog: "Converted 54 Lua and Lua/Fltk programs to Lua 5.1.1 Fltk 1.1 via MurgaLua interface; added right-click to MyDSL Icon for easy UCItool access; improved Antiword fonts; changed color escape codes to echo commands; added TMPDIR environment variable; dropped Original Lua/Fltk - flua; added license section to 'Getting Started' document; cleaned up code regarding DESKTOP and ICONS; update stats.lua to read version from text file; added Firefox adjustments for Unionfs; made Unionfs the default boot, use 'legacy' option to skip; updated SQLite to 3.3.6...." Download: dsl-3.1RC2.iso (49.8MB, MD5).
The Fedora Unity project has announced the release of Fedora Core 6 "Live-Spins", a set of Fedora live CDs and DVDs for the i386 and x86_64 architectures: "The Fedora Unity Project is proud to announce the initial release of several Fedora Core 6 Live-Spin CD and DVD ISO images. These Live-Spins are based on the 24 October initial release of Fedora Core 6." The set consists of a GNOME live CD with GNOME 2.16.0 and related applications, a KDE live CD with KDE 3.5.4, a server live CD with Apache, MySQL, PHP and various server administration utilities, and a comprehensive live DVD with GNOME, KDE, XFce and a number of packages from the "extras" repository. For more details please see the release announcement. The CD and DVD images are available for download via BitTorrent only; quick links to the two DVD torrent files: FC-6-i386-LiveDVD-Unity-20061024 (3.33GB), FC-6-x86_64-LiveDVD-Unity-20061024 (3.51GB).
Fedora Core 6, code name "Zod", has been formally announced and officially released: "Tremble, Earthlings, for Zod is released from the confines of testing. Zod intends to hammer the servers of the world ... starting TODAY!" On a more serious note, Fedora Core 6 includes significant new versions of many key components and technologies, including improved look and feel for various international languages, the Compiz window manager, GNOME 2.16 and KDE 3.5.3 desktop environments, a refreshing new "DNA" theme, Dogtail - a graphical test and automation framework for the desktop, the GnuCash 2.0 accounting application, and many other enhancements. Please read the release announcement and release notes for further details. Download: FC-6-i386-DVD.iso (3,362MB, SHA1), FC-6-x86_64-DVD.iso (3,899MB, SHA1). The CD and DVD images are also available via BitTorrent.
Free Ekanayaka has announced the release of 64 Studio 0.9.5: "0.9.5 is out. There are still some bugs holding, but I like the release early release often motto, so here you go." New in this release: "Fixed type in tasksel list; added dcraw; don't modify Ardour desktop file, it has been fixed in the Debian package; added mesa-utils and libgl1-mesa-dri; re-added Kino, re-built from Ubuntu sources; added Aspell, MySpell, Firefox and Thunderbird locales for German, French, Spanish and Italian; make sure that /proc is mounted before checking the network at install time." Read the release announcement and changelog for more information. Download (MD5): 64studio-install_0.9.5_amd64.iso (683MB), 64studio-install_0.9.5_i386.iso (663MB).
Kenneth Granerud has announced a brand new release of Wolvix, a desktop-oriented live CD based on Slackware Linux: "After nearly five months of development, Wolvix 1.0.5 is finally ready for release. Wolvix 1.0.5 comes in two editions: 'Wolvix Cub' and 'Wolvix Hunter'. Cub is a small edition of Wolvix; it's designed to fit on 256MB USB Flash drives and to serve as a base for building your own custom Wolvix distribution. Hunter is the large 'standard' edition of Wolvix; it's designed to fit on 512MB USB Flash drives and use Wolvix Cub as its base. It includes more applications, a lot of games, and larger packages like Samba, Java and libraries for printer support. New in the Wolvix 1.0.5 series is the Wolvix Control Panel (WCP) which is a suite of administration utilities." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: wolvix-cub-1.0.5.iso (241MB, MD5), wolvix-hunter-1.0.5.iso (483MB, MD5).
A new minor update to AliXe, a French Canadian variant of the SLAX live CD, complete with French localisation and support for French Canadian keyboards, has been released. Version 0.09 is based on SLAX 5.1.8 "KillBill" edition which comes with the following changes: upgrade to KDE 3.5.4 and recompiled with some Slackware 11.0 fixes; better handling of booting from USB devices; addition NTFS-3g to fully support writing to NTFS partitions; addition of slaxsave.zip to SLAX CD, containing pre-built loop file systems. Visit the project's home page (in French) to read the brief release announcement. AliXe 0.09 is available for download via BitTorrent and also from this HTTP server: alixe09-STD.iso (252MB, MD5).
The INSERT project has released a new version of Inside Security Rescue Toolkit, a Debian-based mini-distribution designed as a multi-functional, multi-purpose disaster recovery and network analysis system. INSERT 1.3.8 comes with the following changes and new features: "Most of the software packages and the Linux kernel (2.6.16.27) have been updated. Captive-NTFS was dropped in favour of NTFS-3G, which works faster and more reliable. This is the long awaited real NTFS write support for Linux. The downloadable Firefox is a 1.5.0.7 now. An install script for the virus scanner F-Prot (for home use) has been added." Read the release notes for a complete list of all changes and package updates. Download the English and German editions from here: INSERT-1.3.8_en.iso (58.1MB, MD5), INSERT-1.3.8_de.iso (58.1MB, MD5).
Astaro, a commercial producer of a Linux-based firewall, gateway and integrated security solutions, has released a public beta of Astaro Security Gateway 7.0: "We released Astaro Security Gateway (ASG) V7 ISO and VMware public images for everybody who is interested. The images will allow an installation of ASG V7 BETA on PC or VMware, all features and functions enabled. Please check out the huge list of new features: active clustering, SSL Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Ethernet link aggregation, Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) routing, Terminal Access Controller Access-Control System (TACACS) authentication, OpenPGP and S/MIME email encryption, FTP proxy, IM/P2P control, multi-administration support and tracking, end-user self service portal, customizable system messages." The comprehensive release announcement lists all the new feature in great detail. Interested beta testers can download the CD image from here: asg-6.808-061020-1.iso (353MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
The developers of Taiwan's B2D Linux have released a new "pre-stable" build of their Debian-based distribution. This will be followed by a longer testing period before the final release of a stable B2D Linux 2006. Some of the more important changes include the following: renamed xserver to xserver-xorg, thus completing the transition to X.Org; included the ntfs-3g package from Ubuntu; the gcin input method editor has been pre-configured to use the "asdf" module by default; updated the translation of many KDE applications into traditional Chinese; added support for the traditional Chinese character set in KPDF; updated the Firestarter graphical configuration tool; upgraded fontconfig to version 2.4; added OpenOffice.org 2.0.4 and StarDict to software available for installation via Klik. Read the release announcement (in Chinese) with screenshots for a detailed list of changes. Download: B2DpureKGB20061019.iso (688MB, MD5).
Jonathan Riddell has announced the availability of the release candidate for Kubuntu 6.10: "The release candidate for Kubuntu 6.10 is now available for testing. Edgy, all about cutting edge, perhaps bleeding edge, will consist of brand new code and infrastructure. The time has come to introduce some seriously interesting, but definitely edgy, new technologies that lay the groundwork for the next wave of Ubuntu development." The latest release from the Kubuntu development team includes KDE 3.5.5, new artwork, improved system settings dialog, digiKam 0.8.2, KTorrent 2.0.3, accessibility profiles, and a number of other interesting technologies. For more information please read the full release notes. Download (MD5): kubuntu-6.10-rc-desktop-i386.iso (694MB), ukubuntu-6.10-rc-desktop-amd64.iso (693MB).
Tollef Fog Heen has announced that the release candidate for the upcoming Ubuntu 6.10 is now ready for testing: "The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the release candidate for version 6.10 of Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu - codenamed 'Edgy Eft'. The release candidate includes installable live desktop CDs, server images, alternate text-mode installation CDs and an upgrade wizard for users of the current stable release. We consider this release candidate to be complete, stable and suitable for testing by any user. The final release of version 6.10 is scheduled for 26 October 2006 and will be supported for 18 months on both desktops and servers." More details can be read in the release announcement and release notes. Download (MD5): ubuntu-6.10-rc-desktop-i386.iso (672MB), ubuntu-6.10-rc-desktop-amd64.iso (671MB).
The first development build of PC-BSD 1.3 has been released: "The PC-BSD Team is pleased to announce the availability of PC-BSD 1.3 BETA1. This release gives users and testers the opportunity to test-drive the new PC-BSD install wizard, along with the updated base system, running KDE 3.5.4." From the changelog: "Brand-new system install wizard; install CD boots into RAM for switching CDs during install process; new visual look-and-feel for default PC-BSD; added Fluxbox and Idesk for 'server' profile; installer allows multiple users to be added; advanced options in installer - set up firewall, network, custom partitions; new X server and sound detection setup; added new default startup and shutdown splash screens...." Read the release announcement and changelog for full details. Download: PCBSD-1.3-x86-BETA1.iso (626MB).
A new stable version of VLOS, a user-friendly, Gentoo-based distribution for desktop computers, has been released: "Today we are proud to announce the release of VLOS 1.3 as stable. Changes and fixes from beta3: updated to GCC 4.1.1, glibc 2.4, XGL and Compiz Quinstorm; fixed KDE problems with Compiz; updated to latest base layout, kernel and portage 2.1.1. Also, today I want to announce the open-community development of VLOS; the full version will be free of charge and the community will manage the project and development of VLOS. We are recruiting volunteers, developers and enthusiasts who want to participate and help us." More details in the release announcement. Download (MD5): vlos-1.3-dvd_i686.iso (1,439MB) or vlos-1.3-dvd_amd64.iso (1,416MB). The CD and DVD images are also available from the project's online store (US$24.99).
pQui Linux is a desktop-oriented Brazilian distribution based on Slackware Linux. Version 2.0 was released earlier this week. Compared to a standard Slackware, pQui Linux 2.0 is enhanced by a number of applications, including Firefox 1.5.0.7 with pre-configured extensions (DownThemAll!, FlashGot, TabMixPlus and VideoDownloader), browser plugins (MPlayer, Flash and Java) and search engines (Wikipedia and YouTube), BrOffice 2.0.3 with an updated Brazilian Portuguese spell-checking plugin, KDE 3.5.4 and customised XFce 4.3.90.2 desktops, gtkpod (for iPod support), Azureus, aMSN, MPlayer, MadWifi and NdisWrapper. It is built on top of a Linux kernel 2.6.17.6. Some packages, such as Dia, Nvu, Acrobat Reader and games, have been removed. For more information please see the project's news page (in Portuguese). Download: pqui-2.0.iso (700MB, MD5).
After collecting feedback from its users for five months, China's Sun Wah today announced the availability of a revised version of its Debian-based distribution - RAYS LX 1.5r2. Among the many new features and additions in the updated release the following are worth mentioning: inclusion of proprietary graphics drivers for ATI (version 8.2.28) and VIA S3 Unichrome graphics cards; support for Intel PRO/Wireless 3945 network cards, addition of MadWifi drivers, inclusion of Java, Mono and Mono-based applications, such as Beagle desktop search tool; support for 3D desktop effects with Xgl/Compiz; many upgraded packages (GNOME 2.14.1, Firefox 1.5.0.6). Read the release announcement and release notes (both links in Chinese) for further details. Download (MD5): RAYS-1.5-zidian-r2-i386-disc1.iso (691MB) and RAYS-1.5-zidian-r2-i386-disc2.iso (501MB).
The second major release of Bulgaria's Tilix is now ready for download. Unlike the Tilix 1.x series, which were based on KANOTIX, the latest release, code name "Karposh" is built on top of Kubuntu. Apart from standard features, such as complete localisation into Bulgarian, Tilix 2.0 comes with the following new applications and characteristics: Linux kernel 2.6.15.6, X.Org 7.0, KDE 3.5.5 with Kaffeine 0.8.1; ability to write to NTFS file systems via ntfs-3g; new hard disk installation program for installing Tilix directly from live CD session; support for a number of multimedia formats, including MP3 and DivX; integrated browser plugins in Firefox - Flash, Java, FreeWRL, DejaVuLibre, OpenSC; availability of proprietary graphics drivers for easy installation. For more information please read the release announcement (in Bulgarian). Download: tilix-2.0-karposh-i386.iso (691MB, MD5).
Shift Linux is a Debian and Morphix-based distribution created by the Neowin community at Neowin.net as an easy-to-use live CD for desktop use. The project has released its latest development build - version 0.3.1 GNOME edition: "Shift Linux GNOME 0.3.1 ready for testing. We are very interested in the following aspects as you test it: detection of your computer hardware; graphics bugs; the right resolution (especially on wide screens). We do not need to know about branding issues at this time. We will fix those for Shift 0.5. Thanks to everyone who made this possible. You can expect Shift 0.3 Fluxbox very shortly!" Read the release announcement and visit the project's web site for more information. Interested beta testers can download the live CD image from here: shiftgnome031.iso (391MB).
The tinysofa project has released the 6th update to "Ceara", its Trustix-based distribution for servers: "tinysofa classic server 2.0 Update 6 (Ceara) is now generally available. This release focuses on bug and security fixes, integrates all released security fixes, and updates various packages (notably the kernel) to the more recent upstream releases. 'Ceara' features: The Linux 2.6.16 kernel, grsecurity support, APT and SmartPM for advanced package management, the next generation PHP 5 environment (5.0.4), OpenSSH 4.3p2, high availability features such as DRBD (0.7.17) and UCARP (1.1), the latest development tools and languages (GCC 3.4.3, Python 2.4.2), and much more." Read the release announcement on the distribution's home page. Download (SHA1): Ceara.i586.iso (362MB) or Ceara.x86_64.iso (366MB).
Daisuke Suzuki has announced a new beta release of Vine 4.0 for i386 processors. Although the original release schedule called for a release candidate at this late stage in testing, due to various issues the project has decided to release another beta build. If no major problems are encountered, the release candidate should be out within the next 1 - 2 weeks. According to the changelog on the project's beta page, the latest release of Vine Linux 4.0 includes two new kernel modules (bcm43xx, sdhci), a modified kernel configuration file, newly added support for ATI Radeon XPRESS 200M card, various bug fixes in the system installer and utilities, and a number of minor package updates. Please read the full release announcement (in Japanese) for further information. Download from here: Vine40-beta4-i386.iso (630MB, SHA1).
The sixth development release of the OpenSolaris-based, desktop-oriented Nexenta OS has been released: "Nexenta OS ('elatte') Alpha 6 is now available. Release Highlights: Nexenta Zones - opens the possibility to create custom zones and pre-install with selected software; integrated BrandZ - allows running Linux userland; SVR4 packaging - to install native Solaris packages (missing drivers, etc.) In addition, Alpha 6 contains: SUN_PERSONALITY - for those who need to run native Solaris software; updated GNOME artwork from Ubuntu Edgy; security updates from Ubuntu Dapper LTS; installer improvements; many fixes and various package updates; OpenSolaris build 50, with numerous kernel fixes and features (such as BrandZ, initial DRM support, etc.)" Visit the project's download page for more information. The live CD edition of alpha 6 has yet to be generated, but the installation CD image is now available for download: elatte_installcd_alpha6_i386.zip (602MB, MD5).
Henry Jensen has announced the release of an updated version of DeLi Linux, a distribution designed for legacy hardware: "DeLi Linux 0.7.1 is mainly a bug-fix release. But there are also some new features: support for Microchannel (PS/2 machines) and EISA; added 'deliget', a tool for downloading and installing packages; new packages including AbiWord 1.0.7, Fox, Xfe and XMMS. DeLi Linux is a distribution made for old hardware. Machines from 386 to Pentium I with 8 to 32 MB RAM are considered as target systems. DeLi Linux uses lightweight software wherever it is possible. Nevertheless DeLi Linux provides a graphical desktop with an office package, web browser, e-mail client, PDF viewer and games." The release announcement. Download: deli-0.7.1.iso (125MB, MD5).
A new, bug-fix version of trixbox has been released: "Trixbox users have been reporting stability problem with 1.2. We are trying to address these with the 1.2.2 release. There are some strange audio problems with the 42 kernel. This is most apparent with VMware. When the 42 kernel is used the audio prompts are jittery and broken. This was not a problem with the 34 kernel. I am making the 34 kernel the standard for trixbox until further notice. The version of Asterisk 1.2.12.1 that is included with the 1.2.1 trixbox patch has a lot of the Asterisk patch files from Digium and other sources included. This may have caused some of the instability and FreePBX reload issues that were reported. The Asterisk 1.2.12.1 that is included with 1.2.2 has only 4 patches." Full details in the release announcement. Download: trixbox-1.2.2.iso (535MB, MD5).
André Detsch has announced the availability of the first release candidate of GoboLinux 013: "GoboLinux 013rc1 is out! The first release candidate for GoboLinux 013 is available for download. Help testing it, and report bugs at the GoboLinux bug tracker. The final version, or next release candidate, is going to be released in about one week." Here is the short release announcement. Download from here: GoboLinux-013rc1.iso (673MB, MD5). GoboLinux is an independently developed distribution whose main feature is an alternative (and, arguably, more logical) file system layout than the standard UNIX file system hierarchy. The CD image also functions as a live CD booting into a KDE desktop.
Puppy Linux has been updated to version 2.11: "Puppy version 2.11 is out. Puppy 2.10 was the first Puppy to use LZMA compression for the 'pup_210.sfs' Squashfs file (the file that has all of the applications). We found however that it doubled the start-up time for each application, not very noticeable on a modern fast CPU, however very much a problem on older hardware. Thus, for 2.11 we have gone back to the standard GZIP compression. Version 2.11 is basically an improved 2.10. Apart from reverting to GZIP compression, this release has various bug fixes. There is also an 'xorgdrvrs' ISO that includes the extra X.Org basic video drivers." Read the release announcement and release notes for more information and a complete list of changes. Download: puppy-2.11-seamonkey.iso (70.8MB, MD5), puppy-2.11-seamonkey-xorgdrvrs.iso (73.9MB, MD5).
A new development build of Underground Desktop, a live and installation CD based on Arch Linux, has been released: "Underground Desktop 029 is out. This alpha release provides a desktop CD that can be used as a live CD and to install the system to hard disk. Features: X.Org 7.1; KDE 3.5.4 (most modules, including Kontact); OpenOffice.org 2.0.3; K3b 0.12.17; Firefox 1.5.0.7; KTorrent 2.0.2; KMPlayer 0.9.3-pre2; Streamtuner 0.99.99 (browser for Internet radio stations); DVDRipOMatic 0.95 (DVD-to-XviD ripping tool); easy network configuration with WiFi support; fixes in printing support; HP printing drivers; fixes and improvements in look and feel." Here is the full release announcement. Download (MD5): (645MB); also available via BitTorrent.
The first stable build of pfSense, a m0n0wall-inspired, FreeBSD-based firewall system, has been released: "The pfSense team is excited to bring you our first ever real release! That is right, 1.0 is finally blessed and is making its way to the mirrors now. We have tried really hard to eliminate all bugs but with any software we expect to find some as this release will be used by a lot more people. With that said, there are a few problems that you should be aware of. Check this Wiki article to see the release caveats. Other than the few small items mentioned in the above Wiki article 1.0 is solid and performs quite well. We are rather proud of our work. So grab 1.0 and install it this weekend and head over to our forum and post your experiences, good or bad." Here is the brief release announcement. Download: pfSense-LiveCD-1.0-RELEASE-Installer.iso (33.6MB, MD5).
Matteo Riondato has announced the availability of a new development build of FreeSBIE 2.0. Called "LVC", this is one of the series of releases that should take us to the final version in the middle of November. From the release announcement: "This is the second of a series of four ISO images: GMV, LVC, EW, and CE, with CE being hopefully FreeSBIE 2.0. Similarly to GMV, LVC is based on the HEAD branch of FreeBSD, so on FreeBSD 7-CURRENT. Ports are approximately from the same date. EW and CE, on the other hand, will be based on the RELENG_6_2 branch, both for sources and for ports." Besides all the software updates, this release of FreeSBIE also includes "cheatcodes" containing various FreeSBIE boot options. The CD image is available for download via BitTorrent, as well as a number of mirrors specified in the announcement; here is a quick download link: FreeSBIE-LVC-20061010.iso (548MB, MD5).
The openSUSE project has released an updated set of installation CDs and DVDs of SUSE Linux 10.1: "I'm happy to announce the availability of SUSE Linux 10.1 'remastered'. This release combines the 10.1 GM and all online updates that we have released for 10.1 so far, including libzypp, which should make the installing and working experience much smoother for everyone. We have created new CD ISO images and supplied delta ISOs from the goldmaster. The non-OSS DVD images will show up next week, we had to retract and will remaster. If you are running SUSE Linux 10.1 already, there is no need to download these images at all. Just do an update from our update repository to get all our security updates. This remastered media are useful for new installations." Here is the full release announcement. If you need to download the updated CD or DVD images, please visit the project's download page for direct links to the ISO and torrent files.
The development of Elive 0.5.1 has started and the first unstable release is now available for download. What's new? According to the release announcement, the most interesting new feature is the inclusion of kernel 2.6.18, complete with improved support for wireless networking and ready for deployment on machines with multiple processors. Other new features include: installer improvements with automatic, manual and expert modes, and with package configuration via debconf; new stable release of Enlightenment 17, version 0.17.8.3, with new features and effects (Xcomposite, zoom, sound in themes, Xinerama, localisation and RandR); update to Cinelerra 2.1. A number of bugs reported in the earlier release have also been fixed. Interested testers can download the live CD image from here: elive_unstable_20061012.iso (596MB, MD5).
Geert Hendrickx has announced that the fourth release candidate of NetBSD 3.1 is ready for testing: "We had become aware of a few OpenSSL vulnerabilities which we didn't want to leave unfixed in the NetBSD 3.1 release, hence we've extended the release cycle with a fourth release candidate. Binaries and ISOs for NetBSD 3.1_RC4 are available on the releng FTP mirrors. Apart from the OpenSSL fixes, we took advantage of this extra release candidate to add some more improvements: MS DOS file system: write performance of large files has been improved; toolchain: NetBSD 3.1_RC4 can be cross-built from NetBSD 4.0_BETA and -current (GCC 4.x); daily security report for /etc/exports has been improved; dhclient(8) exits gracefully if another instance is already running...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details and download links. Download (i386): i386cd-3.1_RC4.iso (208MB, MD5).
Jeremiah Cheatham has released a new version of Myah OS: "Myah OS 2.3 SE is now available for download." Some of the more interesting changes since version 2.2, released less than a month ago, include: "Firefox 2.0rc2 with support for Flash, Java and embedded video; embedded video is also available within Konqueror; settings for DVD playback have been optimized for best possible playback; 3D drivers for ATI and NVIDIA have also been optimized; a fresh Ksplash theme has been created to integrate with the bootsplash theme; several more mouse themes are now available; KDE 3.5.4 is now included as well as Linux 2.6.18; the boot process is much faster and smoother; CUPS printing is now up and running...." Read the complete release announcement for more details. Download: Myah-OS-2.3-SE.iso (696MB, MD5).
Following the "miniEdition", the complete SabayonLinux 3.1 live DVD is now also out: "Announce: SabayonLinux x86/x86-64 3.1. New features: 2.6.18 kernel; added AIGLX Support (along with Xgl) thanks to Beryl and Emerald; NVIDIA drivers 1.0-9625, ATI drivers 8.29.6; improved graphics cards detection support; X.Org resolution auto-detection support; updated X.Org ATI drivers to 6.6.3 release; nvidia.ko and fglrx.ko are now linked at runtime; Intel and ATI X.Org drivers now work nicely with AIGLX; imported installer fixes from SVN." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information. The SabayonLinux 3.1 DVD images for x86 and x86_64 architectures are available for download via BitTorrent: SabayonLinux-x86-3.1 (3,350MB) or SabayonLinux-x86_64-3.1 (3,567MB).
Litrix Linux 6.10 has been released. Litrix is a Brazilian distribution and live CD based on Gentoo Linux, with a custom control panel and complete localisation into Brazilian Portuguese. Some of the new features and changes since version 6.4 include: new configuration panel; improvement in the installation program; new interface for configuring ADSL connections; added Limeware as a P2P application; new boot menu entry Memtest, a memory diagnostic utility; new visual appearance; improved security with root no longer the default user; addition of WINE for executing Windows applications under Linux. More details can be found in the release announcement (in Portuguese). The Litrix Linux 6.10 CD image is available for download from SourceForge: litrix-6.10.zip (682MB).
The Scientific Linux development team has announced the availability of the fourth update of the distribution's 4.x series: "Scientific Linux 4.4 was officially released. We want to thank all those tested, re-tested, and worked with the developers. This release has several enhancements that wouldn't have been possible without everyone's help. We hope you enjoy the release. Scientific Linux 4.4 has several improvements over 4.3; these include: better support for wireless with MadWifi and the ipw3945 driver; fuse, fuse-smb, fuse-sshfs; and some scientific programs, namely CFITSIO, Numpy, and R. Scientific Linux release 4.4 is based on the rebuilding of RPMs out of source RPMs from Enterprise 4 AS, including Update 4. The release notes can be found here." Read the brief release announcement for more details. The 4-CD set of Scientific Linux 4.4 can be downloaded from the project's main server or its mirrors.
The fast release cycle of SabayonLinux continues with the freshly released version 3.1 "miniEdition": "Announce: SabayonLinux x86/x86-64 miniEdition 3.1. New features and bug fixes since the 3.05 miniEdition: X.Org monitor auto-detection (you can force a resolution with res=1280x1024); AIGLX and Xgl now work nicely on Intel and ATI video cards; nvidia.ko and fglrx.ko are now generated at runtime; fixed emerge-kernel.sh; small updates to the installer; removed Compiz Quinnstorm (Beryl is now used for both Xgl and AIGLX); updated X.Org ATI drivers to 6.6.3." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details and download links. Get the ISO images from here: SabayonLinux-x86-3.1-miniEdition.iso (696MB, MD5) or sabayonlinux-x86_64-3.1-miniedition.iso (700MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Tomáš Matějíček has announced the release of SLAX 5.1.8, the last version of the SLAX 5 series: "I'm happy to announce the immediate availability of SLAX 5.1.8. This release includes a SLAX-boot CD (only a 5MB ISO image) designed to boot SLAX from USB keys in case your BIOS doesn't support it. Users can just plug in the USB key with SLAX data to boot from this CD and it can also be used to boot SLAX directly from an ISO file. Changes made in 5.1.8: added KDE 3.5.4, recompiled with some Slackware 11 fixes; better handling of booting from USB devices; added NTFS-3g to fully support writing to NTFS partitions; added slaxsave.zip to SLAX CD, containing pre-built loop file systems." See the SLAX changelog for a more detailed list of all recent changes. Download: slax-5.1.8.iso (192MB, MD5).
The development of VectorLinux continues with the first beta snapshot of version 5.8, "Standard" edition: "The VectorLinux team is proud to announce the release of VectorLinux 5.8 beta1 Standard edition. VectorLinux standard 5.8 is based on the just-released Slackware 11.0. It features the latest XFce desktop, kernel 2.6.17, and a myriad of performance, installation and usability enhancements. We have changed the packaging system from TGZ to LZMA, which allows us to pack a considerable amount of software onto a single CD. We have also revamped our software repository to feature LZMA compression resulting in smaller and faster downloads. Updated software includes the full SeaMonkey browser suite as well as Firefox and Opera." Read the rest of the release announcement for a more complete list of new features and software updates. Download from here: VL-5.8-std-beta1.iso (499MB, MD5).
Alan Baghumian has announced the release of a first test build of Parsix GNU/Linux 0.85: "We proudly announce that an updated testing release of Parsix GNU/Linux is available now. The highlights are: many updated packages with Debian testing branch; new 2.6.18 kernel with many patches and additional drivers; GNOME 2.14.3, OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 and X.Org 7.0.22; NTFS read/write with ntfs3g; xFarDic 0.8.0-beta1, added ipw3945 and libata support, many clean-ups and minor bug fixes. The final release is scheduled for November 15, 2006. In another news: Parsix Wiki is ready for use." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information. Download: parsix_085-test-1.iso (664MB, MD5).
A Slackware for your Macintosh, or Slackintosh, is a Linux distribution designed to run on your PowerPC-based hardware. Version 11.0 was released today: "We are proud to announce that Slackintosh 11.0 has been released! Slackintosh 11.0 includes Linux 2.6.17.13 with glibc 2.3.6, KDE 3.5.4 and much more. The installation CD also includes two bootable 64-bit kernels." The new release means that security support for the older version 10.1 will be discontinued; users still running that version are encouraged to upgrade to either 10.2 or 11.0. Also please note that due to a Qt version bug in Slackintosh 10.2, users upgrading from 10.2 to 11.0 should first uninstall Qt before proceeding with the upgrade procedure. For more information please read the release announcement and release notes. Download from here: slackintosh-11.0-install-dvd.iso (3,041MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
A new version of dyne:bolic, a specialist multimedia distribution targeting media activists, artists and creative individuals, is out: "dyne:bolic 2.2 code name 'dhoruba' released. Dhoruba is a complete rebuild and modular rewrite of the whole system, enhanced for full usability and open for developers to join maintenance. Recent versions of audio and video tools provide a fully featured multimedia studio out of the box, ready for being employed at home, in classrooms and in media centers. Updates and fixes in 2.2: dyne:II can now run all the system from USB storage; supports docking and nesting on SATA, SCSI and USB; X.Org has been upgraded to the latest 7.1 release; new VOIP phone applications Iaxcomm and Kiax; updates and fixes to Cinelerra...." Read the rest of the release announcement for a complete list of changes and upgrade notes. Download: dyne-2.2.iso (620MB, MD5).
Kate OS 3.1 has been released: "Kate OS 3.1 is the second edition of the III series. It fixes many bugs, but also introduces many important changes. Kate OS 3.1 is the first Kate to use the GTK+ 2.10.x library. This is a very substantial change for the entire system, which will let us deliver various new applications. Also, the GNOME desktop environment has been updated to its newest 2.16.0 version. This is the first edition of GNOME especially adjusted to Kate OS. Apart from those, Kate OS 3.1 also features the 2.6.17.13 kernel, XFce 4.4rc1 and numerous updates. An interesting novelty is Update-notifier, a task bar applet designed for Kate OS which automatically checks for available updates, and allows for easy package selection and update." Please visit the project's home page to read the release announcement. Download: KateOS_3.1-DVD.iso (2,109MB, MD5).
Michael K. Johnson has announced the first alpha release of rPath Linux 2: "The first development snapshot in the rPath Linux 2 Alpha release process have been made available." According to the rPath 2 timeline and technology targets document, the new version of the distribution will go through several alpha and beta development stages later this year before the final release in February 2007. rPath Linux 2 is expected to come with up-to-date software, including GCC 4.2, glibc 2.5 and appropriate associated toolchain, GNOME 2.16.x, KDE 3.5.x, X.Org 7.1 installed in system directories rather than /usr/X11R7, Apache httpd 2.2.x, recent Anaconda and TeX Live (instead of teTeX which is no longer maintained upstream); see this draft document for more details. DVD images of the first alpha release are available for download from here: rpl-devel-20060928-x86-dvd1.iso (1,310MB) or rpl-devel-20060928-x86_64-dvd1.iso (1,418MB).
ZenLive Linux 3.0 has been released. ZenLive is a live CD edition of the Slackware-based Zenwalk Linux: "ZenLive 3.0 is here! We are proud to present the next generation of the ZenLive Linux live CD. Based on the latest stable release of Zenwalk Linux, version 3.0, ZenLive 3.0 is a live CD powerhouse complete with wireless networking support, multimedia, office and gaming software, as well as international fonts and DVD codecs. It has been optimized for easier usage including one application per task and the latest XFce desktop and Zenwalk artwork. Changes from ZenLive 2.8 include: better USB storage devices support and sound auto-configuration; a new, more stable implementation of the Unionfs file system; Linux kernel 2.6.17.11; over 100 software upgrades as well as some new software." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download: zenlive-3.0.iso (439MB, MD5).
Helix is a KNOPPIX-based live CD with a large collection of tools dedicated to incident response and forensics. Version 1.8 is out: "Version 1.8 has been officially released. Some of the biggest changes to 1.8 were the code change to mounting journalled file systems - Helix will no longer change the journal mount count when you mount a journalled file system. You also have full write access to NTFS filesystems using ntfs-3g." The new release updates or adds several new tools, including md5deep suite 1.12 ClamAV 0.88.2, Sleuthkit 2.06, Autopsy 2.08, Foremost 1.3, Scalpel 1.54 to carve data, EnCase Linen 5.05f, Adepto 2.0 with AFF support, Endeavour2 file manager, ssdeep 1.0 for fuzzy hashing, AFFlib 1.6.31 for image acquisition. Read the release announcement and changelog for more information. Download: Helix_V1.8-10-05-2006.iso (698MB).
Andreas Jaeger has announced that the fifth alpha release of openSUSE 10.2 is now available for download and testing: "openSUSE 10.2 Alpha5 (DVDs, i386, x86-64 only) available. Alpha5 includes the following important changes: Linux kernel 2.6.18; glibc 2.5; Python 2.5; installation allows comfortable LVM partitioning; setup RAID automatically via the BIOS (so called fake-RAID support) in the partitioner; GNOME 2.16.1 (most packages are updated); KDE 3.5.5 SVN version; firmware test as additional bootoption (this is the Intel firmware test tool). Have a lot of fun with openSUSE 10.2 - codename 'Basilisk Lizard'." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download (MD5: openSUSE-10.2-Alpha5-DVD-i386.iso (3,973MB), openSUSE-10.2-Alpha5-DVD-x86_64.iso (4,009MB); also available via BitTorrent.
António Meireles has announced the availability of a new development build of Foresight Linux, version 0.9.8.2: "Following our 0.9.8 release we're proud to announce that Foresight Linux 0.9.8.2 is out. Release highlights are the usual bug fixes and package updates, including the latest stable gnome (2.16.1) package set and the latest Google Earth release, a revamped X.Org subsystem and a new default kernel (2.16.18). Also of note is the fact that this is the first release done after the launch of our issue tracker. Regarding X.Org, now AIGLX is activated by default and two new Use flags were introduced to smoothen the install of ATI and NVIDIA drivers, which conflicted with the default Mesa and xorg-server installs." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: foresight-0.9.8.2-x86-dvd1.iso (1,164MB).
Daisuke Suzuki has announced the availability of the third beta release of Vine Linux 4.0. The following changes have been made since beta 2: Linux kernel update to version 2.6.16.29; driver update (r8169, sky2); driver bug fixes (sata_via, ahci, unicon, firmware_class, ivtv, generic-ide); Intel *965 motherboard compatibility fixes; DRI support for 945GM graphics cards; miscellaneous bug fixes and correction of typographic errors in the installer; correction of a partition type detection bug; PC card detection fixes; network script corrections and changes in network interface names; package upgrades, and other bug fixes. Read the release announcement and visit the Vine Linux beta page (both links in Japanese) for further details. Interested beta testers can download the new CD image from here: Vine40-beta3.iso (629MB, SHA1).
A new development build of Underground Desktop, an i686-optimised live CD based on Arch Linux, is now ready for download and testing: "Another alpha release of Underground Desktop is out. It comes with KDE 3.5.4 and a bunch of useful applications, and contains updated software packages, among which X.Org 7.1. Other changes include: a different way of configuring the X server, which allows choosing more screen resolutions; a renewed look and feel; font display fixes." Here is the brief release announcement. Interested testers can download the new CD image via BitTorrent: underground_027.iso (404MB).
A new major version of the Slackware-based easys GNU/Linux has been released: "We are proud to present the next generation of the easys GNU/Linux operating system. The OS is now based on Slackware Linux 11.0 which comes with full kernel 2.6 support, including udev for device initialization. Kernel 2.6.17.13 is the default for a fresh installation. Besides current versions of glibc (2.3.6), GCC (3.4.6) and X.Org 6.9.0, we have included a full version of KDE 3.5.4 instead of KDE Light. It has been optimized for easier usage including one application per task and a fresh enterprise GUI design called waveline. Kiosktool and KDE Kiosk mode can be used to create user and group policies which allows you to easily set up internet kiosks or locked down workstations." Visit the distribution's news page to read the full release announcement. Download the CD image from here: easys-3.0.iso (623MB).
The SabayonLinux project has released an update to their single-CD SabayonLinux "miniEdition" product: "Announce: SabayonLinux x86/x86-64 miniEdition 3.05. AIGLX and XGL support on a single, powerful and cutting edge live CD, thanks to Mr. Beryl, Dr. Emerald (and the Beryl Project team) and the full power of hardware accelerated GLX. New features and Bug fixes since the 3.0 miniEdition: updated SabayonLinux installer to the latest bug-fix release (RAID installation fixes); updated Beryl and Emerald to 0.1.0 stable; fixed the missing /usr/portage/local directory problem." Read the rest of the release announcement for full details. Download: SabayonLinux-x86-3.05-miniEdition.iso (697MB, MD5) or SabayonLinux-x86_64-3.05-miniEdition.iso (701MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
MoLinux is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution developed by the government of Castilla la Mancha in Spain. Today the project announced a new stable release, version 2.2. According to the release announcement (in Spanish), this version is based on Ubuntu 6.06.1 with kernel 2.6.15, GNOME 2.14, Evolution 2.6, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 and Firefox 1.5.0.5. Some of the new enhancements include improved hardware detection and notifications, updated user manual, recognition of the apt:// protocol in Firefox, optional installation of extra software modules, centralisation of user preferences in Panel de Control, new artwork, and improvements in the Spanish translation. The installable live CD image is available for download from here: Molinux_2.2_Rocinante_Live.iso (644MB, MD5).
The Kororaa has released a new version of their Gentoo-based live CD - this time without the controversial proprietary graphics drivers: "We are happy to release Kororaa AIGLXgl 0.3 Live CD. Major changes include the removal of non-GPL ATI and NVIDIA video card drivers, the inclusion of AIGLX now along with Xgl, 2.6.18 ck patchset based kernel, KDE 3.5.4, GNOME 2.14, updated installer and many bug fixes. The open source Radeon driver will work with many ATI cards, but not all the newer ones. If you have an NVIDIA video card, 3D effects will not be available, however you can still use this CD as a 'normal' live CD and installation to disk is available." More in the release announcement. Download: kororaa-aiglxgl-0.3.iso (680MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Bluewhite64 Linux is an independent project with the goal of porting Slackware Linux to the x86_64 family of processor architectures. Version 11.0 is the distribution's first stable release: "This is the first Bluewhite64 Linux stable release after 5 months of development and maintenance! Bluewhite64 Linux 11.0 includes the Linux 2.6.17.13 kernel (2.6.18 kernel in the testing/ directory) with support for IDE, SATA, SCSI and RAID controllers. Also, it supports GCC 3.4.6 and Glibc 2.3.6 with NPTL (Native POSIX Thread Library), Ext2, Ext3, ReiserFS, XFS and IBM's SGI file systems, six window managers including the latest KDE 3.5.4 and XFce 4.2.3.2, updated development tools, the Subversion version control system, the Mozilla Firefox browser and Mozilla Thunderbird 1.5.0.7 email and news client, Apache 1.3.7 web server with PHP 4.4.4, MySQL 5.0.24a and much more." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: bluewhite64-11.0-install-dvd.iso (3,428MB, MD5).
EnGarde Secure Linux has been updated to version 3.0.9: "Guardian Digital is happy to announce the release of EnGarde Secure Community 3.0.9. This release includes several bug fixes and feature enhancements to the Guardian Digital WebTool and the SELinux policy, several updated packages, and a couple of new packages available for installation. New features include: the GDSN Update Agent and the Auditing (logging and reporting) subsystems were re-written by Ankit Patel to be AJAX-based; new SELinux policy for 'bittorrent', 'httperf', 'and 'john' was written; the latest stable versions of MySQL, GnuPG, iptables, OpenSSH, PHP, Samba...; new packages." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: engarde-community-3.0.9.i686.iso (569MB, MD5) , engarde-community-3.0.9.x86_64.iso (567MB, MD5).
Barely a week after the release of the 1.3 version, a new stable release of Ubuntu Christian Edition is out: "We have just released Ubuntu CE v1.4! This release was originally planned for next month, but there were a few bug fixes that have been implemented as well as some more refinements in the look and feel of Ubuntu CE. The latest release includes a new polished Usplash and a new Christian themed Firefox. The Firefox theme is based on the Faith theme and Bible Verse extension available at FaithBrowser.com. The bug fixes include a very minor bug in the DansGuardian GUI. The more significant bug fix was the checksum failures on the previous releases. We have also updated the upgrade_me and convert_me scripts and have created a new script that will install the DansGuardian GUI on a default Ubuntu install." The release announcement. Download: Ubuntu_6.06_i386_Christian_Edition_v1_4.iso (699MB, MD5).
Following the release of Slackware Linux 11.0, a new stable version of its 64-bit cousin, Slamd64 Linux 11.0, is now also out: "More than 7 months after Slamd64 10.2b, Slamd64 has now reached a very mature and stable stage. Release highlights: Updated to GCC 3.4.6, and now including gcj; added Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.7, Mozilla Thunderbird 1.5.0.7, SeaMonkey 1.0.5; updated to udev 097, if installed, udev now replaces hotplug, and is much faster, now only one kernel is needed - huge26.s, based on 2.6.16.29; added pcmciautils, Amarok, Ruby; the latest version of the popular K Desktop Environment, KDE 3.5.4; XFce 4.2.3.2; Apache 1.3.37; PHP 4.4.4...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details and upgrade notes. Download (MD5): slamd64-11.0-install-d1.iso (688MB), slamd64-11.0-install-d2.iso (688MB) and slamd64-11.0-install-d3.iso (638MB).
Mandriva Linux 2007 has been released: "Mandriva today is proud to release its brand new distribution: Mandriva Linux 2007. The key innovation of Mandriva Linux 2007 is the spectacular AIGLX and Xgl 3D-accelerated desktop. Mandriva is the only distribution to provide both technologies and is particularly happy to have achieved this major breakthrough in desktop appearance. In addition, a new theme named Ia Ora ('hello' in French Polynesian) has been introduced. To match everyone's needs, Mandriva Linux 2007 includes the latest innovations in the fields of office suite applications, Internet, multimedia and the new virtualization and 3D-accelerated desktop technologies." Read the press release, see the product pages, and visit the Mandriva Store to find out more. The CD and DVD images of "One" and "Free" editions of Mandriva Linux 2007 are available for free download via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the dual-arch DVD image: mandriva-free-2007-DVD (4,438MB).
A great day for all fans of the oldest surviving Linux distribution - after an unusually long testing and debugging period, Slackware Linux 11.0 has been released: "The first Slackware release more than a year in the making, this edition of Slackware combines Slackware's legendary simplicity, stability, and security with some of the latest advances in Linux technology. Here are some of the advanced features of Slackware 11.0: runs the 2.4.33.3 version of the Linux kernel; as an alternate choice, Slackware 11.0 includes Linux 2.6.17.13 and 2.6.18 kernel source, kernel modules, and binary packages; system binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.3.6; X.Org 6.9.0; installs GCC 3.4.6 as the default C, C++; support for fully encrypted network connections; Apache 1.3.37 web server...." Read the full release announcement for more details. The Slackware Linux 11.0 ISO images will take a few days to appear on these Slackware mirrors; in the meantime you can download the complete DVD image via BitTorrent: slackware-11.0-iso (3,732MB). Happy slacking!
Trinity Rescue Kit (TRK) is a Mandriva-based live CD aimed specifically at offline operations for Windows and Linux systems such as rescue, repair, password resets and cloning. A "mature" beta release of the upcoming version 3.2 is now ready for testing: "Long time since you got any big news from Trinity Rescue Kit, but this one is very good: I'm releasing a mature beta version of Trinity Rescue Kit 3.2. Major feature additions are: fast, reliable and full read/write NTFS access with ntfs-3g; 4 different virus scan engines (ClamAV, F-Prot, AVG and BitDefender); boot from USB storage, accompanied with a very fine install script; full proxy server support." More details in the release announcement. Download: trinity-rescue-kit.3.2-build-239.iso (98.4MB, MD5).
The second development build of Trustix Secure Linux 3.0.5 has been released: "We are proud to present the second beta release of Trustix Secure Linux 3.0.5. This release fixes some critical issues in the installer and also adds support to new features for easy installation. In addition, most of the packages have been brought up to their latest stable versions. Highlights of recent changes: latest kernel; multiple security fixes; major upgrades to some critical packages; PHP 5.1.6; working PXE installation; fix new keymaps with installer; add better Kickstart support; fix blank screen on installation on some hardware; first stage of ISO size reduction; removed X dependencies in anaconda; fixed boot issues in SMP kernel." Here is the full release announcement. Download: trustix-3.0.5.beta2.i586.iso (608MB, MD5).
An updated version of BLAG Linux And GNU, build 50002, was released earlier this week: "The second update to the Fedora Core 5 based, single-CD, 100% Free distribution has been released. Highlights for this release are the latest kernel 2.6.17, the 'promotion' of BitlBee (an IRC to other chat networks gateway application) and Irssi (a terminal-based IRC client) from the repository onto the main CD, and updates to such major packages as Firefox 1.5.0.7, with BLAG's unique set of activist and independent media bookmarks), GIMP 2.2.13, Inkscape 0.44.1, Scribus 1.2.5, Thunderbird 1.5.0.7 and XChat 2.6.6. BLAG continues to have range of tools and software for the desktop user, media activist and those searching for the properly 'free' GNU/Linux experience. This includes BLASTERISK - the free BLAG telephone service for Free Software users, developers and Indymedia activists." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: BLAG-50002.iso (694MB, MD5), also available via BitTorrent.
The UHU-Linux project has announced the immediate availability of UHU-Linux 2.0, an independently developed Hungarian distribution for home and office use. According to the release announcement (in Hungarian), the project's fourth stable release listens to the code name "Igen", and comes either as a single-CD desktop distribution with GNOME, or a DVD containing the complete tree of UHU-Linux packages and their source codes. The main new feature of this release is transition to the UTF-8 character encoding, supporting central European languages. Other notable new features include improved network handling, automatic mounting of external storage devices, and new keytable selection procedure. UHU-Linux 2.0 also provides many up-to-date software packages, such as Linux kernel 2.6.17, X.Org 7.1, GNOME 2.14 and KDE 3.5.3. Download the CD image from here: uhu-linux-2.0-cd.iso (699MB, MD5), also available via BitTorrent. Unlike the distribution's previous versions, UHU-Linux 2.0 also supports the English language.
PUD GNU/Linux, an Ubuntu-based mini-distribution with the XFce desktop and support for traditional Chinese, has been upgraded to version 0.4.6.6: "We are glad to announce the release of PUD v0.4.6.6. New features: Squashfs 3.1 with LZMA algorithm; Ultimate - because you can install PUD on an USB drive, we've launched a whole new branch called 'Ultimate, this 256MB edition of PUD contains additional applications like OpenOffice.org, GnomeBaker, Firestarter, GParted; boot entire CD to RAM (experimental); upgraded plugin system - Opt-Get now uses a more proper way to handle Unionfs, the plugins compressed in Squashfs, and you can create a plugin within a command." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: PUD-0.4.6.6.iso (177MB, MD5), PUD-Ultimate-0.4.6.6.iso (256MB, MD5).
Jonathan Riddell has announced the availability of a beta release of Kubuntu 6.10: "The beta release for Kubuntu 6.10 (code named Edgy Eft) is now available for download and testing. Kubuntu 6.10 Beta comes with plenty of new features: the user interface has been redesigned thanks to a review from the KDE Usability experts; the new power management applet makes full use of HAL to support hibernation and battery status; local network browsing can be turned on with a tick of a box; our great new 6.10 artwork has been designed for Kubuntu by Ken Wimer, one of the artists working on the Oxygen icon theme. Kubuntu 6.10 Beta includes with the latest KDE and major applications: KDE 3.5.4, Konversation 1.0, Amarok 1.4.3 with automatic installation of MP3 support...." More details can be found in the release announcement. Download (MD5): kubuntu-6.10-beta-desktop-i386.iso (693MB), kubuntu-6.10-beta-desktop-amd64.iso (673MB).
Matt Zimmerman has announced that a beta release of Ubuntu 6.10 is now available for download and testing: "The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the Beta Release of Ubuntu 6.10 - code named 'Edgy Eft'. Highlights include: GNOME 2.16; OpenOffice.org 2.0.4 RC2; X.Org 7.1; task selection for easier installation of mail servers, web servers, etc; a pre-release of the upcoming LTSP 5.0 with support for local devices, printers on thin clients as well as language and session selection from the LTSP login manager, network swapping, etherboot support out of the box and many more additions and improvements." Read the release announcement for more information. Download (MD5): ubuntu-6.10-beta-desktop-i386.iso (683MB), ubuntu-6.10-beta-desktop-amd64.iso (673MB). Alternative installation and server CDs, as well as CD images for the PowerPC architecture, are also available.
Fred Emmott has announced a new release candidate for Slamd64 11.0, an unofficial port of Slackware Linux to the AMD64 processor architecture: "Slamd64-current is now (as of the 20060927 updates) Slamd64 11.0 RC5. Highlights of recent changes: various security fixes; /media added; Konqueror functions properly, rather than complaining about the lack of HAL; Theora support added; HPLIP added to testing/ (newer HP printer drivers); Indic font support; NFS support now easier to configure; xine no longer blocks Konsole; Reiser4progs removed; updated Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird and SeaMonkey packages; Amarok is now linked against libgpod." Here is the full release announcement. An unofficial DVD image of the release is available for download from here: slamd64-current-dvd.iso (3,433MB, MD5).
Jeremiah Cheatham has announced the first release candidate of a new Myah OS, version 2.3: "Myah OS 2.3rc1 is now available for download. I know it's only been a week or 2 since 2.2 came out but I have been working day and night making improvements. I was tired of waiting for slackware to fix there problem with KDE 3.5.4 needing hal and dbus. So I worked it out them myself adding hal, dbus and a kdebase package that has there support. So now Myah OS has the latest KDE 3.5.4 with all the propper support. I have also changed the Myah installer to give the option to install LILO into partition not just the Master Boot Record. I have updated the kernel to 2.6.18." Read the rest of the release announcement for a detailed list of changes. The CD images of Myah OS 2.3rc1 is available for download via BitTorrent: Myah-OS-2.3rc1.iso (693MB).
Following the recent DVD release of SabayonLinux 3.0, its smaller cousin, called "miniEdition", is now also out: "SabayonLinux 3.0 miniEdition is the CD release of the latest SabayonLinux x86/x86-64 DVD. New features and bug fixes since 3.0 DVD: extraordinary AIGLX support thanks to NVIDIA 1.0-9625 beta drivers, Beryl and Emerald pre-release; 2.6.18 kernel; r1000 Ethernet device support; added VIA Technologies graphics cards automatic configuration; ATI Drivers 8.29.6; fixed a library problem that prevented most open source graphics drivers to work properly with DRI enabled; added Konversation 1.0; updated Gwenview to 1.4.0; installer - many bugs fixed and added support of AIGLX." The release announcement. Download: SabayonLinux-x86-3.0e-miniEdition.iso (694MB, MD5), SabayonLinux-x86_64-3.0d-miniEdition.iso (699MB, MD5).
A major new version of redWall Firewall has been released. Unlike the 0.x and 1.x series, which were based on Red Hat Linux, the new version is now built from Gentoo. From the release announcement: "redWall Firewall version 2.2.1 has been released and is available for download. Major changes include: kernel 2.6.17.1; udev device management; Unionfs-based configuration and data 'management'; Unionfs-based root file system if enabled using 'union_root' as kernel boot parameter; completely rewritten save-config and restore-config mechanism; configurations sent by email are now 'pre-formated' to be put on a floppy and work right away if booted from that floppy; hard disk install script now supports 'USB Disk installs'; a 'maintenance' menu has been implemented during boot...." Download: redwall-2.2.1.iso (519MB, MD5).
Jeremy Utley has announced the release of Cross Linux From Scratch (CLFS) 1.0.0, a book that teaches how to make a cross-compiler and the necessary tools to build a basic system on a different architecture: "The CLFS Development team is pleased to announce the final release of CLFS 1.0.0, code-name 'Bender'. This release features glibc 2.4, GCC 4.1.1, Binutils 2.17, and supports the x86, x86-64, SPARC, PowerPC, PPC64, MIPS, MIPS64, and Alpha, including multilib on those architectures that support it. Cross-building is also supported, even from non-Linux host systems such as Solaris, *BSD, and OS X." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. The book is available for online reading and download in PDF and HTML formats.
Rocks Cluster Distribution has been updated to version 4.2.1: "Rocks v4.2.1 is released for i386 and x86_64 CPU architectures. This is a maintenance release to Rocks v4.2 which contains bug fixes and usability enhancements." New features in this version include the following: "During Roll selection, the disk ID for CD/DVD-based rolls is displayed under the 'Selected Rolls'; during a front-end install, the IP settings that are provided on the first text-based screen are used as defaults for the graphical screens; minimum memory requirement for compute nodes has been reduced to 512 MB; Bio Roll: Glimmer source and GROMACS v3.3.1 is added and compiled with MPICH support." More details can be found in the release announcement. For download, please visit the project's downloads page for links to ISO images and specialist cluster "rolls". The installation instructions are available here.
A new version of Ubuntu Christian Edition has been released: "We have just released Ubuntu Christian Edition v1.3. There have been some changes made to the web content filtering. The Firefox proxy settings have been 'locked down' to prevent users from bypassing the filtering. Three new programs have been added to this release. They include Planner project scheduler, Scribus desktop publisher, and Nvu web authoring system. Three games have also been added. They include Frozen Bubble, Breakout, and Sudoku. These were added by user request. Other changes include the addition of wallpapers provided by CarriedCross.org, new Usplash and Bootsplash, customized default Firefox homepage and bookmarks, some minor graphical adjustments, and a minor bug fix in the Ubuntu CE Installer." The release announcement. Download: Ubuntu_6.06_i386_Christian_Edition_v1_3.iso (699MB).
A new version of the PCLinuxOS-based SAM Linux Desktop has been released: "SAM 2006-3 is ready for the public. Again based on PCLinuxOS software and XFce 4.3.90.2, SAM offers you a complete desktop environment for your older hardware. With more than 1,000 packages it's smaller than the previous version, but now the complete OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 is back on the live CD with full support for English and German languages. A new 'welcome' dialog introduces you to the usage of the desktop and gives you direct access to the Internet connection wizard and installation tool. The new installation tool, an enhanced version of Mandriva's Draklive Install, speeds up the installation time even on older systems." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Separate English and German editions are available for download from here (MD5): SAM-2006-3-english.iso (692MB) or SAM-2006-3-german.iso (692MB).
Hiweed Desktop 1.0 has been released. Some of the changes and new features in the Ubuntu-based Chinese distribution include: improved driver installation for NVIDIA and ATI graphics cards; Firefox default page set to a simple FAQ page; screen snapshots can now be captured with the PrtScr key; Xfmedia replaced by Totem; Xgl and Compiz upgraded to their latest versions; OpenOffice.org upgraded to version 2.0.3; added Chinese translation for XChat and XFce; Gaim upgraded to support SIP; the Fcitx input method editor upgraded to version 3.3, featuring conversion between simplified and traditional Chinese (i.e. instant "translation"). Please refer to the release announcement (in Chinese) for more information. Download: hiweed-desktop_1.0final.iso (652MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
The development of a new version of Skolelinux (also sometimes referred to as "Debian-Edu") has been launched with the first test release based on Debian "etch": "After months of hard work, a new Skolelinux CD image is ready. This is the first test CD preparing for a Debian 'etch'-based release. There are many changes since the last CD release based, here are some highlights: Ported the installer to 'etch' using d-i beta3; Linux kernel 2.6.17; KDE 3.5.4; new versions of educational software and improvements in the package choice; LTSP 0.93; now support for resizing of LVM volumes without unmounting; improved laptop support (hibernate, extra keys, wireless configuration); the installer now support encrypted file systems; new 'expert' mode with new profile and manual partitioning...." Read the full release announcement for more details. Download: debian-edu_etch-i386-test01.iso (695MB, MD5).
A new, stripped-down edition of Kurumin Linux 6.1 has been released. The Kurumin project, which started in 2003 as a 200MB bootable CD, but has since expanded to include OpenOffice.org, Java and many other popular software applications, is returning to its roots with "Kurumin Light". Besides eliminating some of the larger software packages, as well as dropping support for scanners and 3D accelerated graphics cards, this 182MB live CD has been optimised for fast booting and reduced memory consumption. As such, Kurumin "Light" fits on any mini-CD and 256MB USB storage device, and it can also serve as a quick hard-disk installation media. Please see the release announcement (in Portuguese) for further information. Download from here: kurumin-light-6.1.iso (182MB, MD5).
After many months of development, a new stable version of Elive has been released. Called "Revolution", the updated version of the distribution that features the newest Enlightenment desktop comes with the following new features: "Uses Dsslive for the live CD mode; ATI cards working again with 3D acceleration; auto-launchers for USB sticks, DVD movies, audio CDs and Windows CDs; complete suite for setting the correct refresh rate of graphics cards; audio manager for setting audio programs to use ALSA or ESD; kernel 2.6.15 with miscellaneous drivers and wireless modules; an installer feature to upgrade an old Elive system; two different looks for both Elive systems...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details, then visit the screenshot pages to see Elive 0.5 in action. Download from here: Elive_Revolution.iso (692MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Yuichiro Nakada has announced a new version of Berry Linux, a Fedora-based, desktop-oriented distribution and live CD with support for both Japanese and English. According to the changelog, Berry Linux 0.74 has been released with the following changes: upgraded a number of popular applications, including Firefox and Thunderbird 1.5.0.7 (both Japanese and English editions); GIMP 2.2.13; WINE 0.9.21 and NdisWrapper 1.23; added Audacious 1.1.2, a free software media player for Linux (a fork of Beep media player); removed Beep, XDirectFB and K3b. This version is based on Linux kernel 2.6.17.11 with SMP, ndev/udev and bootsplash patches, and includes the latest stable KDE desktop, version 3.5.4. The bootable CD image is available for download from here: berry-0.74.iso (522MB, MD5).
The OpenSolaris-based BeleniX live CD has been updated to version 0.5: "A new release of BeleniX is available after some delay. This brings in several new features and software upgrades with more upgrades coming soon. As what happens with most deadlines, the plan to implement packaging based on Pkgsrc has been pushed back a little, but it is being definitely worked on. The significant feature of this release: support for read-only mounting and accessing both ext2 and NTFS partitions on either primary or logical partitions; updated to a recent pre-build48 snapshot of OpenSolaris; XFce has been upgraded to 4.4 Beta2...." Visit the project's home page to read the complete release announcement. Download: belenix0.5.iso (675MB, MD5).
The third release candidate of KANOTIX 2006-01 is out: "Kano has just released KANOTIX-2006-01-RC3. Improvements from RC2: has the newest X.Org 7.1; has the newest version of ntfs-3g; the bug in the installer by acritox has been fixed; UTF-8 is enabled by default; new my-pppoeconf script; boot splash now works by default. Known bugs: USB devices can be safely removed, but the live CD will not eject at reboot; with the live CD please enter the desired resolution in GRUB boot line; F-keys still don't work in GRUB boot splash." Read the rest of the release announcement for full details. Download: KANOTIX-2006-01-RC3.iso (698MB, MD5).
Linux XP is a Fedora-based, beginner-friendly desktop distribution that mimics the look and feel of Windows XP and provides extensive compatibility features with the Microsoft operating system. An updated version, now with support for English, has been released: "We just made the first international release of Linux XP Desktop!" The many new features in this release include: experimental network manager, system information dialogue, Microsoft Active Directory integration, system updates dialogue, and upgrades of several major applications. Linux XP uses a customised edition of GNOME with XP-like icons and theme. For more information please see the release announcement, read the release notes and take a look at the screenshots. Download: linux-xp-desktop-2006-SR2-english.iso (620MB, MD5).
Ken Smith has announced the first beta release of FreeBSD 6.2: "The first Beta build for the FreeBSD-6.2 Release Cycle is now available on most of the FTP mirror sites. If the release cycle goes as planned it is the first of two BETAs, which will be followed by two Release Candidates (RCs) and then the final release. A few things to note about BETA1: be aware that SA-06:21.gzip was released after the -BETA1 builds started; the install media provided for this BETA do not include any packages; the sparc64 build got started before an important bug fix was applied to auditctl(2); no BETA1 for the ia64 platform will be available; the build for Alpha is still in progress; FreeBSD Update, a binary security update tool, was recently imported into the FreeBSD base system." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download (i386, MD5): 6.2-BETA1-i386-disc1.iso (687MB) and 6.2-BETA1-i386-disc2.iso (687MB).
Carlos Morimoto has announced the start of a new development cycle leading towards Kurumin Linux 7.0. According to the release announcement (in Portuguese), version 7.0 is expected to be a special, "long-lasting" release, based on Debian "etch". As such, the Kurumin development tree has been synchronised with "etch" and users can expect headache-free version updates to a relatively stable Debian "testing" branch, instead of running a more problematic combination of software from both "testing" and "unstable" Debian branches. One feature that will not be included in Kurumin 7.0 is Xgl - a technology that is not considered mature enough and which is of interest to a comparatively small proportion of Linux users - those with modern ATI or NVIDIA graphics cards. One other new feature in this release is read/write support in mounted NTFS partitions. Interested testers can download the new CD image from here: kurumin-7.0a.iso (583MB, MD5).
Jeremiah Cheatham has announced the release of Myah OS 2.2, a Slackware-based, desktop-oriented live and installation CD with focus on multimedia and graphics design: "Myah OS 2.2 is available for download. 2.2 is running on the very latest Slackware 11 packages with the exception of the KDE packages. I used an older release because of some problems with mounting media that are happening due to Slackware's lack of HAL. I have also used the Firefox 2.0 b1 version not the current b2. Here are some of the software you will find in 2.2: Linux kernel 2.6.17.8 with Bootsplash, Squashfs, Unionfs, KDE 3.5.3, Firefox 2.0b1 with Polyesterfox, Flash, Java, MPlayer plugin, Greasemonkey and Pklaunch, Thunderbird 1.5.0.7, RealPlayer 10 Gold, xine 0.99.4 with codecs and DVD support, Amarok 1.4.1, Nvu 1.0, Blender 2.42a, Kino 0.9.0, ATI and NVIDIA video drivers." Read the full release announcement for more details. Download: Myah-OS-2.2-SE.iso (687MB).
An updated version of Dreamlinux, a desktop-oriented, Debian-based distribution with a Max OS X-like interface, has been released. The major focus of the release was on fixing bugs reported in the earlier version. As for new features, the release announcements report about improved hardware detection modules with new drivers, addition of automount, Internet sharing, NTFS read/write support and Powernow functionality, and package updates (Inkscape, OpenOffice.org...) to bring Dreamlinux in sync with Debian's "testing" repository. For more information please read the release announcements available in English or Portuguese. Download from here: DLxfce2.1_WORKS_060920-en.iso (661MB, MD5) or DLxfce2.1_WORKS_060916_ptbr.iso (669MB, MD5).
A major new version of ClarkConnect Server and Gateway has been released: "ClarkConnect 4.0 represents Point Clark Networks' most significant platform release. Thousand hours of research, software development, integration and testing have been invested in the 4.0 feature set." The new version includes a large number of new features including LDAP user management, group management; calendaring and collaboration with Outlook Connector; Horde webmail, Flexshare, Cyrus POP3/IMAP, DSPAM protection (in addition to SpamAssassin), ClamAV antivirus for mail protection (in addition to optional Sophos), SSL certificate manager, 1:1 NAT and MultiWAN, fault tolerance option in MultiWAN, AdZapper, Graphical Console and many other additions and software updates. See the product information page for a complete list of new features. Download: community-4.0.iso (447MB, MD5).
Mandriva has announced the immediate availability of Mandriva Corporate Server 4.0: "Mandriva launches Corporate Server 4.0, a full, open solution that will let you deploy servers in any environment in just a few minutes." Some of the product's highlights include: "Xen: allows the simultaneous execution of several Linux instances, and takes advantage of hardware acceleration for virtualization through Intel VTTM; OpenVZ: a solution optimized for large numbers of virtual servers through very large numbers of Linux instances, without the performance penalty of full hardware virtualization; VMware: allows the creation of completely virtualized machines, avoiding the need to support a wide range of hardware." Read the press release and visit the product pages for more information. Mandriva Corporate Server 4.0 is available from the company's online store starting at €250.
The third release candidate of NetBSD 3.1 is ready for testing: "It is my pleasure to announce that the third release candidate for NetBSD 3.1 has been released. Improvements since the second release candidate include: fixed recent security issues with BIND, OpenSSL and X11 font handling; added 'xm shutdown' support for Xen3 domUs; honor the user's umask when creating UNIX domain sockets; fixed some Xen timing and clock issues; fixed serial console on the second serial port of sparc64 machines; fixed DHCP in sysinst on 64-bit archs. We anticipate this to be the final release candidate for the NetBSD 3.1 release, so, if no serious problems arise, we expect NetBSD 3.1 to be released on October 2." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download the i386 ISO image from here: i386cd-3.1_RC3.iso (208MB, MD5).
An unexpected fifth release candidate of Slackware Linux 11.0 has been announced in the current changelog: "Slackware 11.0 release candidate 5. This is the last one, scout's honor." Last week has brought a fairly large number of updates, including a new Subversion 1.4.0 ("After a couple convincing assurances that this was a safe and ABI/API compatible upgrade, I decided to allow this upgrade."), an svn release of espgs 8.15.3 ("Building from svn fixes two critical problems: missing support for CJK, and not correctly printing umlauts with certain fonts."), security updates to Firefox, Thunderbird and SeaMonkey, as well as many rebuilds of existing package versions to fix bugs or add new functionality. As usual, there are no official ISO images released for download, but a good list of Slackware mirrors can be found here, while a recent unofficial CD image set built from the current tree is available here.
StartCom Enterprise Linux AS-4.0.3 has been released: "With the fourth release of the Advanced Server 4 series, StartCom confirms its commitment for the continued and free distribution of the StartCom Linux operating systems and the updating and maintaining of their software packages - which results in a range of secure, stable server and multimedia platforms. The just released AS-4.0.3 ('Barak') features more than 300 updated packages in addition to other minor changes. One of them is the dropping of the popular Ethereal network sniffing tool, instead the forked version of Ethereal, called Wireshark was added." Here is the brief release announcement. Download: Barak-i386-u4-DVD.iso (2,048MB, MD5).
The second and final release candidate of Mandriva Linux 2007 is out: "Mandriva Linux 2007 Release Candidate 2 'Sunna' is ready to be tested. Main changes from RC1 Mona are: several bugs fixed in rpmdrake; text installation fixed; various fixes to 'Ia Ora' themes; arts patched to prevent some problems (applications dying on start-up, Arts being launched in non-KDE environments); various other bugfixes. RC2 'Sunna' is available in many different flavours. Grab one or many from the mirrors, check out the known issues, install it and help us hunt and squash bugs." See the release announcement and release notes for further information. The various live and installation CD and DVD images are available from a number of mirrors; here is a quick link to the dual-arch installation DVD: mandriva-free-2007-sunna-DVD.iso (4,394MB, MD5).
Tollef Fog Heen has announced the third alpha release (also referred to as "Knot CD") of Ubuntu 6.10: "Welcome to Edgy Eft Knot 3. The primary changes from Knot 2 have been finalising of feature goals and bugfixing. Common to all variants, we have changed the init system from the venerable sysvinit to upstart which is an event-driven init script system. In addition, all derivatives have new artwork, both for usplash as well as for login managers and default backgrounds. In Ubuntu, GNOME has been updated to 2.16.0. In Kubuntu, Konversation 1.0 has been included. For Xubuntu, the XFce core applications have been upgraded to 4.4 release candidate 1." Read the release announcement and visit the Knot 3 features page to learn more. "Desktop" and "Alternate" CD images for three architectures can be downloaded from the project's main download server (MD5): edgy-desktop-i386.iso (668MB), edgy-desktop-amd64.iso (690MB). CD images for Kubuntu (see features), Edubuntu and Xubuntu are also available.
Henry Jensen has announced the release of DeLi Linux 0.7, an independently developed distribution designed to run on very old computer systems (those with a minimum of 8 MB of RAM): "I am proud to announce the release of DeLi (Desktop Light) Linux 0.7. DeLi Linux is a distribution made for old hardware. Machines from i386 to Pentium I with 8 to 32 MB RAM are considered as target systems. DeLi Linux uses lightweight software wherever it is possible. Nevertheless, it also provides a graphical desktop with an office package, web browser, e-mail client, PDF viewer and games. The most important changes: based on uClibc 0.9.28; kernel 2.4.33.3; a 'stripped-down' X.Org 7.1; a BSD-like ports system (borrowed from CRUX)." More information can be found in the release announcement and on the project's home page. Download: deli-0.7.iso (127MB).
Daisuke Suzuki has announced the availability of a second release candidate of Vine Linux 4.0. Most of the work prior to the new development build was spent on updating the documentation and on providing a painless update path from earlier releases via Vine' s "apt-line" package management utility. Users who are interested in downloading and testing the new product should especially focus on testing hardware compatibility, evaluating various installation patterns, upgrading from older version, testing RAID and LVM interoperability, and experimenting with various software applications. Please read the release announcement and visit the beta information page (both links in Japanese) for further information. Download: Vine40-beta2.iso (623MB, SHA1).
The first release candidate of KANOTIX 2006-01 is ready for testing: "Kano has released KANOTIX 2006-01 RC1. KANOTIX is a Linux live CD based on high compression technology initially pioneered by KNOPPIX, but using mostly pure Debian 'sid'. Specifications: kernel 2.6.17.13 with many patches; ACPI and DMA enabled by default; i586 optimization; 192 MB RAM required, 256 MB RAM recommended; Unionfs support (with 'unionfs' cheat); NTFS-3g support; AVM Fritz!Card DSL support; KDE 3.5.4; ALSA 1.0.11rc4; GRUB boot loader for CD start - ideal for rescue in command line mode; Memtest86+ advanced memory diagnostic tool in the extra menu of the boot loader." Read the release notes for further information. Download: KANOTIX-2006-01-RC1.iso (698MB, MD5).
Xandros Corporation has announced that it started offering a free 30-day trial edition of Xandros Desktop 4 Premium for free download: "Xandros is now offering free 30-day evaluations of the all new Xandros Desktop Home Edition - Premium. Now you can discover for yourself the benefits and features of the new Xandros Desktop." To get the download link, please visit this page and click on the "Free 30-day Trial" link in the right column. After registering your name and email address you will receive a download link by email. Xandros Desktop 4 is an excellent beginner-friendly distribution with a customised version of KDE and a host of intuitive desktop utilities designed to ease migration from Windows to Linux. Originally released in June 2006, the product's latest version is based on kernel 2.6.15 and includes X.Org 6.9.0, KDE 3.4.2, OpenOffice.org 2.0.1, Firefox 1.5.0.4, and other popular open source applications.
Jeremy Katz has announced the third and final test release of Fedora Core 6: "The Fedora Project announces the third and final test release of the Fedora Core 6 development cycle. Notable Features of Fedora Core 6: support for installation from multiple repositories at install-time; GNOME 2.16.0; KDE 3.5.3; an improved look and feel for various non-English languages; new desktop eye candy provided by the Compiz window manager using AIGLX; notification of available software updates via notification bubbles; improved start-up performance of applications; improved speed of various package management utilities; further improvements in the Xen virtualization technology...." Read the release announcement and release notes for more details. The CD and DVD images for three architectures are available from these download mirrors and also via BitTorrent; quick links to the i386 and x86_64 DVD images: FC-6-Test3-i386-DVD.iso (3,339MB) or FC-6-Test3-x86_64-DVD.iso (3,861MB).
SabayonLinux 3.0 has been released: "The SabayonLinux Team is proud to announce SabayonLinux 3.0 x86 and x86-64 editions." Some of the new features found in this release include: "Out of the box Intel Mac support and Intel video cards Direct Rendering support; Quake4 Demo; added the possibility to configure boot settings using SabayonLinux Installer; X.Org 7.1.1; KDE-meta ebuilds using Kopete 0.12.1 (KDE 3.5.4); SabayonLinux 3 now uses gentoo-sources, currently version 2.6.17-r7; early Compiz initialization for KDE and XFce; GPT partitions support and A20 gate fixes for GRUB legacy; new GTK+ Cairo enabled theme and SLAB menu for our GNOME users; completed the SabayonLinux KDE theme (colours and ksplash)...." See the release announcement and changelog for further information. Download via BitTorrent: SabayonLinux-x86-3.0 (3,347MB) or SabayonLinux-x86-64-3.0 (3,564MB).
Puppy Linux 2.10 is out. From the release notes: "A massive upgrade of most package versions - AbiWord 2.4.5, Gnumeric 1.6.3, SeaMonkey 1.0.4, GTK+ 2.8.17, X.Org 7.0...; most of the packages now compiled using the T2 build system; the 'devx' module is a simple method of converting Puppy into a complete C/C++ compile environment; SquashFS now has LZMA compression, allowing us to put more packages into this release, yet the live CD ISO file is smaller; the Smartlink and Lucent soft-modem drivers and support utilities are now in the 'standard' live CD; Sweep replaces mhWaveEdit sound recorder and editor...." Download the Seamonkey edition of Puppy Linux 2.10 from here: puppy-2.10-seamonkey.iso (66.6MB, MD5).
Frugalware Linux 0.5 has been released: "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.5, our fifth stable release. Here are the most important changes since 0.4: up-to-date packages: GNU C Library 2.4, GCC 4.1.1, KDE 3.5.4, X.Org 7.1, OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 (a native version for x86_64 users, too); security support: as of Frugalware 0.5, security support is provided until the release of the stable Frugalware 0.6; created a new tool called 'setup' to collect the available configuration tools; localized the package manager (French, German and Hungarian translations are available); installer improvements...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download (SHA1): frugalware-0.5-i686-dvd1.iso (4,265MB) or frugalware-0.5-x86_64-dvd1.iso 4,195MB).
A new version of trixbox, a CentOS-based distribution that enables the home user to quickly set up a VOIP Asterisk PBX, has been released: "It's time for another release of trixbox. We have fixed a lot of bugs. SugarCRM should work without any blank pages now. All the latest software is in this release, Asterisk 1.2.11 and CentOS 4.4, etc. We also have some cool new features. The goal of trixbox is to be the easiest Asterisk install. We now have a service provider wizard that sets up service providers for you. The coolest new feature is the Endpoint Manager. This new endpoint auto-configure system will scan your network for SIP phones and add them to your trixbox!" Here is the full release announcement. Download: trixbox-1.2.iso (538MB, MD5).
The first beta build of Bulgaria's Tilix Linux 2.0 is ready for testing. The most important changes since Test 3 of the Kubuntu-based distribution include the following: addition of all the latest security updates; upgrades to Amarok 1.4.3, KTorrent 2.0.2 and Konversation 1.0rc1; added a recompiled build of OpenOffice.org from the dapper-proposed branch; various small KDE updates from Debian "etch"; installation of Kopete and Twinkle (replacing Wengo) and kde-hal-device-manager. For more information please read the release announcement (in Bulgarian). Download from here: tilix-2.0-i386-beta1.iso (682MB, MD5). The final release of Tilix Linux 2.0 is expected in early October.
A DVD edition of the recently released SimplyMEPIS 6.0 is now available for download or purchase: "MEPIS has announced the release of SimplyMEPIS 6.0-1 DVD Edition; an update of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. The SimplyMEPIS 6.0-1 bootable DVD not only includes hundreds of bug and security fixes, but the 1,900 packages of the three SimplyMEPIS Extras CDs, as well. SimplyMEPIS 6.0-1 DVD edition has been cover-mounted on the October 2006 issue of Linux Magazine from Linux New Media AG. The issue went on sale September 8 in the UK will be available at thousands of bookstores and newstands worldwide including Borders, Barnes & Noble, Fry's, Micro Center, Chapters, WHSmith and Eason." Read the complete press release for more details. The new SimplyMEPIS DVD edition is available for download from here: SimplyMEPIS-DVD_6.0-1_i386.iso (4,093MB, MD5).
SaxenOS is a new name of what used to be called STX Linux, a Slackware-based live CD showcasing the light-weight Equinox Desktop Environment (EDE). A beta build of SaxenOS 1.1 has been released for testing: "SaxenOS is a desktop Linux distribution especially targeted to older hardware. It's a live CD and it boots from your CDROM. Overview: complete Linux desktop; lightweight (about 1.25 GB installed, 379 MB ISO); based on Slackware 11, Zenwalk 2.8, Wolvix and SLAX; works nicely on old hardware (oldest system tested: K5/75, 64 MB RAM, 130 MB swap ... very slow but works); hard disk Installer from Wolvix; the brand new EDE 1.1 desktop, looks very much like Windows 98/ME/2000." Visit the project's home page for further information and download links. There are two editions to download - "Plain Desktop" and "Desktop Server"; get them from here: saxenos-1.1-b1.iso (379MB, MD5) or saxdeskserv-1.1-b1.iso (483MB, MD5).
Alexander Patrakov has announced an updated version of the Linux From Scratch (LFS) live CD: "The LFS LiveCD Team is proud to announce the release of the x86-6.2-3 version of LFS LiveCD. This version is built using LFS 6.2 and many Beyond Linux From Scratch packages from the Subversion branch. Source packages for LFS 6.2, and the LFS book itself, are included on the live CD. The CD is also suitable as a host for building x86 and x86_64 Cross LFS systems. Other features and bug fixes: the CD supports hibernation; the CD file system can be written to; the CD contains a visually pleasing and easy-to-use window manager, XFce...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: lfslivecd-x86-6.2-3.iso (503MB, MD5).
Ken VanDine has announced the release of Foresight Linux 0.9.8, now with the brand new GNOME 2.16: "Still on the path to Foresight Linux 1.0. We want to do some more testing, but what we have is pretty close to what 1.0 will be. This is in preparation for 1.0, along with a new release management process. Here are a few of the highlights: GNOME 2.16, Conary 1.1.3, rPath Appliance Agent 1.0.4, X.Org 7.1.1, Evolution 2.8.0, OpenOffice.org 2.0.3, Linux kernel 2.6.17.8, Mono 1.1.16.1, lots of other version updates. We will always strive to stay incredibly current." Here is the complete release announcement. The Foresight Linux 0.9.8 DVD image is available for download from here: foresight-0.9.8-x86-dvd1.iso (1,129MB).
Zenwalk Linux 3.0 has been released: "The development team of the Zenwalk Linux operating system is pleased to announce that the latest stable major release, Zenwalk 3.0, is now available for download as a CDROM ISO, and from CD stores. This release includes numerous software and visual advancements. Key software improvements include XFce 4.3.99.1, the Linux kernel 2.6.17.11 Firefox 1.5.0.6, Thunderbird 1.5.0.5, Xarchiver 0.4, as well as many others all updated to the latest releases (around 200 packages updated or added). Visual aspects of the desktop have been improved by using a complete Tango icon set." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: zenwalk-3.0.iso (414MB, MD5). On a related note, an updated version of ZenLive Linux (Zenwalk's live CD edition) has also been released.
The first release candidate of Mandriva Linux 2007 is out: "Mona, or Máni, God of the Moon, has been unleashed by Warly and the team. On the race to Mandriva Linux 2007, it's the first release candidate. Now that Tyr was put to sleep, there have been some changes: new Ia Ora Theme also available under KDE; new backgrounds integrated; the network module b44 should be fixed; the default web page for the web browser should display correctly." Those interested in more details can found them in the release announcement and release notes. Download the dual-architecture (i586 and x86_64) DVD image from here: mandriva-free-2007-mona-DVD.iso (4,393MB, MD5).
A. J. Venter has announced a new beta release of OpenLab GNU/Linux, version 4.Z and code name "Conina": "OpenLab is pleased to announce the release of OpenLab 4.Zbeta, available for download, or through limited public CD distribution." Among the major changes since the alpha release some three months ago are: "Improvements to sound detection; major look and feel enhancements for installer; KDE 3.5.4 with standard OpenLab patches; bug fixes to hotplug system and WiFi support; kernel 2.6.17.11; HFS iPod support; Amarok 1.4.2 with iTunes and libgpod support; new German installer translation; package synchronised to Slackware 11 RC1; Firefox 1.5.0.6...." Read the release announcement and changelog for further information. Download: openlab-live-4.Zbeta.iso (698MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
A new, experimental release of Musix GNU/Linux is now available for download and testing: "The Musix project is pleased to announce the new version of this 100% freedom software operating system for artists and general purpose users. More than 650 packages were upgraded and many others were included, for instance the udev system, the awesome multimedia player amaroK, writing support for NTFS partitions, Samba and mp3 codec for Audacity. The system's start-up process now is totally graphical and the (IceWM + ROX-Filer) Desktop now starts without user interaction." More information and a detailed changelog can be found on the project's download page. Get the new CD image from here: MusixGNU-Linux0.59.iso (695MB); also available via BitTorrent.
Carlos Morimoto has announced the release of Kurumin Linux 6.1. The latest version of the popular Brazilian distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux uses the Linux kernel 2.6.17.11 with patches from KANOTIX, new drivers and security updates. Other improvements include the following: notebooks with wide screens are now detected and set up correctly; support for Intel ipw2200 wireless networking in Centrino notebooks; improved script for configuring wireless networking with NdisWrapper; the 'powernow' feature is now activated automatically whenever hardware with power saving features is detected; many bug fixes. Read the complete release announcement (in Portuguese) for more information. Download: kurumin-6.1.iso (526MB, MD5).
Red Hat has announced the availability of a public beta release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5: "Red Hat is pleased to announce the availability of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Beta 1 milestone. This is a public beta. This is the first Red Hat Enterprise Linux release that includes Xen based open source virtualization technology. The Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 Beta 1 release contains virtualization on the i386 and x86_64 architectures as well as a technology preview for IA64." The release announcement has all the details, including information about the new client-server packaging structure, additional functionality provided by specialist "media kits", software registration, new mailing list for beta testers, and the bug reporting facility. Download mirrors are hard to find at this stage, but try visiting the Fedora mirror list, some of which may carry the new RHEL 5 beta CD and DVD images. Here are two quick links to the i386 server and client DVD images: RHEL5-Server-20060830.1-i386-DVD.iso (2,270MB, SHA1), RHEL5-Client-20060830.1-i386-DVD.iso (3,130MB, SHA1).
Andrea Jageger has announced a new alpha release of openSUSE 10.2: "I'm glad to announce the fourth alpha release of our openSUSE 10.2. distribution. Compared with Alpha4, we've made a number of significant changes: we switched to kernel 2.6.18rc5 - and use only SMP kernel; KDE now uses the new kickoff menu; we switched to GNOME 2.16 Beta (2.15.92); the new branding 'openSUSE' should be shown in all places; finished integration of X11 R7.1; further refinement of patterns used in the package manager for grouping of software; start of removal of unneeded SuSEconfig scripts; no reboot after CD1; YaST runs during installation in a window; further work on package management...." More details are available in the release announcement. The new CD images can be downloaded from the project's main download server or its mirrors; here is a quick link to the x86 torrent file: openSUSE-10.2-Alpha4-i386 (3,329MB).
An updated version of GParted LiveCD has been released. From the release notes: "This version has some minor improvements. Nothing I can say here can top full move support in GParted, so I won't bore you with too many details. The coolest things are the new artwork by Junel Mujar and it's now possible to boot from a hard drive. The hw_random crash has also been fixed." Among the included packages, the Linux kernel has been upgraded to version 2.6.17.11, GParted to 0.3, and Thunar to 0.4.0rc1. The new version can be downloaded from here: gparted-livecd-0.3-1.iso (28.5MB, MD5).
Geert Hendrickx has announced the availability of a second release candidate of NetBSD 3.1: "on behalf of the NetBSD Release Engineering Team, it is my pleasure to announce that the second release candidate for NetBSD 3.1 has been released. Improvements over the first release candidate include: fixed the build of NetBSD-vax; fixed a buffer overflow in PPPoE/ISDN PPP; closed a socket leach in accept(2); removed references to sushi(8) from the afterboot(8) manpage; fixed an integer overflow in FreeType; disabled threading in named(8) to avoid a crash on sparc and sparc64; fixed a potential DoS vulnerability in sendmail(8)...." More details about the changes can be found in the release announcement. CD images for a number of processor architectures are available from the project's main FTP server and its mirrors; here is a quick link to the i386 image: i386cd-3.1_RC2.iso (208MB, MD5).
A live CD edition of Kate OS 3.0 has been released: "Kate OS 3.0 LIVE is the newest version of our distribution which boots directly from the CD. It is a great demonstration of our system's possibilities. It can also come very handy when trying to rescue another system. The CD contains 2GB of compressed data, including the XFce environment with multimedia and office applications. Also available are system and partition rescue tools, GParted (partitioning tool) and ClamAV, an antivirus scanner. All these tools are priceless during a data rescue session after a system crash." Visit the distribution's home page to read the full release announcement. Download: KateOS_3.0-LIVE.iso (687MB, MD5).
Version 1.2 of Ubuntu Christian Edition (Ubuntu CE) has been released: "We have just released Ubuntu Christian Edition v1.2! We have added the GnuCash financial management software as well as the very popular Ubuntu customization tool, Automatix. There are also some smaller additions such as the new Daily Bible Verse feature and a new GDM to make the look and feel of Ubuntu CE more consistent. One of the major accomplishments with this release is the introduction of the Ubuntu CE installer. With it users are able to easily install even more great Christian and educational software." Find more details in the release announcement. Download: Ubuntu_6.06_i386_Christian_Edition_v1_2.iso (694MB, MD5).
Wolvix is a SLAX-based live CD designed for a range of common desktop configurations. The development of the upcoming version 1.0.5 has started with the small "Cub" edition: "Wolvix Cub is a smaller version of Wolvix, designed to fit on 256MB USB removable media and it will serve as the base for the larger 'standard' 512MB Wolvix edition. Wolvix Cub comes with both Fluxbox and XFce, and includes a carefully selected group of development, graphics, multimedia and desktop applications. This release also features the Wolvix Control Panel (WCP) developed by Oithona." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download: wolvix-cub-1.0.5-beta.iso (243MB, MD5).
Patrick Volkerding has announced that "current" branch of Slackware Linux has reached release candidate 4 status: "I wasn't planning a Slackware 11.0 release candidate 4, but here we go." The new -- and unusually verbose -- entry in the changelog tell us that: udev's log level has been changed from "crit" to "err"; K3b now writes to /dev/writer; permissions on input events have been relaxed from 600 to 640; a number of software packages have been upgraded, including Linux kernel to version 2.4.33.3, MySQL to 5.0.24a and Samba to 3.0.23c; all necessary applications have been recompiled against the new kernel and MySQL. As usual, there are no official CD images to download, but experienced beta testers are welcome to upgrade their Slackware systems to the current branch; a good list of up-to-date mirrors is available here. It shouldn't be long now....
Elive Linux, a Debian-based live CD featuring the Enlightenment window manager, has entered the final stages of its development in preparation for the release of a new stable version: "Elive 0.5 Beta 3.4 has been released. This will probably be the last beta release before the stable one." According to the changelog, this version adds an on-the-fly method of switching between locales, a new option to manually define monitor refresh rates, OpenOffice.org 2, a new icon set for the Thunar file manager and pre-configured mime types, Blender 2.42a and Yafray 0.0.9, and many other improvements and bug fixes. Interested beta testers can download the CD image from here: elive_0.5-beta-3.4_unstable_20060901.iso (697MB, MD5).
A new version of ZenLive Linux, a subproject the Slackware-based Zenwalk Linux, is out: "It's official, ZenLive 2.8 has been released! This is a major version release based on the latest stable release of Zenwalk Linux, version 2.8. In addition, the latest versions of Zenwalk's net-based package management system, 'netpkg', which now allows software downloading from multiple repositories, system-tools and xdialog have been upgraded. A few new games have been added. All of your favorite Zenwalk applications are here as well so you'll feel right at home. Zenwalk 2.8 is a live CD powerhouse complete with wireless networking support, multimedia, office and gaming software, as well as international fonts and DVD codecs." Visit the project's home page to read the complete release announcement. Download: zenlive-2.8.iso (438MB, MD5).
Tollef Fog Heen has announced the second alpha release (also known as "Knot") of Ubuntu 6.10, code name "Edgy Eft": "Welcome to Edgy Eft Knot 2, which will in time become Ubuntu 6.10. The primary changes from Knot 1 have been implementations of feature goals as listed on this page. Common to all variants, we have upgraded X.Org to the 7.1 release. In Ubuntu, GNOME has been updated to 2.16.0 Release Candidate 1. Other notable changes are listed here. KDE has been updated to 3.5.4. Other notable Kubuntu changes are listed here." Read the full release announcement for further information and a list of up-to-date download mirrors. As always, the full range of live and installation CDs for various architectures is available for download from the project's main server; here is a quick link to the i386 Desktop CD: edgy-desktop-i386.iso (666MB, MD5). Kubuntu 6.10 Knot 2 CDs have also been released.
Miklós Vajna has announced the second release candidate of Frugalware Linux 0.5, the last development build before the stable release, expected at the end of September: "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.5rc2, the second release candidate of the upcoming 0.5 stable release. A short and incomplete list of changes since 0.5rc1: updated GNOME to 2.16 Release Candidate (2.15.92); ~300 bugfixes; updated KDE and GRUB artwork; more than 30 new packages: ntfs-3g, avifile, gnome-sharp and many more!" Here is the brief release announcement. Download (SHA1): frugalware-0.5rc2-i686-dvd1.iso (4,264MB).
Joey Schulze has announced the availability of a third revision of the stable Debian GNU/Linux 3.1, code name 'sarge': "The Debian project has updated the stable distribution Debian GNU/Linux 3.1. This update mainly adds security updates to the stable release, along with a few corrections to serious problems." Besides a large number of security updates and bug-fixes to glibc, GRUB, Perl and other packages, the Debian installer and several base packages were also updated. For more information please see the official release announcement and changelog. As always, the Debian stable revisions are normally applied with the apt-get package management tool. The updated stable branch, labelled as 3.1r3, is available from the project's main server or various mirrors around the world.
The third beta of Mandriva Linux 2007 has been released. Some of the main changes since beta 2 include: "New 3D desktop support (both with AIGLX and Xgl) and a new tool to configure it (drak3d); new 'One' CD with 3D desktop support (AIGLX and Xgl, both on KDE and GNOME, autodetection of the best 3D solution); new rpmdrake; more applications migrated to XDG menus; GNOME 2.16 RC1; kernel 2.6.17 (based on 2.6.17.8 with ALSA 1.0.12 rc2); KDE 3.5.4; new 'Ia Ora' Mandriva theme (still only included in GNOME); new VPN configuration tool (drakvpn); new firewall...." Read the full press release for further details. A full range of live and installation CDs and DVDs for i586 and x86_64 architectures is available for download from these Mandriva mirrors; here is a quick link to the dual-arch installation DVD: mandriva-free-2007-tyr-DVD.i586-x86_64.iso (4,394MB).
Daisuke Suzuki has announced the release of the first beta of Vine Linux 4.0, an all-purpose Japanese community distribution. The most important features of this release include: Linux kernel 2.6.16.28; udev with dbus and hal; X.Org 6.9.0 + backports; GNOME 2.14.2 with GTK+ 2.8 and glib-2.12; RPM 4.4.2; Firefox 1.5.0.6; SCIM + Anthy Japanese input method editors. The first beta test is expected to last for about 5 - 6 weeks after which a release candidate will be made available for further testing. Find more information in the release announcement and on the project's beta testing page (both links in Japanese). Download from here: Vine40-beta1.iso (641MB, SHA1).
Gentoo Linux 2006.1 has been released: "The Gentoo Release Engineering team proudly announces the release of Gentoo Linux 2006.1, the second release of the year. The 2006.1 release features many highlights that improve upon 2006.0. The AMD64, HPPA, x86, 32- and 64-bit PowerPC releases are built with and include GCC 4.1, a great improvement over version 3.4 used for 2006.0. Also included are the GNU C library version 2.4 and Gentoo's baselayout 1.12.1, with improved system start-up scripts. Alpha, x86 and AMD64 also feature a new profile layout, with separate sub-profiles for desktop and server systems." Read the rest of the press release for more details. The project's various editions are available for download from these mirrors as well as via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i686 live CD image: livecd-i686-installer-2006.1.iso (682MB, MD5/SHA1).
Robert Jensen has announced the availability of a new set of Fedora Core live CDs and DVDs. Called "Live-Spins" and created with a tool called Kadischi, the new Fedora live CD/DVD images allow users to test the distribution without having to install it to their hard disks. Fedora Unity has released the Live-Spins for both the current stable version (Fedora Core 5) and the latest development build (Fedora Core 6 Test 2). More information can be found in the release announcement. The live CD/DVD images can be downloaded via BitTorrent; here are quick links to the two live CD torrent files: FC-5-i386-LiveCD-Unity-20060821 (653MB), FC-6T2-i386-LiveCD-Unity-20060823.torrent (661MB). The new Fedora live CD and DVD images are only available for the i386 architecture.
Johnny Hughes has announced the availability of a fourth update to CentOS 4 series, a Linux distribution built from source RPM packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4: "The CentOS development team is pleased to announce the release of CentOS 4.4 for i386 and x86_64. This release corresponds to the upstream vendor U4 release together with updates through August 26th, 2006. The Live CD edition (1 CD-ROM) is available for i386. Major changes for this version are: Mozilla has been replaced by SeaMonkey, Ethereal has been replaced by Wireshark. Firefox and Thunderbird have moved to 1.5.x versions, OpenOffice.org has moved from to the 1.1.5 version." For more information please see the release announcement and release notes. The CD/DVD and live CD images are available from the project's download server and mirror sites.
A new stable version of the Debian-based Gibraltar Firewall has been released: "The new version v2.4 from Gibraltar is available. Gibraltar v2.4 comes with many new features and now also available pre-installed on several reliable hardware platforms. The new Gibraltar Security Gateways are offered with different performance data for network sizes up to several hundred computers. Due to permanent product enhancements during the last years, Gibraltar has been evolved from a pure Firewall to a powerful and reliable UTM appliance (universal threat management)." Read the full release announcement and check out the changelog for a full list of changes and new features. Download: gibraltar-2.4.1.iso.bz2 (235MB, SHA1).
The third beta of VLOS 1.3 has been released for download and testing. The most notable changes include: "Fix unable to switch to console when in X Window; fix ugly fonts in KDE; build KDE with Zeroconf and Arts support; added bcm43xx and ipw2100 firmware; added KDE ebuilds to overlay; fix rar support in file-roller; update to Portage 2.1; GNOME updated to 2.14.3, KDE to 3.5.4; added DejaVu fonts; added animated cursor in X server; NVIDIA drivers updated to latest version; kernel updated to new 2.6.17; Madwifi module now working; added server packages and NetworkManager...." Read the rest of the release announcement for a full list of changes. The DVD images are available for download via BitTorrent (MD5): vlos-1.3-beta3-dvd_i686.iso (1,439MB) or vlos-1.3-beta3-dvd_amd64.iso (1,454MB).
Eddy Nigg has released an updated version of StartCom Enterprise Linux 3 series: "The legendary StartCom Enterprise Linux AS-3 is the first updated distribution release after the summer break, out of a series of update releases scheduled for the coming month. The release of AS-3.0.6 (Maccabee) features about 300 updated packages. Since the last release of the AS-3 series, the popular Ethereal network sniffing tool was forked to a new project called Wireshark. This change is reflected in this release, but also the newest Firefox and Thunderbird packages are included again." Read the rest of the press release for further information. The distribution consists of three CD images which can be downloaded free of charge from the project's FTP and HTTP mirrors.
Yuichiro Nakada has announced a new release of Berry Linux, version 0.73. The latest release is based on kernel 2.6.17.11 SMP, with ndev/udev and bootsplash patches. Most of the base components come from Fedora Core 5, but the more visible software packages have been upgraded to newer versions; these include KDE 3.5.4, GIMP 2.2.12, xine 0.9.4, digiKam 0.8.2, Firefox 1.5.0.6 and Thunderbird 1.5.0.5 (both English and Japanese editions of the Mozilla products are included), and WINE 0.9.19. The project's own Rasp-UI window manager has been updated to version 0.04, while several new Japanese fonts have been added (YOzFont, Aoyagikouzan, Gyosho, Decoration). Read the project's changelog for a complete list of changes. Download: berry-0.73.iso (525MB, MD5).
A new development build of Puppy Linux has been released for testing: "Puppy version 2.10 Alpha live CD ISO file is available. This is basically what version 2.10 will be, with bug fixes and some packages upgraded. For example, I expect JWM will be upgraded from 1.7 to 1.8 for the beta release. The kernel is 2.6.16.7, same as Pup 2.02 and will remain that for the 2.10 final. To find out what is in this release, read the Developer Notes in this blog. There are some unannounced things, like ISOMaster, that you will find in the Multimedia menu." More information can be found in the release announcement. Download: puppy-2.10alpha-seamonkey.iso (64.4MB, MD5).
The developers of Tilix, a Bulgarian distribution based on Kubuntu, have announced the third test release of the upcoming version 2.0. Some of the changes since test 2 include: addition of Camstream to the main menu; inclusion of KMobileTools 0.5 beta 1; update to ImageMagick and ntfs-3g; addition of Gocr, KGet, Avahi daemon and Smartmontools; Kasablanca has been replaced by KFTPgrabber; upgrades to KTorrent 2.0.1, Amarok 1.4.2 and Wine 0.9.20; recompilation of hal. Read the full release announcement (in Bulgarian) for more details. Download: tilix-2.0-i386-test3.iso (680MB, MD5).
Johnny Hughes has announced the release of the 8th update to the legacy CentOS 3 series, available for both i386 and x86_64 architectures: "The CentOS development team is please to announce the release of CentOS 3.8 for i386 and x86_64. CentOS 3.8 is available on all mirrors and via BitTorrent. This release corresponds to the upstream vendor U8 release together with updates through August 11th (depending on architecture). The serverCD edition (1 CD) is available for i386 and x86_64. The work for the other architectures is still in progress." Here is the complete release announcement. The complete CD image sets, DVD torrent files, and single-CD server editions are available from these download mirrors.
Aldas Nabazas has announced the release of T2 6.0.0, a system development environment for building a custom distribution directly from source code: "After a lot of testing, security updates and work on details, we are proud to announce the immediate availability of 6.0.0 final. The release features u/dev, early user-space, fully modular kernel, X11R7, C++ cross compilation, PowerPC64 and MIPS64 support, as well as a whole lot of updates and re-factoring under the hood. The x86 flavour already includes support for latest Apple Macintosh Intel hardware." Find more details in the release announcement. The source code for building T2 6.0.0 is available here, while pre-built ISO images targeted at desktops for PPC, PPC64, SPARC64, x86 and x86_64 architectures can be downloaded from this server.
Patrick Volkerding has announced the third release candidate of Slackware Linux 11.0: "Here is Slackware 11.0 release candidate 3. I think most of the irresistible upgrades are in here now, and the bug reports have been mostly handled. There may still be a few changes, and possibly another release candidate, but this is pretty close to final with the exception of updating documentation and building ZipSlack. Thanks very much to everyone who is helping to test these release candidates -- I think this is going to be a very up to date and stable release." See the current changelog for details about all the recent changes. A good list of mirror sites carrying the Slackware current branch is available here.
The first development release of Damn Small Linux 3.1 is out. From the changelog: "Edited .fluxbox menu; added license section to 'Getting Started' document; cleaned up code regarding DESKTOP and ICONS; updated stats.lua to read version from text file; added Firefox adjustments for Unionfs; made Unionfs the default boot; updated SQLite to 3.3.6; made mydsl boot option consistent with restore boot option; enhanced exit check to warn if no backup device when requested to save special settings; added murgaLua Lua/Fltk development toolkit; enhanced .torsmorc for ACPI battery indicator." Download: dsl-3.1RC1.iso (50.3MB, MD5). On a related note, the fourth release candidate of DSL-N 0.1 is also available.
The second release candidate of the single-CD Sabayon Linux 3.0 "miniEdition" has been released. New features: "Added 'dmidecode' (MacTel computers detection); added GUID partition table support for GRUB and Anaconda; added A20 Gate patches to GRUB to run correctly on Intel Macs; fixed KDM start-up slowness; added tmpfs to better support ATI video cards; updated WINE to 0.9.19 on x86; early Compiz start-up (it starts before KDE); fixed reiser4-gentoo-sources ebuild; removed eth1394 module." Find more information and download links in the release announcement. Get the ISO images from here: SabayonLinux-x86-3.0RC2e.miniEdition.iso (694MB, MD5), SabayonLinux-x86_64-3.0RC2b.miniEdition.iso (697MB, MD5).
Underground Desktop, a project which develops a desktop-oriented, Arch-based distribution with the latest KDE, has released a first alpha build of the upcoming version 023: "An alpha quality release of Underground Desktop is out. This release has been built using 'larch' live scripts and standard Arch packages, and provides a fairly minimal desktop CD that can be used as a live CD and to install the system to hard disk. This release features KDE 3.5.4 and a bunch of useful applications. More to come." Here is the brief release announcement. Underground Desktop 023 alpha is available for download via BitTorrent (434MB).
The IPCop firewall distribution has been updated to version 1.4.11: "IPCop v1.4.11 has been released with small changes in ids.cgi and vpnmain.cgi from 1.4.11rc1. As usual, this version can be installed as an update from previous v1.4.10 versions or with a ready-to-go ISO for a fresh install. What is newer is that it can now be installed from USB key or from a PXE package. To install the update, it is necessary that kernel 2.4.31 is running. Kernel 2.4.29 is suppressed during the update to let free space for a new kernel on next release." Read the complete release announcement for full details. Download: ipcop-install-cd-1.4.11.i386.iso (191MB, MD5).
An updated version of PUD GNU/Linux, an Ubuntu-based Linux mini distribution with support for both traditional and simplified Chinese, is out: "PUD v0.4.6.3 has been released. It comes with a new plugin system 'opt-get', Gmail-based file backup and restore tool 'gmail-save', an installer to embed PUD into hard drive, and both simplified and traditional Chinese are fully supported in this version." More details about the new features can be found in the release announcement. Download: PUD-0.4.6.3.iso (191MB, MD5).
Jeff Moe has announced an updated release of BLAG Linux And GNU, version 50001: "BLAG 50001 (smack) has been released. BLAG 50001 is based on Fedora Core 5 and uses packages from Extras, FreshRPMS, Dries, and ATrpms. It includes all Fedora updates as of time of release. New CD packages include GnomeBaker, Graveman, StreamRipper and a few GStreamer plugins. Updates include AbiWord, Audacity, CUPS, Firefox, GIMP, GNOME, GnuPG, hal, Apache, Inkscape, Linux kernel, Liferea, Nautilus, NetworkManager.... Overall, 12 new packages were added, 89 updated." Read the rest of the release announcement for full details and download links. Get the CD image from here: BLAG-50001.iso (693MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
How-Tux is an Italian Slackware-based, desktop-oriented Linux distribution enhanced by GWARE GNOME, OpenOffice.org, and several multimedia and graphics applications. After months of development, the project has announced its 1.0 release. It is built on top of the Linux kernel 2.6.16 and includes X.Org 6.9.0, GNOME 2.14.3, OpenOffice.org 2.0.3, the latest versions of AbiWord, Firefox and Thunderbird, as well as a cvs version of Emacs 22. Please visit the project's home page (Italian) to read the full release announcement. Download (MD5): How-Tux_1.0_CD1.iso (635MB) and How-Tux_1.0_CD2.iso (672MB).
Version 4.6 of Boston University Linux (BU Linux) has been released: "The Office of Information Technology presents BU Linux 4.6 (Stormy). Pre-made installation CDs are available for $5 from the Office of Information Technology, or check out the installation page for instructions on burning your own. This is the latest in our desktop operating system releases, and features almost 3000 open source and free software packages drawn from the Fedora Project and from many other sources, combined with locally developed custom software and pre-configurations." Read the complete release announcement for more details. The ISO images for network installation are available for download from here: stormy32-installer.iso (70.0MB) or stormy64-installer.iso (71.2MB).
A release candidate for SLAX 5.1.8 is ready for download and testing: "The first public release candidate of SLAX 5.1.8 is available for download." Some of the more interesting changes include: "Better handling of booting from USB devices; added NTFS-3g (aka ntfsmount) to fully support writing to NTFS partitions; added slaxsave.zip to SLAX CD. This archive contains pre-built loop filesystems (size 128MB, 256MB, 512MB and 1GB). Just unpack your desired file to root of some partition (you can use USB key as well) and SLAX will save changes to the file automatically." See the full changelog. Download: slax-5.1.8rc.iso (195MB, MD5).
Geert Hendrickx has announced the first release candidate of NetBSD 3.1: "On behalf of the NetBSD Release Engineering Team, it is my pleasure to announce that the first release candidate for NetBSD 3.1 has been released. NetBSD 3.1 is a feature update for NetBSD 3.0, and features domU support for Xen3, massive LFS stability improvements, and lots of other, smaller improvements, additions, and bug fixes. If you want to build NetBSD 3.1_RC1 from source, cvs up your source tree to 'netbsd-3-1-RC1', or just along the 'netbsd-3' branch. NetBSD 3.1_RC2 is expected to be released in two weeks, and will have fixed the build for NetBSD-vax." More details can be found in the release announcement. Download the i386 ISO image from here: i386cd-3.1_RC1.iso (208MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Texstar has announced the availability of PCLinuxOS 0.93a "Full Edition aka Big Daddy": "PCLinuxOS Full Edition aka Big Daddy is now available for download or online ordering. The full edition comes with Kernel 2.6.16.27, KDE 3.5.3, OpenOffice.org, Firefox, Thunderbird and Nvu. Digikam, Gimp and GQview for your digital photo needs. Amarok, Audacity and Audio Creator for your digital music needs. Frostwire, BitTorrent and gFTP for file transfers and p2p file sharing. MPlayer and Kaffeine for video viewing. (libdvdcss2 required for DVD encrypted playback). Kopete and Xchat for online chatting. Blogging and podcast software also included. PCLinuxOS Big Daddy is the full monty!" The release announcement. Download: pclinuxos-p93a-bigdaddy.iso (685MB, MD5).
Texstar has announced the availability of PCLinuxOS 0.93a "Full Edition aka Big Daddy": "PCLinuxOS Full Edition aka Big Daddy is now available for download or online ordering. The full edition comes with Kernel 2.6.16.27, KDE 3.5.3, OpenOffice.org, Firefox, Thunderbird and Nvu. Digikam, Gimp and GQview for your digital photo needs. Amarok, Audacity and Audio Creator for your digital music needs. Frostwire, BitTorrent and gFTP for file transfers and p2p file sharing. MPlayer and Kaffeine for video viewing. (libdvdcss2 required for DVD encrypted playback). Kopete and Xchat for online chatting. Blogging and podcast software also included. PCLinuxOS Big Daddy is the full monty!" The release announcement. Download: pclinuxos-p93a-bigdaddy.iso (685MB, MD5).
Ultima Linux 8.1 Beta has landed. Main features: "including the Linux kernel 2.6.17.4; X11R7.0 window system; KDE 3.5.4 desktop with the Enlightenment DR16 window manager; Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.6 and Thunderbird 1.5.0.5; OpenOffice.org 2.0.3; amaroK 1.4.1; GCC 3.4.5; Apache 1.3.37 Web server with PHP 4.4.3; sendmail 8.13.7; ATI and nVidia drivers; full support for MP3 audio, DVD videos, Java, and Flash; support for most popular printers, scanners, digital cameras, portable music players (including Apple iPod); and much, much more." The final version will hopefully be launched when Slackware 11.0 is released. Find more on the project's web site including the announcement. Detailed changelog is available in the release notes. Ultima Linux 8.1 Beta comes in the flavour of a 2-disk installation set or a live CD; both available here.
It seems that the development process of Slackware Linux 11.0 is almost finished: "This is mostly frozen now unless bugs (or irresistible upgrades) come up, so I'll call this update Slackware 11.0 release candidate 2." Recent changes include update to stable kernel 2.4.33 (instead of upgrade to kernel 2.4.33.1), upgrade to the latest kernel 2.6.17.9, updates to most of the binaries on the installer, and some bug and security fixes. For more detailed information please read the Current (pre-release) ChangeLog. As usual, there are no official ISO images available, but interested testers can upgrade to the "current" branch and thus follow the development; alternatively, recent unofficial CD/DVD images can be downloaded here.
The first new version release in over a year, Trustix Secure Linux 3.0.5 Beta 1 is now available for download and testing: "We are proud to announce the first Beta release of the long awaited Comodo Trustix Secure Linux 3.0.5. The focus of this release is to re-introduce Anaconda as being the community preferred choice of installer. Trustix wishes to make use of Anaconda's features and integrate it into installing a secure right server. In addition, most of the packages has been brought up to their latest stable versions." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: trustix-3.0.5.beta1.i586.iso (700MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
A new version of Network Security Toolkit (NST) has been released: "We are pleased to announce the latest NST release: v1.4.2. This release is based on Fedora Core 4 using the Linux kernel 2.6.17. Many new NST WUI features and capabilities have been included with this distribution: addition of Fruity, Fruity templates and the nstfruity script to simplify the management of Nagios; addition of Sguil and the nstsguil script to simplify the setup and use of Sguil; addition of the barnyard link package; addition of NiktoRAT reports and a NST WUI management page; addition of the tidy plugin for Firefox to aid one in validating the HTML produced by web servers...." Read the release announcement and changelog for more details. Download: nst-1.4.2.iso.gz (2,041MB, MD5).
The KateOS project has announced the availability of KateOS 3.0. Although the new version was released over a week ago, it was only announced yesterday due to earlier problems with the project's web site: "After seven months of hard work, KateOS 3.0 is now ready! This version starts a new series which will be supported for at least a year. It is also a jubilee version: the project, originally known as Kate Linux, was founded circa three years ago, near the end of 2003." Read the release announcement and release notes for further information. Download: KateOS_3.0-DVD.iso (2,041MB, MD5).
Miklós Vajda has announced the first release candidate of Frugalware Linux 0.5: "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.5rc1, the fist release candidate of the upcoming 0.5 stable release. A short and incomplete list of changes since 0.5pre2: Updates to Linux kernel 2.6.17.8, KDE 3.5.4, Firefox 1.5.0.6, Thunderbird 1.5.0.5, GNOME 2.16 Beta 2 (2.15.91); split MySQL, PostgreSQL, Samba and LDAP packages so that having these servers installed is no longer forced on a desktop machine; fwmirror - new tool to help with mirroring Frugalware; fw-xgl-control - easily enables and disables Xgl with one simple command...." Read the release announcement for more details. Download (SHA1): frugalware-0.5rc1-i686-dvd1.iso (4,263MB) and frugalware-0.5rc1-i686-dvd2.iso (1,035MB).
The second beta release of Mandriva Linux 2007 is ready for download and testing: "The second beta version of Mandriva Linux 2007 has been released. Still available in four different editions (KDE or GNOME, i586 or x86_64) and a dual architecture installation DVD, get a closer look at the next Mandriva Linux 2007. Main changes: GNOME 2.16 beta 2; kernel 2.6.17 (based on 2.6.17.8, with ALSA 1.0.12 rc2, i965 support, and new kernel factorization: normal, enterprise and legacy); KDE 3.5.4; more applications migrated to XDG menus; new 'Ia Ora' Mandriva theme (only included in GNOME at the moment); new VPN configuration tool...." Read the full press release for further details. Download: mandriva-free-2007-odin-DVD.i586-x86_64.iso (4,473MB, MD5).
The second release candidate of the Gentoo-based SabayonLinux 3.0 live DVD is out. What's new? "New SabayonLinux branding and theme (for GNOME, KDE and Xgl/cgwd); new SabayonLinux Installer (based on Anaconda Installer from FC5, boot with 'gentoo installer-gui' to directly start the graphical Installation and 'console installer-text' for the text-based Installation); media center functionality (run Freevo automagically using 'mediacenter' kernel and GeeXboX using 'geexbox' kernel); ColdWar demo; Linux kernel 2.6.17.8 and a highly improved Hardware detection; Skype 1.3...." Read the rest of the release announcement for a full list of new features. Quick links to the torrent files: SabayonLinux-x86-3.0RC2f (2,943MB) or SabayonLinux-x86_64-3.0RC2a (3,055MB).
Fred Emmott has announced the first release candidate of Slamd64 11.0, the unofficial port of Slackware Linux to the x86_64 architecture: "Slamd64-current is now Slamd64 11.0 RC1 - as with Slackware, there are likely to be a few more changes before 11.0. Release highlights: added Firefox 1.5.0.6, Thunderbird 1.5.0.5, Seamonkey 1.0.4; updated to GCC 3.4.6; updated to udev 097, if installed, udev now replaces hotplug, and is much faster; Linux 2.6.16.27 (huge26.s), now that Slackware includes a 2.6 kernel on the installer, Slamd64 is using a nearly identical .config; KDE 3.5.4, Apache 1.3.37, PHP 4.4.3...." Read the release announcement for a more complete list of new features. An unofficial DVD image of can be downloaded from here: slamd64-current-dvd.iso (3,256MB, MD5).
The UK-based Pie Box Enterprise Linux has released a new update to their Red Hat-based commercial distribution: "Update 4 of Pie Box Enterprise Linux 4 was made available today. This update includes the following enhancements: new kernel features including Device Mapper mirroring support, IDE disk dump support and Vmalloc support >64MB; enhanced kernel features including multi-core scheduler support and performance and power enhancements for Intel's Core2 Duo and Xeon 5100 series processors; source re-base to Firefox 1.5, Thunderbird 1.5, OpenOffice.org 1.1.5...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. The latest version of Pie Box Enterprise Linux is available from the company's online store.
Following the release of update 4 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4, a new version of Lineox Enterprise Linux, incorporating all upstream updates, is also out: "Always Current Lineox Enterprise Linux 4.096 with Update 4 available. In the version 4.096 the installation environment is rebuilt, so it offers better hardware support during the installation. See the release notes for full information. The x86_64 release requires either AMD Opteron or Athlon64 CPU based computer. Some new Intel Xeon and Pentium IV processors with EM64T (Extended Memory 64 Technology) will also be able to run this version." Here is the full release announcement. Download (MD5): lel4096.iso (2,172MB) or lel-x86_64-4096.iso (2,371MB).
Masaru Sanuki has announced the release of Momonga Linux 3, a complete Japanese community distribution loosely modelled on Fedora Core. Code named "Mikuru", the project's newest release is now available for both the i386 and x86_64 architectures. The most important new features include: kernel 2.6.17; GCC 4.1.1 with Stack Smashing Protector; glibc 2.4 with NPTL; GNOME 2.14.2 and KDE 3.5.4; introduction of yum; increased compatibility with Fedora Core 5; adoption of OpenPrinting standards; Sun Java 1.5; Xen virtualisation; SATA support; Ruby on Rails. Please see the release announcement (in Japanese) for a detailed list of new features. Download: MomongaLinux3-i686-dvd.iso (3,664MB, SHA1) or MomongaLinux3-x86_64-dvd.iso (3,743MB, SHA1).
The long development process of Slackware Linux 11.0 is about to conclude - that's according to Patrick Volkerding who has declared the "current" tree as RC1: "There are still a few changes yet to happen, but let's call this Slackware 11.0 release candidate 1." Other recent changes include upgrade to stable kernel 2.4.33; upgrade to udev 097, and rebuild of glibc 2.3.6 for both 2.4.33 and 2.6.16.27 kernels. The new release will ship with X.Org 6.9.0 and KDE 3.5.4, and will provide SeaMonkey instead of Mozilla. For more detailed information please see the Current ChangeLog. As has become customary with Slackware, there are no official ISO images, but interested testers can upgrade to the "current" branch and follow the development; alternatively you can obtain recent unofficial CD/DVD images from this download server. A good list of Slackware mirrors is available here.
Michael Prokop has announced the release of grml 0.8, a Debian-based live CD for users of text tools and system administrators: "grml 0.8, codename 'Funkenzutzler', is available." The long list of new features include: "install-packages-useful: a script which installs useful software on your grml system; grml-resolution: change X resolution via a simple menu frontend; updated to X.org 7.0; switched from Kaffe to Jikes and JamVM; added window managers fvwm-crystal and dwm; setup of files in /boot/grub/ to be able to install grub...." Read the rest of the release announcement for a complete list of changes and updates. Download from here: grml_0.8.iso (697MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
An updated version of GParted LiveCD is now available: "Minor update to fix some problems in the new video card detection. Some cards were given the wrong driver and starting X was not possible without manually editing the xorg.conf file. If X fails to start use the 'manual video card' option in the boot menu. This reverts the system back to the behavior of 0.2.5-3 for video card selecting. I added a screen shot program for reporting bugs. The 'Boot failure: Unknown keyword in config file' is fixed." Here are the complete release notes. Download: gparted-livecd-0.2.5-5.iso (27.9MB, MD5).
It looks like we missed the stable release of Linux From Scratch 6.2 announced some 10 days ago, so here is the news (better late than never): "The Linux From Scratch community is pleased to announce the release of LFS Version 6.2. This release includes a large number of package upgrades (including Linux 2.6.16.26, GCC 4.0.3, glibc 2.3.6) and security fixes. It also includes a large amount of editorial work on the explanatory material throughout the book, improving both the clarity and accuracy of the text. You can read the book online, or download to read locally." Read the full announcement on the project's news page. Besides the book that teaches the basics of Linux, the developers of LFS have also released a new live CD: lfslivecd-x86-6.2-1.iso (495MB, MD5).
Rocks Cluster Distribution 4.2, code name "Hallasan", has been released: "Rocks v4.2 is released for i386 and x86_64 CPU architectures. This release supports latest multi-core CPUs from AMD and Intel (a.k.a., Woodcrest)." Among the many new features and enhancements are: several new tools for Bioinformatics computation; graphical installer; restore roll for saving and restoring user account and cluster node information; based on CentOS 4.3 and all updates as of August 6; updated SGE roll to SGE 6 update 8; many bug fixes. Read the full release announcement for further information. The core operating system and the various "rolls" are available from the download page; see the Rocks Users Guide for installation instructions.
Andreas Jaeger has announced the third alpha release of openSUSE 10.2, a product formerly known as SUSE Linux: "I'm glad to announce the third alpha release of our 10.2 product. Compared with Alpha2, we've made a number of significant changes: we switched to kernel 2.6.18rc4; openSUSE 10.2 contains KDE 3.5.4; we started the switch to GNOME 2.16 beta and have now the base packages in; the new branding 'openSUSE' is shown in places but there's still some existing 'SUSE Linux' 10.1 branding; X11 R7.1 with different paths (no more /usr/X11R6 for the X.Org packages)." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. As always, the ISO images are available from the project's main server, mirrors or via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the x86 torrent file: openSUSE-10.2-Alpha3-i386 (3,303MB).
Colin Watson has announced the release of Ubuntu 6.06.1, an updated version of Ubuntu with more than 300 bug and security fixes over the original "Dapper Drake": "The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the release of Ubuntu 6.06.1 LTS, the first maintenance release of 'Dapper Drake'. This release includes both installable Desktop CDs and alternate text-mode installation CDs for several architectures, for Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu. Xubuntu is also included, although commercial support for it is not available from Canonical Ltd." Full details about the fixes can be found in the release announcement. The usual range of Ubuntu products for different architectures can be downloaded from the distribution's main server or mirrors; here is a quick link to the i386 Desktop CD: ubuntu-6.06.1-desktop-i386.iso (698MB, MD5).
An updated release of Nonux is now available for download. The new version of the Slackware-based distribution and live CD (with Dropline GNOME) designed for office use in Dutch-speaking business environments comes with an updated Linux kernel 2.6.17.7, Dropline GNOME 2.14.3, Evolution 2.6.3 and Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.6. Other upgraded packages include Cairo, Liferea, OpenLDAP, Samba and xine. Visit the project's news page (in Dutch) to learn more about the changes in this release. The Nonux 3.2 CD image is available for download from here: nonux-3.2.iso (677MB, MD5).
A new, bug-fix update of GParted LiveCD has been released: "This a big bug-fix release that comes with some other minor new goodies. Video cards are now auto-detected, please file a bug if a problem is found. A boot menu was added that allows you to load modules, access a bash shell, and load the CDROM into memory to free the CDROM drive. This boot menu was a lot of work, I hope you like it." Read the complete changelog for more information. Download: gparted-livecd-0.2.5-4.iso (27.8MB, MD5).
The developers of PCLinuxOS have announced the availability of a new edition of the popular beginner-friendly Linux distribution: "PCLinuxOS 0.93a Junior is a self booting Live CD with advanced hardware detection. In addition to running Junior in Live CD mode, you can also install it to your computer. Easy to follow instructions are included on the Live CD as well as a chat channel for instant help. Junior comes with a set of pre-selected programs for web browsing, email, instant messaging, blogging, IRC chat, music, graphics, video, digital camera, games, FTP, BitTorrent transfer, CD/DVD burning and more." More details in the release announcement. Download: pclinuxos-p93a-junior.iso (484MB, MD5).
A new development build of Elive has been released for testing: "The new generation of Elive has started and the beta-3.1 for the future version 0.5 is officially released." Version 0.5 is based on Dsslive with kernel 2.6.15 and X.Org 7.0. Other new features include SATA support, better compatibility with amd64 processors, new drivers for wireless networking, and several improvements to the hard disk installer. Enlightenment 17 now comes with a beautiful Lucax theme, while Firefox also has an exciting, never-seen-before look. For more information please see the release announcement and changelog. Download: elive-unstable_beta-3.1_20060807.iso (692MB, MD5).
A new stable version of Knoppel, which is essentially a Greek variant of the popular KNOPPIX live CD, has been released. Version 0.7 is based on KNOPPIX 5.0.1 with kernel 2.6.17.7, X.Org 7.0 and KDE 3.5.3 and OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 (with an updated spell-checking tool). It also includes support for RAID controllers, udev for automatic recognition of external storage devices, NTFS read/write support (experimental), and new drivers for wireless cards and internal modems. For more information please see the full release announcement (in Greek). Download: knoppel_07.iso (691MB, MD5).
The second beta of VLOS 1.3 has been released: "This is third development release on our road towards VLOS 1.3, which will be released in September 2006. This version fixes many things, we hope you try it to see how well it works and reports bugs at Bugzilla. This version doesn't include KDE but you can install it using our binary repository." The latest version of the Gentoo-based desktop distribution ships with kernel 2.6.17 and includes new X.Org 7.1 and GNOME 2.14.2. Read the release announcement and changelog for more information. Download (MD5): vlos-1.3-beta2-disc1_i686.iso (699MB) and vlos-1.3-beta2-disc2_i686.iso (513MB). ISO images for the x86_64 architecture are also available.
Free Ekanayaka has announced the release of 64 Studio 0.9.1, a new development build of the distribution aimed at digital content creation. Both i386 and x86_64 editions are available: "I've just released the first update of the beta release. There are a few bug fixes (including the snd-seq one and the i386 one) and furthermore I've managed to reduce the size of the ISO down to 638M by removing a bunch of packages which were available but not installed by default. If everything is OK I'll move the testing branch to stable." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Download (MD5): 64studio-install_0.9.1_i386.iso (612MB) or 64studio-install_0.9.1_amd64.iso (638MB).
Kendall Dawson has announced the release of Freespire 1.0 final, some three weeks ahead of schedule: "Freespire version 1.0 (build 13) is now available for download. A few minor release notes: enabled selection of file system type in installer; bug fixes for ISP connection tools; Freespire KDE theme fixes; numerous fixes to Lmail and Lbrowser. To report a bug please see this page in the wiki. Enjoy!" Here is the complete release announcement. The project's first stable version can be downloaded from here: freespire_1.0.13.iso (680MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Eric Harrison has announced immediate availability of K12LTSP Linux 5.0.0, a Fedora-based distribution designed for terminal servers and diskless clients: "K12LTSP version 5.0 is now available for your downloading pleasure. K12LTSP 5.0 is based on Fedora Core 5, which includes all sorts of new stuff. Of primary interest to K12LTSP users: this release of Fedora includes Mono support for the first time, and Mono applications such as Beagle, F-Spot and Tomboy; there is dramatically improved internationalization support with SCIM." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. The new version, available for both i386 and x86_64 architectures, comes on 6 CDs and can be downloaded from the project's main download server or its mirrors.
Tilix Linux is a Bulgarian distribution and live CD, now based on Kubuntu. The first test build of the upcoming version 2.0 is ready for testing; the most notable changes and updates since the project's 1.0 release are: kernel 2.6.15; KDE 3.5.4 with Kaffeine 0.8.1; NTFS write support; ability to install the distribution from while in live CD mode; support for popular multimedia formats and browser plugins. The final release is expected around the middle of September; for more information please see the release announcement (in Bulgarian). Download the ISO image from here: tilix-2.0-desktop-i386-test1.iso (637MB, MD5).
Jesse Keating has announced the second test release of Fedora Core 6: "The Fedora Project announces the second release of the Fedora Core 6 development cycle, available for the i386, x86_64, and ppc/ppc64 architectures, including Intel based Macintosh computers." Among the notable features are the ability to install packages from additional yum repositories during system install, functional Java applet plugin for Firefox, new default font (DejaVu), and many package updates. For more information please see the release announcement and release notes. CD and DVD images for the three supported architectures are available from the Fedora Project's BitTorrent server, as well as from a number of download mirrors around the world.
Davide Madrisan announced the availability of QiLinux 2.0: "The QiLinux team is pleased to announce the availability of QiLinux 2.0 (Supernova). QiLinux is an easy-to-use distribution built from scratch in Italy for desktop and server systems, designed for non-technical users. The highlights of this release include: latest developments of the Linux desktop, an upgrade to KDE 3.5.3, koffice 1.5.2, amarok 1.4.1 and to the current version of Linux kernel, proprietary ATI and NVIDIA video drivers, several fixes and feature enhancements." Download: QiLinux-free-2.0-dvd1.i586.iso (4,027MB, MD5).
Texstar has announced PCLinuxOS 0.93a "MiniMe", a slim live CD for those who just want a basic desktop without the bloat. From the project's home page: "In addition to the Live CD mode you can also save your changes to a usb key disk. PCLinuxOS MiniMe can be installed to your computer by simply clicking on the install icon on the desktop... After hard drive installation, you can access over 5000 programs to fully customise your desktop the way YOU want. PCLinuxOS MiniMe comes with the latest 2.6.16.27 kernel, a basic KDE 3.5.3 desktop, CD Installer, Synaptic Software Manager and Control Center." Download: pclinuxos-p93a-minime.iso (299MB, MD5).
Hiweed GNU/Linux is a Chinese distribution based on Ubuntu. The first beta version of Hiweed Desktop, which is essentially a remastered LiveCD of Xubuntu, was just released for testing. This release features OpenOffice.org 2.0, Sylpheed Email client, Mplayer with w32codecs and Firefox plugin (so stream media embedded in web pages can be played online), d4x (Downloader for X) and gFTP, Skype and xChat, aMule and BitTorrent, Stardict, xCHM, and gnomeBaker. Find detailed information in the user manual for Desktop 1.0 (in Chinese) on the project's new web site. Download: hiweed-desktop-1.0-beta1.iso (635MB, MD5).
As expected, Finnix 88.0 is now available: "Finnix is a small, self-contained, bootable Linux CD distribution for system administrators, based on Debian testing. Today marks the release of version 88.0 for the x86, PowerPC, and UML/Xen platforms. Finnix 88.0 features Linux 2.6.17, a faster, more complete hardware autodetection routine, DMA mode enabled by default, Broadcom 43xx support, a DOS boot profile, and NTFS write support." Read the release announcement and notes for more information. Download (MD5): finnix-88.0.iso (93.3MB) and finnix-ppc-88.0.iso (114MB).
The Ark Linux team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Ark Linux 2006.1: "There have been numerous changes since the last release. Highlights include KDE 3.5.4, the current version of X.Org and amaroK 1.4.1, and a new tool, "rpmhandler", that makes installing 3rd party packages easier than ever -- and we've fixed numerous bugs, especially in the Live version." Find more on the project's website. Download the installation or live CD from here (MD5): arklinux-2006.1.iso (698MB), arklinux-live-2006.1.iso (668MB, also available via BitTorrent).
EnGarde Secure Linux has been updated to version 3.0.8: "This release includes several bug fixes and feature enhancements to the Guardian Digital WebTool, several updated packages, and several new packages... New features include: A new Italian translation of the Guardian Digital WebTool, courtesy of Vincenzo Ciaglia..." Read the full release announcement for more. Update: On Aug 5 the download links were removed from DistroWatch due to requests from the project maintainers who "prefer that downloaders go to our bittorrent server".
The second technical preview of the upcoming 0.5 stable release of Frugalware Linux is now available in the form of 9 CDs / 2 DVDs / 1 NetinstallCD: "Updates: Linux 2.6.17 (+ security patches); GCC 4.1.1; Apache 2.2.3; XOrg 7.1 (updated the fglrx driver accordingly, nVIDIA still doesn't work); GNOME 2.16 Beta 1 (there may be some problems with some Gnome and GTK software - see earlier news posts); OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 (this time a native version is available for x86_64 users, too). New features: All configuration tools have been updated to the new framework, type "setup" to reach them; Switched to splashy from bootsplash, so that the splash can be used with any custom vanilla kernel; Added French localisation for the package manager." Read the full announcement for more. Download (SHA1): frugalware-0.5pre2-i686-dvd1.iso (4487MB), frugalware-0.5pre2-i686-dvd2.iso (711MB).
The first beta version of Mandriva Linux 2007, codename "Thor", has been released. From the press release: "Available in four different flavours (KDE or GNOME, i586 or x86_64), you can get a glimpse of the next Mandriva Linux 2007 edition. Note that not all of the new features have been implemented yet and that a beta version is not bug-proof. This is why we strongly encourage everyone to test and report any bugs or surprises they may encounter. Main changes: New Mirror structure; New network popup notifications (on network state mainly); Gnome 2.16 beta 1; Kernel 2.6.17; KDE 3.5.3; Updated wireless application (drakroam) (encryption mainly); Switch to new standard menus, XDG (in progress)." Find more technical information about this beta on http://qa.mandriva.com/ and in the README/Changelog files. Download from mirrors: mandriva-one-2007-thor-kde.i586.iso (691MB, MD5), mandriva-one-2007-thor-gnome.i586.iso (684MB, MD5).
Sylvie Migneault just announced a new version of AliXe "Standard" edition, which is essentially a French edition of the popular SLAX live CD customised for use in French-speaking regions of Canada. The new version is based on the recently released SLAX 5.1.7b KillBill Edition, including the Linux kernel 2.6.16.22 and KDE desktop 3.5.3. Koffice productivity suite has been upgraded to version 1.5.2. It also supports the two most commonly used keyboard layouts in Quebec - "cf" and "multilingue". Read the announcement (in French, MD5 within) on Quebecos.com. AliXe 0.08c "Standard" edition is available for download via BitTorrent: alixe08c-STD.iso (250MB).
Version 12.8 of aLinux, a distribution formerly known as Peanut Linux, has been released. The changes in this release are as follows: The API was changed by updating to glibc 2.4 and GCC 4.1.1. Other updates include KDE 3.5.3 and KOffice 1.5.2. Xorg was removed and replaced with XFree86 4.6.0. The Linux kernel version is 2.6.17 with IVTV. A MultiMedia desktop was added for high definition users. More information is available in the release notes and on the projects' homepage. Download: alinux.iso (761MB, MD5).
Puppy Linux version 2.02 is released, the greatest news with which is Puppy now has full NTFS write support, using the ntfs-3g driver: "Full read and write support for NTFS partitions. This includes saving of the Puppy session to hard drive. More thorough checking of system integrity at a version upgrade, to ensure that the system is stable and usable. The kernel is still version 2.6.16.7 but has been recompiled to support 4G memory and frequency scaling..." Find more details in the release notes. Download: puppy-2.02-seamonkey.iso (71.8MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of Freespire, labelled as version 1.0.2, is available now. From the release notes: "CNR Proxy functionality still unavailable; Apt pools not yet updated completely, so apt-get dist-upgrade will not get everything; Warn if user chooses an existing username during install; Add kcontrol module for mailto handling; Fix display/resolution controls in startup wizard; Remove release notes from startup wizard (they will return, eventually); Remove Linspire logo from 'installation done-eject cd' graphic; Add Oboe Sync to Freespire Builds; Replace file manager kicker icon; Many fixes to Lmail/Lbrowser." Download via BitTorrent: freespire_1.0.2.iso (680MB, MD5).
ROCK Linux is a flexible Distribution Build Kit. It can be used for building your own Linux distributions. Version 3 of the ROCK Linux is released. From the announcement: "It took a bit over 20 months, but finally, ROCK 3 is done. Over the last 20 months, ROCK Linux has seen many changes not only in the code, but also in its aim and social relations... Creating a distribution is a complex task. ROCK makes this task a lot easier. Many changes since the last release have gone into enhancing the example distribution - Crystal ROCK - to be a good reference for what is possible." Changes since version 2.0 can be found on the RockWiki page. Download: ROCK3-source-r7770.tar.bz2 (2.0MB). Alternatively, several pre-built binary ISO images are also available for download.
Yuichiro Nakada has announced a new release of Berry Linux, a desktop-oriented, Fedora-based live CD with support for Japanese and English. From the changelog: "Kernel 2.6.17.4 SMP + ndev/udev + bootsplash; squashfs 3.0; unionfs 1.1.5; ndiswrapper 1.19; InitNG 0.6.7 (+initng-is for isplash); KDE 3.5.3 (Fedora Core 5/Stable); Rasp-UI 0.03 (WindowManager); OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 (Japanese and English); Wine 0.9.17." Download Berry Linux 0.72 from here: berry-0.72.iso (515MB, MD5).
PUD GNU/Linux is a Taiwanese mini live and installation CD based on Ubuntu, with ideas borrowed from the LAMPPIX and Damn Small Linux projects, and with support for Traditional Chinese. Its main purpose is to provide a complete Linux desktop with many popular applications and tools, yet remain small and simple to operate. PUD v0.4.6.1 is now available: "with lots of new features and packages, improved performance, bug fixes and upgrades. For more information please read on Release Note." Download: PUD-0.4.6.1.iso (187MB, MD5).
64 Studio is a Linux distribution with a collection of software for digital content creation on x86_64 hardware. It is based on the pure 64 port of Debian GNU/Linux, but with a specialised package selection and lots of other customisations. 64 Studio 0.9.0 is developed as a sort of beta release of version 1.0: "This will install Debian with X.org, the Gnome 2.14 desktop, Linux kernel 2.6.17 with realtime preemption patches and a selection of creative applications. To upgrade to the latest beta release, please see the UpgradeScript page." More information is available in the release notes and on the project's web site. Download the latest release from here: 64studio-install_0.9.0_amd64.iso (709MB, MD5). An i386 edition is also available. Update: On Aug 1st the developers withdrew the i386 build as it did not work.
After being available for free download for one week, NetBSD 3.0.1 is now officially announced: "NetBSD 3.0.1 is the first security/critical update of the NetBSD 3.0 release branch. This represents a selected subset of fixes deemed critical in nature for stability or security reasons, no new features have been added. NetBSD 3.0.1 runs on 57 different system architectures featuring 17 machine architectures across 17 distinct CPU families, and is being ported to more. The NetBSD 3.0.1 release contains complete binary releases for 53 different machine types, with the platforms amigappc, bebox, pc532 and playstation2 released in source form only. Complete source and binaries for NetBSD 3.0.1 are available for download at many sites around the world." More details can be found in the release announcement. CD images for all the supported architectures are available from a number of mirrors worldwide, as well as via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i386 CD image: i386cd-3.0.1.iso (200MB, MD5).
The third release candidate of DSL-N, or Damn Small Linux Not, has been released. What's new? "New theme and background; New gcombust replaces cdw; Added Samba/LinNeighborhood; Added Madwifi drivers; Added fuse/sshfs; Restored fluxter; Fixed hard drive install and now on menu." Read the changelog for more. Download: dsl-n-01RC3.iso (92.7MB, MD5).
The second BETA release of Freespire (Build 0.0.76) is available now: "This is the main installation CD for our community-driven, Debian-based Linux distribution which legally supports (or has one-click access to support): MP3, DVD, Windows Media, QuickTime, Java, Flash, Real, ATI drivers, nVidia drivers, Adobe Acrobat Reader, proprietary WiFi drivers, fonts, and so on. Provides free access to the entire Freespire open source application pool using apt-get." Find more information in the release announcement. Download: freespire_0.0.76.iso (681MB, MD5, SHA1). Also available via BitTorrent.
DragonFly BSD 1.6 has been released: "1.6 is our fourth major DragonFly release. DragonFly's policy is to only commit bug fixes to release branches. The biggest user-visible changes in this release are a new random number generator, a massive reorganisation of the 802.11 (wireless) framework, and extensive bug fixes in the kernel. We also made significant progress in pushing the big giant lock inward and made extensive modifications to the kernel infrastructure with an eye towards DragonFly's main clustering and userland VFS goals. We consider 1.6 to be more stable then 1.4." Find more details in the comprehensive announcement. Download: dfly-1.6.0_REL.iso.gz (94.0MB, MD5). DragonFly BSD is a fork of FreeBSD 4.x series, representing a logical continuation of the branch that proved itself to be one of the most stable and reliable FreeBSD releases ever built.
The GoblinX Mini 1.4.0 is out today: "The GoblinX 1.4.0 has several important improvments. The Liveupgrade, our livecd remaster tool, now has a new main window with all options you can enable before create your own livecd, there are also several new GUIs prepared to use, gtkDSL which is a graphical interface to configure accounts and start DSL connections, gtkSwap, used to create swap memory files, gtkQivss, a Qiv slideshow interface, gtkSplitz, to divide files into pieces and gtkImods, to use with modules and install modules to harddisk." Visit the project's news page to read the full release announcement and changelog. Download: GoblinXMini-1.4.0.iso (150MB, MD5).
Nico Reuter announced the second development release of SAM Linux Desktop: "This release means the biggest step in the history of SAM: going away from Mandriva to the new base of SAM: PCLinuxOS. I did this for various reasons, like compatibility of LiveCD tools, more stability, better community support and some more small reasons. SAM contains more than 1100 packages of finest Linux software on only one installable LiveCD... You can export your home directory to an USB key for your private documents and settings. Feel free to download your German or English copy of SAM Linux Desktop 2006-2preview!" Check the release announcement and the package list for more details. Download: SAM-2006-2-preview-english.iso (690MB, MD5). Note: As Ladislav Bodnar is on holiday, updates to distribution-specific pages are temporarily pending.
After two release candidates, Tomas Matejicek announced the availability of SLAX 5.1.7: "The final version of SLAX 5.1.7 has been released. Compared to 5.1.6, the new version fixes some bugs regarding the 'load' cheatcode, it adds and upgrades several boot options (like noswap, noauto, from= and changes=/dev...) and added new cleanup scripts to correctly handle shutdown procedures." Check the list of changes since 5.1.6 here. Download: slax-5.1.7.iso (196MB, MD5). Update: SLAX 5.1.7 was renamed to 5.1.7b on July 27; the SLAX developer had 5.1.7 "reuploaded to FTP as 5.1.7b (http mirror was broken somehow and this is the only way for me to refresh it)."
Warren Woodford has announced the availability of SimplyMEPIS 6.0, the first public release of SimplyMEPIS to incorporate an Ubuntu foundation: "Based on the Dapper LTS package pool, 6.0 is designed for stable long term use and support. SimplyMEPIS 6.0 is a complete and safe desktop environment designed to meet the needs of everyday computer users. SimplyMEPIS offers advanced hardware autodetection, multimedia integration, and an easy to use installer. Featured software includes KDE 3.5.3, Kontact 1.2.3, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2, Firefox 1.5.0.4, Thunderbird 1.5.0.4, RealPlayer 10.0.7, as well as hundreds of other top quality applications. SimplyMEPIS 6.0 runs the latest security patched 2.6.15 Linux kernel from Ubuntu-Security." Read the complete press release for further information. Download from mirrors: SimplyMEPIS_6.0_i386.iso (690MB, MD5).
The development team of the Zenwalk GNU/Linux distribution is pleased to announce that their latest stable release, Zenwalk Linux 2.8, is now available: "Zenwalk 2.8 is a major evolution as more than 160 packages have been updated or added, including the Linux kernel 2.6.17.6 and several system improvements... Visual enhancements include a new boot splash screen and 4 new icon themes for the latest XFCE desktop environment (version 4.3.90.2). The most significant recent addition to Zenwalk's software repository is a full GNOME desktop environment built in only six packages! Extra desktop environments (Gnome and KDE) are available as optional packages in the repository, available via Zenwalk's internet based package management system "netpkg"." Read the full release announcement for more information. Download: zenwalk-2.8.iso (410MB, MD5).
A simple bug-fix and general improvement from ZenLive-2.6, a new live CD edition of the Slackware-based distribution Zenwalk, has been released: "ZenLive-2.6.1 features new games, the Gparted utility with ntfs support, full DVD support and a better sampling of International fonts. Furthermore, it is based upon Zenwalk-current (as of July 15th) which will give you a sneak peek into the imminent Zenwalk-2.8 release... At the same time, we have also released a Special French-speaking edition dedicated to our sister website: Zenwalk.fr. This Special Edition features, among other things, a direct boot & applications such as Firefox & Thunderbird already in French. Enjoy!" More information, including the changelog and download links, can be found on the project's home page. Get the live CD image from here: ZenLive-2.6.1.iso (500MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
A live CD edition of Kate OS 3.0 Beta is now available for download and testing: "KateOS LIVE 3.0beta is now available. This version includes most of desktop applications and features Xfce as the graphical environment. It should be especially interesting for those who would like to help us in testing but do not have enough disk space. The LIVE edition is a complete operating system with automatic hardware detection and auto-mount of all accessible partitions which will let you begin a fully effective work in just a few minutes." Find more on the project's home page. Download: KateOS_3.0beta-LIVE.iso (698MB, MD5).
The first development CD image of Ubuntu release 6.10, code name "Edgy Eft", has been released for Intel x86, PowerPC, and AMD64 platforms: "Welcome to Edgy Eft Knot-1, which will in time become Ubuntu 6.10. Knot-1 is the first in a series of milestone CD images that will be released throughout the Edgy development cycle, as images that are known to be reasonably free of showstopper CD-build or installer bugs, while representing very current snapshots of Edgy. You can download it here, for Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu and Xubuntu respectively." Read the full announcement and visit the Edgy Eft wiki page for more details. Three types of CD images (also BitTorrent files) for all three architectures are available from cdimage.ubuntu.com; here is a quick link to the edgy-desktop-i386.iso (679MB, MD5).
The first beta release of ClarkConnect Gateway/Server 4.0 is out: "With this release, the software is certainly stable enough to use - we have been running it on most of our in-house systems for a few weeks. There are still many places that require extra polish (missing locale, user interface improvements, etc).. However, the underlying software modules (antivirus, LDAP, etc.) work just fine." Read the release page for a summary for features, known issues, and also some tips. Download: snapshot-4.0-beta-1.iso (396MB).
As reported more than three weeks ago, CollegeLinux 2.5 is back: "As we started to be one of the first distribution aimed to give you a truly learning experience, once again we have tried to give you something more. Not yet another distro. Not yet another live Linux. But a live server! That's right, a server that you can bring with you anywhere you go, and soon with the possibility to save your site pages and details on a CollegeLinux.org account. CollegeLinux Live Server is a Debian Linux based Live CD. As soon as you start, it is a fully capable PHP5, Perl and Ruby webserver, preloaded with GEdit and Vim for editing scripts with syntax highlighting." See the project's homepage for more. Download (MD5): cl_liveserver-20060718.iso (131MB).
Michael K. Johnson has announced the availability of an updated release of rPath Linux 1 for both i386 and x86_64 architectures: "The new images incorporate installation changes, new kernels, and all package updates released as of July 12. If you have already installed rPath Linux 1, you should update your current system using Conary rather than reinstall using the new images. In this update, additional image types are now available for use with VMWare, QEMU, and other emulation technologies. A "live" or "demo" CD image is included as well." Please refer to the release announcement for further information. Download (MD5, SHA1): rpath-1.0.3-x86-dvd1.iso (1,306MB) or rpath-1.0.2-x86_64-dvd1.iso (1,411MB).
LinuxElectrons reports that the first BETA of Freespire was released. Freespire is a no-cost version of the Linspire operating system based on Linux and Open Source. This is the first BETA release of Freespire Beta1 (Build 0.0.69). The team suggests reading the FAQ and Release Notes before downloading or installing. The Freespire team recommends that you only install this software on a test machine. Download (MD5): Freespire-i386-beta-0.0.69-cd1-install.iso (687MB). Also available via BitTorrent.
The Dreamlinux Project Team announced version 2.0 of Dreamlinux, a Brazilian Linux distribution based on the XFce desktop: "called WORKS and it brings the most known Linux apps for a production environment, like OpenOffice, Inkscape, Gimp, etc. Full support to multimedia, automatic detection of video cards and monitors, and the version 2.5 of MKDistro, tool for distros' building. This Dreamlinux version is the result of making use of various technologies that came from many different distros, like Kanotix, Elive, Morphix and Debian. With a 2.6.14 Kanotix Kernel, the distro also counts with Xorg 6.9, support for ALSA and many refinements and improvements, beyond the customised XFCE 4.4 environment and with exclusive icons for this distro." More information can be found at the project's homepage. Download (MD5): DLxfce2.0_WORKS-060712en.iso (611MB). An experimental Dreamlinux 2.0 XGL edition was also released.
The first beta release of Kate OS 3.0 is now available for download and testing: "Today the beta version of Kate OS 3.0 was publicly released. It contains a completely rewritten TGZex package management system, which will certainly satisfy every user of our distribution. Inside the Kate OS project, three subprojects have been created - libsmarttools (basic classes/functions used in updateos2 ), libupdateos (provides simple API for remote operations on TGZex packages), and updateos2 (CLI interface for libupdateos)." Read the full release announcement on the project's home page. Download: KateOS_3.0beta1-CD1.iso (687MB, MD5) and KateOS_3.0beta1-CD2.iso (618MB, MD5).
Kuniyasu Suzaki has announced the availability of a new version of Xenoppix, a live CD that "boots KNOPPIX on Xen HVM domain on Intel VT (example: iMac CoreDuo) and AMD SVM." From the release announcement: "Xenoppix (Xen3.0.2 + KNOPPIX 5.0.1) CD is released. It uses isolinux + mbootpack instead of GRUB, because the combination expands bootable machines. It enables Xen to boot on EFI (iMac CoreDuo). LCAT (Live CD Acceleration Toolkit) is applied to make fast boot. It was effective on Dom0, DomU and HVM." Visit the project's home page to learn more about the distribution and its features. Download either via BitTorrent, or from this FTP server: knoppix_v5.0.1...20060712.iso (693MB, MD5).
Eric Harrison has announced the availability of the first release candidate of K12LTSP Linux 5.0, a Fedora-based Linux distribution for thin clients: "K12LTSP 5.0.0 release candidate #1 has been uploaded. This includes today's LTSP CVS + the K12LTSP keymap fix. Jim tells me that LTSP 4.2 update 3 is about ready. If there are any additional updates to LTSP before update 3 is officially released, we'll add them into RC2. Please give this build a very thorough test and report any and all issues that you see. The repositories have been updated, if you have an earlier beta installed you can simply run 'yum update'." Here is the full release announcement. K12LTSP 5.0 comes on 6 CDs and is available for both the i386 and x86_64 architectures. Download from the k12.or.us server.
Andreas Jaeger has announced the release of the second alpha build of SUSE Linux 10.2, together with the decision to rename SUSE Linux to openSUSE: "We're glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.2, code name 'Basilisk Lizard' Alpha2. It's downloadable from today on and will be the last community / consumer distribution called SUSE Linux. We'll rename SUSE Linux to openSUSE. We'll implement the first name change in Alpha 3 and will have a fully renamed distribution with Beta 1 in November." Read the full release announcement for the reasons and other information. SUSE Linux 10.2 Alpha 2 is available for download from a number of mirror sites and also via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the x86 torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.2-Alpha2-i386 (3,298MB).
Endian Firewall 2.0 "Community" edition is out: "Endian Firewall 2 released! Endian Firewall is a 'turn-key' Linux security distribution that turns every system into a full-featured security appliance." From the release notes: "HTTP Antivirus now supports video/music streaming useragents, so HTTP virus scanning does not prohibit streaming; ClamAV anti-virus engine updated to the latest release, now configurable via web administration Interface; outgoing firewall enhancements; SMTP proxy now supports authentication against IMAP server...." Download: EFW_COMMUNITY_2.iso (98.4MB, MD5).
Jaromil has announced dyne:bolic 2.1, an updated version of the recently released version 2.0 of the distribution targetting media producers and artists: "Version 2.1 is out with an updated kernel, important fixes and new audio applications." Updates and fixes since 2.0 include: "upgrade to kernel 2.6.17; fix to dock and nest on USB storage; support for LVM and raid volumes; network file system tools; new in audio: Seq24, SooperLooper, Rosegarden, Icecast; fixes to MuSE (updated to development version); better VGA detection; miscellaneous fixes to desktop usability." See the release announcement for a more complete list of changes. Download (MD5): dyne-2.1.iso (632MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
PC-BSD 1.2 has been released: "PC-BSD software is pleased to announce the immediate availability of PC-BSD 1.2 for x86 based processors. PC-BSD 1.2 now utilizes the FreeBSD advanced ULE scheduler and is compiled with optimizations for 686 processors (all support for 386, 486 and 586 microcode is disabled in kernel). This release of PC-BSD ushers in a new era of stability and simplicity for desktop operating systems based on UNIX, making it a solid release for home and business usage. Version 1.2 is powered by the latest FreeBSD 6.1 OS and integrated with the popular KDE 3.5.3 desktop environment." Read the press release, changelog and release notes for more information. Download (MD5): PCBSD-1.2-x86-CD1.iso (675MB).
Bruce Smith has announced the release of Devil-Linux 1.2.10: "I'm proud to announce v1.2.10 of Devil-Linux has been released. This release includes many new packages, updates to newer versions for many existing packages, and various bug fixes." The Linux kernel in the new version of the popular firewall/server live CD has been upgraded to version 2.4.32 (patched with Grsecurity), while the list of newly added packages includes Awstats, Curl, DSPAM, Logwatch, mod_perl, Nmap and NUT. Read the release announcement and changelog for further details. Download from here: devil-linux-1.2.10-i486.tar.bz2 (174MB), devil-linux-1.2.9-i586-SMP.tar.bz2 (174MB), devil-linux-1.2.10-i686-SMP-server.tar.bz2 (172MB).
Warren Woodford has announced the availability of SimplyMEPIS 6.0, Release Candidate 3. What's new? "The display layout of the 'settings' kioslave has been tweaked in response to tester feedback. 'Setting' are system configuration utilities. It's hoped the new layout will be easier to navigate. The RT2400 and RT2500 wireless tools have been added to settings. Khotkeys now works with settings in KDE 3.5.3. For better integration with KDE, MEPIS has been removing utilities from the MEPIS OS Center and rewriting them so they can be placed in appropriate categories in settings. The MEPIS Installer is now a separate application." Read the complete press release for further information. Download: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-rc3_i386.iso (682MB, MD5).
The second release candidate of DSL-N, or Damn Small Linux Not, has been released. From the changelog: "Update kernel and modules to 2.6.12, LTmodem to 8.3.1.b1, NdisWrapper to 1.1.14, Unionfs to 1.1.4; new 64 cloops for mountable extensions (uci and unc); new prism2 support from linux-wlan-ng; new SQLite 3.3.6; update mydsl system to support unc type extensions and separate DSL-N repository; swapped Mozilla Suite for SeaMonkey 1.0.2; added ESP Ghostscript; fixed PPPoE issue; added missing firmware for ipw devices; fixed ssh/sshd issue; set up separate DSL-N repository." Download: dsl-n-01RC2.iso (88.2MB, MD5).
UHU-Linux project has released a second development build of the upcoming major new release of the Hungarian distribution. Some of the more important changes since Test 1 include the following: GNOME NetworkManager has replaced the in-house networking module; storage device auto-mounting is now handled by Hal and Fuse; documentation has been extended by several new chapters dealing with new features in UHU-Linux 2.0, UTF-8 encoding and keyboard shortcut setup; BMPx has replaced XMMS as the default audio player; various bug fixes. Find more details and a list of known issues in the release announcement (in Hungarian). Download from here: uhu-linux-2.0-test2-cd.iso (698MB, MD5).
BeleniX 0.4.4 has been released. What's new in the latest version of the OpenSolaris-based live CD? "This release marks one more important step for live CD performance. After a couple of months of hacking and testing, this release includes an enhancement to the HSFS filesystem module that improves CD-ROM access time by up to 30%. The source code for the modified HSFS module along with context diffs can be downloaded here. In addition, a bunch of work is going around packaging so the next major release should be complete with packaging based on Pkgsrc." Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. Download: belenix0.4.4.iso (698MB, MD5).
Jeff Moe has announced the final release of BLAG Linux And GNU 50000 - a single-CD, Fedora-based distribution with multimedia support and extra applications: "BLAG 50000 ('grass') has been released. BLAG 50000 is based on Fedora Core 5 and uses packages from Extras, FreshRPMS, Dries, and ATrpms. It includes all Fedora updates as of time of release." The new version is built on top of the Linux kernel 2.6.17, with glibc 2.4, X.Org 7.0, GNOME 2.14.1, Firefox 1.5.0.4, the latest GNOME Office, and a collection of multimedia applications, codecs and libraries. Please see the release announcement for further details and download links. Get the CD image from here: BLAG-50000.iso (683MB, MD5). The CD image is also available for download via BitTorrent.
Patrick Verner has announced the release of a new version of GParted LiveCD. What's new? "I added some goodies people have been asking for: Partimage, GRUB, rsync, fdisk, cfdisk, and sfdisk. Links has also been included to view LarryT's documentation while running the live CD and live USB. Some other stuff was upgraded like adding a shutdown menu and the entire layout of the root file system. The entire root file system is compressed with SquashFS and the boot process has been vastly changed. This saved almost 5 MB to add extras. The kernel was also updated to Linux 2.6.17.4." Here is the full release announcement with changelog. Download: gparted-livecd-0.2.5-3.iso (28.4MB, MD5).
A new development build of VideoLinux is out: "I am pleased to announce the release of hopefully the last alpha release for testing and feedback. The next release will be a beta release. There are many new packages and upgrades including: upgraded to customised 2.6.15 kernel by ocilent1; customised X.Org server by Thac to provide additional 3D support for many graphics cards; WINE upgraded to 0.9.16; added xDVDShrink 2.6.1; added Cinelerra 2.0." See the release announcement and changelog for more details. Download: VideoLinux-2.1-Alpha-i686.iso (483MB, MD5). VideoLinux is a PCLinuxOS-based distribution with focus on DVD backups, video encoding and transcoding, DVD authoring and format conversion.
The second release candidate of SLAX 5.1.7 has been released. The main focus of this release was fixing bugs reported since the release of RC1 and a return to kernel 2.6.16 for backward compatibility. From the changelog: "Added back kernel 2.6.16(.22) so 'from=' parameter is backward compatible; /etc/shadow - fixed file permissions; the 'fromiso=' cheatcode is now renamed to 'from='; rc.local is now called as the last start-up script; added bold and italic DejaVu fonts; Upgraded to Fluxbox 1.0rc1, Fluxbox theme modified to use DejaVu fonts; added MPlayer 1.0pre8 with new xVid codecs, setup to use DejaVu fonts; added a feature to manage modules by using context menu; added 'noswap' boot parameter to disable autoloading of a swap partition...." Download: slax-5.1.7rc2.iso (195MB, MD5).
Marcel J. Zwiebel has announced the availability of a new release of Nonux, a Slackware-based desktop-oriented distribution and live CD (with Dropline GNOME as its desktop environment) designed for use in Dutch-speaking business environments. What's new in Nonux 3.1? Upgraded Linux kernel to version 2.6.17.3, upgraded GNOME to version 2.14.2, upgraded OpenOffice.org to version 2.0.3, upgraded Evolution to version 2.6.2, and upgraded Mozilla Firefox to version 1.5.0.4. Ekiga, GnuPG and Liferea have also been upgraded to newer versions. Find a complete changelog on the distribution's news page (in Dutch). Nonux 3.1 is available for free download from here: nonux-3.1.iso (679MB, MD5).
Michael Zanetta has announced the release of Mini-Pentoo 2006.1, a Gentoo-based mini live CD with the Enlightenment desktop and a selection of tools designed for penetration testing. From the changelog: "Added WiFi injection support for Madwifi-ng, Hostap, wlan-ng, rtl8180, prism54/GT; integrated portagedb so no need for the module during install; created an MPlayer module; added some Firefox extensions (Live-Http-Headers, Temper-data, ShowIP, No-Referrer); updated Nessus, Yersinia, bluediving, metasploit, nmap, kernel (2.6.16); added Kismet auto-configure script based on airmon-ng, Pentoo installer, Wifitap, tcpdump, Bluetooth stack smasher...." Download (MD5) from here: mpentoo-2006.1.iso (208MB).
An updated version of StartCom Enterprise Linux has been released: "The updated release of the StartCom Enterprise Linux AS-4 series received the YUM Extender as its new package and software updater, as well as the 1.5 Firefox browser and Thunderbird mail client. This, together with additional 200 updated packages, makes this stable and proven operating system the work horse for your mission critical enterprise applications. The YUM Extender, a graphical front-end application for YUM, makes the installing, removing of software packages and updating of your system even more easy." Read the brief press release for further information. Download (MD5): Barak-i386-u3-DVD.iso (2,031MB) or Barak-x86_64-u3-DVD.iso (2,320MB).
The project developing Gentoox, a Gentoo-based operating system for the Xbox, has announced a number of new releases: "New release: Gentoox Home v5.0. Summary: Gentoox Loader v6.04; updated software as of 29th July 2006; fully synced with magic as of 29th July 2006; on screen keyboard in GDM activated by hitting 'B' 5 times; KDE 3.5.2 and XFce 4.2.x; ext3 file system; junk moved out of local.start and local.stop; checkroot / checkfs bug fixed; Sparkle 2.0; ALSA and kernel ebuilds made to be more compatible with Gentoo; Linux kernel 2.4.32." Besides Gentoox Home, the project's Pro, Sparkle and Resctoox editions have all been updated; see the release announcement for more details. Download: Gentoox.ShALLaX.Home-Edition-v5.0.rar (794MB, MD5).
The fans of Zenwalk Linux will be excited to learn that a new live CD edition of the Slackware-based distribution has been released: "An idea has quickly become a reality as the ZenLive Linux live CD project is happy to announce its first major release - ZenLive 2.6! This release is based on a combination of Zenwalk Linux and Linux-Live scripts to create the ultimate Linux live CD. The features of this release include hardware recognition using Zenwalk's configuration tools, international translations, the latest XFce window manager, multimedia applications, video games, office software, and networking and development tools - all in a single CD." More information and download links can be found on the project's home page. Get the live CD image from here: ZenLive-2.6.iso (413MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Muslim Abutaha has announced the first alpha release of Arabian Linux 0.7, an Ubuntu-based live CD with support for Arabic and English languages. From the changelog: "Arabian Linux 0.7 Alpha1 released. Based on Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Dapper Drake) packages; default file system set to ext3; GRUB is the default bootloader; some options of installer were disabled (not tested yet in the new base); auto detection of Linux distributions installed on hard disk; added Ekiga (aka GnomeMeeting); added Tapioka (Google talk clone)." Interested alpha testers can download the ISO image from here: arabian-0.7-livecd.iso (471MB, MD5).
A new version of FreeNAS, a FreeBSD-based operating system providing free Network-Attached Storage services, has been released. From the changelog: "Multilingual WebGUI ready; upgrade to FreeBSD 6.1-STABLE; add software RAID: geom mirror; replace vsftpd 2.0.4 by pure-ftpd 1.0.21 (support UTF-8); update rsync to 2.6.8, Smartmon tools to 5.36, e2fsprogs to 1.39, iSCSI initiator to 0.17; replace Howl (maintenance stopped) by Apple Bonjour; SSH: added sftp subsystem; CIFS: added DOS charset 852, added UNIX charset, option for hiding some shares; FTP: added FTP banner option; added CLI tools: fetch (FTP/HTTP download client); support large FAT32 partition." Download from here: FreeNAS-0.67.iso (29.7MB).
The Sabayon project, which produces RR4 and RR64 Linux live DVDs based on Gentoo Linux, has created a CD edition of their product for x86 computers: "RR4 Linux 3.0 RC1 miniEdition, commonly called the 'mini', is the CD release of the latest RR4 Linux. Features: no SMP kernel available; latest proprietary drivers from ATI (8.25.18) and NVIDIA (1.0-8762); faster boot time compared to RR4 Linux and very fast on memory constrained systems; Fluxbox available as a viable alternative to KDE 3.5.3; no extra language available by default (only English); no Stage 1, 2, 3 installation; multimedia features kept intact...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. The ISO image is available for download via BitTorrent: RR4-Linux-3.0.RC1-miniEdition (693MB).
The first beta release of PC-BSD 1.2 is ready for testing. From the changelog: "Updated ports to current as of 6-26-06; added py-qt and py-kde ports to default install (allows SuperKaramba plugins to work); cleaned up icons folders; added DBSD Network / User Toolset into Control Panel; converted PC-BSD tools to Control Panel modules; updated KMenu to display categories; zip support included in default install; added Bash to default install; set up CD insert notification to allow playing audio CDs and DVDs; Windows key now launches K-Menu...." Download: PCBSD-1.2-x86-CD1-Beta.iso (673MB, MD5).
SME Server 7.0 is finally out: "Version 7.0 of SME Server has been released. The new release represents the culmination of months of hard work by numerous developers and beta testers and is sure to impress those that select it as their server distribution. Some of these features include: the industry leading web server capable of hosting multiple domains; a full featured email server with virus and spam filtering, webmail and secure access; industry standard firewall for intrusion protection; a proxy server with content filtering capability and internet sharing...." Read the release announcement and overview of features for further details. Download: smeserver-7.0.iso (463MB, MD5).
A new version of B2Dr Linux, a Taiwanese Debian-based live and installation CD with support for traditional Chinese, has been released. The most important changes in this release are kernel upgrade to version 2.6.16.19, udev support, switch to X.Org (version 6.9.0), upgrade to KDE 3.5.3 and GNOME 2.14.1, and NTFS write support with libntfs + fuse (replaces captive-ntfs). One important known issue: the Unionfs file system is not functional in this release. If you understand Chinese, you can find more information and screenshots in the release announcement. Download from here: B2DpureKGB20060630.iso (686MB, MD5).
A beta release of the CentOS-based Rocks Cluster Distribution 4.2 is available for testing. Among the new features and enhancements are: "Beta release of bioinformatics roll - the Bio roll contains tools and utilities to facilitate bioinformatics computation; graphical installer; OS roll based on CentOS 4.3 and all updates as of June 28 2006; updated SGE roll to SGE 6 update 8; included tentakel as a cluster-fork alternative; auto-partitioning now creates a /var file system to protect the front-end against services that log many messages and fill up the root file system." Read the release announcement for full details. The new beta release of Rocks Cluster distribution is available for both the i386 and x86_64 architectures and can be downloaded from the project's FTP server.
Novell has announced the availability of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 RC3, both Desktop (SLED) and Server (SLES) editions, for public testing: "Be among the first to install, test and enjoy SUSE Linux Enterprise 10. The pre-release contains all the functionality of the regular release, but is not the final product. SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 is an open, flexible and secure platform that is ready to host the applications and databases critical to your business -- from the desktop to the data center, across a wide variety of workloads." More details can be found on Novell's SLED 10 and SLES 10 product pages. SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 RC3 consists of 5 CDs and can be downloaded free of charge from Novell's pre-release page.
The Wolvix project has launched a new development cycle that will eventually lead to Wolvix 1.0.5: "I've just uploaded the Wolvix Cub 1.0.5 Alpha ISO to the FTP server. If you are interested in helping me test it, download the ISO and give it a spin. Wolvix Cub is a smaller version of Wolvix which should fit on a 256MB USB stick. The Cub edition will serve as the base for the 'full' Wolvix 1.0.5 which I'll start building next. This is an ALPHA release and still has some rough edges, it's only intended for testing." Read the full announcement for more information and a to-do list. Download: wolvix-cub-1.0.5-alpha1.iso (245MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
A live CD edition of Kate OS 3.0 Alpha has been released: "Live edition of Kate OS 3.0 alpha is available now. This is a test version aimed at people interested in development branch of Kate OS. The live edition contains 2.2 GB of data, compressed on a single CD. The system automatically detects hardware, mounts system partitions and enables the user to write directly to NTFS file systems. This is a wonderful demo of Kate OS possibilities, helpful during some rescue operations. The system contains among other things: X.Org 7.1, glibc 2.4, GCC 4.0.2, Apache 2.2, Firefox and Thunderbird 1.5.0.4, XFce 4.3.90.2." Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. Download: KateOS_3.0alpha-LIVE.iso (678MB, MD5).
Trixbox 1.1, a Linux distribution formerly known as Asterisk@Home, has been released. From the release announcement: "Trixbox 1.1 released today. The only new feature is Munin, a system monitoring package. There are tones of small fixes. Zaptel and conferencing should be working. The latest SugarCRM is included. I will try to get a 1.1 upgrade script ready for next week but 1.0.3 that installs from the upgraded script now should have all the conferencing and Zaptel fixes. All of the non-free packages have been removed from the ISO, so if you use HUDlite you will need to type install-hudlite from command line." Download: trixbox-1.1.iso (509MB, MD5).
GeeXboX 1.0 has been released: "After more than 3 years of perpetual development, GeeXboX finally reaches its long awaited 1.0 release. The most noticeable thing probably is the support for DVD menus; this feature that had been requested so many times by so many people and that was unfortunately missing from MPlayer is now part of GeeXboX. Also, a lot of work has been done on the playback of network streams from SHOUTcast WebRadios, WebTVs or even RTP/RTSP streaming so that you should now be able to easily watch any kind of network or broadcasted stream from your GeeXboX media center." Read the release announcement to learn about all the new features in this media-oriented Linux distribution. Download the i386 or PowerPC ISO image from here (MD5): geexbox-1.0-en.i386.iso (6.8MB) or geexbox-1.0-en.ppc.iso (11.6MB).
The first development ISO images of Mandriva Linux 2007 have been released for download and testing. At the time of writing only Mandriva One live CD images for the i586 and x86_64 architectures are available, but expect the usual full (4-CD) installation sets to appear on Mandriva mirrors in a day or two. The new release ships with kernel 2.6.16.20 and includes glibc 2.4, X.Org 7.1, KDE 3.5.3, GNOME 2.15, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2, Firefox 1.5.0.4 and many other open source software packages. See the Mandriva development changelog for a complete list of new features and other changes. Download either the GNOME or the KDE edition of Mandriva One 2007 Alpha from here: mandriva-one-gnome-2007-frige.i586.iso (646MB, MD5), mandriva-one-kde-2007-frige.i586.iso (683MB, MD5).
A bug-fix version of STUX GNU/Linux has been released - just four days after the developers of the Slackware-based live CD released version 0.9. What's new? "Removed automatic configuration for NVIDIA video cards. Autoconfiguration caused problems for some models of NVIDIA video cards. Now, to load NVIDIA official drivers, you have to explicitly use the boot option 'nvidia'. Updated kicker sidebar image that was forgotten reporting STUX version 0.7. Removed some directories from the root folder." Visit the STUX news page to find a more detailed list of features and the most recent changelog. The new STUX GNU/Linux release is available for download via BitTorrent: stux-linux-0.9.1.iso (669MB).
Elliot Peele has announced the inaugural release of rPath Linux Live CD, a minimal rescue CD containing an rPath Linux base system with the GNOME 2.12 desktop: "The rPath Linux Project has created live images of rPath Linux. These images are available in three formats: Live CD ISO - minimal GNOME rescue environment; Raw hard disk drive image - text based development platform; VMware X86 image - minimal GNOME environment. Note: The available image versions referenced by this announcement are considered beta-quality." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Download the live CD image from here: rpath-1.0.2-livecd-x86.iso (474MB, MD5).
Martin Ultima has announced the release of Ultima Linux 8.0.1: "The Ultima Linux Project is pleased to announce the immediate release of Ultima Linux 8.0.1, the newest version of the popular distribution, for all x86-compatible personal computers, and hopefully our last x86-only release before version 8.1. As usual, it brings many new applications, updated packages, and not to mention important security updates! Among the updates are new versions of Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird, OpenOffice.org, The GIMP, and other popular applications...." Read the release announcement and release notes for a detailed list of changes. Ultima Linux 8.0.1 comes in two flavours - a 2-disk installation set, or live CD; both editions are available for download via BitTorrent: ultimalinux-8.0.1-x86 (1,264MB), ultimalinux-8.0.1-LiveCD.iso (698MB).
Xandros Corporation has announced immediate availability of Xandros Desktop 4, a novice-friendly desktop Linux distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux: "Xandros, the leading provider of easy-to-use Linux alternatives to Windows desktop and server products, today announced a new line of consumer desktop products targeting home and multimedia users: Xandros Desktop Home Edition and Xandros Desktop Home Edition - Premium." Read the official press release and visit the Xandros product pages to learn more about the new release and to see a handful of screenshots. The two editions of Xandros Desktop 4 are available for purchase (and immediate download) from the company's online store; the links: Home Edition (US$39.99), Home Edition Premium (US$79.99).
The second release candidate of SimplyMEPIS 6.0 is out: "MEPIS has uploaded RC2, a new release candidate of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. RC2 adds bug fixes, security updates, and screen resolution detection. By popular demand, the apt-notify applet was improved to support transparency in the panel. Firefox runs much faster out-of-the-box, due to some configuration improvements suggested by the community. RC2 incorporates more security updates from the Ubuntu Dapper pool, including a security patched version of the 2.6.15 kernel. By request, the rdesktop package was added so KDE's Remote Desktop Sharing could be used with Windows remote desktop servers." The full release announcement. Download: (666MB, MD5).
Jesse Keating has announced the release of Fedora Core 6 Test1, the first in the series of development releases leading towards Fedora Core 6: "The Fedora Project announces the first release of the Fedora Core 6 development cycle. Notable features: support for the Intel-based Macintosh platform; ipv6 support in the installer; scim-bridge for improved i18n input; puplet applet for update notifications; new printing system; GNOME 2.15; KDE 3.5.3; 1600+ Extras packages conveniently available via yum." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. The CD and DVD images for the three supported architectures are available for download from a number of Fedora mirrors, as well as from the FedoraProject's BitTorrent server; here is a quick link to the i386 DVD torrent: fc6-test1-dvd-i386 (3,128MB).
Michael Creel has announced the release of a new version of ParallelKNOPPIX. What's new? "Sync to KNOPPIX 5.0.1 CD (en); Ogg Theora screencast of setup captured with Istanbul (provided); PVM-POVRay HOWTO by Janos Tolgyesi and Mahsa Nemati; GROMACS is in /usr/local: user reports are welcome; various minor improvements and bugfixes." Also, the Linux kernel has been updated to version 2.6.17, while XFree86 has been replaced with X.Org 7.0. Here is the brief release announcement. The ISO image of ParallelKNOPPIX 2006-06-19 is available for download via LinuxTracker torrent, and also from this HTTP server: parallelknoppix-2006-06-19.iso (567MB, MD5).
The Danix project, which produces a Czech live CD based on Debian GNU/Linux, has announced a new test release, version 2006.06.17b. According to the brief release announcement (in Czech), the new version includes OpenOffice.org 2.0.1, Firefox 1.5.0.3 (from Debian "etch"), KDE desktop 3.5.2, new code for hardware auto-configuration (which is not based on KNOPPIX, but rather aims to maintain compatibility with Debian), support for about a dozen languages (can be invoked by pressing F2 at boot prompt), and the ability to save changes to hard disk and re-master the live CD. The new Danix lacks a hard disk installer and updated documentation. The ISO image is available for download from here: danix.2006-06-17b.iso (697MB, MD5).
The PLD project has released a specialist text-only mini live CD based on PLD Linux: "PLD Rescue CD is a bootable disk that contains a live Linux distribution based on PLD Linux (2.6.16.20 modular kernel). Furthermore, this version uses transparent compression (SquashFS) to fit about 180 MB of software onto a single mini CD 50 MB in usable form. PLD Rescue CD can be used to rescue ailing machines, perform intrusion post-mortems, act as a temporary secure Linux-based workstation (using SSH, VPN connecting to remote host - other networking clients are also supported), install PLD Linux, and perform many other tasks that we haven't yet imagined." Visit the PLD Linux Rescue CD project page to find out more. Download: x86/rescue.iso (55.0MB, MD5) or x86_64/rescue.iso (45.7MB, MD5).
Yuichiro Nakada has announced a new release of Berry Linux, a desktop-oriented, Fedora-based live CD with support for Japanese and English. Berry Linux 0.71 has undergone a number of package upgrades; these include Linux kernel upgrade to Kernel 2.6.16.20 with SMP, ndev/udev and bootsplash patches, GCC 4.1.1, Ndiswrapper 1.17, MPlayer 1.0pre8, Firefox and Thunderbird 1.5.0.4 (Japanese and English), Sylpheed 2.2.5 (Japanese and English), WINE 0.9.15 and SIM 0.9.4. Proprietary NVIDIA display drivers, Xgl and Compiz are also included. For more details please see the distribution's changelog. Download Berry Linux 0.71 from here: berry-0.71.iso (512MB, MD5).
Damn Small Linux 3.0, now with support for Unionfs and a new desktop theme, has been released. From the changelog: "New DSL now boots to Unionfs; new boot option 'legacy' to boot without Unionfs; moved MyDSL local extension loading functionality from emelfm to MyDSL desktop icon; new mountable MyDSL extension type unc with automatic branch management; adjust Getting Started / Dillo screen to support booting 640x480; added ACPI modules for newer power management support; New FUSE support; new sshfs support for simple remote network mounts; new theme 'A Penguin with a Hat'; new unc extension section in the MyDSL repository." Download: dsl-3.0.iso (49.4MB, MD5).
The regional government of Extremadura in Spain has announced the final release of gnuLinEx 2006, a Debian-based distribution designed for deployment in the region's government offices and schools. The new version is built on top of the Linux kernel 2.6.16, with X.Org 6.9.0 and GNOME 2.14 as the default desktop. KDE 3.5 is also available from external repositories. All packages included on the download CD are Free Software, but users who wish to install proprietary drivers and other non-free programs can do so via the AptLinex utility. One of the new features in this release is a graphical control panel for system administration. Find more information in the gnuLinEx 2006 guide (with screenshots) and in this changelog published by Barrapunto (both links in Spanish). Download: linex2006.iso (699MB, MD5).
Nathan Fisher has announced the release of Grafpup Linux 1.0.4: "It's with great pleasure that I announce the availability of Grafpup 1.0.4, in both Standard and Deluxe ISO flavors. This release marks kind of a coming of age for Grafpup, and is intended to be the final release in the 1.x series. The standard ISO contains up-to-date versions of all the best 2D graphics software and other tools for graphic designers. This should be enough to please just about anyone interested in using Linux in a publishing or design environment." More details about the new release can be found in the release announcement. Download (MD5): Grafpup_standard-104.iso (80.0MB). The Deluxe edition is available for download via BitTorrent: Grafpup_deluxe-104.iso (397MB).
Alan Baghumian has announced the availability of Parsix GNU/Linux 0.80.1, a bug-fix update to the earlier release of the KANOTIX-based live CD: "An updated version of Parsix GNU/Linux is available now. This version mainly fixes some reported bugs after the release of version 0.80. There are very slight package updates to fix some bugs. Fixed bugs are: Totem crash on some systems; human theme display problem on ATI chips; GNOME theme tool missing tab problem; FAT and NTFS automount during boot in live mode. We have also added SMP kernel support." Here is the full release announcement. Download: parsix_0801.iso (667MB, MD5).
PC-BSD 1.11 has been released. What's new? "Updated installed ports to current versions as of 6-12-06; updated KDE to 3.5.3; removed linux-base-rh9 port from default install, allowing PBI developers to install their own; added additional video drivers to default kernel (Intel 3D, Voodoo, etc); adding users now uses the /usr/share/skel template; cleaned up fonts, uses Sans Serif family by default now; allowed users to change account icon in kdmrc; changed console resolution to 800x600; cleaned up /etc/resolv.conf; fixed IPV6 hostname in /etc/hosts." See the release announcement, release notes and changelog for further information. Download (MD5): PCBSD-1.11-x86-CD1.iso (677MB).
Ken VanDine has announced the release of Foresight Linux 0.9.5 Release Candidate 1, an updated version of the desktop-oriented distribution based on rPath Linux: "Announcing the 1st release candidate for Foresight 0.9.5 (0.9.5.rc1). What's new you ask? Nautilus defaults to browse mode; new GTK/Metacity theme; new GDM theme. What's been updated? GNOME updated to 2.14.2, Ekiga 2.0.2, Evolution 2.6.2; Firefox 1.5.0.4, GIMP 2.3.9, MySQL 5.0.22, PostgreSQL 8.1.4, Vim 7.0, XaraLX 0.5r1242...; bugfixes." Read the rest of the release announcement for a more detailed list of changes and updates. Download the DVD image from here: foresight-0.9.5.rc1-x86-dvd1.iso (1,007MB).
Puppy Linux 2.01 has been released. From the release notes: "Booting from CD in a RAM-challenged PC (32 - 128M RAM) has significant performance improvement; ALSA sound has been upgraded to version 1.0.11 to recognise recent sound chips; Tcl/Tk has been upgraded to 8.5a4 and now has font antialiasing that automatically works on all Tcl/Tk GUI apps; the audio recorder/editor is now mhWaveEdit, version 1.4.8, replacing the Snack library and XS editor; Perl is upgraded to version 5.8.6 and now includes GTK modules; GPRename is a GTK-Perl application for batch file renaming...." Download: puppy-2.01-seamonkey.iso (70.8MB, MD5).
The first release candidate for RR4 Linux 3.0 is out: "After two months of hard work, complete rebuild and CHOST migration (from i386 to i586), we are proud to announce the most advanced, cute and complete GNU/Linux Live DVD in the world. Featuring many desktop and server applications, SMP kernel, XsistenCe mode, Internet kiosk framework, Xgl, 27 languages and much, much more... New features: 2.6.16.20 kernel; highly optimized glibc 2.4 (NPTL); live mode RAM consumption improved; 20% faster than its predecessor; KDE 3.5.3; GNOME 2.14.1; the first live distro to ship with Google Earth Beta4...." Read the release announcement for a detailed list of changes and new features. The new version of the Gentoo-based live DVD is available for download via BitTorrent: RR4-Linux-3.0 (2,334MB).
Giacomo Picconi has announced the release of STUX GNU/Linux 0.9, a Slackware-based live and installation CD designed desktop use: "STUX GNU/Linux 0.9 released. Main changes: Linux kernel upgraded to 2.6.12 from KNOPPIX CD 4.0.2; based on Slackware current as at 10 June 2006; added KNOPPIX hardware autodetection; Unionfs: with Unionfs it's now possible to use STUX from Live CD without the read-only limitation; all STUX utilities fully debugged and reviewed; multimedia keyboards now working and configurable; added WINE; installed remastering tools; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support...." Read the complete changelog on the project's news page. STUX GNU/Linux 0.9 is available for download via BitTorrent: stux-linux-0.9.iso (675MB).
Patrick Verner has announced the availability of an updated version of GParted LiveCD: "GParted LiveCD 0.2.5-1. I think this might be the best version of the live CD released so far. Many issues have been fixed and I spent some time making it look better. Junel Mujar made a very cool wallpaper for the desktop. Changes: updated to Linux kernel 2.6.16.20, Parted 1.7.1, e2fsprogs 1.39, GTK+ 2.8.19, Fluxbox 1.0rc, udev 094; Added xfce4-panel 4.3.90.1 to Fluxbox, Thunar 0.3.0beta1; rebuilt X.Org to be smaller; the source for the CD is located in /usr/src/." Read the rest of the changelog for further information. Download: gparted-livecd-0.2.5-1.iso (29.4MB, MD5).
BU Linux, or Boston University Linux, is a Fedora-based distribution specifically tailored for the university environments and enhanced with Kerberos authentication, tight default security, apt-get, OpenAFS file system, and extra software applications. A new development version has been released: "The BU Linux team at the Office of Information Technology is excited to announce a preview release of BU Linux 4.6 (Stormy). While we're still working on some rough edges, this release is generally as it will be for the final gold-seal version available in several weeks, and we encourage you to install it and try it out on your test systems." Read the full release announcement for more details. BU Linux is distributed in the form of small ISO images for network installation; get them from here: stormy32-installer.iso (68.5MB), stormy64-installer.iso (68.9MB).
The third release candidate for the updated version 3 series of Guadalinex, a Spanish distribution based on Ubuntu Breezy, has been released for download and testing. In addition to a large number of bug fixes, the following aspects of the distributions received extra attention: updates in documentation and help files of Hermes, the hardware assistant; improvements in generating digital signatures; inclusion of a new hardware reporting facility to assist with hardware problems. For further information please refer to the release announcement (in Spanish). Download the live and installation CDs from here (MD5): guadalinex_v3.0.1_RC3_live.iso (636MB), guadalinex_v3.0.1_RC3_nolive.iso (688MB).
A specialist server edition of Ubuntu 6.06 designed for high-end SPARC64 processors has been released: "The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the release of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS server for Sun SPARC 64-bit architecture. Highlights of this release include: new kernels targeted at server platforms, the server kernels are tuned differently than the desktop kernels (providing better performance for server applications); turn-key LAMP installation for this common deployment scenario; improved support for clusters and SANs." Please refer to the release announcement for further information and download links. Get it from here: ubuntu-6.06-server-sparc.iso (392MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
After five beta releases, the first release candidate of SimplyMEPIS 6.0 is available for download: "MEPIS has announced RC1, the release candidate of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. RC1 contains KDE 3.5.3, the latest security updates, an improved USB media handler, and the CD is compressed with SquashFS. The ISO image is available for download and test in the mepis 'testing' subdirectory at public mirrors and the MEPIS Subscriber's Site. With feedback and suggestions from the community, a number of small bugs were fixed. During the next week or two more bugs will be fixed and the MEPIS utilities will continue to be restructured. Final release is planned for around June 27." Read the full press release for additional details. Download: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-rc1_i386.iso (671MB, MD5).
The second beta of Bayanihan Linux 4.0, a desktop-oriented, Debian-based distribution made in the Philippines, has been released: "We are proud to announce the second beta release of Bayanihan Linux 4, a project of the Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the Department of Science and Technology. The goal of the project is to provide the best alternative desktop solution to Filipinos. The features listed below have significantly been improved: local networking (SSH, SMB, VNC, FTP); running some Windows applications via WINE; antivirus using Klamav; enhanced fonts for on-screen readability...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: BL4Beta2.iso (699MB, MD5).
The Nexenta project, which builds a distribution combining the OpenSolaris kernel with applications from Ubuntu, has announced a new alpha release of Nexenta OS: "This is our way to celebrate the 1 year OpenSolaris anniversary. This release provides a fully integrated Ubuntu Dapper Drake userland, OpenSolaris core (build #40), and contains overall 11,800 packages. In addition, Alpha 5 contains: Sun's Java SE 5.0 Java Development Kit (via Nexenta OS APT); Live Upgrade - supported from Alpha 5 and onwards (use Debian tools to bring your system up to the bleeding edge); OpenOffice.org 2.0, natively compiled on Nexenta OS; OpenSolaris build #40, non-DEBUG kernel." See the release highlights on the project's download page for a detailed changelog. Get the installation or live CD from here (MD5): elatte_installcd_alpha5_i386.zip (587MB) or elatte_livecd_alpha5_i386.zip (242MB).
The development of SUSE Linux 10.2 is now officially underway with the release of the first alpha build: "SUSE Linux 10.2 Alpha 1 is available. It has one major problem, but apart from that it is highly usable. The installation using the GUI interface does not work, please select 'Text Mode' when booting from CD media. Download of release notes does fail (server side issue). The difference to SUSE Linux 10.1 is mainly in version updates in some areas (especially the YaST package manager and KDE). Have a lot of fun!" Read the rest of the release announcement for further details and download links. The 5-CD ISO image sets for the three supported architectures are available from these SUSE Linux mirrors and also via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.2-Alpha1-i386 (3,283MB).
An experimental version of Musix GNU/Linux has been released for public testing: "The Musix project has released Musix 0.49, along with 459 updated software packages, a new Linux kernel version 2.6.16, and the KANOTIX installer. Musix 0.49 is an experimental version that was made to support new hardware, for example the SATA hard disks, and new sound and video cards. The most relevant upgraded packages into Musix 0.49: AbiWord 2.4.4 (word processor based on GTK+), Beast 0.6.6 (music synthesis and composition framework), Denemo 0.7.5 (a GTK+ frontend to GNU LilyPond); jackd 0.101.1 (JACK Audio Connection Kit...." Find more details in the release announcement. Download: MusixGNU+Linux-0.49.iso (688MB); also available via BitTorrent.
A release candidate for GoblinX Mini 1.4.0 is ready for testing: "The first release candidate of GoblinX Mini 1.4.0 is out today. The release candidate is out to anyone who wants to test and know more about the next release, also we wish that you report any errors or bugs found while using the release candidate version. GoblinX 1.4.0 rc01 has some important improvements, but not every new ones are added yet. There is a massive upgrade of packages and also Unionfs, SquashFS and kernel (2.6.16.12). It's important to test the stability of the main system, especially the new Unionfs and SquashFS 3.0." Visit the project's news page to read the full release announcement and changelog. Download: GoblinXMini-1.4.0.rc01.iso (148MB, MD5).
After two development builds, version 5.0.5 of StartCom MultiMedia Edition has been released: "StartCom has released its new Multimedia Edition, ML-5.0.5, code named 'Kessem'. It's probably one of the largest and most complete Linux distributions ever released to the public. Release ML-5.0.5, offers many 'out-of-the-box' capabilities, never bundled with an operating system before. Designed as a multimedia workstation with music studio and advanced video editing applications, it also provides the desktop user with the most applications for day to day use." Please refer to the press release for further information. DVD images for both the i386 and x86_64 architectures are available for download from here (MD5): Kessem-i386-DVD.iso (4,326MB) or Kessem-x86_64-DVD.iso (4,209MB).
A.J. Venter has announced the first development release of OpenLab GNU/Linux 4.1, a Slackware-based desktop distribution developed in South Africa: "It is my honour and privilege to announce that the first alpha version of OpenLab 4.1, code name 'Conina', is now available for download. Conina includes significant enhancements for mobile computing, including improved wireless and WPA support, and integration of Kdebluetooth. Kernel 2.6.16.18, X.Org 6.9.0, KDE 3.5.2 with HAL and DBUS, and a massively overhauled video setup process should cover almost any Linux-supported hardware with great ease." Read the full release announcement for more details. Download: openlab-live-4.1alpha1.iso (699MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Tomáš Matějíček has announced the availability of SLAX 5.1.7, release candidate 1: "I'd like to let you know that a release candidate of SLAX 5.1.7 is out. This version contains a few major feature updates. The most important features include: modified 'changes=' cheatcode to accept device names with path; added 'fromiso' cheatcode to load CD data from a different ISO image." Also new in this release, the Linux kernel has been upgraded to version 2.6.16.20 with SMP support, while KDE has been upgraded to version 3.5.3 and KOffice to 1.5.1. See the SLAX changelog for a more detailed list of updates and feature enhancements. Download: slax-5.1.7rc1.iso (194MB, MD5).
Voltalinux, a distribution combining Slackware Linux with the 'pkgsrc' package management software from NetBSD, has reached the 1.0 milestone: "Voltalinux 1.0 is out! New feature: the installation is based on 3 sets: base, devel, net. Many server oriented packages ready to be deployed. Based on Slackware Current (almost Slackware 11) and pkgsrc 2006Q1. Remember to install rc-subr, to edit /etc/rc.conf and install the packages you like (Postfix, Dovecot, Pure FTP, MySQL, etc)." Here is the brief release announcement. Download (MD5): voltalinux-1.0.iso (254MB). Voltalinux 1.0 is designed for advanced Linux users and does not contain a graphical desktop environment.
A beta release of Grafpup Linux 1.0.4, a light-weight distribution designed for graphics artists, is now available for download and testing: "Announcing the availability of Grafpup Standard 1.0.4 beta. This is a feature-complete release for testing purposes, we are now on a freeze and nothing new will be included in the live CD. Many, if not most, of the small issues and bugs from the pre-release have now been fixed and cosmetically this is very close to how 1.0.4 final will appear. IceWM has been recompiled with antialiasing on and a new data directory path. The Squash utility is now on version 0.5 and includes an early version of Gsquash, the graphical interface." Read the release announcement for more details. Download (MD5): Grafpup_standard-104beta.iso (80.0MB).
The Puppy Linux development team has released a new edition of Puppy Linux - OneBone Puppy. Without any graphical applications, the entire distribution takes only 26.4 MB: "This is a play-thing, requested by a few people on the forum, and definitely not for the average user. In other words, Linux command line nerds only! OneBone does not have any X GUI applications. It does have Elinks web browser, Ytree file manager and MP text editor. The Lucent and SmartLink modem drivers are included. There are lots of text-mode applications out there and a very interesting flavour of Puppy could be created, based on this starting point." Read the rest of the release announcement on the project's news page. Download: puppy-onebone-2.00r1.iso (26.4MB, MD5).
The final release of the live CD edition of VectorLinux 5.1 is now available for your downloading pleasure: "The VectorLinux team is proud to announce the release of the VL-5.1 standard Live CD. On this 1 little CD you get everything from VectorLinux standard edition, including 3 full-featured desktops - IceWM, Fluxbox, and XFce, a full office suite, and too many other apps to mention. We have added GParted for all of your GUI partitioning needs. We have added more options to the hard drive installer, including an option for a separate /home partition, and the ability to choose whether and where to install LILO. We have added wifi-radar for easy connections to wireless networks...." Read the full release announcement for more details. Download: VL-5.1-std-LIVE.iso (698MB, MD5).
The openSUSE project has released the last of the series of SUSE Linux 10.1 products - the Live DVD: "The SUSE Linux 10.1 Live DVD is available now. The Live DVD is a 32bit Intel-based system which contains 4 GB of great Linux software compressed into a 1.7 GB ISO." Here is the brief release announcement. The Live DVD edition, which includes both GNOME and KDE desktop environments, is not installable to hard disk, but can be used to test hardware compatibility, perform system rescue tasks or evaluate SUSE Linux 10.1. Download from here: SUSE-Linux-10.1-GM-LiveDVD.iso (1,654MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
dyne:bolic 2.0, a Linux-based live CD with a collection of software for multimedia production, audio and video manipulation, sound composition and synthesis, has been released: "The dyne.org foundation proudly presents dyne:bolic version 2.0, code name "dhoruba". The new release comes out after two years of development and it's a complete rebuild and rewrite of the whole system; it brings new possibilities in customizing the running system and makes it modular and very easy to include new software, much more usable and maintainable than before." Read the complete release announcement for more details. Download: dyne-2.0.iso (650MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
The fifth beta of SimplyMEPIS 6.0 has been released: "MEPIS has released beta 5, the final beta, of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. Beta 5 includes a few changes in applications and components. Lame, 915resolution, and VMware kernel support were added to the bootable / installable CD. Acpi-support and klaptop have been replaced by kpowersave. This has resulted in reports of better out-of-the-box suspend-to-ram and suspend-to-disk functionality for laptops. Kde-systemsettings was replaced with 'MEPIS System Settings' which is a custom configuration of the standard 'settings' kio-slave." Read the rest of the press release for further information. Download: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-beta5_i386.iso (689MB, MD5).
EnGarde Secure Linux has been updated to version 3.0.7: "Guardian Digital is happy to announce the release of EnGarde Secure Community 3.0.7. This release includes several bug fixes and feature enhancements to the Guardian Digital WebTool and the SELinux policy, several updated packages, and several new packages available for installation. New features: a new package (hwlister) which can be used to generate an inventory of all the hardware which comprises your system; PHP was re-built with Curl support...." Read the full release announcement for more details. Download: engarde-community-3.0.7.i686.iso (626MB, MD5) or engarde-community-3.0.7.x86_64.iso (615MB, MD5).
The first alpha release of the desktop-oriented Kate OS 3.0 is out: "An alpha version of Kate OS 3.0 is available. This release supplies a better support for IRDE and Bluetooth technologies. It contains almost all target packages except for additional plugins for the XFce environment. Apart from two standard installation CDs, GNOME (2.14.2) and KDE (3.5.2) extension modules are also available." Kate OS 3.0 is powered by Linux kernel 2.6.16.19 and includes X.Org 7.1, glibc 2.4, GCC 4.0.2, Apache 2.2.2, Firefox 1.5.0.4, XFce 4.3.90 and other up-to-date software. Read the full release announcement on the distribution's home page. Download: KateOS_3.0alpha1-CD1.iso (680MB, MD5), KateOS_3.0alpha1-CD2.iso (412MB, MD5).
The first beta of the FreeBSD-based m0n0wall firewall, version 1.23, is ready for download and testing. What's new? "Added support for 3rd party extensions in the group management and dynamic menu system; changes in captive portal; do not generate anti-spoof rules for optional interfaces that have other interfaces bridged to them when the filtering bridge is on; updated base system to FreeBSD 4.11-RELEASE-p18; recompiled ipsec-tools without FreeBSD patch to use 'security' syslog facility instead of 'daemon'." Visit the project's beta page to find out more about the new release. Download from here: cdrom-1.23b1.iso (5.74MB, MD5).
Frenzy 1.0, a FreeBSD-based live CD with tools for system administration, network analysis and hardware testing, has been released: "New release: Frenzy 1.0 (Dreamchild). Frenzy is a system administrator's portable instrument, a live CD based on FreeBSD OS, which allows the administrator to boot from it and get a fully functional system with a wide variety of software for tuning, testing and analysing the network, testing computer hardware and much more. Frenzy is released in two different variants: Frenzy standard and Frenzy extended." Read the rest of the release notes for further information. Download: frenzy-1.0-std-EN.iso (195MB, MD5), frenzy-1.0-ext-EN.iso (253MB, MD5).
Parsix GNU/Linux 0.80 has been released: "After 3 months of development and testing, a brand new version of Parsix GNU/Linux i686-optimized desktop is available. Major improvements are better system performance, new documentation, updated software packages, better hardware support and Parsix's own apt repository that enables users to get further updates." The new Parsix is based on the current Debian unstable tree, with kernel 2.6.16.17 (plus many patches including CK's performance patches and extra WLAN drivers), X.Org 7.0.20, GNOME 2.14.2, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 and new desktop theme. Read the full release announcement for more details. Download: parsix_080.iso (676MB, MD5).
After a series of alpha releases, the first beta of the Gentoo-based VLOS 1.3 has been released: "A new version of VLOS 1.3 is available for download." The new release includes a number of major changes, such as improvements to the Gentoo port of Anaconda and new Mono-based applications, including Beagle, F-Spot and Banshee. It also comes with a modular X.Org 7.0 and uses 'gnome-mount' for mounting external storage devices. Among applications, GNOME has been upgraded to version 2.14.1 and KDE to 3.5.2. For more information please see release announcement and changelog. VLOS 1.3 Beta 1 is available for download as a 2-CD set or a single DVD image for i686 and AMD64 architectures; here is a quick link to the i686 DVD: vlos-1.3-beta1-dvd_i686.iso (1,332MB).
René Rebe has announced the first development release of T2 2.2.0, a source-based distribution originally forked from ROCK Linux: "Finally, the release candidate of the 2.2.0 series 'Get the power back!' is out. The series features udev, early user-space, fully modular kernel, X11R7, C++ cross compilation, PowerPC 64 and MIPS 64 support, as well as a whole lot of updates and re-factoring under the hood." Read the full release announcement for a complete list of changes. As usual, the new version is available in the form of build scripts (2.4MB) for creating a complete distribution from source code, or as a set of pre-compiled CD images for several architectures. Here are the quick download links to the x86 images (MD5): t2-desktop-2.2.0-rc-x86-pentium-mmx_cd1.iso (634MB) and t2-desktop-2.2.0-rc-x86-pentium-mmx_cd2.iso (553MB).
Klaus Knopper has announced the availability of the first public release of KNOPPIX 5 live CD and DVD: "At CeBIT 2006, a preview of KNOPPIX 5 was introduced, which has now been updated with the new kernel and udev hotplug management. What's new: Linux kernel 2.6.17 (rc); X.Org Version 7.0; detection of onboard IDE raid controllers and raid disk components; udev + hwsetup for automatic hardware detection; KDE 3.5.2, GNOME 2.12 from Debian unstable; OpenOffice.org 2.0.2; transparent write access for NTFS partitions; new KNOPPIX installer, now also with the possibility to update existing installations of KNOPPIX...." Read the full release announcement on the project's home page. Download the English language editions from here: KNOPPIX_V5.0.1DVD-2006-06-01-EN.iso (4,144MB, MD5) or KNOPPIX_V5.0.1CD-2006-06-01-EN.iso (696MB, MD5). The files are also available via BitTorrent.
Trixbox is a new name of what used to be called Asterisk@Home, a CentOS-based Linux distribution that enables the home user to quickly set up a VOIP Asterisk PBX. Version 1.0 is the project's first stable release under the new name: "Trixbox 1.0 released. Like Asterisk@Home, Trixbox is a complete Asterisk PBX including a Linux OS, Asterisk PBX software, a web GUI, and many other useful add-ons. Trixbox will focus on both the business and home user and will have more features including automatic upgrade capability. As with Asterisk@Home, Trixbox can be quickly and easily installed in under one hour." Here is the brief release announcement. Download: trixbox-1.0.iso (536MB, MD5).
Bernhard Rosenkraenzer has announced the second release candidate for Ark Linux 2006.1: "The Ark Linux team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Ark Linux 2006.1-rc2 and Ark Linux Live 2006.1-rc2. This is the last release candidate of Ark Linux 2006.1, which will be released as soon as OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 and kernel 2.6.17 are released and integrated. The current release candidate includes pre-release versions of those. There have been numerous changes since the first release candidate. Highlights include KDE 3.5.3, X.Org 7.1 and amaroK 1.4.0a - and we've fixed numerous bugs." Read the rest of the release announcement for a complete list of major changes. Download the installation or live CD from here (MD5): arklinux-2006.1-rc2.iso (701MB), arklinux-live-2006.1-rc2.iso (668MB).
Now that we are done with all the *ubuntu-related news, here is something for the connoisseurs of superfast mini-distributions: Puppy Linux 2.00 is out! From the release notes: "This is a major upgrade from the 1.xx series. How to summarise five months work? The graphical user interface is much the same, as most work has been on the underlying architecture. In a nutshell, the fundamental architecture and boot-up / shutdown scripts are a total rewrite, from scratch, no relationship to any other distro." Among other major changes, the 'standard' edition of Puppy Linux now supplies SeaMonkey 1.0 web suite for web browsing and email, Inkscape for vector drawing, and GParted for disk partitioning tasks, while the kernel has been upgraded to version 2.6.16.7. Download: puppy-2.00-seamonkey.iso (70.0MB, MD5).
Not to be left behind, Xubuntu 6.06 has also been released: "Today sees the first launch of Xubuntu 6.06 LTS. This version of Xubuntu will be supported for 3 years on the desktop, and brings you all of the latest XFce goodness." Xubuntu's new desktop features: "XFce 4.4beta1 including a more flexible panel, many panel plugins and icons on the desktop; Thunar file manager; GDM desktop manager; Gnome Office (latest AbiWord and Gnumeric); Evince document viewer; Xarchiver archive manager; Xfburn simple CD burner; Xubuntu System Tools for GUI system administration...." Read the release announcement and release notes for further details. Xubuntu 6.06 CD images for three architectures can be downloaded from this directory; here is a quick link to the i386 CD: xubuntu-6.06-desktop-i386.iso (649MB, MD5).
Edubuntu 6.06, an Ubuntu-based distribution designed for classroom use and inclusive of long term support options, has been released: "The Edubuntu team is proud to present Edubuntu 6.06 LTS. Included in this release are installation CDs, live CDs, and combination DVDs for i386, PPC, and AMD64 architectures. Edubuntu is the education-focused counterpart of Ubuntu, offering fast, easy installation of stand-alone systems, thin clients and servers. Like Ubuntu, Edubuntu 6.06 LTS offers long term security updates after release (3 years for desktops and 5 years for servers." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Edubuntu 6.06 CD images are available for free download, but interested users can also order free CDs via the project's ShipIt system. Download the i386 CD image from here: edubuntu-6.06-install-i386.iso (695MB, MD5).
Right on schedule, Ubuntu 6.06, a distribution with long term support features, has been released: "Ubuntu, which has become one of the world's most popular Linux distributions in recent years, launched its latest version on June 1 following months of intense testing. The new release is titled Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Long Term Support), and has a specific emphasis on the needs of large organisations with both desktop and server versions." For full details please read the formal press release and the more useful release notes, but don't miss the Do the Dapper Dance post on Mark Shuttleworth's web log either. As usual, Ubuntu 6.06 ISO images for three architectures are available for download from the many Ubuntu mirrors worldwide, while free official CD sets can be ordered via ShipIt. A quick link to the i386 CD image: ubuntu-6.06-desktop-i386.iso (698MB, MD5).
Kubuntu, one of the distributions belonging to the Ubuntu family of Linux operating systems, is the first to publish a formal announcement about the product's new release: "Kubuntu 6.06 LTS has been released. It is available for download now or for the first time you can order free Kubuntu CDs through ShipIt. This release comes with KDE 3.5.2 and includes a new installer which you can use direct from the live desktop CD. We have focused on stability and bug fixes, as our first Long Term Support release 6.06 will be supported for 3 years on the desktop and 5 years on the server." Kubuntu 6.06 for three processor architectures and in a variety of configurations is available for download from several mirrors servers, while free CD images can also be ordered from its ShipIt system. Here is a quick link to the i386 CD image: kubuntu-6.06-desktop-i386.iso (697MB, MD5).
Marcel J. Zwiebel has announced a new major release of Nonux, a Slackware-based distribution with Dropline GNOME designed for business use in Dutch-speaking office environments. Version 3.0 comes with the following improvements and updates: upgrade to kernel 2.6.16.17; upgrade to GNOME 2.14.1; upgrade to Evolution 2.6.1; upgrade to Firefox 1.5.0.3; new menu entries for common system administration tasks; new, more serene, desktop theme; by default the live CD now boots into a non-root account; improved power management for notebook computers; many application updates, including Mail Notification, WiFi-radar and GParted. For more details please read the full release announcement on the project's news page (in Dutch). Download (MD5): nonux-3.0.iso (671MB).
A new version of Musix GNU/Linux, a Debian-based live CD with a large collection of audio software, has been released: "Thanks to the support of the Ututo Project, FSF, Ourproject, and to the usual collaborators, the Musix project has just released Musix 0.40. Musix 0.40 can be considered the most stable and functional Musix version until now, and its use is recommended in the long term." Musix 0.40 includes a number of new audio programs, such as Rosegarden 1.2.3, Mixxx 1.4.2 (Digital Disc Jockey Interface), Cecilia 2.0.5, Csound and others, as well as many updated packages. For more details and known issues please consult the release announcement. Download: MusixGNU+Linux-0.40.iso (694MB); also available via BitTorrent.
StressLinux 0.3.1 final is out: "After a long time of development the final StressLinux 0.3.1 is released. The changes between rc4 and this final are very small. The kernel was bumped to version 2.6.16.18 and the Realtek R1000 driver was added. Everton Marques suggested adding the following network testing tools, which are now included: nepim, iperf, netperf. Busybox reached version 1.1.3. With this final release the PXE packages are available, too. There seem to be still some problems with AMD64 hardware; this is the main reason why I included an extra boot menu entry (noinitrd) to boot without loading extra drivers." Visit the distribution's home page to read the release announcement. Download: stresslinux-0.3.1.iso.bz2 (30.5MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
GeeXboX, a Linux-powered media player based on MPlayer, has entered the final stages of its development leading towards the 1.0 release: "It has been exactly 2 weeks since previous GeeXboX development release. Thanks to your reports, many bugs have been fixed and we are getting closer to the so awaited final 1.0 public release. It's just a matter of a couple of days now. It's now up to you to test this second release candidate in order to help us finalizing GeeXboX. Just remember it's the last chance to report nasty bugs to us." We could not locate changelog or release notes, but your can read the release announcement on the project's news page. Download (MD5): geexbox-1.0-rc2-en.i386.iso (6.8MB) or geexbox-1.0-rc2-en.ppc.iso (11.6MB).
Turbolinux has announced the immediate availability of an international edition of its successful desktop-oriented operating system, also known as "Turbolinux 11 Fuji". Originally launched in Japan in November 2005, some of the key features of the new release include: "Expanded Control Center features; wireless LAN capacity; automatic updates for security patches; enhanced broadband features, including Windows Media Playback and Flash Player; and development tools such as JAVA and several other state-of-the-art functions for personal and business users." For more information please read the full press release and visit the product's features page. The international edition of Turbolinux 11 "Fuji" is available for purchase from Source One Network for US$39.00.
Troy Dawson has released a set of updated builds of Scientific Linux live CDs and DVDs: "Scientific Linux Live CD 4.3 has been released for both i386 and x86_64. The Scientific Linux Live CD/DVD is a bootable CD/DVD that runs Linux directly from CD/DVD without installing. It is based on Scientific Linux 4. It uses Unionfs, allowing read-only file system to behave as a writable one and SquashFS providing on-the-fly decompression that allows storing 2GB software on a normal CD-ROM. The Live CD/DVD was built using modified scripts from www.linux-live.org." New in this release is an option to save files to a hard disk or USB storage device. See the release announcement for further details. Quick download links to the i386 ISO images: livecd_SL43_2006-05-17.iso (563MB, MD5) or livedvd_SL43_2006-05-17.iso (1,755MB, MD5).
Karanbir Singh has announced the release of CentOS 4.3 Server CD, the project's single-CD variant designed for server use: "The single CD server install for CentOS 4.3 / i386 has now been released and is available from all active mirrors. Notes: this installer will only work with i686 based CPUs; the included packages are a subset of all packages available in the CentOS distribution, however yum has been pre-configured to use the entire repository; in order to ensure that drivers and other third party apps maintain compatibility, the package set used on the Server CD is from CentOS 4.3, you are strongly encouraged to run a 'yum update' immediately after installation." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information. Download: CentOS-4.3.ServerCD-i386.iso (563MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of Damn Small Linux 3.0 is ready for testing. From the changelog: "New unionfs as a boot option; new mountable MyDSL extension type unc with automatic branch management; adjust Dillo screen to support booting 640x480; added ACPI modules for newer power management support; new FUSE and sshfs support; fixed bug in kbdconfig when changing keymaps; new theme "A Penguin with a Hat"; new sample unc extensions, AbiWord, CUPS, and Opera 8.52. Note this is a 'dot oh' release and an 'RC1' as well, so test carefully. Most of the changes are for the deployment of Unionfs which only occurs upon issuance of the boot code 'unionfs'." Download: dsl-3.0RC1.iso (49.5MB, MD5).
An updated version of PC-BSD, now based on FreeBSD 6.1, has been released: "PC-BSD 1.1 was released today, along with a PBI update file for users running 1.0, who wish to update to 1.1. This release brings the core operating system up to the latest version of FreeBSD 6.1, adds better driver support to the kernel, and improves the speed on many systems." The new release also ads "nve" devices to DHCP network detection, fixes network manager to restart network after settings change, and upgrades Online Update Utility to display status. For more information please read the release announcement and consult the release notes and changelog. Download (MD5) : PCBSD-1.1-x86-CD1.iso (678MB).
The developers of Hungary's UHU-Linux have announced the availability of the first test release of UHU-Linux 2.0. According to the release announcement (in Hungarian), the new version features a number of important conceptual changes to the distribution; these include availability of a complete UHU-Linux DVD, multilingual features (besides Hungarian, the new installer also supports English), switch to UTF-8 as the default character encoding, unified keyboard shortcuts for all desktops, and new automount features. Among the known bugs, there are issues with writing CDs and DVDs in this release. Those interested in helping with bug reports can download the CD and DVD images from here: uhu-linux-2.0-test1-cd.iso (699MB, MD5) or uhu-linux-2.0-test1-dvd.iso (3,260MB, MD5).
A new pre-release of Grafpup Linux, a Puppy-based distribution tailored to graphic designers and other imaging professionals, is out: "Announcing the availability of Grafpup-104pre1, in 'deluxe' and 'standard' flavors. This is a preview release meant to showcase several new features that are being integrated into the 'official' 104 build, still a bit off. It has most of the functionality you can expect in the finished product but does lack a certain amount of polish right now. GIMP and Cinepaint have both been upgraded to the latest stable releases, while we've moved on up to Opera 9-beta for browsing." Read the rest of the release announcement if you need more information. Download (MD5): Grafpup_standard-104pre1.iso (79.2MB) or Grafpup_deluxe-104pre1.iso (389MB).
The fourth beta of SimplyMEPIS 6.0 has been released for download and testing: "Warren Woodford of MEPIS has released beta 4 of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. Beta 4 includes some new and/or updated applications including amaroK 1.4, XaraLX 0.5, and ksudoku. digiKam plugins were added to make digiKam and showFoto much more powerful and fun to use. To make room for XaraLX, it was necessary to remove tvtime and the GIMP from the bootable CD, but for those who need them, they are available for download and install via the Synaptic download manager or apt-get." Read the rest of the press release for more details. Download: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-beta4_i386.iso (694MB, MD5).
Jaakko Heinonen has announced the release of a new update to tinysofa classic server 2.0: "tinysofa classic server 2.0 Update 5 (Ceara) is now generally available. This release focuses on bug and security fixes, integrates all released security fixes, and updates various packages (notably the kernel) to the more recent upstream releases. 'Ceara' features: the Linux 2.6.16 kernel, grsecurity support, APT and SmartPM for advanced package management, the next generation PHP 5 environment (5.0.4), OpenSSH 4.3p2, high availability features such as DRBD (0.7.17) and UCARP (1.1), the latest development tools and languages (GCC 3.4.3, Python 2.4.2), and much more." Visit the distribution's home page to read the release announcement. Download (SHA1): Ceara.i586.iso (361MB) or Ceara.x86_64.iso (364MB).
A new update to the 3.0 series of Scientific Linux, a distribution release built by recompiling the source RPM packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3, is available for the i386 architecture: "Scientific Linux (SL) release 3.0.7 for i386 has been released. We wish to thank all the contributors, testers, and all those who have given us kind words of encouragement. The Scientific Linux community is great to work with and for. Scientific Linux release 3.0.7 is based on the rebuilding of RPMS out of SRPMS's from Enterprise 3 AS, including Update 6 & 7. There aren't too many improvements over 3.0.5 other than bug fixes, security errata and updated kernel modules. The release notes can be found here." Read the brief release announcement for more information. The 4-CD ISO image set of the new release can be downloaded from the distribution's main FTP server or its mirror sites.
The Elive project has released the first beta build of the upcoming Elive 0.5 Enlightenment live CD. What's new? "New live CD system - Elive has moved from Morphix to DSS; new kernel 2.6.15 with a lot more hardware support, also for wireless networking, make a look to the list of new drivers added; new installer features; Elive has new system of elive-skel, you can select 'night look' or 'elive look' in the boot of the live CD system; introductory tutorial to Enlightenment hot keys on E16; Unionfs version 1.1.4; Evidence doesn't crash any more; email client integrated with the system." Read the development changelog for more information and a list of download mirrors. Get it from here: Elive-unstable-cvs20060526.iso (680MB, MD5).
The first stable version of BackTrack, SLAX-based live CD with a collection of security and forensics tools, is out: "After hundreds of combined man hours, the Dev Team is proud to present our first 'final' BackTrack release." From the changelog: "Updated Metasploit 2.6; updated pbnj; fixed LILO problem; added VNC vulnerability scanner; added ThinkPad ACPI kernel module; fixed Kimset menu text; fixed switch to scripts; fixed missing fontdirs; fixed console menu size; added revhosts; fixed SPE and Absinthe wx incompatibility; added radeontool; added DMitry." Here is the brief release announcement. Download: backtrack-v.1.0-260506.iso (658MB, MD5).
Matt Zimmerman has announced the availability of a release candidate for Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu 6.06: "The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the Release Candidate for version 6.06 LTS of Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu - codenamed 'Dapper Drake'. The Release Candidates includes installable live Desktop CDs, server images, alternate text-mode installation CDs and an upgrade wizard for users of the current stable release. We consider this release candidate complete, stable and suitable for testing by any user." Read the release announcement and visit the Dapper RC page for more details; especially the notes about CD image name change and the upgrade procedure. Download: ubuntu-6.06-rc-desktop-i386.iso (673MB, MD5). CD images and BitTorrent files for other editions and architectures are also available.
Ken Smith has announced a new stable release of the FreeBSD 5.x series: "It is my great pleasure and privilege to announce the availability of FreeBSD 5.5-RELEASE. Work done between the 5.4-RELEASE and this release has mostly been bug fixes. Some 'vendor supplied' software has also been updated, mostly due to security concerns (specifically BIND and sendmail). This is the last planned release on the 5-STABLE branch. The FreeBSD development community is currently focusing its efforts on the 6-STABLE and CURRENT codelines. No new major features are planned for the 5-STABLE branch, although minor updates and bug fixes may be merged at the discretion of individual developers." Read the release announcement and consult the release notes for more information. Download (i386, MD5): 5.5-RELEASE-i386-disc1.iso (511MB), 5.5-RELEASE-i386-disc2.iso (579MB).
Tuquito is a Debian-based, desktop-oriented live CD for the Spanish-speaking market, developed by a Linux user community in Argentina. The project announced a new beta release a couple of days ago; based on the current software in the Debian "testing" repository, the new release focuses on ease of use and multimedia aspects of personal computing. Other features include "Tuco", a user-friendly software installer, an option to use a variant of the distribution that excludes any non-free software, and a new version of "Garfio", a system that enables easy building of Linux live CDs. This version of Tuquito deploys Linux kernel 2.6.16.10 with KDE 3.5.1 as its default desktop. For more information please read the release announcement (in Spanish). Download (MD5): Tuquito-2.0Beta-r3.iso (697MB).
Alan Baghumian has announced the beginning of public beta testing of the upcoming Parsix GNU/Linux 0.80: "Parsix GNU/Linux 0.80 BETA-1 is ready for public testing and bug report. Some key new features are: a new 100-pages Parsix GNOME 2.14 user's guide (Persian) and other updated documentation (Persian and English); kernel 2.6.16.14 with many patches including CK's performance patches and extra WLAN drivers, X.Org 7.0.20, GNOME 2.14.1, integrated GNOME power manager, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2, new look and feel using Ubuntulooks theme and Tangerine icon set; support for hibernation and suspend to RAM...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: parsix_080-beta1.iso (671MB, MD5).
Miklš®s Vajna has released the first preview of the new Frugalware Linux 0.5: "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.5pre1, the first technical preview of the upcoming 0.5 stable release for the i686 architecture. Updates: GNU C Library 2.4; GCC 4.1.0; KDE 3.5.2; more than 300 new packages. New features: created a new tool, called 'setup', to summarize the available configuration tools; localized the package manager (currently German and Hungarian language support available); added Brazilian Portuguese and Indonesian translation to the setup." Read the full release announcement on the project's news page. Download (SHA1): frugalware-0.5pre1-i686-cd1.iso (476MB), frugalware-0.5pre1-i686-cd2.iso (651MB).
Sergei Mozhaisky has announced the availability of the second release candidate of Frenzy 1.0, a live CD based on FreeBSD 6.1: "Frenzy 1.0-RC2 have been released. Improvements since RC1: install2hdd - select language of installed system; nessus - added default Nessus user 'frenzy', password 'yznerf'; xautoconf - QEMU, support, handling DDC absence; addfrenzyuser renamed to addsshuser; Fluxbox menu generated at build stage, menu language depends on build type; auto-login may be disabled; devtree: tree view device list; frestore - restore backup from specified file; servconf - service setup (sshd, ftpd, httpd); gnotepad+ replaced with leafpad." Read the rest of the release notes for further details and download links. Get the English edition from here: frenzy-1.0-RC2-std-EN.iso (192MB, MD5).
Zenwalk Linux 2.6 has been released: "A new stable Zenwalk release 2.6 is available as a CD-ROM ISO. More than 80 packages have been updated or added. The kernel is 2.6.16.16. Since the last release, we worked on the desktop look and feel, and also on Zenwalk specific system tools, like networkconfig, serviceconfig,and Zenwalk USB automount system. In our continuous search for the best applications for our GTK2-based platform, we have added WiFi Radar to handle WiFi roaming network profiles. The extra section provides optional add-on packages made specifically for your Zenwalk system, like the OpenOffice.org suite or KDE." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Download: zenwalk-2.6.iso (413MB, MD5).
Judd Vinet has announced the release of Arch Linux 0.7.2, a minor update to the Arch 0.7 series: "Arch Linux 0.7.2 (Gimmick) is now available for download. This time, we've provided three different ISO images for you to use: an FTP-only image (13MB), a Base-only image (145MB), and our full image that contains the entire Current repository (519MB)." Gimmick is the first official release to have the new modular X.Org 7.0 and GNOME 2.14, as well as KDE 3.5 available in a "stable" repository. Among other upgrades, it also includes the Linux kernel 2.6.16.16. Here is the brief release announcement. Download: arch-0.7.2.iso (518MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
The developers of BeleniX, a full-featured live CD based on OpenSolaris, have announced an updated release - version 0.4.3a: "BeleniX 0.4.3a with JDK 1.5 released! Another release of the live CD this month. The significant feature of this release is the inclusion of JDK 1.5 under the new Distributors License for Java (DLJ) as announced by Sun Microsystems on May 16th in JavaOne. However due to a licensing issue with a required SUN Studio C++ runtime library it is currently an installable bundle and does not execute off the live CD. This is expected to be resolved soon." Visit the distribution's home page to read the complete release announcement. Download: belenix0.4.3a.iso (698MB, MD5).
Barely three days after version 5.1.5, the SLAX project has announced the availability of SLAX 5.1.6: "A new version of SLAX is available. The main added feature is NTFS write support. The default behaviour didn't change, SLAX still mounts NTFS volumes read-only. But you can mount it manually with read-write support by using the command 'ntfsmount'. It allows you to safely edit all existing files on NTFS partitions. You can also create or delete files, this will either succeed or it will be refused. Please note that refusal to do an operation does not mean the volume will be corrupted. Actually it means just the opposite: it's a guarantee that your data is safe." See the latest SLAX changelog for further details. Download: slax-5.1.6.iso (192MB, MD5).
Jay Klepacs has announced the availability of aLinux 12.7, a distribution formerly known as Peanut Linux. The latest version of the multimedia-focused project comes with kernel 2.6.15, X.Org 7.0, KDE 3.5.2 with dbus and hal, and KOffice 1.5.0. Among the browsers, Mozilla has been replaced with SeaMonkey 1.0.1. aLinux 12.7 includes a number of communication and file sharing utilities (aMule P2P eDonkey, GNutella, Kopete, Ekiga, LinPhone), graphics manipulation programs (GIMP, KView, Kuickshow, GTKam, Camorama, TV-Time, xawtv, XPaint), and useful utilities (Firestarter, ClamAV, Bochs x86 emulator, GKrellM, HDBench). Please see the release notes for more details. aLinux 12.7 is available for download as a single DVD image: alinux.iso (771MB, MD5).
Iuri Stanchev has announced a new release of NetSecl, a Slackware-based security distribution formerly known as ISlack: "NetSecL 1.3 is out. There are some important security improvements since ISlack 1.2. There are two 'paranoia' kernels 2.6.x and 2.4.x; they are very restrictive so please be careful - it is advisable to use them as second kernels. PaX kernels are on CD 2; don't use the kernels from the 'bootme' directory on CD 1 as a second kernel. Some of the libraries were recompiled so they can not use the stack, X was also recompiled and became a little bigger." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information. Download: netsecl-1.3-cd1.iso (542MB, MD5) and netsecl-1.3-cd2.iso (582MB, MD5).
Yuichiro Nakada has announced the release of Berry Linux 0.70, the first Fedora-based live CD with integrated ATI and NVIDIA graphics drivers, Xgl graphics subsystem and Compiz compositing manager (available as an option in the GRUB boot menu). From the changelog: "Berry Linux 0.70 released. Kernel 2.6.16.16 SMP + ndev/udev + bootsplash; KDE 3.5.2 (Fedora Core 5 stable); Xgl and X.Org 7.0 + Bold patch; GIMP 2.2.11; Firefox 1.5.0.3 and Thunderbird 1.5.0.2; WINE 0.9.13." Besides all the package updates, the new release also features a stunning new wallpaper. Download from here: berry-0.70.iso (508MB, MD5). Although defaulting to Japanese, Berry Linux also supports English as an option in the initial boot menu.
Eddy Nigg has announced the second release candidate of StartCom Multimedia Edition 5.0.5: "With more than 200 updated and added software packages, the second release candidate of the new MultiMedia Edition ML-5.0.5 is on its way to the download mirrors. For RC2, the DVD image for the i386 architecture can now be burned using regular DVD devices. The x86_64 architecture requires a double layered DVD or an installation via network or hard drive. We added more supported file systems to the kernel (namely SMB and NTFS), easier printing of multiple images, and kino (video editing)." Read the full release announcement for further information. Download (MD5): Kessem-i386-rc2-DVD.iso (4,326MB) or Kessem-x86_64-rc2-DVD.iso (5,102MB).
A new version of SLAX has been released: "I'm happy to let you know that a new SLAX release is ready. This time you can use some cool new features. Added 'noload' cheatcode to disable loading of any specified modules. This affects all modules on the SLAX CD, including /base and /modules, so using 'noload=*kde*' will disable loading of all modules with 'kde' in the name. It's useful with copy2ram cheatcode, because any unused module is not copied to RAM. Added 'ramsize' cheatcode to specify maximum memory for SLAX to store changes, downloaded files, etc." Read the rest of the changelog for a detailed list of new features and changes. Download (MD5) from here: slax-5.1.5.iso (192MB).
With the main development of Puppy Linux now concentrating on the upcoming version 2.0, the distribution's community has released an updated version of the Puppy 1.x series. What's new? "Firefox 1.5.0.3 browser with Puppy bookmarks and start page; XDG dynamically generated menus, portable for use in multiple window managers and ready for internationalisation; Geany 0.5 text editor as a replacement for Beaver; Transmission 0.5 BitTorrent client; new graphical background setter; Leafpad 0.8.9; Sylpheed 2.2.4; improved trash utility; JWM 1.7 with Blinky 0.8 and miniXcal 1.1; improved integration of ROX2.4.1 as an optional package...." Read the release announcement for a complete list of major changes and download links. Download: puppy109CE.iso (62.1MB).
Ryan Quinn has announced a new beta release of Symphony OS 2006-05: "The Symphony OS Project has officially released Symphony OS 2006-05 BETA, the first official beta release and first release in nearly six months. 2006-05 BETA includes many of the improvements and bug fixes included in the limited release 122 from late 2005 along with: OneClick software installation system - a simple tool which can be used free of charge to install software from the OneClick software store; Debian 'testing' base system; Linux-Live - Symphony OS 2006-05 BETA is shipped as a live CD with a hard drive installer...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: symphonyos-2006-05.iso (685MB, MD5).
StressLinux is a minimalist live CD distribution dedicated to users who want to test their systems on high load and monitor the health of these systems. A new release candidate was made available yesterday: "Stresslinux 0.3.1rc4 is released and comes with kernel 2.6.16.16 and updated versions of lm_sensors, lshw, busybox, stress, hddtemp. Sensors configurations files for some newer Tyan mainboards (S2676, S2865, S2891, S2892, S5112, S5151, S5360) were added to sl-wizard. This is the last RC before the final release." Visit the distribution's home page to read the release announcement. Download: stresslinux-0.3.1rc4.iso.bz2 (30.4MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
A new stable version of LG3D LiveCD, a SLAX-based distribution showcasing the 3D-enabled Looking Glass desktop, has been released: "LG3D-LiveCD 2.5 available. There have been some great changes to the choice of included software: LG3D LiveCD uses now LG3D version 0.8.0 RC1, Java 6, Java3D 1.5.0 and JAI 1.1.3. This sounds pretty unstable and 'testing-only', however it seems to be quite stable. Version 2.5 is the first LG3D LiveCD released in two flavours: The 'full' edition available right now includes OpenOffice.org, GIMP, Quanta+, and other often requested software, while the 'lite' edition (available in the next few days) will only contain the SLAX Popcorn selection." Read the full release announcement on the LG3D LiveCD project page. Download: lg3d-livecd-2.5-full.iso (456MB, MD5).
Celebrating the project's third birthday, the first release candidate for the upcoming GeeXboX 1.0 has been released: "We've actually planned to make this day the special moment of the 1.0 major release, but unfortunately you'll have to wait a couple of days more to discover the 1.0 final version. The reason is quite simple. First, we aimed at featuring MPlayer 1.0pre8 which is not yet out, and second, we still have a couple of things to be tested out and fixed in order to provide you with a better version of GeeXboX." Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. Download the i386 or PowerPC edition from here: geexbox-1.0-rc1-en.i386.iso (6.8MB) or geexbox-1.0-rc1-en.ppc.iso (11.6MB). GeeXboX is a tiny Linux-based media player using MPlayer.
Ken Smith has announced the release of FreeBSD 5.5-RC1, the latest development build of the project's legacy stable series: "FreeBSD 5.5-RC1 is now available for testing. Things had been going well with the 5.5 BETAs up to the point we suspended making them so we could focus on the balance of the 6.1 release so we think 5.5 is pretty much ready to go. Unless big problems are reported with this RC we will start the 5.5 release builds this coming weekend and do the release early next week." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download the i386 ISO image from here (MD5): 5.5-RC1-i386-disc1.iso (511MB) and 5.5-RC1-i386-disc2.iso (415MB).
According to this blog entry by Warly, the ISO images of Mandriva One 2006 have been released to public mirrors: "Push Mandriva One final ISO on public FTP mirrors. They include all the updates and the latest kernel 2.6.12." Originally announced on March 16 and made available to Club members only, Mandriva One 2006 is a combined live and installation CD for Mandriva Linux 2006, containing key applications for office, Internet and multimedia use. The ISO images of the new product are now available for public download from a number of FTP and HTTP mirrors around the world and also via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the ISO image containing English and most Western European languages: Mandriva-One-Americas-Western-Europe-2006-CD.iso (659MB, MD5).
GParted LiveCD has been updated to version 0.2.5. What's new? "Added support for shrinking HFS and HFS+ file systems; added support for copying HFS+ and Reiser4 file systems; renamed menu item 'filesystems' to 'Features' to avoid future confusion; only allow growing of a copy if there is grow support for the copied file system; creating a new partition on a BSD partition table failed, causing a segmentation fault when setting the partition type - fixed." Read the rest of the changelog for more information. Download: gparted-livecd-0.2.5.iso (31.4MB).
Damn Small Linux 2.4 has been released. From the changelog: "64 cloops for UCI extensions; user-less UCI now fully supported; added Tiny C compiler, tcc; added rsync; added Lua cgi library, cgi.lua with sample test.html / test.lua; new updated Ted wordprocessor with help from Ted's author; new updated Ndiswrapper 1.14.; improved dmix and sound features, dual channel and save settings; improved man program - now uses Netrik text browser for display; adjustment in .xinitrc to better support foreign language keyboards; more clean-up for space savings to accommodate upgraded software." Download: dsl-2.4.iso (49.2MB, MD5).
The second release candidate of gnuLinEx 2006 is available for testing. The new release comes with a newly added support for nForce chipsets, ATI Radeon X700 video cards, and graphics cards with more than 128 MB or memory. Compatibility problems with documents created in OpenOffice.org 1.1 and 2.0 have been fixed, while support for iptables in the kernel has also been corrected. Among the major new additions are the replacement of 'aptzilla' with 'aptlinex', menu entries for easy download installation of wireless drivers, Acrobat reader and Macromedia Flash plugin, and a complete set of Spanish dictionaries for OpenOffice.org. Please refer to the release announcement (in Spanish) for further details. Download: linex2006-rc2.iso (690MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of the FreeBSD-based Frenzy has been released, this time with support for English and other languages. Some of the more interesting features include: "Base system - FreeBSD 6.1-RELEASE; improved boot loader with different boot options; selection of system language; setting of RAM disk size; possibility of booting from compressed image on hard disk; different hard disk interaction modes; configuration center (frconf) with modules for setting up console, swap file, LAN, dial-up, VPN and ADSL; hard disk installer (install2hdd); USB Flash installer (install2flash); new backup utilities (frbk-create and frbk-restore), stress-testing utility (stresstest); brand new look." Read the release notes for a detailed list of all features and changes. Download: frenzy-1.0-RC1-std-EN.iso (192MB, MD5).
The RR4/RR64 Linux project has released a new edition of the Gentoo-based distribution for AMD64 processors. Called "miniEdition", this new live CD maintains many of the most interesting features of the full-blown RR64 Linux DVD, but keeps its size down to under 700 MB. From the release announcement: "RR64 Linux 3.0 RC1 miniEdition is the CD release of the latest RR64 Linux. The creation of this special version has been made by an automatic script that has shrunk down the whole chroot jail by removing every duplicated, useless or server-oriented package." Find a complete list of most important features in the release announcement. Download from here: RR64-Linux-3.0.RC1-miniEdition.iso (698MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
A new release candidate of KANOTIX 2006 is now available for download and testing: "Kano has released KANOTIX Easter Edition RC4. The update is available as ISO and as xdelta patches 3 and 4 for Easter Preview RC2. Highlights are: kernel 2.6.16.16; KANOTIX has a patched GRUB configuration that will probably boot of Intel Macs; ISDN works again; NVIDIA drivers are installable in live mode. Known bugs: new artwork isn't finished yet." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Interested beta testers can download the latest KANOTIX CD image from here: KANOTIX-2006-Easter-RC4.iso (670MB, MD5).
The third beta release of SimplyMEPIS 6.0 is out: "MEPIS has released beta3 of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. New in this release, CPU speed management is enabled automatically. Suspend-to-RAM is known to work out-of-the-box with some HP and Lenovo laptops -- more testing is required. A Bluetooth mouse can be enabled from the command line, but the configuration user interface is not yet available. More file associations are pre-configured, especially for graphics. Firefox was tweaked to have print and download buttons in the main toolbar." Read the full press release for further information. Download: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-beta3_i386.iso (674MB, MD5).
Johnny Hughes has announced the release of the first ever CentOS live CD: "The CentOS Development team is pleased to announce the availability of the first CentOS 4 i386 Live CD. This CD is based on our CentOSPlus kernel and the CentOS 4.3 distribution. It can be used a workstation, with the following software: OpenOffice.org 1.1.2, Evolution 2.0.2, Firefox 1.5.0.2, GIMP 2.0.5; built in support for the NVIDIA and ATI proprietary drivers. It is also a great recovery / rescue tool containing the following: read / write access to XFS, JFS, ext3, ext2, NTFS, ReiserFS, LVM2 graphical tool, GNU Parted; QTParted; PartImage; smb4K graphical SMB tool; ClamAV for virus scanning; chkrootkit for finding potential root kits; MemTest86+ memory tester...." See the release announcement for more details. Download: CentOS-4.3-i386-LiveCD.iso (684MB, MD5).
Michael K. Johnson has announced the availability of an updated release of rPath Linux 1 for both i386 and x86_64 architectures: "Refreshed ISO images, release 1.0.2, have been made available for new installations of rPath Linux 1. These images include all updates through and including updates released on 8 May 2006. If you have already installed rPath Linux 1, you should update your current system using Conary rather than reinstall using the new images." Please refer to the release announcement for further information. Download (MD5, SHA1): rpath-1.0.2-x86-dvd1.iso (1,308MB) or rpath-1.0.2-x86_64-dvd1.iso (1,411MB).
The second release candidate of QiLinux 2.0 is ready for testing: "QiLinux 2.0rc2 is now available. This release fixes a few installation issues occurring on particular hardware configurations and provides support for the new Dual Core architecture. What's new: kernel update to 2.6.16.14 with desktop dual core support; fixed installation from external USB CDROM drive; fixed installation on secondary disks; ATI drivers update to 8.24.8; NVIDIA drivers update to 1.0-8756; fixed jack audio server configuration; added basic EFI support for installation on iMacs; automatic partitioning tool fixed; OpenOffice.org 2.0.2...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information. Download: QiLinux-free-2.0rc2-dvd1.i586.iso (4,164MB, MD5).
A new version of BeleniX, a live CD based on OpenSolaris, has been released: "A new release of the live CD is available. This is a major performance upgrade and has several fixes: upgraded to the OpenSolaris build 38; developed a new file sorting algorithm to process the DTrace output; changed the dependency of X server to wait for sshd to complete loading; disabled the check for udfs mounts during boot; updated the sort list to reflect initial files being loaded; fixed some installer bugs; a new GRUB boot option to boot with debug and verbose mode enabled; added digiKam, Kompose." Please visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. Download: belenix0.4.3.iso (691MB, MD5).
Following some eight months of testing, the openSUSE project has finally released the long-delayed and much-awaited SUSE Linux 10.1: "After lot of work and several delays, we proudly announce the availability of SUSE Linux 10.1. As usual, we ship all the latest open source packages available at the time. We want to give special mention to Xgl for 3D acceleration on the desktop, NetworkManager for getting painless WiFi access everywhere, the completely open source AppArmor 2.0, and the full integration of Xen 3 in YaST." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. At present only the 5-CD sets (and one add-on CD containing non-free software) for three architectures are available for download, with the installation DVD and live DVD expected a week from now. Here is a quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.1-GM-i386 (3,299MB). Have a lot of fun!
A new version of AliXe "Standard" edition has been released. AliXe is essentially a French edition of the popular SLAX live CD customised for use in French-speaking regions of Canada. The new version is based on the recently released SLAX 5.1.4, inclusive of the Linux kernel 2.6.16, KDE desktop 3.5.2, and KOffice productivity suite 1.5.0. It also supports the two most commonly used keyboard layouts in Quebec - "cf" and "multilingue". For more information about AliXe please visit the distribution's home page (in French). AliXe 0.06 "Standard" edition is available for download via BitTorrent: alixe06-STD.iso (247MB).
The AUSTRUMI mini live CD has been updated to version 1.2.0 - now with a surprise switch to Enlightenment 17 as its window manager. From the changelog: "Removed OpenBox and added Enlightenment; updated AbiWord, Bash, Firefox, Linphone, nmap, OpenSSH, OpenSSL, SDL, XMail; added d4x - downloader for X; added DECO - a visual interface for the UNIX operating system; removed e3, fbpanel, MySQL; updated kernel to 2.6.16.14." Visit the distribution's home page to read the complete list of changes. Download from here: austrumi-1.2.0.iso (49.5MB, MD5).
FreeBSD 6.1 has been released: "It is my great pleasure and privilege to announce the availability of FreeBSD 6.1-RELEASE. This release is the next step in the development of the 6.X branch, delivering several performance improvements, many bug fixes, and a few new features. These include: addition of a keyboard multiplexer - this allows USB and PS/2 keyboards to coexist without any special options at boot; many fixes for file system stability; automatic configuration for man Bluetooth devices, as well as automatic support for running WiFi access points; addition of drivers for new ethernet and SAS and SATA RAID controllers...." See the rest of the release announcement for full details. Download (i386, MD5): 6.1-RELEASE-i386-disc1.iso (505MB) and 6.1-RELEASE-i386-disc2.iso (574MB); also available via BitTorrent.
Oralux is a GNU/Linux distribution designed for blind or visually impaired people, using Emacspeak as its audio desktop. The project has announced the first development build of version 0.7: "Oralux 0.7 alpha is available. Oralux 0.7 alpha proposes three audio environments (Emacspeak, Yasr, Speakup), six languages (Brazilian Portuguese, English, French, German, Russian and Spanish), and Braille drivers (Brltty 3.7.2). Oralux 0.7 alpha is based on KNOPPIX 4.02 (kernel 2.6.12). Features: Emacspeak 23.0 by TV Raman plus patches by Igor B. Poretsky; Yasr 0.6.7 by Mike Gorse plus patches...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information. Download: Oralux_0.7_alpha.iso (496MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Connie Sieh has announced the release of Scientific Linux 4.3 for both the i386 and x86_64 architectures. This is the third update to the distribution which is built from source packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and enhanced with extra applications and features. Some of the enhancements include: APT, cluster suite, dropit, Global File System packages and its dependencies, IceWM 1.2.20, ksh, MP3 support in multimedia software, Ndiswrapper 1.5, OpenAFS, Performance Co-Pilot, and a number of other features and packages. For more details please read the complete release notes for i386 and x86_64 processors. The 4-CD set of Scientific Linux 4.3 can be downloaded either from the project's main FTP server or several mirrors worldwide.
Tollef Fog Heen has announced that the seventh alpha ("Flight") releases of Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Xubuntu 6.06 "Dapper Drake" are now ready for testing: "Flight 7, the latest alpha of Dapper Drake, is now available. Notable changes include: crashes in the Live CD installer have been fixed; file systems are now mounted in the right order, which fixes GRUB installation with a separate /boot partition; leading and trailing spaces in passwords now work properly." Read the full release announcement and visit the Dapper Flight 7 page for more details and download locations. Quick download links to the Ubuntu i386 live and installation CDs (MD5): dapper-live-i386.iso (619MB), dapper-install-i386.iso (679MB).
Marcus Moeller has announced the release of easys GNU/Linux 2.1, a Slackware-based distribution with KDE Light and formerly known as "pocketlinux": "Version 2.1 of easys GNU/Linux has been released. easys GNU/Linux 2.1 is based on Slackware 10.2 and comes with a complete GUI redesign. The new artwork is inspired by Everaldo's Crystal Clear style and has been ported to nearly every component of the environment. We also decided to replace some default applications as it seems they are more common in enterprise environments. OpenOffice.org is now the default office suite and GIMP is the preferred image manipulation program." Read the release announcement on the distribution's news page. Download: easys-2.1.iso (688MB, MD5).
Tomáš Matějíček has released a new stable version of the Slackware-based SLAX live CD: "After a week of testing, SLAX 5.1.4 is released. Official development and kernel modules are available too, feel free to check the modules section on the SLAX website. New features include: added KDE 3.5.2 and KOffice 1.5.0; added FUSE and SSHFS filesystems, this will probably replace webconfig in the future (or should we go for CODA filesystem?); autoexec boot argument now replaces '~' with space; added make_disk.bat to CD, a script to create USB bootable disk in Windows; upgraded many libraries from Slackware current...." Read the full changelog for more details. Download from here: slax-5.1.4.iso (192MB, MD5).
Michael Creel has announced the availability of a new version of ParallelKNOPPIX, a KNOPPIX-based live CD that allows setting up a cluster of machines for parallel processing. What's new? "05-05-2006: new version. OpenMPI 1.0.2; Octave 2.1.73; Povray-3.5 for use with PVM; significant changes to setup: auto-mounting of working directory on compute nodes as they boot, compute nodes can be added and removed on-the-fly; new cluster monitor based on KSysguard; tutorial updated, explains how to re-master." Please visit the project's home page to read the full changelog. Download: parallelknoppix-2006-05-05.iso (632MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
The first release candidate of gnuLinEx 2006 is now available. gnuLinEx is a Debian-based Spanish distribution developed by the regional government of Extremadura and widely used in government organisations and schools throughout the region. The new release is based on Debian "sarge", but includes many updated components, such as kernel 2.6.16, X.Org 6.9.0, GNOME 2.14.1, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2, Firefox 1.5 and other popular software. It also ads support for many modern hardware devices. Although labelled as "release candidate", this is practically the final version of gnuLinEx 2006. For more details please refer to the release announcement (in Spanish). Download: linex2006-rc1.iso (688MB); also available via BitTorrent.
The second beta of SimplyMEPIS 6.0 has been released. What's new? "Beta2 provides an updated 2.6.15.6 kernel based on Ubuntu kernel version 2.6.15. MEPIS founder Warren Woodford says: 'Starting with this release, we are providing a full set of commercial-grade MEPIS kernel packages for the 386, 686, and k7 flavors of i386.' Problems with CUPS recognizing all-in-one and parallel printers have been handled. The kernel and system configuration has been tested and verified with Oracle Database 10g Express Edition. Recently there have been important updates to Firefox, OpenOffice.org, KDE, HP printer support, X.Org, and the kernel." Read the rest of the press release for further information. Download: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-beta2_i386.iso (674MB, MD5).
The German Federal Office for Information Security has revealed a new version of ERPOSS, a Debian-based desktop distribution featuring industrial strength security and encryption technologies for potential deployment in government organisations. The main features of ERPOSS 4 include: availability of encrypted file systems; pre-configured personal firewall; DCC Linux kernel 2.6.12; KDE 3.3.2; KMail with integrated virus and spam protection, and pre-configured to send encrypted messages; Kontact groupware client for use with Kolab groupware server; Firefox, OpenOffice.org and many other open source applications. ERPOSS 4 was originally announced (in German) last month and formally released at this week's LinuxTag exhibition in Wiesbaden. It is available as a single DVD image from here: ERPOSS4s.iso (2,291MB, MD5).
Linux-EduCD is a KANOTIX-based Polish live DVD designed for use in educational and development environments. Version 0.6 was released yesterday with the following features: kernel 2.6.16.5 with extra patches and modules; updated hard disk installer, KDE 3.5.2 with KOffice 1.5.0; OpenOffice.org 2.0.2; specialist educational software (OpenDX, PyMOL, Rasmol, DrGeo, Kseg, KDEEdu...); multimedia applications (GIMP 2.2.10, Blender 2.41, amaroK, Kino); RadRails 6.2; Monodevelop, Eric and Gambas 1.0.15; Scribus 1.2.4 with Scribus templates. Read the full release announcement (in Polish) for more details. The new release of Linux-EduCD is available as a bootable DVD image: Linuxeducd_06_dvd.iso (1,336MB, MD5).
The ADIOS project has released a beta version of ADIOS Linux 5.0, a Fedora-based live CD enhanced with User Mode Linux and intrusion detection system: ADIOS 5.0c is live boot CD is only, a beta version based on Fedora Core 4.0, kernel 2.6.16, SELinux, SquashFS, Unionfs, KDE, IceWM, OpenOffice.org, Content Management Systems (phpMyAdmin, Drupal and Mambo) and User Mode Linux virtual machines with kernel 2.6.12 for LIDS and SELinux. This version has not been tested thoroughly and I have already discovered several minor problems relating to UML and Unionfs. Please report all problems to n.richter at qut.edu.au as soon as you find them, thanks." The release announcement. Download: adios-5.0c.iso (697MB, MD5).
Fabio Erculiani has announced the first release candidate of RR64 Linux 3.0, a 64-bit live DVD based on the unstable branch of Gentoo Linux. What's new? Greatly improved stability and functionality; kernel 2.6.16.11 and glibc 2.4; KDE 3.5.2, GNOME 2.14.0; Gstreamer 0.10.4 and amaroK 1.4 beta 3 (with iPod support); out of the box USB DVD boot support and hard disk installation support; GCC 4.0.x performance level; latest Xgl and Compiz from CVS for both GNOME and KDE; latest Proprietary drivers from ATI (8.24.8) and NVIDIA (8756); X.Org 7.0.1 and optimized Fontconfig for better font performance...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. The new release is available for download via BitTorrent: RR64-Linux-3.0.RC1 (2,710MB).
Xandros Corporation has announced the availability of Xandros Server, the company's inaugural release of a high-end server distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux: "Xandros becomes the first Linux platform to provide a 'Debian Enterprise' end-to-end desktop and server platform." The product ships with a number of interesting features, including graphical administration tools, groupware services by Scalix, integrated backup solution from BRU, Windows interoperability features, centralised user management, and streaming media software. For more details please read the press release, visit the product's features pages, and have a look at these screenshots. Xandros Server is available for purchase from the company's online store (US$450 per license).
Jaromil has announced the availability of a release candidate for dyne:bolic 2.0, an independently developed live CD designed for media production tasks: "The release candidate of dyne:II is out. In this 2.0 version there is a lot more than 1.0, it will take a while for me to write complete documentation about all the features, but let's go on and see what happens. In particular this release solves all problems with nesting, Unionfs for writable /usr, PCMCIA automatic recognition and... runs on Apple's new Intel based machines (docking and booting from CD with bootcamp). It also includes automatic privoxy + tor anonymous web-browsing setup by just including 'tor' in the 'daemons' boot option. This is a developer's preview, expect the final to be out next days." Find more information in the release announcement. Download: dyneII-2.0-rc.iso (574MB, MD5).
The B2D Linux project has released an updated version of the distribution's "PureKGB" edition. The most important changes in this release include: replacement of dev and hal with udev to automate loading of external storage devices; GNOME Volume Manager is no longer started by default; new addition of Ndiswrapper and Oxim - an input method for traditional Chinese; inclusion of OpenOffice.org 2.0.2 enhanced Chinese edition to "Klik" for easy download and installation; various other bug fixes and small updates. For more details and screenshots please see the release announcement (in Chinese). Download: B2DpureKGB20060502.iso (675MB, MD5). Be warned that the B2D Linux distribution supports traditional Chinese only.
EnGarde Secure Linux has been updated to version 3.0.6: "Guardian Digital is happy to announce the release of EnGarde Secure Community 3.0.6. This release includes several bug fixes and feature enhancements to the Guardian Digital WebTool and the SELinux policy, several updated packages, and a couple of new packages available for installation. New features include: source packages are now available via the Guardian Digital Secure Network using APT; three new SELinux booleans; the latest stable versions of MySQL (5.0.20a), GnuPG (1.4.3), PHP (5.1.2)...." The full release announcement. Download: engarde-community-3.0.6.i686.iso (626MB, MD5) or engarde-community-3.0.6.x86_64.iso (615MB, MD5).
Scott Long has announced the second release candidate of FreeBSD 6.1: "FreeBSD 6.1-RC2 is available for download. This is the last RC before the release. Please test it to make sure that there have been no regressions since the last RC, and to make sure that it there are no new problems with installation. Other than a few cosmetic tweaks, there will be no more changes before 6.1. The list of known issues: using UFS snapshots and quotas at the same time can cause system lockups; under rare and heavily loaded circumstances, there is a possibility to leak PTYs...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download (i386, MD5): 6.1-RC2-i386-disc1.iso (505MB), 6.1-RC2-i386-disc2.iso (575MB).
The first release candidate of the new DSL-N (or Damn Small Linux Not) 0.1 is ready for testing. From the changelog: "Added missing triangles in Fluxbox menu; fixed missing buttons in emelfm; fixed bug in mydsl-load for .dsl extensions; new boot logo screen; address the printing issues; check to see that CUPS is started when selecting the Printer Setup button; prompt to persist printer setup by automatically adding CUPS related files to the backup control file; the Fluxbox menu was slightly adjusted; updated .mplayer and .naim in the home directory...." Interested beta testers can download the new release from here: dsl-n-0.1RC1.iso (83.5MB, MD5).
Frenzy is a small FreeBSD-based live CD with a good collection of security and penetration testing tools. After several months of delays and fundraising, the project has now announced the first beta release of the upcoming version 1.0. The new Frenzy is based on a pre-release version of FreeBSD 6.1, includes an improved hard disk installer, language options, an option to load the entire system into RAM disk, various methods to monitor disk activity, several new configuration tools, a new backup mechanism, an installer for USB storage devices, a stress testing utility, and many other updates. More details can be found in the release notes (in Russian). Download: frenzy-1.0-BETA1-std-RU.iso (186MB, MD5). This beta release supports the Russian language only.
John Morris has announced the release of White Box Enterprise Linux 4 Respin 1, the first update to version 4 of the distribution re-built from source RPM packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux: "White Box Enterprise Linux 4 Respin 1 is now available via both BitTorrent and FTP/HTTP. As with the original release, both i386 and x86_64 platforms are supported. This release catches up all errata through April 28. Other than errata, the only significant change is the start of renaming Firefox to IceWeasel. This is in response to a conversation last year with the legal contact at the Mozilla Foundation." Here is the full release announcement. The 4-CD image sets for both i386 and x86_64 architectures are available for download from a number of FTP and HTTP mirrors.
A new version of SystemRescueCd is out: "Version 0.2.19 of the SystemRescueCd project has been released. Changes for version 0.2.19: updated the kernel to Linux 2.6.16.10; option to boot SystemRescueCd from hard disk; fixed boot problems with SCSI CD-ROMs; fixed problems with cdcache; updated ntfsprogs to 1.13.0; updated Oscar scripts; updated the manual; added rsnapshot." Here is the complete changelog. Download (MD5): systemrescuecd-x86-0.2.19.iso (121MB). SystemRescueCd is a Linux operating system on a bootable CD-ROM designed for repairing a system and recovering data after a system crash, and also for creating and editing hard disk partitions in an intuitive graphical environment with QTParted.
Eddy Nigg has announced the availability of the first release candidate of StartCom MultiMedia Linux 5.0.5: "Here it is! The first release candidate of the new StartCom MultiMedia Edition ML-5.0.5 (Kessem) is ready for download and testing. The biggest and most complete Linux workstation so far!" Read the rest of the release announcement for all the glory details. The new version, based on Fedora Core 5, but inclusive of a large number of additional software applications for multimedia, is available for the i386 and x86_64 architectures either as a complete DVD image or as a small boot CD for network installation. Get the DVD images from here (MD5): Kessem-i386-rc1-DVD.iso (4,634MB), Kessem-x86_64-rc1-DVD.iso (5,077MB).
OpenBSD 3.9 has been released: "We are pleased to announce the official release of OpenBSD 3.9. This is our 19th release on CD-ROM (and 18th via FTP). We remain proud of OpenBSD's record of eight years with only a single remote hole in the default install. As in our previous releases, 3.9 provides significant improvements, including new features, in nearly all areas of the system. Improved hardware support, including: some G5-based Apple Macintosh machines, including WX support; many more audio drivers in the macppc port; support for many system sensors...." Read the full release announcement and visit the OpenBSD 3.9 page to learn more. As usual, all OpenBSD releases are available either as small bootable images for network installation or as official CD sets from the project's online store (US$45). Here is a quick link to the i386 installation CD: cd39.iso (4.62MB, MD5).
Patrick Verner has announced the release of a new minor update to GParted LiveCD. From the changelog: "Updated to Linux kernel 2.6.16.11; updated to busybox 1.1.2, udev 091, gtkmm 2.8.5, glib 2.10.2, glibmm 2.10.1, pango 1.12.2, mdadm 1.12.0; added Xvesa 4.5.0, added xres2, depth2, and X server scripts to /bin for Xvesa; added better X config scripts in /etc/rc.d; added gvidm 0.8 to the Fluxbox menu; removed /etc/dialogrc to fall back to default colors; cleaned up boot dialog scripts to be more consistent; eject should now eject the proper CD-ROM drive." Download: gparted-livecd-0.2.4-3.iso (29.4MB, MD5).
The first stable version of PC-BSD, a user-friendly operating system based on FreeBSD, has been released: "PC-BSD software is pleased to announce the immediate availability of PC-BSD 1.0 for x86 based processors. This first 'non-beta' release of PC-BSD ushers in a new era of stability and simplicity for desktop operating systems based on UNIX. Powered by the latest FreeBSD 6.0 and integrated with KDE 3.5.2, PC-BSD provides a solid server base, while being user-friendly enough to run as a primary desktop system. Due to the nature of the UNIX operating system, PC-BSD provides a high degree of protection from the every growing threat of malware, spyware and viruses that plague other popular operating systems today." See the complete press release and changelog for more information. Download (MD5): PCBSD-1.0-x86-CD1.iso (683MB).
Jani Monoses has announced the second beta release of Xubuntu 6.06 "Dapper Drake": "The Ubuntu / Xubuntu teams are proud to present the second beta release of Xubuntu 6.06. New since Beta 1: the artwork is more consistent, and it is going to be further polished for the release; the Xarchiver archive manager is added; several new panel plugins are added (battery, weather, xkb, verve, etc.); the XFce core components are updated to 4.4beta1 or later snapshots to fix several bugs and to add new translations." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download (i386): xubuntu-6.06-beta2-live-i386.iso (650MB, MD5).
Bernhard Rosenkraenzer has announced the first alpha release of Ark Linux Live, a new live CD designed primarily for recovery and demonstration purposes: "The Ark Linux team is pleased to announce the release of a first version of Ark Linux Live, a Live CD edition of the Ark Linux operating system. Ark Linux Live is designed to be as close to the 'normal' version of Ark Linux as possible - and is built from the same source code. There are a couple of known problems with this CD image, most notably non-English languages do not work in non-KDE applications, and the kernel spews some [harmless but dangerous looking] error messages at boot-up." Find more information in the release announcement. Download: arklinux-live.iso (650MB), also available via BitTorrent.
Andreas Jaeger has announced the third release candidate of SUSE Linux 10.1: "I'm glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1, code name 'Agama Lizard' RC3. We have fixed the majority of bugs from RC2 and look forward to the gold master - if testing does not show serious problems. During the RC phase, we only provide delta ISOs of the media and update the factory tree as well. Note that the factory tree is not synced out right now, it is two days old. It will be updated by tomorrow." See the release announcement for further details and download links. The delta ISO images to build SUSE Linux 10.1 RC3 from both RC1 and RC2 are available for download from a number of FTP/HTTP mirrors or via BitTorrent.
An unscheduled second beta releases Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu are now available for testing: "The Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu teams are proud to present a second beta release of Ubuntu / Kubuntu / Edubuntu 6.06 LTS, codenamed 'Dapper Drake'. This release corrects some serious flaws in the installer present on the Desktop CD in the first beta release. Although the text-mode install CD also forms part of this release, it has not been modified since Beta 1." See the full release announcement for a list of changes and download mirrors. Quick download links to the i386 live CDs (MD5): ubuntu-6.06-beta2-live-i386.iso (619MB), kubuntu-6.06-beta2-live-i386.iso (658MB), edubuntu-6.06-beta2-live-i386.iso (698MB).
Warren Woodford has announced the first beta release of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. From the press release: "SimplyMEPIS strives to provide complete multimedia support out-of-the-box. Based on user feedback, xawtv has been replaced by tvtime. Browser plug-in links for Macromedia Flash and Sun Java have been repaired and improved. Media notification popups have been limited to pluggable media in an effort to improve cooperation between udev and KDE. SimplyMEPIS 6.0 is a new concept in desktop Linux, combining the user enabling Magic of MEPIS(TM) with the solid engineering Goodness of Ubuntu(TM). It is scheduled for final release around June 1, 2006. Beta2 is planned for approximately May 3." Download the latest development product from here: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-beta1_i386.iso (674MB, MD5).
Gordon Rowell has announced the availability of the second release candidate of SME Server 7.0. What's new? "Update to CentOS 4.3 base; installer built with i686 kernel, in order to install on i586 machines you will need to do the following: press shift while booting to get the boot menu or type 'smei586' at the boot prompt; new system consistency audit scripts installed; bug fixes - see the bug tracker. It will also be made available for yum updates, but beware - the update is large due to the change to the CentOS 4.3 base." Here is the complete release announcement. Download: smeserver-7.0rc2.iso (665MB, MD5).
The Litrix project, which develops a Linux live CD based on Gentoo Linux, has released Litrix Linux 6.4. This is a start of a new series based on Gentoo 2006 and developed during the past seven months. The new release includes support for MMX and 3DNow!, offering a major performance boost to multimedia applications. This is further enhanced by the addition of new KDE-based multimedia applications, such as amaroK with its excellent archive organising abilities and intuitive playlist features, and Kaffeine, which offers playback of both audio and video files. For more information please see the full release announcement (in Portuguese). Download the zipped ISO image from here: litrix-6.4.iso.zip (665MB).
The fifth maintenance release of Foresight Linux 0.9.4 is now available: "This is the fifth in a series of maintenance releases for Foresight Linux 0.9.4. These maintenance releases help you stay current and also ensure that new downloads include the latest stuff. To update to MR5, 'sudo conary updateall', it's that simple. There are new ISOs (both DVD and CD) and virtual machine images as well. Updates: Conary 1.0.13, Firefox 1.5.0.2, Beagle 0.2.5, Galago 0.5.0, AbiWord 2.4.4, Linux kernel 2.6.16.11. Added: Alacarte 0.9 (menu editor), GIMP 2.3.8, Inkscape 0.42, XaraLX 0.4r828. Tweaks: VTE patched to support 256 colors." Read the full release announcement for more details. Download: foresight-0.9.4.mr5-x86-dvd1.iso (988MB).
The second release candidate of Damn Small Linux 2.4 is ready for testing. From the changelog: "64 cloops for UCI extensions; user-less UCI now fully supported; added Tiny C Compiler, tcc; added rsync; added Lua cgi library, cgi.lua with sample test.html / test.lua; new updated Ted word processor with help from Ted's author; new updated Ndiswrapper v1.14 (latest stable); improved dmix and sound features, dual channel and save settings; adjustment in .xinitrc to better support foreign language keyboards; more clean-up for space savings to accommodate upgraded software." Download from here: dsl-2.4RC2.iso (49.1MB, MD5).
The Media edition of Wolvix 1.0.4 has been released: "The final release of Wolvix Media Edition 1.0.4 is ready. There are not many changes since RC1, mostly application updates and I've added a few games. This release marks the end of the 1.0.4 series and I want to thank everyone who has given me feedback, suggestions and bug reports. Updated: gmusicbrowser, XChat, Firefox, Thunderbird, AbiWord, GIMP, Comix. Added: Thunar (file manager), MP3Creator (console CD ripper), networkconfig (configuration tool from Zenwalk), Kye (puzzle game), Freeciv (strategy game), Bygfoot (football manager game)." Read the full release announcement for full details. Download via BitTorrent: Wolvix_Media_Edition-1.0.4.iso (476MB, MD5).
MCNLive is a Mandriva-based live CD developed by MandrivaClub in the Netherlands. A new version, name "Leuven", has been released: "I am glad to announce a new version of MCNLive, code name Leuven. Some highlights: 2.6.14 kernel with updated Unionfs and SquashFS. Desktop environment: KDE 3.5.2. Office suite: KOffice 1.5, Open Document Format, Firefox 1.5.0.2, music, video and image applications with all common codecs, Internet and networking applications for all your needs. All this on less than 350 MB." Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. Download: MCNLive-Leuven.iso (332MB, MD5).
Linspire has announced the release of an updated ISO image for Linspire Five-0, version 5.1.147: "The engineers released Linspire Five-0 V2 today." Although this appears to be a minor update, several new features have been included in this release; most notable among them are: upgraded kernel 2.6.14; upgrade to X.Org 6.9.0; replacement of LTorrent with BitTorrent 4.4.0; addition of Gizmo, a free and easy-to-use Internet phone; a large number of new network tool features and supported Windows modems; upgrade to OpenOffice.org 2.0; many bug fixes. For more information and a detailed list of changes please see the release announcement and release notes. The new build of Linspire Five-0, which serves both as an installation and live CD, is available from the distribution's online store (US$49.95). Existing Linspire customers can download the new CD directly from My.Linspire.
Andreas Jaeger has announced the availability of the second release candidate for SUSE Linux 10.1, the 14th public test release since the beginning of the SUSE 10.1 development process in September 2005: "I'm glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename 'Agama Lizard' RC2. We have fixed the majority of bugs from RC1 and will release an RC3 next week." As has become customary, the release announcement contains no information about the changes in this release. Unlike all previous SUSE 10.1 development builds, full installation discs have not been provided this time; instead, testers will need to download ISO images for RC1, install RC1, then download delta images for RC2 and merge them with the 'applydeltaiso' command. For more information please refer to these installation instructions. The delta ISO images are available from these download mirrors and also via BitTorrent.
Completing the beta release feast of Ubuntu sub-projects is Edubuntu 6.06: "The Edubuntu team is happy to announce the release of Edubuntu 6.06 LTS Beta. Aside from the usual install CDs for all architectures, this release includes the Edubuntu live CD that comes with a new live installer to install the Edubuntu Workstation flavour directly to the disk. Edubuntu is a classroom distribution, shipping with a selection of educational applications and built around LTSP the linux terminal server project." Find a complete list of major changes and download links in the release announcement. The Edubuntu installation and live CD images for three architectures are available from the download directory; here is a quick link to the i386 live CD: edubuntu-6.06-beta-live-i386.iso (689MB, MD5).
The first beta of the all-new Bayanihan Linux 4, now based on Debian 'sarge', has been released: "Bayanihan Linux 4 Beta 1 is now available for download. Features: Debian-based; latest kernel; KDE 3.5.0; OpenOffice.org 2.0; more productivity tools; Internet ready; multimedia playback; CD/DVD burning capability; educational applications; image editing tools; improved support for removable devices (USB); easy to update and upgrade. Note: The beta release will only work on IDE based hard disks. The support for SATA and SCSI hard drives will be added in the final release of Bayanihan Linux 4." Here is the complete release announcement. Download: BayanihanLinux4-beta1.iso (689MB). Bayanihan Linux is a single-CD desktop-oriented distribution developed in the Philippines.
The third release candidate of VectorLinux 5.1 "Standard" Live CD has been released: "The VectorLinux team is proud to announce the release of the VL-5.1 standard RC3 Live CD. This version fixes bugs from RC2. We have added GParted for all of your GUI partitioning needs, and an icon for the Live CD installer. The Live CD installer icon is now on all of the root ROX desktops along with an icon for GParted. NVIDIA drivers should be auto-configured on boot-up, so all of you with NVIDIA cards be sure to test out their performance. Updates from 5.1 Standard include kernel 2.6.15.3, Firefox 1.5.0.2, Ndiswrapper 1.9, OpenOffice.org 2.0, udev 071, GParted 0.2.4, and its dependencies." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: VL-5.1-LIVE-RC3.iso (624MB, MD5).
Texstar has announced the first release of the "MiniME" edition of PCLinuxOS 0.93, a minimal and customisable desktop system with KDE: "PCLinuxOS 0.93 MiniME is available for download and testing. This release is for those who have been asking for a minimum live CD / hard disk install allowing for full personalization. This release includes 2.6.15-oci3 kernel, basic KDE 3.5.2 desktop (kdebase and kdelibs only), PCLOS Control Center, the Synaptic software installer and a customized X.Org server from Thac to provide additional 3D support for many graphic cards. Full version of PCLinuxOS 0.93 is currently being worked up and should be available soon." Here is the full release announcement with links to download mirrors. Get it from here: pclinuxos-p93-minime.iso (287MB, MD5).
Jani Monoses has announced the first public beta release of Xubuntu, the latest addition of the growing tree of Ubuntu derivatives: "We are pleased to announce that the first public beta release of Xubuntu, the latest official addition to the Ubuntu family of derivative distributions has arrived. Xubuntu is built around the solid Ubuntu core and the friendly and relatively light-weight XFce desktop environment, with the specific goal of providing a nice user experience even on older hardware. This release includes a recent code snapshot of the upcoming XFce 4.4 desktop environment." Find more details and changes in the release announcement. A full set of live and installation CDs for three architectures is available in the download directory; here is a quick link to the i386 live CD image: xubuntu-6.06-beta-live-i386.iso (378MB, MD5).
John Goerzen has announced a new release of Debian From Scratch, an unofficial Debian rescue CD that provides an easy way to build a complete Debian system directly from source code: "Debian From Scratch (DFS) is a single, full rescue CD capable of working with all major files systems, LVM, software RAID, and even compiling a new kernel. The DFS ISO images also contain a small Debian mirror subset that lets you use cdebootstrap, along with the other utilities on the CD, to perform a manual, 'Gentoo-like' installation. It also serves as an excellent rescue CD, with a full compliment of files system tools, backup and restore software, and a development environment complete enough to build your own kernels." More information can be found in the release announcement and on the project's features page. Download: dfs-0.99.0_i386.iso (614MB, MD5).
Jonathan Riddell has announced the beta release of Kubuntu 6.06: "Kubuntu 6.06 LTS Beta has been released, together with the Ubuntu beta. This release includes a preview of the new live installer on the Desktop CD. New in Kubuntu 6.06 LTS Beta: a new graphical installer is available on the live CD, allowing Kubuntu to be installed quickly and easily to your hard disk; faster system startup and login; a simplified package installer; an update notification from Adept in the system tray when new packages are available; X configuration tool in System Settings; the latest KDE 3.5.2...." For more information please see the release announcement and visit the Kubuntu Dapper Beta page. Download: kubuntu-6.06-beta-live-i386.iso (657MB, MD5). Torrent files, as well as live and installation CD images for three architectures are also available.
As expected, the beta release of Ubuntu 6.06 is now available for download and testing: "The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the Beta Release of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS - codenamed 'Dapper Drake'. The Beta Release introduces the new Desktop CD, which can be used both to try Ubuntu 'live' and to install the system. Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (long-term support) will be the first Ubuntu release to be supported for three years on the desktop, and five years on the server." For more information please see the release announcement and visit the Dapper Beta page. As always, the ISO images for three architectures can be obtained from the Ubuntu download servers; here is a quick link to the i386 live CD: ubuntu-6.06-beta-live-i386.iso (611MB, MD5).
The Damn Small Linux project has released the first development build of DSL-N (Damn Small Linux Not), an enhanced live CD based on Damn Small Linux, but not limited to 50MB in size. Besides the usual base applications found in Damn Small Linux, DSL-N also includes the Mozilla suite, MPlayer, AbiWord, Gnumeric, Leafpad, Gaim, CUPS and a number of other popular software packages. It is powered by kernel 2.6.11 with Unionfs support available as an optional boot parameter. DSL-N is not designed to replace Damn Small Linux; instead it is intended for different set of tasks or perhaps for a slightly more demanding user. For more detailed information please visit the DSL-N project page and read the initial release announcement. Download from here: dsl-n.a2.iso (83.2MB, MD5).
The CCux project has announced the first stable release of its desktop-oriented, i686-optimised Linux distribution: "We are proud to announce the new CCux Linux release. Some highlights of this release: kernel 2.6.16; KDE 3.5.2; RPM 4.4.2 and 'smart' package manager; Firefox 1.5.0.2 and Thunderbird 1.5; many installer bug fixes (uses QTParted now). We now finally use 'smart' as the package manager, even for the installation, all old usage of apt is gone! We really hope you like this new release and give it a try." Read the full release announcement for further information. Download: ccux-linux-0.9.8.iso (698MB, MD5).
DNALinux is a SLAX-based live CD with a collection of software for bioinformatics. Here is the latest release, version 0.592: "We have updated the DNALinux server. This version is based on SLAX 5.1.0 and Apache 2 web server. DNALinux server allows you to run a blast server (like NCBI BLAST server) in your own network. Some sequences are already included and it is easy to install more databases (provided that you feel comfortable with the Linux command line). But you don't need to know Linux to use it; just boot a networked PC with DNALinux server and point your browser to that machine, and you are set!" More details can be found in the release announcement. Download: server592.iso.bz2 (122MB).
A new stable version of the Slackware-based GoblinX live CD has been released: "GoblinX 1.3 is released. GoblinX 1.3 uses the same kernel from GoblinX Premium; it means you can use all extra drivers from the Premium edition on it. The new release has several improvements and upgrades, also some new special features are added, some errors and bugs are corrected, a new version of Linux-Live is used, and some scripts are upgraded. In comparison with Goblinx 1.2, this is a more stable and complete version, and almost all of the live CD was upgraded. GoblinX 1.3 uses kernel 2.6.15, NVIDIA and ATI 3D acceleration, KDE 3.5.1, X.Org 6.9.0 and more." Visit the project's news page to read the full release announcement. Download: GoblinX-1.3.iso (318MB, MD5).
The second alpha release of SimplyMEPIS 6.0 is out: "MEPIS founder Warren Woodford has announced the alpha2 release of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. Alpha2 primarily incorporates suggestions from the MEPIS user community and package updates. For example, the Utilities and Development menus have been reorganized. To reduce the clutter in SystemSettings, the input device configurations have been placed in a submenu. Bluetooth has been disabled by default, since it causes problems on some machines that do not support bluetooth. A mouse initialization bug only seen when running from CD with some Toshiba laptops has been worked around." Please refer to the press release for further details. Download: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-alpha2_i386.iso (675MB, MD5).
The Scientific Linux project, which rebuilds source packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) into a complete RHEL clone, has released a live CD/DVD edition of their latest version for the i386 and x86_64 architectures: "The Scientific Linux Live CD/DVD is a bootable CD/DVD that runs Linux directly from CD/DVD without installing. It is based on Scientific Linux 4 It uses Unification File System (Unionfs), allowing read-only file system to behave as a writable one and SquashFS providing on-the-fly decompression that allows to store 2GB of software on a normal CD-ROM. The Live CD/DVD was built using modified scripts from Linux-Live." A mini live CD, a standard live CD and a full-blown live DVD are available for download; please see the release announcement for details and a list of download mirrors. Here is a quick link to the standard live CD for i386: livecd_SL42_2006-03-26.iso (695MB, MD5).
Martin Schulze has announced the release of a second revision of Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 "sarge": "This is the second update of Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 (codename 'sarge') which mainly adds security updates to the stable release, along with some corrections to serious problems. Those who frequently update from security.debian.org won't have to update many packages and most updates from security.debian.org are included in this update. Please note that this update does not produce a new version of Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 but only adds a few updated packages to it." Read the rest of the release announcement for a complete list of changes. The updated release is available from ftp.debian.org and many Debian mirrors around the world.
FreeNAS is a small FreeBSD-based operating system which provides free Network-Attached Storage (NAS) services. A new version 0.66, fixing bugs and adding minor new features, has been released. What's new? "Upgraded to FreeBSD 6.1 RC #12; added Broadcom NetXtreme II PCI/PCIe Gigabit Ethernet adapter driver; added FreeBSD version on the main page; added iSCSI diagnostic page (useful for displaying a list of target names); permit to mount more than 1 partition on the same hard drive; permit to use numbers in the login name; add CIFS buffer configuration option; added smartd daemon on the syslog settings page." For more details please refer to the release notes. Download: FreeNAS-0.66.iso (500MB, MD5).
A new, unstable version of Berry Linux, now based on the recently released Fedora Core 5, is available for download. The main components of the popular desktop-oriented live CD with excellent hardware detection are kernel 2.6.16.7, glibc 2.4 and GCC 4.1.0, with X.Org now updated to version 7.0 (with Bold patch) and the KDE desktop to 3.5.1 from Fedora 5 stable. Other interesting packages include Unionfs 1.1.4, Ndiswrapper 1.13, InitNG 0.6.0, Digikam 0.8.1, Firefox 1.5.0.2 (both Japanese and English editions), and Wine 0.9.11. See the full changelog and package list for further details. Download Berry Linux 0.69 from here: berry-0.69.iso (500MB, MD5).
Arabian Linux 0.6 has been released: "After 4 months without working on Arabian Linux, I'm happy to announce today the final release of version 0.6. There are no big changes between RC1 and this release, a number bug fixes and the Arabic spell checker has been added to OpenOffice.org and aspell. Arabian Linux is a bootable CD with a compilation of GNU/Linux software, full support for Arabic and English languages, and automatic hardware detection. It's the first Arabic live distribution using KDE as the default GUI and the first to have the Arabic language enabled in consoles." For more information please read the release announcement (in Arabic) and visit the project's Wiki pages. Download: arabian-0.6.iso (678MB, MD5).
StartCom Enterprise Linux 3.0.5 has been released. This is the latest in the series of updated releases based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3. What's new? "StartCom made a strategic switch concerning the update mechanism and all current and future operating systems will receive their updates via the new YUM. Other changes and additions for AS-3.0.5 are full support for smart cards from the OpenSC project, addition of Firefox and Thunderbird (both 1.5 versions) with the natural support for the StartCom Free SSL Certification Authority, but also some 300 other updated packages." Read the rest of the press release for further details. The ISO image sets can be obtained from the project's download mirrors.
The first development release of LG3D LiveCD 2.4, a SLAX-based distribution showcasing Sun Microsystem's Project Looking Glass, is now available for testing: "LG3D LiveCD 2.4-test1 available. Note: Release 2.4-test1 is - as the name says - only a testing release. Please file bug-reports to christian.ost at gmail.com. Most probably NVIDIA cards will cause problems, but I have currently no machine with a NVIDIA video card available for testing. LG3D LiveCD 2.4-test1 is based on SLAX 5.1.0 Popcorn Edition and contains a self-compiled CVS build of LG3D." The release announcement can be seen on the project's home page. Download: lg3d-livecd-2.4-test1.iso (633MB, MD5).
A second preview release of the KANOTIX live CD is ready for download and testing: "Kano has released a preview of [KANOTIX 2006] Easter Edition. All packages are current Debian 'sid' as of 2006-04-16 - happy Easter! Highlights are: kernel 2.6.16.5 + patches, X.Org 7.0.12, KDE 3.5.2, KOffice 1.5.0, Firefox 1.5, Thunderbird 1.5. All problems of current Debian 'sid' packages for X.Org 7.0.12 where fixed for this preview release. The new artwork is not ready and will be in a following release. The only known problem at the moment is ISDN not working with X.Org 7, a fix is in progress." Here is the complete release announcement. Download from here: KANOTIX-2006-Easter-RC2.iso (633MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
GParted LiveCD is a specialist distribution designed for the purpose of partitioning one's hard disk in an intuitive, graphical environment. Version 0.2.4-2 has been released with the following changes: "Fixed /bin/vidcard to show more info for the video card selections; fixed boot error message 'Cannot mount /dev/hdc on /mnt'. Device or resource busy'; the live CD now uses kernel modules; rebuilt X.Org 6.8.2 to be modular; rebuilt libusb 0.1.12; rebuilt ncurses 5.4 to save space; updated to Leafpad 0.8.9, udev 089, Fluxbox 0.9.15.1, Linux kernel 2.6.16.4, GTK+ 2.8.17; added module-init-tools 3.2.2, Synaptics 0.14.4; added support for Synaptics touchpads." Download: gparted-livecd-0.2.4-2.iso (29.0MB, MD5).
A new maintenance release of Foresight Linux 0.9.4, a cutting edge, desktop-oriented distribution based on rPath Linux, is available: "This is the fourth in a series of maintenance releases for Foresight Linux 0.9.4. These maintenance releases help you stay current and also ensure that new downloads include the latest stuff. To update to MR4, 'sudo conary updateall', it's that simple. There are new ISOs (both DVD and CD) and Virtual Machine images as well. Changes in MR4: GNOME 2.14.1, a lot of new versions, bug fixes." Please refer to the release announcement for further information. Download from here: foresight-0.9.4.mr4-x86-dvd1.iso (940MB).
Aurora SPARC Linux, one of the very few remaining community projects developing a Linux distribution for the SPARC architecture, has released a new stable version 2.0: "The Aurora SPARC Linux Project is proud to announce the release of Aurora SPARC Linux Build 2.0. The Aurora SPARC Project is an effort to support SPARC (32 and 64 bit) hardware on Linux. Specifically, we rebuild Fedora Core for SPARC. This release is a full tree of SPARC packages that match up pretty closely to Fedora Core 3. You can install it via CD/DVD or via network. This release is our first 'stable' release based on a 2.6 kernel." See the release announcement for full details and known issues. The ISO images are available for download from a number of mirrors worldwide; here is a quick link to the DVD image: aurora-2.0-sparc-DVD.iso (2,447MB, SHA1).
Asterisk@Home is a CentOS-based distribution that provides an easy way for the home user to set up a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Asterisk PBX (Private Branch Exchange). Version 2.8 is the latest version. Features: "based on CentOS 4.3; Asterisk 1.2.7.1; Flash operator panel 0.25; Festival speech engine version 1.96; weather cgi scripts; wake-up calls; integrated WebMeetMe graphical user interface; AMP 1.10.010; SugarCRM with Cisco XML services interface + click to dial; native music on hold; fax support (spanDSP); xPL support; Digium card auto-configuration; Open A2Billing." Find more details, including installation requirements and known issues, in the release notes. Download: asteriskathome-2.8.iso (526MB, MD5).
After nine beta releases, the first release candidate of SUSE Linux 10.1 is out: "I'm glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename 'Agama Lizard' RC1." The release announcement carries no further information about the changes in this release, but it does mention that a second release candidate will be released next week and distributed as delta ISO images. Among the major packages only Samba and SpamAssassin have been upgraded to newer versions, but KDE remains at version 3.5.1 and GNOME at 2.12. The 5-CD set for three architectures is available for download from SUSE mirrors or via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.1-RC1-i386 (3,274MB).
The first release candidate of FreeBSD 6.1 has been released: "The FreeBSD Release Engineering Team is pleased to announce the availability of FreeBSD 6.1-RC1. It is meant to be a refinement of the 6-STABLE, branch with few dramatic changes. A lot of bugfixes have been made, some drivers have been updated, and some areas have been tweaked for better performance, etc. but no large changes have been made to the basic architecture. This RC is late in coming due to many more bugs being fixed, as well as a keyboard multiplexer being added." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download (i386, MD5): 6.1-RC1-i386-disc1.iso (504MB) and 6.1-RC1-i386-disc2.iso (575MB).
A new version of Plamo Linux, a Slackware-based community distribution developed in Japan, was released last week. Version 4.2 is the first Plamo release that comes with the 2.6 kernel series (version 2.6.15.7) and includes the UNICON patch for Asian language support on the console. Other major changes include upgrade to glibc 2.3.6, switch to X.Org 6.8.2, addition of udev, and update to KDE 3.5.1 and GNOME 2.12.2. For more details please read the release announcement (in Japanese). Plamo Linux 4.2 comes on three CDs or one DVD; here is a quick link to the DVD image: plamo-4.2.dvd (1,754MB, MD5).
CentOS 3.7 has been released: "The CentOS development team is pleased to announce the availability of CentOS 3.7. Major changes in this version of CentOS include: Added Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) functionality to CentOS-3. IPMI is a standard for controlling intelligent devices that monitor a system. It provides for dynamic discovery of sensors in the system and the ability to monitor the sensors and be informed when the sensor's values change or go outside certain boundaries. To use IPMI, you need an interface to an IPMI controller in your system (called a Baseboard Management Controller, or BMC) and the IPMI software." More details can be found in the release announcement. As always, the CentOS 3.x series can be easily updated via yum or up2date, while complete ISO image sets are also available for download.
SLAMPPLite is a "lite" edition of SLAMPP, an instant home server running from a live CD. Version 2.0 has been released: "I'm happy to announce you all the new release of SLAMPPLite. Here are some changes that have been made with this release: updated and upgraded existing applications included in previous SLAMPPLite live CD; powered by XAMPP 1.5.1 and now it exists as module; based on Slackware current; used Linux kernel 2.6.16; compiled with Linux Live scripts 5.4.1; added NASLite file server applications of Server Elements for SMB, FTP and NFS; added AbiWord 2.4.1...." Read the full release announcement for additional information. Download: slampp-lite-2.0.iso (240MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of QiLinux 2.0 is out: "QiLinux 2.0rc1 is now available for download. We have spent more time to realize this release candidate to further improve stability and usability. A list of the most important changes follows: KDE 3.5.2, the new version of the KDE desktop environment; Linux kernel 2.6.16.1; new 'supernova' theme for QiLinux 2.0; improvement in the graphical installation; better support for SCSI and SATA disks during installation; QiLinux can now be installed on VMware virtual machines; fixed all bugs reported by beta testers." Find more details in the release announcement. Download: QiLinux-free-2.0rc1-dvd.i586.iso (4,152MB, MD5).
The first alpha of the new Ubuntu-based SimplyMEPIS 6.0 has been released for public download and testing: "MEPIS has announced the alpha1 release of SimplyMEPIS 6.0. Alpha1 builds on the 6.0-experimental1 release. The KControl system configuration shell has been replaced with the SystemSettings shell from the Ubuntu Project. The panel has been modified in response to suggestions recently solicited from the MEPIS user community. Some of the Kmenus have been rearranged to take advantage of metadata embedded in the kde shortcut files. OnTheGo reliability has been enhanced by a delay on logout to prevent disk sync problems and an automatic fsck on login." Read the rest of the press release for further details. Download: SimplyMEPIS_6.0-alpha1_i386.iso (674MB, MD5).
A new version of grml, a Debian-based live CD designed for users of text tools and system administrators, has been released. What's new? "bt-audio: script to connect bluetooth headset to computer; get_tw_cli: get 3ware RAID controller command line interface tool; event-viewer: program to see all fork, exec, exit, uid and gid events on a running system; VMware: disable USB and Firewire detection during boot process, load some SCSI-modules instead ; check for given MBR option and prompt for activating it if not set; changed initrd and initramfs generator from yaird to initramfs: now booting via firewire is also possible...." More details can be found in the release announcement. Download: grml_0.7.iso (699MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
The OpenSolaris-based BeleniX live CD has been updated to version 0.4.2. What's new? "This is primarily a bug-fix release with a few software upgrades and boot time improvements. The details: the BeleniX FAQ is now online at the Genunix WIKI; fixed the locale issue in BeleniX's X.Org 6.9.0 build; modified OpenMotif to be more compatible with Solaris motif; included libusb and libusbugen from the recently released SFW consolidation source code; fixed some issues with the 'startkde' and 'startxfce' scripts; included SVR4 packaging tools (as in Solaris) so commands like 'pkgadd' and 'pkgrm' work; included a modified 'pkg-get' script...." See the remainder of the release announcement on the project's home page. Download: belenix0.4.2.iso (678MB, MD5).
CRUX 2.2 final has been released: "We are happy to announce that after a long time in development, CRUX 2.2 is finally released. The highlights of this release include udev support out of the box, GCC 4.0.3, glibc 2.3.6 and X11R6.9. For more information, have a look at the release notes. We are also sad to report that Per Lidén, the creator of CRUX, has retired from the project because of personal reasons. CRUX will, however, live on as a team effort developed by the former CLC (CRUX Linux Community) team. We wish Per good luck in his future endeavours and thank him for providing a stable base for us to improve on." Read the brief release announcement on the project's home page. CRUX 2.2, a minimalist, i686-optimised distribution for power users, is available for free download via BitTorrent: crux-2.2 (230MB).
An interesting review on a modification of PCLinuxOS from tuxmachines just topped PCLinuxOnline: "Gaming in Linux is much easier than it once was... These last days it's become easier to game in Linux than in Windows. Now all that's required is booting a DVD. The SuperGamer-1 is a modification of the famous and well respected PCLinuxOS distribution optimised for gaming. It includes 3d acceleration drivers, the underlying pclos system, and several nice games (or demos)." Read the full review with dozens of screenshots. There is an active thread on the PCLinuxOS Forum for discussions, questions, or requests.
The Debian Project Leader Election 2006 is closed. From the mailing list: "The winner of the election is Anthony Towns. I would like to thank all the candidates for their service to the project, for standing for the post of project leader, and for offering the developers a strong and viable group of candidates. Finally, I would like to congratulate Anthony Towns, the Project Leader-elect, for his success." The details of the results shall be soon up at http://vote.debian.org/2006/vote_002. In the interim, the results are also temporarily visible.
The first Professional edition of FoX Desktop Linux, a Fedora-based desktop-oriented distribution, is now freely available. Main characteristics and novelties introduced: "Desktop enhancements; structure based on patches for Fedora Core 4; all the bugs of the version Lite have been corrected; GNOME now present; introduced new technology of Fedora CORE 5; new management of the dynamic frequency for the processor; FoXPowerUP and Control Centre strengthened and corrected; introduced new software channels; possibility to use the CD/DVD with smart; introduced all the languages for KDE and other programs; speed further increased." See the complete release notes for additional information. The package list can also be checked here. Download: foxdesktop-1.0-professional.iso (3093MB, MD5). Also available via BitTorrent.
After over half a year of work on their first 2.6.x kernel based ISO series, the developers of the source-based Lunar Linux released their 1.6.0-i686 Installer ISO, codename "Indium Antimonide", to the public: "This is a major step forward from the 1.5.x series releases, adding a lot of features to Lunar-Linux installs, such as SELINUX, NPTL threads, udev, and more 2.6-kernel related improvements to the Linux OS. This release also adds the user-friendly installer and refines it greatly. It adds better hardware recognition and module loading options, an easier way to setup compilers against kernel sources and headers, and easier compiler optimisation management with a completely pluggable package management tool. The installer is now also capable of installing and initialising software RAID." Read the complete release announcement. Download: lunar-1.6.0-i686.iso.bz2 (254MB, MD5). Also available via BitTorrent.
The Kororaa project has released an installable Xgl Live CD 0.2, codename "blood, sweat and tears": "We have hacked our Kororaa Installer to work with this Xgl Live CD, so easy installation is now possible! This version also sports both Radeon and Intel DRI support, KDE 3.5.2, updated Gnome 2.14, Arch-CK 2.6.16 Kernel, SCSI support and more! There are many many new features for you, some of which are listed below. Please see the Kororaa installation manual for detailed instructions if you require a guide for the install process." Find more details on the project's home and download pages. The Kororaa Xgl live CD is available via BitTorrent: kororaa-xgl-livecd-0.2.iso (695MB, MD5).
RR4 Linux 3.0 Beta 0 XGL Edition is finally out: "RR4 Linux is the world's most complete GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo unstable. Flexibility, beauty, stability and extreme performance are all hallmarks of the RR4 experience. Welcome to a new tridimensional dimension. Main features: 2.6.16 Kernel (gentoo-sources-2.6.16-r1 with Reiser4 patches); Glibc 2.3.6 with performance patches; XGL and Compiz (0.0.7 - opacity plugin included) for both GNOME and KDE (boot with "gentoo xgl" or "smp xgl"); Latest proprietary drivers from ATI (8.23.7) and nVIDIA (8178); X.Org 7.0.1 with every input and video driver included..." Read the rest of the release announcement and check the 4-page notes for more details. Download via BitTorrent: RR4-Linux-3.0.b0-XGL.iso.bz2 (2577MB, MD5). An intriguing review on its 64-bit counterpart, RR64 Linux 3.0 Beta 1, is also recommended.
FreeNAS is a free NAS server based on FreeBSD. It supports CIFS (samba), FTP, NFS, RSYNC protocols, local user authentication, and software RAID. FreeNAS 0.65 is based on FreeBSD 6.1-PRERELEASE #10. New features in this release: "MS Windows Domain authentication; Apple File Protocol (AFP); Announce FreeNAS services with Zeroconf (howl); iSCSI initator (NOT TESTED)." Read the announcement and the full changelog on its home page and SourceForge. Download: FreeNAS-0.65.iso (29.1MB, MD5).
RAYS LX is the first commercial operating system in China that is based on Debian GNU/Linux and utilises Debian package management tools. Sun Wah Linux RAYS LX 1.5, which was just named as a Best Desktop Solution finalist for LinuxWorld Product Excellence Awards, is now publicly available. This release focuses on system stability and security, and features usability and easy of use. It is based on kernel 2.6.15 with security patches, OpenOffice.org 2.0, and GNOME 2.12. Find more details in the official release announcement (in Chinese). Download: RAYSLX-1.5-zidian-1-i386.iso (682MB, MD5) and RAYSLX-1.5-zidian-2-i386.iso (243MB, SHA1). RAYS LX 1.5 Beta users can also upgrade from the deb repository.
A new major release of the Slackware-based Zenwalk Linux is ready: "Our latest release sports a brand new 2.6.16.1 kernel, and the latest udev, which provides improved support for hotplugging devices - cleaning up the remains of the old hotplug system. Now that the transition to a full udev is complete, we were also able to remove the discover service. The changes were not limited to the base system though; with the 2.4, a series of updated packages will be released (nearly 130 packages)." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download: zenwalk-2.4.iso (420MB, MD5).
The second maintenance release in the 0.9.4 series of Foresight Desktop Linux is out: "These maintenance releases help you stay current and also ensure that new downloads include the latest stuff. To update to MR2, 'sudo conary updateall', it's that simple. There are new ISOs (both DVD and CD) and Virtual Machine images as well. Changes in MR2: New kernel 2.6.15.7; A couple version bumps; Banshee MiniMode plugin; Bug fixes." Read the release announcement for more information. Download the DVD image from here: foresight-0.9.4.mr2-x86-dvd1.iso (933MB).
The first release candidate of GoblinX 1.3 is out: "The release candidate is out to anyone who wants to test and know more about the next release, also we wish that you report any error or bugs found while using the release candidate version. The GoblinX 1.3 rc01 uses the same kernel from GoblinX Premium, it means you can use all extra drivers from the premium edition on it. Some of the changes were already implemented on GoblinX Mini and GoblinX Premium." Read the rest of the release announcement for the Changelog. Download: GoblinX-1.3.rc01.iso (318MB, MD5).
A beta livecd version 0.85 of Phaeronix is now available. It is a Gentoo-based RR4 CD optimised for i686, with GNOME, Reiser4-enabled GRUB and automatic hardware detection. Changes: "The kernel is now based on the 2.6.15-arckck7 patchset with a couple of additions (one to fix acer laptop hangs and the other to fix slow laptop battery polls). Final release is probably going to be based on the new -beyond patchset. The livecd uses a genkernel generated initramfs, but with quite some hacks added to the linuxrc. As a result this initramfs can now probably boot from any media, anything from IDE to external firewire. The CD is rendered pseudo-writable thanks to squashfs and unionfs." Read the rest of the release announcement. Download via BitTorrent: phaeronix-0.85-b1.iso (701MB, MD5).
The m0n0wall project has announced the release of m0n0wall 1.22: "m0n0wall 1.22 released! m0n0wall 1.22 adds role-based webGUI access, further improves the captive portal (especially its RADIUS handling) and includes several other small updates, fixes and improvements. m0n0wall is a project aimed at creating a complete, embedded firewall software package. m0n0wall is based on a bare-bones version of FreeBSD, along with a web server, PHP and a few other utilities." Read the brief release announcement on the project's home page. Download: cdrom-1.22.iso (5.74MB, MD5).
The developers of Ubuntu Linux have announced the release of the sixth alpha (or "Flight CD") of Ubuntu Linux 6.06: "Flight 6, the latest alpha of Dapper Drake, is available. Significant changes affecting the installer and live CD include: Espresso has been further improved and should now work on PowerPC, it now correctly estimates time needed for installation; Espresso still has bugs, but we encourage everybody to test it and file bugs about any bugs you find; the default theme has been tweaked slightly; new versions of GNOME and KDE are included." See the release announcement and Dapper Flight 6 pages for a detailed list of new features, screenshots, and download links to Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu live and installation CDs. Here is a quick link to the Ubuntu i386 live CD image: dapper-live-i386.iso (608MB, MD5).
A new version of AliXe, a SLAX-based distribution and live CD designed predominantly for French-speaking Canadians, has been released. Version 0.05 is based on the recently released SLAX 5.1.0 Standard edition, with kernel 2.6.16, KDE 3.5 and KOffice 1.4.2. The KDE menu has been translated into French and the live CD supports the French Canadian keyboard. According to the release announcement (in French), this product will be succeeded by two new AliXe editions: "mini" and "plus", the latter of which will include OpenOffice.org, GIMP, Azureus and other applications. AliXe 0.05 is available for download via BitTorrent: alixe05_STD.iso (235MB).
It has been three long years to the day since we last looked at that unusual distribution called Windows. Although at that time it was considered by many to be little else than a bizarre joke (who on earth would design an operating system that doesn't provide a way to grep files?), a recent rumour about a new release has piqued our curiosity. Developed by a large group of programmers who, believe it or not, all work in one building, the new version is predicted by some journalists to be one of the most secure operating systems ever created. Robert Storey, our ardent distribution reviewer, couldn't hold on any longer and downloaded the most recent beta version of Windows Hasta La Vista from a nearby mirror to take a look. This is what he found....
As the name suggests, Musix is a Linux live CD containing a large collection of audio software and designed for musicians. Version 0.39 was released earlier this week with the following changes and updates: "Rosegarden4 1.2.3 (Musix is the first distribution with this version); X.Org 6.9.0; four kernels; some general graphics design changes; KDE 3.5.1; all source code available from www.gnu.org; eq-xmms-musix modified by Pardo (recommended); hundreds of software packages updated; lots of fixed bugs, and more." More details can be found in the release announcement and release notes. Download from here: musix-0.39.iso (684MB).
Finnix 87.0 is the project's first release to support iPod - that's besides the traditional live CD editions for the x86 and PowerPC architectures: "Finnix is a small, self-contained, bootable Linux CD distribution for system administrators, based on Debian testing. Today marks the release of version 87.0 for the x86, PowerPC, UML/Xen, and iPod platforms. Finnix 87.0 contains new features, including Linux kernel 2.6.16, full automatic LVM detection, console mouse support.... Finnix can now also be installed on the popular iPod hardware, though this new platform is still considered experimental." Read the release announcement and release notes for more information. Download: finnix-87.0.iso (96.2MB). The PowerPC and iPod editions are available from the Finnix project page on SourceForge.
SLAX 5.1.0 has been released: "I'd like to let you know that new SLAX version 5.1.0 is available. This version fixes some missing library dependencies (libmikmod, libstdc++) and adds a few minor features. All special editions are available too, including bsdiff patches. The 'Webconfig' size limit has been raised from 8MB to 28MB and webconfig now stores all changes from the whole filesystem, not only /root /etc... Kbuildsycoca is started after module insertion to refresh the KDE cache, so you don't need to exit KDE any more to see new menu entries for newly added software." Read the latest SLAX changelog for further details. Download: slax-5.1.0.iso (184MB, MD5).
The prolonged development cycle of SUSE Linux 10.1 continues with its ninth beta: "I'm glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename 'Agama Lizard' Beta9. Please read the complete list of known issues. We've created a repository with some non-OSS software. The same software is also available via two non-OSS CDs that can be used during installation as add-on media. There's one media for both i386 and x86-64 and one for PowerPC. Have a lot of fun!" The latest beta the new GNOME 2.14, updated kernel 2.6.16, and a number of security updates (e.g. Sendmail) but KDE remains at version 3.5.1. See the release announcement for more details. As usual, the ISO images for the three supported architectures are available from SUSE's download servers and also via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.1-beta9-i386 (3,274MB).
A new version of SystemRescueCd has been released. From the changelog: "Updated the kernel to Linux 2.6.15.6; fixed important bugs with USB stick installation; fixed bugs with FTP that was broken; updated e2fsprogs to 1.38 (ext2 and ext3 system tools); updated ntfsprogs to 1.12.1; the manual was updated; updated Oscar scripts; other minor fixes and updates." Download: systemrescuecd-x86-0.2.18.iso (122MB, MD5). SystemRescueCd is a Gentoo-based Linux live CD designed for recovering data and for creating and editing hard disk partitions.
The developers of the OpenSolaris-based BeleniX live CD have released BeleniX 0.4.1, the first stable version of the 0.4 release series: "A new release of the live CD is available with several improvements, fixes and new software. The salient points are: improved boot-up time via a variety of mechanisms with further room for improvement in future; upgraded to OpenSolaris build 34 and implemented almost complete Non-DEBUG build so the kernel is now leaner and meaner; added Stefan Teleman's port of K3b for OpenSolaris; improved monitor auto-detection code especially for some flat-panel monitors like laptop ones; new wallpapers for both XFce and KDE...." Find the complete release announcement on the project's home page. Download from here: belenix0.4.1.iso (676MB, MD5).
VideoLinux is a PCLinuxOS-based distribution with focus on DVD backups, video encoding and transcoding, DVD authoring and format conversion. A new development series has begun with an alpha release of VideoLinux 2.0: "After a few headaches I am pleased to announce that VideoLinux 2.0 Alpha is available for download. It is using kernel 2.6.13 optimised for i686 processors with up to 4GB RAM, Wine has been upgraded to 0.9.9, added the Windows freeware DVDShrink. KDE is 3.5.1. For the full changelog see here. As usual please be aware that this is a development release and things may not be quite right." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: VideoLinux-2.0-Alpha-i686.iso (480MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
The fourth stable version of Frugalware Linux has been released: "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.4 for the i686 and x86_64 architectures. A short list of changes since rc2: update to Linux 2.6.16, GNOME 2.14, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2.1. For those who haven't followed the changes in the pre/rc releases, the most important changes: implemented fwcpan, a new tool to install any CPAN module; network configuration has been redesigned; switched to udev as the default hotplug multiplexer; modularized X.Org 7.0, Apache 2.2.0, KDE 3.5.1, Firefox 1.5.0.1, Thunderbird 1.5...." Read the rest of the release announcement on the project's news page. Download the two i386 CD images from here (SHA1): frugalware-0.4-i686-cd1.iso (490MB), frugalware-0.4-i686-cd2.iso (604MB).
The fourth alpha release of Nexenta OS, a hybrid operating system combining the Solaris kernel with Debian and Ubuntu packages, is now available for download and testing: "Nexenta OS ('elatte') Alpha 4 is now available for download. This release provides: better platform support - 64-bit platforms are supported again; massive synch-up and cleanup of the userland; Nexenta OS Installer, re-designed and optimized for speed; Nexenta OS hardware database. Alpha 4 is based on OpenSolaris build #36, non-DEBUG kernel. In addition to InstallCD and LiveCD, we now provide a pre-installed VMware image that can be 'played' in VMware Player." Find more details in the release announcement. Download (MD5): elatte_installcd_alpha4_i386.zip (567MB), elatte_livecd_alpha4_i386.zip (265MB).
After two release candidates, the new Damn Small Linux 2.3 final has been released. What's new? "New auto mydsl, auto scan for directory named mydsl will automatically load extensions; new DSL natively booted can now recognize the QEMU virtual hard disk; upgraded QEMU to v0.8; new background image (Saturn) to match current theme; new check and prompt to save APSFILTER printer and wireless setup; new MyDSL is now a separate menu; new prompt when keyboard is changed while running X; new USB pen drive installs now support 'toram'; new faster dsl-embedded loading in Windows; new theme and XMMS skin...." Download: dsl-2.3.iso (49.2MB, MD5).
An updated version of the current stable BLAG Linux And GNU 30000 series is now available: "BLAG 30003 (bicycle) has been released. BLAG is a single-CD distribution with everything desktop users 'expect' from a desktop, plus a collection of nice server applications. BLAG 30003 is based on Fedora Core 3 plus updates, adds applications from Dag, Freshrpms, NewRPMS, and includes custom packages. BLAG 30003 is the latest update to the BLAG30k series, using updates from the Fedora Legacy project. Updates include a new kernel, Apache, OpenSSH, Firefox, Mozilla, Liferea, Scribus, udev.... Overall, 42 packages were changed on the CD." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information. Download: BLAG-30003.iso (698MB, MD5).
Following the recent retirement of the founder of CRUX Per Liden, the i686-optimised minimalist distribution he created some 6 years ago now continues to live as a community effort. The first test of the new CRUX 2.2 has been released: "A test release of CRUX 2.2 is available for download and testing. We would appreciate testing and feedback; bugs should be reported using the bug reporting tool (flyspray) on the CRUX website. Please be aware that not all ports will likely build successfully yet, as we've all got limited time. Do not install this test release on a system you cannot afford to break!" The new test release includes kernel 2.6.15.6, X.Org 6.9.0, WindowMaker 0.92.0; glibc 2.3.6 and GCC 4.0.3; here is the complete release announcement. Download: crux-2.2-test1.iso (230MB, MD5).
A new set of ISO images for rPath Linux 1 has been released for the i386 and x86_64 architectures: "Refreshed ISO images, release 1.0.1, have been made available for new installations of rPath Linux 1. These images include all updates through and including updates released on 23 March 2006. If you have already installed rPath Linux 1, you should update your current system rather than reinstall using the new images." The new rPath Linux image set includes security updates to curl (7.15.3), PostgreSQL (8.1.3) and Sendmail (8.13.6); see the release announcement for more details. Download (i386): rpath-1.0.1-i386-dvd.iso (1,295MB, MD5).
The first stable version of DesktopBSD, a desktop-oriented and easy-to-use operating system based on FreeBSD 5, has been released: "We are pleased to announce that DesktopBSD 1.0 is now available from our download mirrors and via BitTorrent. Changes include: upgrade to KDE 3.5.1; update to FreeBSD 5.5-PRERELEASE; user-friendlier package manager; printing fixes; hardware event notifications; many smaller improvements." Find more details in the release announcement, release notes and changelog. CD and DVD images for both i386 and x86_64 architectures are available from the project's download page; here is a quick link to the i386 DVD: DesktopBSD-1.0-x86-DVD.iso (1,281MB, MD5).
A new alpha live CD of Hedinux GNU/Linux, an independently developed distribution optimised for i686 processors, has been released: "Hedinux GNOME live CD 2006.1 alpha2 is out! Major updates: GNOME 2.14; X.Org 6.9.0 with VESA driver by default; updated to kernel 2.6.15.6, Unionfs 1.1.3, SquashFS 3.0; select locale and keyboard at boot; GParted on the live CD; many other packages updates; fixed sshd startup; replaced GNOME icon by Hedinux icon for the GNOME menu; built dvd+rw-tools and added it to k3b dependencies...." Visit the project's home page to read the full release announcement. Download: hedinux-live-gnome-2006.1-alpha2.iso (553MB, MD5).
Ehad is a single-CD, Mandriva-based distribution designed for the speakers of Hebrew. A new major version was released over the weekend. What's new? "Based on Mandriva 2006.0 packages; includes all official updates released until 25-Mar-2006; OpenOffice.org 2.0 (Hebrew version from official project with hspell and Culmus); removed KOffice; the full range of desktop applications are now installed as default; Ehad desktop, boot and LILO theme; local packages: ehad-media (define software repositories with ease) , ehad-guide (a guide for Israeli Internet Connectivity), ehad-radio (Hebrew Internet Radio launcher), hocr (Hebrew OCR), hdate (Hebrew calendar), Anka (new type-1 font from 'culmus fancy' series)." Read the release announcement (in Hebrew) and release notes for more details. Download: 1-Ehad-2006-classic1.iso (702MB, MD5).
SLAX, a popular live CD based on Slackware Linux, has been updated to version 5.0.8: "It's my pleasure to let you know that SLAX 5.0.8 has been released. All users are strongly encouraged to upgrade, because all new modules created from now are not readable in older SLAX releases. What's new? The long-awaited SLAX Server Edition is finally available; all other editions are updated too; 2.6.16 Linux kernel; fixed bug in mounting of DOS partitions (long file names work now); the 'uselivemod' and 'configsave' features work again." See the distribution's changelog for more details. All SLAX editions are available from the download page; here is a quick link to the Standard edition: slax-5.0.8.iso (187MB, MD5).
Taiwan's B2D project has released a new KNOPPIX-based live CD that includes both KDE (3.5.1) and GNOME (2.12) on a single CD. Called "PureKGB", the new version combines the best software from the two major desktop environments, although due to space restrictions, some applications, notably OpenOffice.org, Nvu and Mozilla Thunderbird, had to be left out from the CD. These can be installed through the "Klik" infrastructure. Apart from this major change, the previously reported midi playback bug in Rosegarden has also been fixed. Please read the release announcement (in Chinese) for more information and screenshots. Download the ISO image from here: B2DpureKGB20060321.iso (665MB, MD5).
AliXe is a French Canadian Linux live CD based on SLAX. The new version 0.04, released yesterday, is derived from SLAX 5.0.7b with a number of newly updated packages; these include Linux kernel 2.6.15, X.Org 6.9.0, KDE 3.5.0, OpenOffice.org 2.0.1 (replaces KOffice), GIMP 2.2.10, Firefox 1.5.0.1 and Thunderbird 1.5. Two keyboards are supported: Canadian French and Canadian multilingual. A "copy2ram" option is available on systems with the minimum of 512 MB or memory. Please refer to the release announcement and visit the project's home page (both links in French) for further details. The AliXe 0.4 ISO image can be downloaded via BitTorrent from LinuxTracker.org: alixe04.iso (392MB).
CentOS, a community distribution built from source packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, has been updated to version 4.3: "The CentOS development team is pleased to announce the availability of CentOS 4.3. Major changes in this version of CentOS include: upgraded update system - this new system provides more that 100 total mirrors for updates and picks geographically close and non-stale mirrors based on our master server's content; Frysk, InfiniBand Architecture (IBA), and z/VM hypervisor issues are discussed in the upstream release notes; updated and added packages." Read the full release announcement for additional information. The CD and DVD ISO images for the i386, x86_64 and ia64 architectures are available for download from the project's redirect system or directly from a large number of mirror sites.
The second release candidate of Damn Small Linux 2.3 is now available for testing. From the changelog: "New auto mydsl - auto scan for directory named mydsl will automatically load extensions; new DSL natively booted can now recognize the Qemu virtual harddisk, allows for shared backup; upgraded Qemu to v0.8 for both Windows and Linux editions; new background image (Saturn) to match current theme; stop duplicate saves of wireless and printer; fixed boot options frugal and toram when used together would try to remount /dev/shm; updated .xinitrc with another correction for better German keyboard support." Download: dsl-2.3RC2.iso (49.2MB, MD5).
After Kororaa and RR64, VLOS (formerly Vidalinux) is the third Gentoo-based project to incorporate the Xgl graphics subsystem and Compiz desktop into its distribution: "We are very proud to announce this alpha4 release of VLOS 1.3 with many new features and enhancements: Anaconda updated to FC5-test3, Xgl with Compiz, 3D support by default, latest proprietary drivers from ATI (8.23.7) and NVIDIA (8178); X.Org 7.0, Gnome 2.14, KDE 3.5.1, Avahi... VLOS 1.3-alpha4 is available as both CD and DVD ISOs." Read the complete release announcement and release notes for further details. The new VLOS CD and DVD images can be downloaded via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the DVD image: vlos-1.3-alpha4-dvd_i686.iso (1,248MB, MD5).
The eagerly anticipated Fedora Core 5, code name "Bordeaux", has been released: "The Fedora Project is pleased to announce the release of Fedora Core 5. New desktop applications, advances in security, better localization tools, improved software installation and management facilities and strong Java integration help to make Fedora Core 5 the most innovative Linux distribution ever." For more details please read the release announcement, release summary and release notes. The CD and DVD images for the three supported processor architectures are available from Fedora mirrors and also via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i386 DVD torrent file: bordeaux-DVD-i386 (3,103MB).
The developers of the Gentoo-based RR64 live DVD have produced a new beta release designed for 64-bit processors: "RR64 Linux 3.0b1 (Xgl Beauty). RR64 Linux is the world's most complete GNU/Linux distribution based on Gentoo unstable. Features: 2.6.15 kernel with Reiser4 patches; glibc 2.3.6 optimized for AMD64; GCC 4.0.2 performance level; Xgl and Compiz (0.0.7 - opacity plugin included) for both GNOME and KDE (boot with 'gentoo xgl' or 'smp xgl'); latest proprietary drivers from ATI (8.22.5) and NVIDIA (8178); X.Org 7.0 with every input and video driver included; KDE 3.5.1, GNOME 2.12.3, XFce 4.2.3, Fluxbox 0.9.14; 32-bit Java and Firefox available out of the box; complete multimedia and DVD support...." The release announcement. Download via BitTorrent: RR64-Linux-3.0.b1 (2,376MB).
Following the recent updated releases of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 3 and 4, new versions of Lineox Enterprise Linux, a distribution rebuilt from source RPM packages for RHEL, are also available: "Always Current Lineox Enterprise Linux 3.140 with Update 7 available. In the 3.140 version the installation environment is rebuilt, so it offers better hardware support during the installation. Note however that booting from a floppy is no longer supported in x86 version. The x86_64 version has never had floppy boot support. New features introduced by this update include: improved support for NUMA architectures, addition of OpenIPMI userspace tools...." Please see the two release announcements (Lineox 4.076, Lineox 3.140). The ISO images can be obtained from the project's download servers and mirrors.
The first release candidate of Ark Linux 2006.1 is now available for download: "The Ark Linux team is pleased to announce the release of Ark Linux Home 2006.1-rc1 - the first (and, unless major problems turn up, last) release candidate of Ark Linux Home 2006.1. Ark Linux Home 2006.1-rc1 includes the latest developments of the Linux desktop world, such as KDE 3.5.1, OpenOffice.org 2.0.2, amaroK 1.4 beta 2, Kopete 0.12 beta 1, X.Org 7.0, GCC 4.1, and glibc 2.4. In addition to updating the underlying technologies, we have improved hardware support - to our knowledge, Ark Linux Home 2006.1-rc1 is the first free Linux distribution to support 3D acceleration on ATI PCI Express cards...." Here is the full release announcement. Download: arklinux-2006.1-rc1.iso (678MB, MD5).
The first alpha release of the single-CD, Fedora 5-based BLAG Linux And GNU 50000 now ready for testing: "The latest development version of BLAG has been released. It is based on bits from Fedora Core 5's upcoming release. It has the basic bits users 'expect' on a desktop and is all on one CD. BLAG 49k now includes Cinelerra and LiVES for video editing. Also includes AbiWord, Gnumeric, Firefox, GIMP, Inkscape, Scribus.... This is an ALPHA (test) release, but is running pretty nice already." Read the rest of the informal release announcement for details. Download: BLAG-49993.90011.iso (694MB, MD5).
Nonux has been updated to version 2.3. The new release brings several major updates, including new versions of the Linux kernel (2.6.15.6), GNOME (2.12.3), OpenOffice.org (2.0.2) and Firefox (1.5.0.1). Also, the distribution's hard disk installation program has seen considerable speed improvements. Please visit the Nonux news page (in Dutch) to read the complete release announcement. Download from here: nonux-2-3.iso (632MB). Nonux is a Slackware-based desktop Linux distribution featuring Dropline GNOME and designed for desktop use in Dutch-speaking office and business environments.
The inaugural release of Mandriva One, a new live CD that aims to simplify the installation of the Mandriva Linux operating system to a hard disk directly from the live CD, has been released: "An operating system is generally available as a live CD or a set of installation CDs, but not both on the same disc. Mandriva One differs in offering an all-in-one CD based on Mandriva Linux 2006. It's a great way for all users to save space and time. This high quality Linux distribution not only includes live and install functionality but also a selection of the best free software available - and selected non-free applications and drivers are available on a special edition for Mandriva Club members." See the full release announcement and press release for additional details. At the time of writing the new product is only available to the members of Mandriva Club, but it is expected to be released publicly in the near future.
The eighth beta of SUSE Linux 10.1 has been released: "I'm glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename 'Agama Lizard' Beta8. Please read the complete list of known issues. For now let me just point out the following issues. RPM dump before update: if you do an update, please create an XML dump of the RPM database BEFORE starting an update; details are available. The Windows Domain Membership dialog (Samba authentication), when called during installation, is empty. We've created a repository with some non-OSS software." Read the full release announcement for more information. As usual, the SUSE CD image set can be downloaded from the distribution's mirror sites or via BitTorrent; a quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.1-beta8-i386 (3,276MB).
The second released candidate of Frugalware Linux 0.4 is out: "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.4rc2, the last release candidate of the 0.4 stable release. A short and incomplete list of changes since 0.4rc1: better support for changing between open source and proprietary ATI and NVIDIA drivers; all packages have been reviewed to work perfectly with X.Org 7.0; various spelling fixes in the configuration tools; fixed font settings for non-English users; reworked the mirror mechanism to ensure that the ISO images are available on all mirrors at release time; more than 60 new packages." Visit the project's news page to read the rest of the release announcement. Download (SHA1): frugalware-0.4rc2-i686-cd1.iso (485MB) and frugalware-0.4rc2-i686-cd2.iso (575MB).
A new major version of Skolelinux, a distribution also known as DebianEdu, has been released: "After twenty-one months of development, Skolelinux has released a new version. Skolelinux, the Debian-edu project's Custom Debian Distribution, is installed in hundreds of schools in Norway, Germany, and other countries. Many municipalities use Skolelinux across all of their schools; such centralized operation offers low maintenance and operational costs. Skolelinux is free and open source software, and for those schools that need assistance, many commercial organizations offer maintenance and support solutions." Read the release announcement for more information. Skolelinux 2.0 can be downloaded from here: debian-edu20r0-i386.iso (698MB), MD5.
New beta releases of both FreeBSD 6.1 and 5.5 were announced today: "The FreeBSD Release Engineering Team is pleased to announce the availability of FreeBSD 6.1-BETA4 and FreeBSD 5.5-BETA4. A couple of significant changes were made to 6.1-BETA4. First is a large set of fixes to the VFS layer and various filesystems that should significantly help performance under heavy load and also fix problems with forcefully unmounting these filesystems. The second large change is that sysinstall will now install both the GENERIC and SMP kernels and automatically select the appropriate one based on whether it detects one CPU in the system or multiple CPUs." Find more details in the release announcement. Download (i386, MD5): 6.1-BETA4-i386-disc1.iso (443MB), 6.1-BETA4-i386-disc2.iso (171MB).
The first distribution release shipping with the hot-off-the-press GNOME 2.14 is Foresight Linux 0.9.4: "I am very pleased to announce the availability of Foresight Desktop Linux 0.9.4 with GNOME 2.14. This release includes a number of updates: GNOME 2.14; cleaner and shinier 'Clearlooks' theme; Tango desktop icons; kernel 2.6.15.6; Avahi (aka Rendezvous, Bonjour and sometimes Zeroconf); latest DBUS and HAL; GNOME Power Manager; Banshee, F-Spot, Beagle, Tomboy and more... Foresight Desktop Linux 0.9.4 is available as both CD and DVD ISOs, and -- drum roll please -- VMware player and QEMU images thanks to rBuilder!" Read the release announcement for more information. Download the DVD image from here: foresight-0.9.4-i386-disc1.iso (777MB).
Source Mage GNU/Linux 0.9.6 for i486 and PowerPC processors has been released: "'Guidance' ISO Release 0.9.6 stable PPC and x86. Our first stable PPC ISO release in a very long time. The PPC installer now has all the nice features that the x86 installer has. Main new features: a 'dependency' scheme that will make sure you don't accidentally skip a vital step or do things in the wrong order - you can still override dependencies if you really know what you're doing; spells get installed in the background while you are busy selecting options; software RAID support via mdadm." Read the release announcement for further details. Download: smgl-0.9.6-i486.iso.bz2 (205MB, MD5) or smgl-0.9.6-ppc.iso.bz2 (208MB, MD5).
A new major version of the KNOPPIX/KANOTIX-based PAIPIX Linux live DVD has been released: "After a major restructuring PAIPIX version 5 is now available for download both for the 32-bit and AMD 64-bit architectures. A single image is now used for all supported languages. For hard disk installation, PAIPIX is now using the KANOTIX facility that renders the installed system pure Debian and therefore much more robust to upgrades. There was a lot of work over a long time that was put into this major restructuring that now includes OpenOffice.org 2.0.1, KDE 3.5.1, Apache 2, PHP 5, MySQL 5, PostgreSQL 8.1 and X.Org 6.8." The release announcement. Download: PAIPIX-5.00-2006-03-13_i386.iso (1,906MB, MD5) or PAIPIX-5.00-2006-03-13_amd64.iso (1,750MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of Wolvix 1.0.4 Media Edition has been released: "A Release Candidate for Wolvix Media Edition 1.0.4 is now out. This will hopefully be the first and only release candidate before the final release. Changes since 1.0.4 beta2: fixed the missing symlinks for VLC and MPlayer codecs which caused the programs to refuse loading for some people; recompiled VLC with updated codecs - sound is now working on MOV files; replaced wvstreams and wvdial packages - this will hopefully fix the problems with Gnome PPP. Updated: gmusicbrowser, gtkpod, GParted, ardour, Avidemux...." Read the rest of the release announcement for details. Download: Wolvix_Media_Edition-1.0.4RC1.iso (464MB); also available via BitTorrent.
The fifth alpha (also referred to as "Flight CD") of Ubuntu Linux, Kubuntu and Edubuntu 6.04 "Dapper Drake" has been released: "Flight 5, the latest alpha of Dapper Drake, is available. Significant changes affecting the installer and live CD include: a much improved version of Espresso, the live CD based installer is included; a new default theme has been included; NetworkManager has received a lot of attention and bugfixes; the X autoconfiguration on AMD64 has been improved; new development version of GNOME is included." For more information please refer to the release announcement and the Dapper 5 page. Download the live CD from here: dapper-live-i386.iso (585MB, MD5). As usual, the Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu live and installation ISO images, as well as torrent files for the three supported architectures, are available from the project's download server.
The second release candidate of VectorLinux 5.1, Live CD edition, is ready for testing: "The VectorLinux team is proud to announce the release of the VL-5.1 standard RC2 Live CD. This version fixes bugs from RC1, including installer bugs. New in VL 5.1 Live RC2 is a major rewrite of the hard drive installer that allows for better configuration once booted into the hard drive. This includes fixes to LILO and other problems encountered in last release. We have also updated some installed packages. The updates include kernel 2.6.15.3, Firefox 1.5.0.1, Ndiswrapper 1.9, OpenOffice.org 2.0 and udev 0.71." The release announcement. Download: VL-5.1-LIVE-RC2.iso (615MB, MD5).
Designed specially for the CeBIT exhibition which is currently under way in Hannover, Germany, a new preview release of KANOTIX 2006 is available for download and testing: "The new preview holds newest packages and kernel 2.6.15.6. It is now possible to test the NVIDIA drivers from the live CD without having an Internet connection. They are included as an archive and only need to be installed. Another highlight is the new KANOTIX Control Center "knxcc" to be found in the KDE Control Center under KANOTIX, or in text mode in Konsole. A known bug is that icons will only appear on the desktop after a device has been mounted; an alternative is to use Konqueror media:/ directly." Here is the full release announcement. Download: KANOTIX-2006-CeBIT-RC3.iso (626MB, MD5).
EnGarde Secure Linux has been updated to version 3.0.5: "Guardian Digital is happy to announce the release of EnGarde Secure Community 3.0.5. This release includes several bug fixes and feature enhancements to the Guardian Digital WebTool and the SELinux policy, several updated packages, and a couple of new packages available for installation. New features include: support for the 64bit Intel EM64T architecture,users with these machines can now use the x86_64 ISO image in full 64bit mode; the latest stable versions of Aide (0.11), GnuPG (1.4.2.2), Postfix (2.2.9), Samba (3.0.21c), and xinetd (2.3.14)...." Here is the full release announcement. Download: engarde-community-3.0.5.i686.iso (623MB, MD5) or engarde-community-3.0.5.x86_64.iso (612MB, MD5).
The third update of Pie Box Enterprise Linux 4 has been released: "Update 3 of Pie Box Enterprise Linux 4 was made available today. This update includes the following enhancements: enhanced security including execshield updates, use of GCC FORTIFY_SOURCE build option in some package updates, SELinux policy updates, updated kernel key management support; enhanced system tools including SystemTap dynamic system instrumentation tool...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. The latest release of Pie Box Enterprise Linux, a distribution created by recompiling source RPM packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, is available from the distribution's online store (from £19.99).
The first release candidate of Damn Small Linux is ready for download and testing. From the changelog: "New check and prompt to save APSFILTER printer setup; new check and prompt to save wireless setup; new MyDSL is now a separate menu via a Fluxbox [include]; new prompt when keyboard is changed while running X; new USB pendrive installs now support 'toram'; new faster dsl-embedded loading in Windows; new theme and XMMS skin; new boot floppy support; updated 'Getting Started' document; improved mount tool for CD-ROM access; fixed UCI loop counter during unmounts; fixed prims2.sh bug; removed unused icon in dsl-embedded (Flwriter)." Download: dsl-2.3RC1.iso (49.1MB, MD5).
The Kororaa project has released a live CD demonstrating the new Xgl technology for 3D window manipulation and other unusual effects: "Today I am happy to release a Kororaa live CD showcasing Xgl technology. If you would like to find out what it's all about, then download the CD and boot up your PC! The Live CD comes with X.Org 7.0, GNOME 2.12.2, 3D support and of course Xgl. Supported drivers are 'nvidia' (NVIDIA) and 'fglrx' (ATI). Minimum recommended configuration is Pentium 3 with NVIDIA GeForce video card." Find more details on the project's home and download pages. The Kororaa Xgl live CD is available for download from here: kororaa-xgl-demo-livecd-0.1.iso (442MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
An updated release of Helix 1.7, a KNOPPIX-based live CD dedicated to incident response and forensics is available: "A new version of Helix has been released to the mirrors for your testing and use." From the changelog: "Updated 2.6.14 kernel; updated Firefox to 1.5.0.1, dcfldd to 1.3.4, md5deep suite to 1.10, ClamAV to 0.88.1, PyFlag to 0.80, EnCase Linen to 5.04; updated and fixed boot time help code and GRUB options...." Visit the project's home page to read the release announcement and to learn more about the distribution. Download: Helix_V1.7-03-07-2006.iso (696MB, MD5).
ASP Linux 11 has been released. Some of the more prominent features of the new version include: simplicity - all the necessary applications are included and ready for use without any further configuration, irrespective of the purpose of the system; convenience - the presence of graphical configuration tools makes it easy to modify system settings, install and remove software, etc; broad multimedia support, including out-of-the box support for all popular video formats and availability of proprietary video drivers. ASP Linux ships with kernel 2.6.14, KDE 3.5.0, GNOME 2.12, Firefox 1.5 and Evolution 2.4.1. For more information please read the release announcement (in Russian). Download (MD5): aspl_11-d1.iso (696MB), aspl_11-d2.iso (679MB), aspl_11-d3.iso (695MB), aspl_11-d4.iso (687MB). Customers in Russia can also purchase the distribution online from ASP store or LinuxCenter.
The first stable version of Rubix Linux, a distribution combining Slackware with Arch's 'pacman' package management software, has been released: "This is the inaugural release of the Rubix Linux operating system. Rubix Linux is distributed with the Linux kernel versions 2.6.15.5, 2.4.32 and 2.4.32-grsec. Rubix Linux is well equipped to serve in both desktop and server roles. Rubix has exceptional hardware detection with udev replacing hotplug for 2.6 kernels and the latest KDE desktop version 3.5.1. Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.1 and Thunderbird 1.5 are now the default web browser and email client. Rubix Linux also supports the best modern file systems including ext2, ext3, JFS, XFS, ReiserFS and now Reiser4 (with 2.6 kernels) from installation." Read the full release announcement to find out more. Download: rubix_cd1-1.0-i486.iso (404MB, MD5).
A bug-fix update of the recently released Elive 0.4 has been completed: "Elive 0.4.2, code name 'Serenity', has been released. Changelog: all the bugs listed in the 'bugs section' are fixed; ATI works again with the 'fglrx' driver; added support for SATA hard disks; a new feature in Elpanel to configure the terminal; Firefox 1.5; better auto-launch support for Windows type CDs and auto-detection of Cedega; many minor changes." Read the release announcement and changelog for more information. The new version of the increasingly popular live CD featuring the Enlightenment window manager is available for download via BitTorrent: Elive_0.4.2.iso (692MB).
The developers of StartCom Enterprise Linux, a distribution created by rebuilding the Red Hat Enterprise Linux source RPMs, have released an update version 4.0.1: "The second update of the latest StartCom Enterprise Linux version AS-4.0.1 is hitting the download mirrors today! With almost 500 updated packages, this release includes many security updates and bug fixes, but also a few additions, such as smart card support from the OpenSC project. Additional features are the inclusion of pcsc-lite, openct and opensc of the OpenSC and M.U.S.C.L.E project in order to provide better support of smart cards and secure tokens on our enterprise systems." The release announcement. CD and DVD images for the i386 and x86_64 architectures are available for download from a number of international mirrors; a quick link to the i386 DVD: Barak-i386-u2-DVD.iso (2,016MB).
The maintainers of Yoper Linux have announced the first public beta release of a major new version - 3.0: "Yoper 3.0 beta 'Blacksand' released. The team is proud to announce the start of a public beta-testing phase of Yoper Linux. After rewriting all internal scripts, the inclusion of the KANOTIX hardware-detection, a completely overhauled command line installer, a brand new GUI-installer (written from scratch) and several internal alpha releases, the time for public beta testing has come. The ISO file includes kernel 2.6.15, X.Org 6.8.2, etcnet, KDE 3.5.0, KOffice, Firefox 1.5, Thunderbird 1.5 and many other cutting-edge packages." Read the full release announcement for more details. Download from here: YOPER-2.91-BLACKSAND.iso (628MB, MD5).
The second release candidate of Skolelinux 2.0 (also known as Debian-Edu) has been released. This release has implemented some minor fixes to get GCompris to start on thin clients, and has fixed some Samba and Windows client integration bugs while connected to a Skolelinux network. A Spanish translation has been added to the Enterprise User Administration Tool. Several packages have also been updated. Please consult the release notes and installation instructions for further information. If you'd like to help with testing and bug reporting, you can download the ISO image from here: debian-edu_sarge-i386-rc2.iso (698MB, MD5).
Network Security Toolkit (NST) is a Fedora-based live CD with a collection of open source network security applications. A new version is out: "We are pleased to announce the latest NST release: v1.4.0. This release is based on Fedora Core 4 using the Linux Kernel 2.6.15. Many new NST features and capabilities have been included with this distribution: time management - NTP, hardware clock and system clock management; network packet capture - an enhanced NST web-based front-end to the Tethereal network protocol analyzer; network packet capture manager - provides a means to manage network packet capture files on a NST probe; an enhanced NST web-based file system mounting page...." Read the release announcement for a complete list of new features. Download: nst-1.4.0.iso.gz (310MB).
The development of SUSE Linux 10.1 continues at a furious pace: "I'm glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename 'Agama Lizard' beta 6. Beta 6 has still some rough edges and I will not advise to put it on production systems." The release announcement contains no further information about the changes in this release, just the usual warnings similar to those accompanying beta 5. As always, the 5-CD image set is available for download from SUSE mirrors or via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.1-beta6-i386 (3,333MB). The next release will be beta 8, scheduled for March 17 (there will be no public beta 7).
The second beta of Mandriva Linux One 2006 has been released: "The second beta of Mandriva Linux One 2006, our new installable live CD, is now available from most public mirror sites. This fixes a range of issues from the first beta. Please note that it's been reported that this release does not yet fix the commonly reported kernel panic on machines with multiple optical drives. If you experienced this bug with Beta 1, please don't spend your time and bandwidth to download this edition. We will try and release an updated beta soon which includes the fix for that problem." A detailed list of changes since beta 1 can be found in the release announcement. Download: Mandriva-One-2006-0.3-CD.iso (670MB). Further editions with support for many Asian and European languages are also available.
The first release candidate of Frugalware Linux 0.4 is now ready for testing: "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.4rc1. A list of changes since 0.4pre2: created a package synchronization client and daemon (syncpkg and syncpkgd) to update packages faster; implemented 'fwcpan', a new tool to install any CPAN module; split OpenOffice.org, now all language packs and dictionaries can be installed and removed separately; more than 80 new packages: Xgl (with a step by step howto), Beagle...." Find more details on the project's news page. Download (MD5): frugalware-0.4rc1-i686-cd1.iso (494MB), frugalware-0.4rc1-i686-cd2.iso (605MB).
A new development version of the Quantian live DVD, a distribution with a collection of software for scientific computing, has been released: "A new release of Quantian is now available! This release is the second one based on KNOPPIX 4.0.2 and features: kernel 2.6.12, KDE 3.5 / 3.4, OpenOffice.org 2.0; a backport of the openMosix-enabled 2.4.27 kernel and openMosix tools from the last ClusterKNOPPIX release; very comprehensive support for GNU R with over 870 packages from CRAN and BioConductor, plus ESS, Ggobi, Rpad, RKward, RSPerl, JGR; addition of the Java 1.5.0 SDK enabling us to add ImageJ, Weka, JGR, Mondrian...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: Quantian_0.7.9.2.iso (2,726MB, MD5).
An updated version of tinysofa classic server 2.0, code name "Ceara", has been released: "tinysofa classic server 2.0 Update 4 (Ceara) is now generally available. This release focuses on bug fixes, integrates all released security fixes, and updates various packages to the more recent upstream releases. 'Ceara' features: the Linux 2.6.13 kernel, grsecurity support, APT and SmartPM for advanced package management, the next generation PHP 5 environment (5.0.4), OpenSSH 4.3, high availability features such as DRBD (0.7.14) and UCARP (1.1), the latest development tools and languages (GCC 3.4.3, Python 2.4.2), and much more." Read the full release announcement on the project's home page. Download (SHA1): Ceara.i586.iso (355MB) or Ceara.x86_64.iso (360MB).
SystemRescueCd 0.2.17 has been released. What's new? "Updated the kernel to Linux-2.6.15.4; updated CaptiveNtfs to 1.1.7; fixed boot from a USB stick; added Framebuffer support for Intel video chipsets (i810fb and intelfb); added Oscar (Outil Complet d'Assistance Reseau); updated the manual." See the changelog for a complete list of changes. Download: systemrescuecd-x86-0.2.17.iso (122MB, MD5). SystemRescueCd is a Gentoo-based live CD with tools for hard disk partitioning, recovery and general system administration tasks.
Japan's Alpha Systems has released Accelerated KNOPPIX 1.0, a fast-booting variant of the popular KNOPPIX live CD. By re-arranging the Cloop file system block and optimising the hardware detection and configuration step, the developers have succeeded in reducing the CD boot time to under 60 seconds, while maintaining the full functionality of the distribution. More details with illustrations of the technology (which, incidentally, is released under the GPL) can be found on the project's home page. Accelerated KNOPPIX version 1.0, released yesterday, can be downloaded from here: Accelerated-KNX_20060228.iso (692MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Trinity Rescue Kit (TRK) is a Mandriva-based Linux live CD aimed specifically at offline operations for Windows and Linux systems such as rescue, repair, password resets and cloning. A new version of TRK was released earlier today: "Trinity Rescue Kit version 3.1 is a fact and ready for download. Be sure not to burn it on a normal CD/R but a CD/RW. Here 's why: one of the new features in TRK 3.1 is the ability to update itself with Captive NTFS drivers and the latest antivirus + definitions. After it has done this, it will recreate itself as a new ISO file that you can burn to CD." Read the rest of the release announcement for a detailed list of changes. Download: trinity-rescue-kit.3.1-build-210.iso (85.3MB, MD5).
The first release candidate of VectorLinux 5.1, Live edition, is out: "The first release candidate of the Standard edition of Vector Linux 5.1 Live is now available for download and testing. I have setup 'initng', and added an option in the boot menu so anyone that would like to see what 'initng' is like on VectorLinux can try it out. I have also added a new bootsplash and artwork. Updates from 5.1 Standard include kernel 2.6.15.3, Firefox 1.5.0.1, Ndiswrapper 1.9, OpenOffice.org 2.0, and udev 071. I have also finished writing an installer and it is included in this release." Here is the full release announcement. Download: VL-5.1-LIVE-RC1.iso (616MB, MD5).
A new test build of the Red Hat-based redWall Firewall, version 1.2.1, has been released. What's new? "Kernel 2.6.15.4; udev device management (replaces the deprecated devfs); Unionfs based config (/etc) and data (/var) 'management'; Unionfs based root filesystem (read and write support) if enabled using 'union_root' as kernel boot parameter; completely rewritten save-config and restore-config mechanism; SSH stored configs (on a remote SSH enabled host); configs sent by email are now 'preformated' to be put on a floppy and work right away if booted from that floppy; the hard disk install script now supports 'USB Disk installs'...." More details in the release announcement. Download: redwall-1.2.1-rc1.iso (255MB, MD5).
The first official Gentoo Linux release of the year is out: "The Gentoo Release Engineering team proudly announces the release of Gentoo Linux 2006.0. Gentoo Linux 2006.0, the first release in the 2006 series, represents improvements across many architectures since the 2005.1 release. Major highlights in the release include KDE 3.4.3, GNOME 2.12.2, XFCE 4.2.2, GCC 3.4.4 and a 2.6.15 kernel. This is also the first release with the Gentoo Linux Installer officially debuting on the x86 LiveCD, which will fully replace the Universal and PackageCD set. The LiveCD also features a fully-fledged GNOME environment." Read the full release announcement for more details. The new Gentoo 2006.0 is available for free download from the project's download mirrors, via its bouncer system or the BitTorrent server. A quick link to the new Gentoo live CD for the x86 architecture: livecd-i686-installer-2006.0.iso (697MB, MD5).
Intensive development of SUSE Linux 10.1 continues with the release of another milestone - beta 5: "I'm glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename 'Agama Lizard' beta5 - this time both delta ISOs and full ISOs! With beta5 we smoothed out most of the rough edges of beta4, but I still do not advise to put it on any production system! Beta5 is still for the adventurous experts and not for anybody without good Linux experience. For now let me just point out the following issues...." See the rest of the release announcement for more information. As always, the new release is available from the SUSE BitTorrent server as well as its many download mirrors worldwide. Here is a quick link to the i386 ISO torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.1-beta5-i386 (3,330MB).
Devil-Linux has been upgraded to version 1.2.9: "I'm proud to announce v1.2.9 of Devil-Linux. The changes include lots of software updates, addition of ipset, PAM, some missing netfilter modules and netfilter L7 classifier." Among the many update packages are Linux kernel 2.4.32, Apache 2.2.0, iptables 1.3.5, OpenSSH 4.3p2, Perl 5.8.8, PHP 4.4.2, Postfix 2.2.8, PostgreSQL 8.1.2 and Samba 3.0.21b. Read the brief release announcement and the comprehensive changelog for more details. Download (MD5): devil-linux-1.2.9-i486.tar.bz2 (166MB), devil-linux-1.2.9-i586-SMP.tar.bz2 (166MB), devil-linux-1.2.9-i686-SMP-server.tar.bz2 (164MB).
A new, much enhanced development build of BeleniX, an OpenSolaris-based live CD, has been released: "This is a major new release featuring some significant additions: enhanced the lofi (loopback file device) kernel module to support on the fly decompression using zlib; maximum zlib compression has allowed adding in 1.5 GB of software on the CD with room for more; compression has also provided significant boot time reductions; includes the latest KDE 3.5.1 and KOffice 1.5 beta with native OpenDocument support; includes all of the GNOME base libraries; includes other applications like Amarok music player, Evince document viewer, GIMP...." Read the rest of the release announcement for a complete list of new features. Download: belenix04.iso (618MB, MD5).
Quoting a message published on the Mandriva Cooker list, Warped Systems reports that a beta release of Mandriva Linux One, a live CD with an option to install it to a hard disk, is available: "Available on the mirrors, a beta version of a new live CD based on Mandriva Linux 2006. This live CD is a complete Mandriva Linux system, which you can use directly from the CD or install on your hard drive. It includes OpenOffice.org, KDE, Firefox, GIMP, Amarok... You are welcome to test, especially the installation wizard. Please report the problems on Bugzilla for the distribution Mandriva Linux One 2006.0. You only need one CD, just pick the one depending on you language." The ISO image containing English and most Western European languages can be downloaded from here: Mandriva-One-Occident-2006-0.1-CD.iso (661MB, MD5).
The second beta of QiLinux 2.0 is out: "The QiLinux Team is pleased to announce the availability of QiLinux 2.0beta2. What's new? Fix GRUB boot loader installation; fix installation without proprietary video drivers; configure sound card with jack for (half duplex) secondary device when primary (full duplex) device doesn't work; fix error on adding foomatic printers via KDE interface; fix keyboard problem on second stage install; add tool for boot loader recovery from install media (select '8' on boot); fix scanner support...." Read the complete release announcement for further details. Compared to the first beta release, only the first of the six CD images has been updated; get it from here: QiLinux-free-2.0beta2-cd1.iso (646MB, MD5).
A new version of INSERT (Inside Security Rescue Toolkit) has been released: "Here we go! Finally a new version of INSERT emerges from the depths of the build machine. The size has grown to near 60MB, since our supplier of credit-card sized CDs promised me to be able to squeeze 60MB on the thing; the Linux kernel was updated to 2.6.12.5; Captive was updated to 1.1.7 and can now use the Windows XP driver files from SP2; the native NTFS driver and tools have write support; a custom build of the latest version of the great graphical partitioning GUI GParted was added; Reiser4 is supported." Read the rest of the release notes for further details. Download the English and German editions from here: INSERT-1.3.6_en.iso (59.8MB, MD5) or INSERT-1.3.6_de.iso (59.8MB, MD5).
The third alpha release of Nexenta OS, a new operating system combining the OpenSolaris kernel with Debian GNU/Linux utilities and packages, is now available. What's new? "This release contains 3,596 packages, and in particular: OpenOffice.org 2.0 (distributed with both InstallCD and LiveCD); storage subsystem; OpenSolaris build #34, non-DEBUG kernel. The LiveCD 'Alpha 2' problem is now fixed. Also, we were able to fit in the entire OpenOffice.org 2.0 suite (110MB compressed) into the LiveCD image, and still keep the result below 700MB, which is suitable for most CD writers. The trick: ZFS compression. NexentaOS Installer: added time zone management." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download: elatte_installcd_alpha3_i386.iso.gz (620MB) or elatte_livecd_alpha3_i386.iso.gz (487MB).
Puppy Linux 1.0.8 is out: "Puppy Linux version 1.0.8 is released. The biggest news item is the move from OSS to ALSA sound. A modified version of the alsaconf script is used to auto-configure the sound at boot-up. Puppy 1.0.7 has the Xvesa and X.Org X servers, but the latter is stuck on 'us' keyboard layout as the xkb component of X.Org is missing. Puppy 1.0.8 has a reduced xkb component that will now give correct keyboard layout and characters for the major countries. Lior Tubor has greatly improved the original Blinky taskbar network monitor, and we now have Lior's version 0.6 of Blinky...." Continued reading the release notes for more details. Download: puppy-1.0.8-mozilla.iso (61.5MB, MD5) or puppy-multisession-1.0.8-mozilla.iso (61.5MB, MD5).
The first pre-release of the rPath-based Foresight Desktop Linux 0.9.4 is ready for testing: "I am please to announce another release of Foresight Desktop Linux. I am also quite proud to say we have reached Conary 1.0, which is included! Virtually everything is updated, too much to list. We are now derived from rPath Linux 1.0. A major update is GNOME. We are now sporting the new, shiny GNOME 2.13.91. This is the current development branch of GNOME, but quite stable. Some highlights: Conary 1.0.2, kernel 2.6.15.3; GNOME 2.13.91; NetworkManager 0.5.1; latest Banshee, Beagle and F-Spot...." See the release announcement for additional details. Download: foresight-0.9.4.pre1-i386-disc1.iso (650MB), foresight-0.9.4.pre1-i386-disc2.iso (72MB).
A new version of the Slackware-based GoblinX Mini distribution has been released. "Released GoblinX Mini 1.2.2, the small special edition of GoblinX. GoblinX Mini 1.2.2 is an upgraded release with the addition of new features. The most special feature is 'liveupgrade' - by using this script you can to re-master a new distribution, also from RAM memory. We also made a few changes to the 'goinstall' script, corrected some small errors, and added several more corrections and upgrades to make this a very nice release, even though it can be less stable because of Unionfs." Read the rest of release announcement for further information. Download: GoblinXMini-1.2.2.iso (150MB, MD5).
The ParallelKNOPPIX live CD has been updated. What's new? "Open MPI at version 1.0.1, the pi example for C shows how to use it; mpich.tar.gz is included in the 'Examples' directory, this shows how to compile and install software on a running cluster, and lets you run a very cool parallel Mandelbrot set plotter; Ganglia removed for the time being; missing MPITB source included; montecarlo.m does dynamic load balancing and is robust to node failure; tutorial updated." Visit the project's home page to read the release announcement and to learn more about the distribution. Download from here: parallelknoppix-2006-02-20.iso (614MB, MD5).
The second beta releases of both the stable FreeBSD 6.x and legacy FreeBSD 5.x series are now available for testing: "The FreeBSD Release Engineering Team is pleased to announce the availability of FreeBSD 6.1-BETA2 and FreeBSD 5.5-BETA2. Both FreeBSD 6.1 and FreeBSD 5.5 are meant to be a refinement of their respective branches with few dramatic changes. A lot of bugfixes have been made, some drivers have been updated, and some areas have been tweaked for better performance, etc. but no large changes have been made to the basic architecture. The FreeBSD 5.5 Release is being done for people who are unable to make the jump to FreeBSD 6.X at this time." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details and known issues. Download (i386, MD5): 6.1-BETA2-i386-disc1.iso (571MB), 6.1-BETA2-i386-disc2.iso (648MB).
The first beta of QiLinux 2.0 is ready for testing: "We are proud to announce the release of QiLinux 2.0beta1 free edition. A list of the most important changes: KDE desktop new version 3.5.1; low latency audio system based on Jack Audio Toolkit; new hardware access architecture based on udev and hal; bootloader GRUB; support for new multimedia peripherals; UTF-8 support; Linux kernel 2.6.15.4; GCC 4.0.2; X.Org 6.9.0 and updated ATI and NVIDIA video drivers; OpenOffice.org 2;hundreds of new software packages available." More details can be found in the release announcement. There are 6 ISO images to download; those readers who are interested in testing the new release can get them from this directory.
Fedora Core 5 Test 3 has been released: "The Fedora Project announces the third release of the Fedora Core 5 development cycle, available for the i386, x86_64, and PPC/PPC64 architectures. Notable features: Xen, now with x86_64; package selection within the installer has been reenabled; rebuilt again on later GCC 4.1 snapshot for performance and security; hibernate should be functional on a wide variety of hardware again; PPC install CDs are bootable once again; unified SRPM set instead of one per arch; lots of bug fixes from Test 2 release testing; 1600+ Extras packages conveniently available via yum." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details and download links. The ISO images are available for download from Fedora mirrors worldwide and also via BitTorrent.
Hedinux (formerly known as Octoz) GNU/Linux is an i686-optimised desktop Linux distribution built from scratch. The first alpha of the new version 2006.1 has been released: "After more than six months of work, we're happy to announce Hedinux 2006.1-alpha. A lot of hard work have been done so far: the distribution was build with the 'Linux From Scratch' book and GCC 4.0.2; the latest stable kernel is available in version 2.6.15.4; performance improvements for the 'hed' package manager and bug fixes; faster boot up; new major packages: CUPS, SSH, Sane...; a simpler GNOME menu; latest versions of desktop environments: GNOME 2.12.3, KDE 3.5.1, XFCE 4.2.3.2, Enlightenment 0.17." More details can be found in the announcement on Hedinux.org. Download (MD5): hedinux-install-cd-2006.1-alpha.iso (603MB) or hedinux-live-2006.1-alpha.iso (621MB).
A new version of Annvix, a security-enhanced, server-oriented distribution based on Mandriva Linux, has been released: "Annvix 1.2-RELEASE (Cerberus) is now available! Most of the changes since 1.1 were made to the development process; however it includes some updated software and security fixes. It is recommended that everyone using 1.1 upgrade soon as it is no longer supported. Some of the features include: 2.4.32 kernel with the Openwall Linux kernel patch and RSBAC support; updated services including OpenSSH 4.3p2, runit 1.3.3, PostgreSQL 8.0.7, PHP 4.4.2, and Apache 2.0.55...." Read the release announcement and release notes for more information. Download the "netinstall" ISO images from here: annvix-netinstall-i586-1.2-RELEASE.iso (181MB) or annvix-netinstall-x86_64-1.2-RELEASE.iso (187MB).
The fourth alpha release (also known as "Flight") of the upcoming Ubuntu Linux 6.04 "Dapper Drake" is available for download: "This week brings us Dapper Flight 4, the fourth alpha release of Ubuntu 6.04 - The Dapper Drake. Dapper Flight 4 is the product of over 3 months of tremendous effort to mold the latest and greatest software the open source community has to offer into a coherent easy to use whole. The most significant milestone for Dapper Flight 4 is the UVF (Upstream Version Freeze). Aside from a few exceptions such as GNOME 2.14 and Espresso, most of what is in Dapper now is what will be in the final release in April." Visit the Dapper Flight 4 page for further details and screenshots showing the latest improvements. Quick links to the i386 ISO images (MD5): dapper-install-i386.iso (641MB) and dapper-live-i386.iso (615MB). New Kubuntu and Edubuntu images are also available.
After much delay, the fourth beta release of SUSE Linux 10.1 is out: "I'm glad to announce that we finally have a Beta4 available. Beta4 has a number of rough edges, so read the following before you decide to download and test it. I advise to not put it on any production system! Beta4 is really for the adventurous experts and not for anybody without good Linux experience. The installer is in a rather bad shape, only installation is supported - and the partitioner has some regressions as well. The rest of the system should be stable." Read the rest of the release announcement for details. The ISO images can be downloaded from a number of SUSE mirrors as well as via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-Linux-10.1-beta4-i386 (3,338MB).
Elive 0.4, featuring the latest development builds of both Enlightenment 16 and 17, has been released. New features: "This version is a stabilization of 0.3, a better release with all bad things fixed, but also with many of new features; new installer, with more file systems supported and a cleaner installation; Elive mounts automatically USB sticks and CD-ROMs, Debian-based kernel 2.6.12 + udev; Firefox with Java and Flash; ELPANEL - the new control panel of Elive with many features; easy printer configuration; Cinelerra 2.0; Elive is now much faster - DMA enabled; driver modules updated and new ones added; new version of AMSN with webcam support...." Visit the distribution's download page to see the complete list of new features, bug fixes and known issues. Elive 0.4 is available for download via BitTorrent: Elive_0.4.iso (700MB).
LinEspa is a Spanish Linux distribution and live CD based on KNOPPIX and optimised for Spanish and Latin American users. The latest release, version 0.32, has been specially prepared for the International Conference of Free Software in Málaga, Spain, where some 1,000 CDs containing the distribution were given away. The most important changes in this release include a new kernel 2.6.15, addition of the AMSN messenger 0.95 with support for webcams, and new versions of Firefox (1.0.7) and Thunderbird (1.0.7). See the release announcement (in Spanish) for additional information. Download: LinEspa-0.32.iso (636MB, MD5).
A new major release of the Slackware-based Zenwalk Linux is out: "Zenwalk 2.2 has been released! This version introduces many improvements at system and desktop levels. Zenwalk 2.2 runs atop Linux kernel version 2.6.15.4, introducing an improved hotplug subsystem, fully based on udev. This is a major change in the way Linux handles hotpluging and coldpluging, thus resulting in faster boot times. About 140 packages have been updated, including the Mozilla Firefox web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird email client, AbiWord word processor, Gnumeric spreadsheet.... Like before, the Zenwalk desktop is based on XFce (version 4.3.0)." Read the full release announcement for further details. Download: zenwalk-2.2.iso (416MB, MD5).
The second beta release of VectorLinux 5.1 Live, Standard edition, is ready for download and testing: "Here it is - VectorLinux 5.1 LIVE beta 2. I have fixed all the bugs that have been reported in beta1 and a few we've found in the forum. I have updated OpenOffice.org to version 2 and fixed the NVIDIA drivers - they should auto-configure now. Downgraded udev to 071 (was causing hotplug to hang somehow). That's it for now, please keep the bug reports coming." Here is the complete release announcement. Download: VL-5.1-LIVE-beta2.iso (603MB, MD5).
The first ever stable release of rPath Linux is out: "rPath Linux 1 available (x86 and x86_64). rPath Linux is a freely-available Linux operating system distribution, built with the Conary distributed software management system, supported and maintained by rPath, Inc. The rPath Linux distribution contains high-quality, up-to-date software, and is the base development platform for creating software appliances and purpose-built distributions using rBuilder Online." Read the rest of the release notes for further information. rPath Linux 1.0 is available for free download as a set of ISO images (CD and DVD) for the i386 and x86_64 architectures. Here is a quick download link to the i386 DVD image: rpath-1.0-i386-dvd.iso (1,295MB, MD5, SHA1).
Openwall GNU/*/Linux 2.0 has been released: "After many Owl-current snapshots, Owl 2.0 release is finally out. Owl 2.0 is built around Linux kernel 2.4.32-ow1, glibc 2.3.6 (with our security enhancements), GCC 3.4.5, and recent versions of over 100 other packages. It offers binary- and package-level compatibility for most packages intended for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 (RHEL4) and Fedora Core 3 (FC3), as well as for many FC4 packages. Additionally, Owl 2.0 uses our new installer, making installation a lot easier than it used to be for Owl 1.1 and below." Read the release announcements with relevant links on the project's home page. Download: Owl-2.0-release-i386.iso.gz (408MB, SHA1). Openwall GNU/*/Linux is a security-enhanced operating system intended as a server platform.
The first release candidate of Skolelinux 2.0 has been released. According to the comprehensive changelog, all release critical bugs have now been fixed, the new LTSP package has been tested in production environment, and sound support has been added to thin clients. The startup time for the thin clients has been reduced and is now more in line with the earlier versions of LTSP. Translations of files and documentation have also been updated. This release candidate is expected to be the last before the final release of a new Skolelinux; if you'd like to help with testing and bug reporting, you can get the ISO image from here: debian-edu_sarge-i386-rc1.iso (698MB, MD5).
A new version of Berry Linux is now available. The latest release of the Fedora-based live CD ships with an upgraded kernel 2.6.15.4 (with SMP support, ndev/udev and bootsplash patches), KDE 3.5.1, Firefox 1.5.0.1 and Thunderbird 1.5. The lightweight Fluxbox window manager has been replaced with what looks like an alternative developed in-house and going under the name of "Rasp-UI". Wine 0.9.2 has been added to Berry Linux for the first time. Other updated applications include GIMP 2.2.10, Inkscape 0.43 and Sylpheed 2.0.6. See the full changelog for further information. Download (MD5) from here: berry-0.67.iso (479MB).
The first public beta release of the new Wolvix live CD, Media edition, is out: "The first public development release (beta2) of Wolvix Media Edition is finished. Notes: the cheatcodes now respond to wolvix " Read the rest of the release announcement for further details about what needs testing. Download via BitTorrent: Wolvix_Media_Edition-1.0.4beta2.iso (446MB).
Magic Linux 2.0 has been released. Compared to the previous stable version of this popular Chinese community distribution, the most important new features in version 2.0 include the following: 'devfs' has been replaced by 'udev', 'hal' and 'dbus' for improved automounting of external storage devices; better hardware compatibility, which solves some of the problems reported after the release of 1.2; beautification of the KDE user interface, improved device management, now integrated into the Magic Control Centre; updated system installer; addition of new applications (e.g. Eva IM client, BitStorm Lite); bug fixes. More details can be found in the release announcement (in Chinese). Magic Linux 2.0 is available for download via BitTorrent: MagicLinux-2.0 (666MB).
After two release candidates, Grafpup Linux 1.0.2 final has been released: "Grafpup Standard 1.0.2 is officially released and available on the server. There is an extensive list of changes and upgrades in this release: GIMP has been updated to 2.2.10, with extra plugins for RAW decoding and CMYK conversion; Inkscape is updated to 0.43; Scribus is now 1.2.4; MtPaint is now 2.29.30; Gaim is now 1.5.0; Xarchive replaces guiTAR; Xlock screen locker; Visual improvements including new wallpaper, splash screen, icons, menu improvements, less desktop clutter; other tweaks i.e. Opera now uses ROX as the default file handler...." See the release announcement for further details. Download (MD5): Grafpup_standard-1.0.2.iso (73.7MB). Grafpup Linux is a small distribution providing a collection of software for graphics designers.
A new development snapshot of Mockup has been released: "The Mockup team is proud to announce the release of Mockup 0.2.0. This release doesn't provide an installer so you only have a live CD with a fully working KDE 3.5.0 desktop environment with some Mockup patches and an initial version of its artwork. The .deb packages repository has been updated and contains programs like Kopete, KOffice, GStreamer 0.8 and Kontact." The new release of the Qt-based and desktop-oriented distribution ships with kernel 2.6.12 and X.Org 6.9.0, all packaged on a live CD built with Unionfs support. See the release announcement and this mailing list post for a detailed feature list and known issues. Download (MD5): mockup-0.2.0.iso (346MB).
Dreamlinux is a Brazilian Linux distribution based on Morphix and the XFce desktop. The newly released STUDIO edition, available in English and Portuguese, is built on top of the earlier 1.2.1 XFce release, but ships with extra application for audio, video and web design, including Audacity, Avidemux, Blender, Cinelerra, and Nvu, among many others. The product functions as a bootable live CD with an optional hard disk installation module, as well as a Morphix Control Panel for easy modification of system settings. For more information about about Dreamlinux please visit the project's home page (in Portuguese) and read the latest changelog. Download from here: DLxfceSE_060210en.iso (474MB).
A development snapshot of the upcoming Ark Linux 2006.1 has been released for download and testing: "A new development snapshot of the soon-to-be Ark Linux 2006.1 is ready for testing. This release differs from Ark Linux 2005.2 mostly in the underlying technology (such as upgrades to X.Org 7.0, KDE 3.5.1, glibc 2.3.90 and GCC 4.1-svn), numerous bug fixes, and improved hardware support (most notably, many ATI PCI Express cards now support 3D acceleration out of the box. The snapshot can be found in the dockyard-devel/iso directory of your favorite Ark Linux mirror. Please give it some testing and report bugs before we call it 2006.1." Here is the complete release announcement. Download: arklinux.iso (680MB, MD5).
The second pre-release of SME Server 7.0 is ready for download and testing: "SME Server 7.0 pre-release 2 is on its way to the mirrors." Changes since the previous pre-release: "Includes latest CentOS kernel and updates; reconfiguration reboot now requested after software installer updates; simple 'yum' wrapper added to remind people to reconfigure after using 'yum'; completion of change to contribs.org styling; updated French translation; bug fixes." Read the release announcement for further information. Download from here: smeserver-7.0pre2.iso (429MB, MD5).
A live CD edition of MoLinux 2.0 has been released. The most important enhancement of the new product is the incorporation of "Ubuntu-express", a graphical hard disk installation program developed in cooperation with the Guadalinex project. The installer also includes a partitioning program (GParted), enabling users to resize existing partitions and make space for MoLinux. Additionally, the new release comes with several feature enhancements and bug fixes. For more information please read the release announcement on the distribution's home page (in Spanish). Download: Molinux2.0_live.iso (609MB, MD5). MoLinux is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution developed by the government of Castilla la Mancha in Spain.
A new pre-release build of the Elive live CD 0.4 is out. Designed for fans of the Enlightenment window manager, the new version includes the latest development code of both E16, the current stable release, and E17, the new major update of the beautiful desktop. Besides featuring the Enlightenment eye-candy, the live CD also includes the latest versions of Blender (2.41), Cinerella (2.0.0), and other popular applications for graphics and multimedia use. The distribution's entire base system has been synchronised with the Debian testing branch. Testing is expected to last one week and if no showstopper bugs are found, this pre-release will become 0.4 final. Here is the complete release announcement. The Elive ISO image is available for download via BitTorrent: elive_0.4_pre.iso (696MB).
The third release candidate of the source-based Lunar Linux distribution is now available for testing: "Here is the third release candidate for the final 1.6.0-i686 series installation ISO. As with rc1 and rc2, this is a testing release and approaches the quality we are looking for in the -final release. A lot of small bugs in rc1 and rc2 have been addressed making this an extremely useful release. This release has several feature enhancements over rc1 and rc2. The most noticeable is the Linux Software RAID tool that allows you to install Lunar on Software RAID easily. Precompiled SELINUX enhanced kernels can now be installed, and the server-targeted kernels should have better IO performance. The installer now uses normal console logins and fully enabled shells." The release announcement. Download: lunar-1.6.0-i686-rc3.iso.bz2 (256MB, MD5).
The FreeBSD project has announced new beta versions of the stable FreeBSD 6 branch as well as the legacy FreeBSD 5.x series: "The FreeBSD Release Engineering Team is pleased to announce the beginning of both the FreeBSD 6.1 and FreeBSD 5.5 release cycles with the availability of FreeBSD 6.1-BETA1 and FreeBSD 5.5-BETA1. Both FreeBSD 6.1 and FreeBSD 5.5 are meant to be a refinement of their respective branches with few dramatic changes. A lot of bugfixes have been made, some drivers have been updated, and some areas have been tweaked for better performance, etc. but no large changes have been made to the basic architecture." Find more details in the release announcement. Download (i386, MD5): 6.1-BETA1-i386-disc1.iso (568MB) and 6.1-BETA1-i386-disc2.iso (258MB).
After a long wait, SimplyMEPIS 3.4-3 is declared stable: "SimplyMEPIS, version 3.4-3 is finally released. Any further changes will be made available as updates from the MEPIS pool. Look for 3.4-3 in the released subdirectory at the MEPIS Subscriber's Site and public mirrors. The over 900 packages preinstalled in SimplyMEPIS 3.4-3 include X.Org 6.8, KDE 3.4.3, OpenOffice.org 2.0.1, Firefox 1.5, and a 2.6.15 kernel. As usual, SimplyMEPIS is multimedia-ready with integrated players for all major media types. For example, MAC and PC iPods should work seamlessly with Amarok." Read the complete press release for further information. Download: SimplyMEPIS_3.4-3.iso (698, MD5).
Following the recent release of VectorLinux Linux 5.1.2 SOHO Live, the developers of the distribution's Standard edition are also preparing a live CD of their product: "Well here it is. We couldn't let the SOHO people have all the fun, could we? This live CD represents as close as possible VectorLinux 5.1 Standard. It comes with kernel 2.6.15.3, udev 085, Ndiswrapper 1.9, and everything else from Standard, like IceWM, Fluxbox, and XFce 4. Please download and help us find some bugs to squash." Here is the informal release announcement. Download: VL-5.1-LIVE-beta1.iso (581MB, MD5).
Another day, another beta release of rPath Linux: "rPath Linux 0.99.6 is now available for download. As we approach the end of our beta testing, we would like to encourage the most extensive testing you are willing to do. Changes in this release: Conary 0.97.1; kernel 2.6.15.3 latest upstream version; dovecot: added default pop3_uidl_format setting so dovecot works out of the box; unzip now handles files larger than 2GB." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download the 3-CD image set from the distribution's main server or from one of the mirror sites.
Guadalinex 3.0 has been released. Guadalinex is an Ubuntu-based distribution developed by the government of AndalucÃa in Spain and designed to replace proprietary operating systems in government institutions and schools. According to the release announcement (in Spanish) the latest version comes with an improved hard disk installer, permitting installation of the operating system directly from the live CD; default setup of a separate /home partition; improved hardware detection; kernel 2.6.12, GNOME 2.12. Evolution 2.4, OpenOffice.org 2.0; wizards for network configuration, including Ethernet, WiFi, modem and ADSL; and the usual range of open source software. Download the live CD image from here: guadalinex_v3.0_live.iso (629MB, MD5).
Arudius is a Slackware-based live CD distribution containing an extensive set of software tools used by IT security professionals for penetration testing and vulnerability analysis. Version 0.5 has been released: "Arudius 0.5 released! This release features the addition of some novel security tools - tools for passive network discovery by analyzing broadcast traffic, very fast SMB password cracking tool and a UPnP device discovery tool analyzing M-SEARCH packets, to mention a few among others." Visit the project's home page to read the release announcement and to learn more about the distribution. Download: arudius-0.5.iso (206MB, MD5). The Arudius project also produces a NetBSD-based live CD called "NeWBIE".
Guardian Digital has released an updated version of EnGarde Secure Linux, Community edition: "Guardian Digital is happy to announce the release of EnGarde Secure Community 3.0.4. This release includes several bug fixes and feature enhancements to the Guardian Digital WebTool and the SELinux policy, and several new packages available for installation. New features include: a new GDSN package management interface in WebTool; a new Spanish translation of the Guardian Digital WebTool; new Guardian Digital WebTool modules for DHCP and UPS services...." Here is the release announcement. Download: engarde-community-3.0.4.i686.iso (623MB, MD5), engarde-community-3.0.4.x86_64.iso (611MB, MD5).
Parsix GNU/Linux has been updated to version 0.76: "To celebrate first anniversary of the Parsix GNU/Linux project, an updated, fixed and improved version of Parsix GNU/Linux is available now. Important changes since 0.75 are: added many WLAN drivers to all kernels; added sl-modem and ltmodem drivers to all kernels; Ndiswrapper 1.8 support; added English starter guide; added support for many locales like de, fr, it; added Firestarter personal firewall; removed Evolution to make more space on the CD-ROM for new documents; Linux 2.6.14.5, GNOME 2.12.2, X.Org 6.9, OpenOffice.org 2.0.1...." The release announcement. Download: parsix_076.iso (688MB, MD5).
Damn Small Linux 2.2 has been released. From the changelog: "Updated dmix - added sync button for easy volume control; updated Wallpaper.lua now has color chooser for background color; updated pcitable to correctly support Broadcom b44 module; new extension check upon exit, will remind user to save extensions downloaded to ramdisk before shutdown; updated French keymaps; for maximum hardware support on older computers, kernel and modules were changed back to 2.4.26 including legacy SCSI and ZIP drive support; Calcoo replaces Xcalc; updated and enhanced index.html for Money websever; USB 2.0 boot time detection added to isolinux version...." Download: dsl-2.2.iso (49.2MB, MD5).
The GoblinX project has released GoblinX Premium 2006.1. Unlike the Slackware-based distribution's previous versions, no downloadable ISO images are available this time, but experienced Linux users can build the complete ISO from modules by following the instructions in the latest GoblinX newsletter. Alternatively, the product can also be obtained from On-disk.com for US$9.99. GoblinX 2006.1 comes with kernel 2.6.15, X.Org 6.8.2, KDE 3.4.2, XFce 4.2.2, and Firefox 1.5, while the premium edition also includes Java and proprietary graphics drivers from ATI and NVIDIA. For more information please see the distribution's product page. The individual modules can be downloaded from this directory.
Bluewall GNU/Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution with a twist - instead of apt, it uses NetBSD's pkgsrc as its preferred package management software. Version 1.2 was released today: "After a long time, a new Bluewall has been released. This is a transient release - after the maintainer change, this version tries to be a testing release, but feel free to report bugs! This new version updates the base debian to Debian unstable and also integrates the current CVS tree and some 541 i386-binary pkgsrc packages like GNOME 2.12.2, GIMP 2.2.10, X.Org 6.8.1...." Find more details on the distribution's home page. Download: bluewall-1.2.iso (642MB) or bluewall-1.2-lite.iso (129MB).
The first public release of BackTrack, a SLAX-based live CD with a collection of security and penetration testing tools, is now available: "Yes, it's out there and its wild. Remote-Exploit would like to introduce BackTrack - the consolidation of the two leading penetration testing live CD distributions - WHAX and Auditor. The new distro features the best of both distributions, and lots of nifty features, including the latest tools and exploits, an appealing interface, accessibility, and rich Python development environment." Visit the project's news page to find out more about the release. Download: backtrack-beta-05022006.iso (625MB, MD5).
A new beta of rPath Linux incorporating several security fixes has been released: "Hard on the heels of rPath Linux 0.99.4 comes an update that includes primarily security updates; new Firefox, Mozilla, and Poppler have several security vulnerabilities addressed. Ongoing information: Conary 0.96; conary-policy 0.90.2; Firefox 1.5.0.1, latest upstream version for security enhancements; Mozilla updated with patches for vulnerabilities; Poppler updated to 0.4.4, latest upstream version, to fix JPEG decoding vulnerabilities; system-tools-backends now has support for rPath Linux and derived distros; the kernel has been rebuilt...." Here is the full release announcement. The new ISO images for i386 and x86_64 architectures can be downloaded from the project's FTP server or mirror sites.
RR4 Linux 3.0 Beta 0 has been released: "RR4 Linux 3.0 is the most advanced and complete Gentoo GNU/Linux distribution on the Internet. SMP, XEN, Internet kiosk, XsistenCe, Gentoo Linux Installer and much more. Features: powered by Linux kernel 2.6.15 (with Reiser4 support); full SMP support; Xen 3.0 support; compiled for i586 with MMX support; NPTL glibc 2.3.6 with performance patches; VMware Ready (using SCSI or ATA); Internet kiosk capabilities (using NX 1.5.0 framework); new modular X.Org 7.0; official desktop environment: KDE 3.5.0; included: GNOME 2.12.2, XFce 4.2.3, Fluxbox 0.9.14, Enlightenment 0.16...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download via BitTorrent: RR4-Linux-3.0.b0.iso.bz2 (2,584MB, MD5).
A new version of Underground Desktop is out: "I'm seeding a torrent of Underground Desktop 022. The new ISO contains updates to most software, including the just released KDE 3.5.1, and X.Org 7.0. Apart from this, the filesystem is now ReiserFS v3 instead of Reiser4 - which seems not stable and fast enough - and the bootloader is GRUB instead of LILO. Also included in the ISO are wireless drivers for Ndiswrapper supported and prism2-based cards. This release is still experimental and not much tested, so don't expect everything to work out of the box - use at your own risk." Here is the full release announcement. Download via BitTorrent: underground_022.iso (633MB, MD5).
The third preview of the Pingwinek 1.0 live CD/DVD has been released: "Long awaited Pingwinek GNU/Linux 1.0preview3 codename 'Light' is ready! Many improvements have been made since preview2. A new boot system - InitNG, X.Org 7.0, kernel 2.6.15, udev 0.81, etcnet, Tango icons and new coldplug / hotplug. Fast boot in the live CD, text mode in 0:34 and full login to GNOME since boot in 1:25! There are two editions: L (LiveCD - recommended) which contains GNOME 2.12 and XFce 4.2, and XL (LiveDVD) which also contains the latest Enlightenment 17 and Matchbox desktop environments." Visit the project's home page to read the release announcement. Download (MD5): pingwinek-1.0preview3-l.i686.iso (700MB) or pingwinek-1.0preview3-xl.i686.iso (1,347MB).
The Fedora-based BLAG Linux and GNU distribution has been updated to version 30002: "BLAG 30002 (Johannesburg) has been released. BLAG is a single CD distro with everything desktop users 'expect' from a desktop, plus a collection of nice server applications. BLAG 30002 is based on Fedora Core 3 plus updates, adds applications from Dag, Freshrpms, NewRPMS, and includes custom packages. BLAG 30002 is the latest update to the BLAG 30k series, using the last updates from Fedora before moving to the Fedora Legacy project. New CD packages include kiax (VoIP softphone), netcat and xvid4conf." Read the full release announcement for further information. Download from here: BLAG-30002.iso (701MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
Pentoo is a Gentoo-based live CD with a collection of tools designed for penetration testing. A new "mini" edition, fitting on a 256 MB USB storage device and featuring the Enlightenment 17 window manager, has been released: "I'm pleased to announce the immediate availability of Mini-Pentoo 2006.0 final version. This version is only 186 MB fat and fits on mini CD or a 256 MB USB pen drive. It features the bare minimum tools for penetration testing and supports module addition ala SLAX, allowing you to add some more stuff as you see fit. You can also save your /etc, /root, ExploitTree and Nessus on a USB pen drive." Find more information in the release announcement and download page. Get the ISO image from here: mpentoo.2006.0.iso (186MB, MD5).
A new beta of rPath Linux has been released: "rPath Linux 0.99.4 is now available for download. It contains Conary 0.94, and OpenOffice.org 2.0.1 in order to support OpenDocument format. Many packages were rebuilt to use automatic Perl and Python dependencies. Unfortunately, moving to the new OpenOffice.org required us to provide three ISO images instead of two. As we approach the end of our beta testing, we would like to encourage the most extensive testing you are willing to do." The kernel was also updated to version 2.6.15.2. For a more detailed list of important changes please refer to the release announcement. The three ISO images for i386 and x86_64 architectures are currently available for download from the distribution's main server, but should also propagate to mirror sites within the next day or two.
The third beta of release of SUSE Linux 10.1 is out: "SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename 'Agama Lizard' Beta2 is ready for testing." The brief release announcement doesn't list any fixes or updates in this release, but it does warn about issues with fontconfig and provides a link to an updated RPM of the package. Among the included software, Perl has updated to 5.8.8, OpenLDAP to 2.3.19, and Samba to 3.0.21b. As always, testers are encouraged to report bugs on the project's bug reporting facility. To download the complete ISOs, delta ISOs and BitTorrent files for three architectures please visit the download and mirror pages. A quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-10.1-CD-OSS-i386-Beta3 (3,345MB).
Nearly 18 months since the previous release, a new version of SystemRescueCD is now available for download. What's new? "Updated the kernel to Linux-2.6.15.1; updated the system (udev 080, hotplug, coldplug); updated LVM tools (evms, device-mapper); added Reiser4 support (support in the kernel and reiser4progs); updated NTFS support (improved support in the kernel, and ntfsprogs); updated Parted to 1.6.23; updated bootloader support; updated file systems tools; updated bootdisks (memtest+ and 'Offline NT Password and registry editor'); updated ClamAV virus definitions." See the changelog for further details. Download: systemrescuecd-x86-0.2.16.iso (118MB, MD5). SystemRescueCD is a Gentoo-based live CD with graphical tools for partitioning hard disks and other maintenance and rescue tasks.
The second preview of Frugalware Linux 0.4 has been released: "The Frugalware Developer Team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 0.4pre2, the second technical preview release of 0.4. A short and incomplete list of changes since 0.4pre1: 'libificated' Pacman to meet our needs and the newborn Pacman 3 has become the default package manager; network configuration has been redesigned; created new, more verbose documentation; switched to udev as the default hotplug multiplexer. As usual, Frugalware comes with the latest version of upstream stable releases, including Linux kernel 2.6.15, modularized X.Org 7.0 and Apache 2.2.0." Please visit the distribution's news page to learn more about the release. Download (MD5): frugalware-0.4pre2-i686-cd1.iso (491MB), frugalware-0.4pre2-i686-cd2.iso (694MB).
The developers of Grafpup Linux, a small Puppy Linux-based distribution for graphic designers, have announced the first release candidate of version 1.0.2: "I'm releasing this as the first test of Grafpup 1.0.2, code named 'pheonix'. Not every piece is in place but it should all be functional with the exception of Pupget, which will be fixed for the final. Major changes this release: GIMP package is now 2.2.10 and includes various extra plugins (CMYK, RAWphoto, webotine); Scribus updated to 1.2.4; Inkscape updated to 0.43; less cluttered desktop icons; DCRAW conversion utility; mtPaint updated to the newest beta version, which can do GIF animations; Xarchive replaces guiTar; Firewire ready; several other packages rebuilt from within Grafpup for better stability; menu updates to reflect current or planned packages; Icemc menu editor." More details in the release announcement. Download: grafpup_standard-1.0.2rc1.iso (74.0MB).
One more release candidate before the final SimplyMEPIS 3.4-3? "SimplyMEPIS release candidate, version 3.4-3 rc4 adds some last minute fixes. We plan for this to be FINAL. Further changes will be handled with in-line updates that will be available to everyone via the MEPIS pool. A typo was fixed that might help with non-root access to printers; meauto and the oscenter were modified to explicitly set the WEP key mode; udev was updated and this fixed most of the problems with floppy detection; Kplayer's file associations in KDE were minimized so Kplayer would not interfere with the other multimedia plugins...." Here is the complete release announcement. Download: SimplyMEPIS_3.4-3.rc4.iso (699MB, MD5).
A new alpha release of NexentaOS, an operating system combining the OpenSolaris kernel with Debian packages, is out: "NexentaOS ('elatte') Alpha 2 is now available! The following are the Alpha 2 highlights: new installer (auto-partitioning, InstallCD upgrade, network interface configuration); two new desktop managers, in addition to GNOME; Wi-Fi drivers (802.11 drivers for Intel Centrino, Atheros, Prism chipsets); full support for removable drives; complete Mono platform; Java Runtime Environment; more audio drivers; OpenSolaris build #30, non-DEBUG kernel." More details, together with a complete changelog, can be found on the project's download page. Get the new installation CD from here: elatte_installcd_alpha2_i386.iso.gz (541MB).
SLAX, the popular Slackware-based live CD, has been updated to version 5.0.7. What's new? "Using 2.6 Linux kernel with support for many SCSI devices; added KDE 3.5 and X.Org 7; added Squashfs 3.0 support, should be backwards compatible with 2.2; added newest Unionfs 1.1.2 which fixes many bugs but cause the following: 'uselivemod' doesn't work well and 'configrestore' is untested but should work; hard disk installer has been removed in this version." A more detailed list of changes can be found in the changelog. Download from here: slax-5.0.7.iso (184MB, MD5).
Ultima Linux 8 has been released: "Ultima Linux 8 is the latest and greatest version yet, packing in everything you could possibly need - be it a home desktop or an industrial-strength server. It packs in over 350 unique packages, including the famous KDE desktop, Enlightenment window manager, Firefox and Thunderbird, OpenOffice.org, The GIMP, and all your other favorite programs - all in a convenient two-disc set." Visit the distribution's product page to learn about the changes in the new release. The two ISO images are available for free download via BitTorrent: ultimalinux-8-1.iso (651MB) and ultimalinux-8-2.iso (672MB).
A new live CD edition of VectorLinux has been released: "The VectorLinux development team is proud to announce SOHO 5.1.2-live. We started with SOHO 5.1, added all the recent bugfix patches, and rolled it into a live CD. This is what I believe to be the most feature packed live CD available. It comes with two complete desktops: KDE 3.4.2 and XFce 4. Built upon the great heritage that is Slackware, this release features the 2.6.15.1 kernel, OpenOffice.org 2.0, Firefox 1.5, Scribus, GIMP, MPlayer, multimedia plugins, printer and scanner support and everything a complete desktop or workstation should have. If you've ever wanted to try VectorLinux, or just wanted to show your friends without having to partition hard drives, then here is your chance." The release announcement. Download: VLSOHO-5.1.2-LIVE.iso (699MB, MD5).
The developers of Linux Caixa Mágica, a Portuguese desktop and server distribution based on SUSE Linux, have released a live CD edition of Caixa Mágica 10 Desktop. Designed as a bootable CD without the need to install it to a hard disk, this product is an excellent way to test the distribution and may also be given freely to friends and colleagues who might be interested in experimenting with Linux. The live CD boots into a KDE desktop localised into Portuguese. More information about the product is available in the release announcement (in Portuguese). Download the ISO image from here: CMdesk10_livecdv1.iso (689MB, MD5).
The the second release candidate of the source-based Lunar Linux 1.6.0 is ready for testing: "Here is the second release candidate for the final 1.6.0-i686 series ISO. As with rc1, this is a testing release and approaches the quality we are looking for in the -final release. A lot of small bugs in rc1 have been addressed making this an extremely useful release. Specifically, this release backs up all packages to the installed system for recovery purposes. Dmidecode was added to aid hardware discovery - it shows a ton of handy output on your system's hardware. Ethtool was added as well. The grsecurity kernels now actually are correctly built." More details can be found in the release announcement. Download: lunar-1.6.0-i686-rc2.iso.bz2 (255MB, MD5).
The rapid pace of SUSE development continues with the release of the second beta of SUSE Linux 10.1: "SUSE Linux 10.1 Codename 'Agama Lizard' Beta2 is ready for testing. Among many updates and enhancements, here the most important ones since beta2: fixes for a number of bugs - but note that most of the bugs reported against beta1 are not fixed yet; further integration and fixing of NetworkManager; SUSE Linux 10.1 Beta1 comes with the Intrusion Prevention framework; AppArmor 2.0 which is started by default in Beta2; update to KDE 3.5.1 release packages; subfs has been dropped." See the release announcement for further details. The ISO images are available for download from SUSE mirrors, as well as via BitTorrent; here is a quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-10.1-CD-OSS-i386-Beta2 (3,380MB).
The first release candidate of Damn Small Linux 2.2 has been released. From the changelog: "Updated dmix - added sync button for easy volume control; updated Wallpaper.lua now has color chooser for background color; updated pcitable to correctly support Broadcom b44 module; new extension check upon exit, will remind / allow user to save extensions downloaded to ramdisk before shutdown; updated French keymaps; for maximum hardware support on older computers, kernel and modules were changed back to 2.4.26; removed mc for space reasons; Ted help / manual now off loaded to current / documentation section of the download site; general clean-up of some unused directories and libraries." Download: dsl-2.2RC1.iso (49.9MB, MD5).
A new release candidate of the inaugural Rubix Linux release is ready for testing: "Rubix Linux 1.0rc2 is a feature complete, near-final release. The highlights include the following: kernel 2.6.15.1 with Reiser4 support; kernel 2.4.32, vanilla and patched for Grsecurity; GCC 3.4.4 patched with Stack Smashing Protection; Heimdal Kerberos support; SKey password support; KDE 3.5.0; Firefox and Thunderbird 1.5; X.Org 6.9; udev has completely replaced hotplug for 2.6 kernels; cleaned up and made the boot process much faster; encrypted partition support through loop-aes; online package browser; new custom Live CD...." See the full release announcement for details. Download: rubix_cd1-1.0rc2-i486.iso (398MB, MD5).
The third -- and hopefully final -- release candidate of SimplyMEPIS 3.4-3 is available: "It is hoped that SimplyMEPIS release candidate, version 3.4-3 rc3 addresses the remaining major issues reported by the test community. Look for it in the testing subdirectory at the MEPIS Subscriber's Site and public mirrors. It is believed that all of the udev issues have been fixed in the OSCenter. By popular demand, install GRUB at root is an option during installation. The install tips were updated. All users were added to the lp group, this was needed for third party printer utilities." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: SimplyMEPIS_3.4-3.rc3.iso (693MB, MD5).
grml is a bootable CD based on KNOPPIX and Debian with a collection of GNU/Linux software especially for users of texttools and system administrators. New versions of the distribution's two editions -- grml 0.6 (code name "Winterschlapfn") and grml 0.2-small (code name "Cory") -- were released over the weekend, bringing 99 new packages and many new features to the table. More details about the new packages and features are available in the two release announcements (grml 0.6 and grml 0.2-small), as well as on the project's web site. Download: grml_0.6.iso (700MB, MD5), grml_small_0.2.iso (55.8MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent.
GEOLivre Linux is a Kurumin and Debian-based Brazilian distribution with a collection of specialist software for geographical work. Version 5.0 was released on Saturday. Among the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software included in the distribution are: UMN MapServer, PostGIS, Open 3D GIS, Generic Mapping Tools (GMT), GRASS (geospatial data management and analysis), uDig (a geospacial application and platform), JUMP Unified Mapping Platform, Terraview, Spring (a remote sensing image processing system), Quantum GIS, Thuban (a multiplatform geographic data viewer), and QCad. A more detailed description of these software packages can be found in the release announcement (in Portuguese). Download GEOLivre Linux 5.0 from here: geolivre5_final.iso (690MB).
The second released candidate of PC-BSD 1.0 is out: "The latest cut of PC-BSD, version 1.0RC2 is now available! This update adds KDE 3.5 support, as well as some additional features and bugfixes. Changelog: updated core FreeBSD with latest security patches; upgraded KDE to 3.5.0; fixed loading of 'kcm fileshare' KDE module; online update checker now runs at system startup; only approbate sound module is loaded now; disabled DMA support during system installation process; some special characters are now prohibited from password creation; many packages have been updated to current versions...." Find more details in the release announcement, release notes and changelog. Download (MD5): PCBSD-1.0rc2-x86-CD1.iso (668MB).
The first beta of SUSE Linux 10.1 has been released: "SUSE Linux 10.1 Beta1, code name 'Agama Lizard', is ready for testing. Among many updates and enhancements here the most important ones: we're integrating NetworkManager into the product; the partitioner proposes to put /home on a separate partition; the core system comes with CVS versions of glibc 2.4 and GCC 4.1, X.Org 6.9, KDE 3.5, GNOME 2.12.2, Linux 2.6.15; it comes with the intrusion prevention framework AppArmor 2.0; the latest versions from the Mozilla project - Firefox 1.5 and SeaMonkey 1.0 pre-release." See the release announcement for further information. The 5-CD set ISO images for three processor architectures are available for download via BitTorrent or from one of the many SUSE mirrors. A quick link to the i386 torrent file: SUSE-10.1-CD-OSS-i386-Beta1 (3,3368MB).
Magic Linux is a Chinese community distribution with prominent support for simplified Chinese. The third and last release candidate of the upcoming version 2.0 is now ready for testing. Changes since RC2 include: fix for the NumLock lighting; fix for the error encountered when dragging a file with a Chinese name into the dustbin; fix for the installation of Chinese fonts under KDE; Shanghai now being the default time zone; fix for Konqueror configuration regarding Java path name, and much more. Besides bug fixes, new features in this development release include X.Org 6.9, kernel 2.6.15.1, a convenient script for hard disk installation, and new configuration tools for graphics card, mouse, and wireless network. Read the release announcement (in Chinese) for a more detailed list of changes. Download: MagicLinux-2.0rc3-1.iso (661MB, MD5).
The SOHO edition of VectorLinux 5.1 has been released: "The Vector development team is proud to announce the final release of our SOHO 5.1 product. This version of Vector is intended for the small office / home office user with a complete desktop experience featuring the KDE 3.4.2 desktop and XFce 4 as a light alternative. With Slackware at the core, this release features the 2.6.13 kernel, OpenOffice.org 2.0, Firefox 1.5, Scribus, the GIMP, MPlayer, multimedia plugins, printer and scanner support and everything a complete desktop or work station should have. We feature unique tools like the 'vasm' administrative menu, vl-hot (for auto-mounting external hard drives, digital cameras and pendrives), vxconfig for almost 100% GUI X configuration and a bootsplash screen never seen before." Read the full release announcement for all the glory details. Download from here: VLSOHO-5.1.iso (690MB, MD5).
The developers of VLOS (formerly Vidalinux Desktop OS) have released an updated version of their user-friendly distribution based on Gentoo Linux: "VLOS 1.2.1 is an updated version of VLOS 1.2, including a lot of changes: new Anaconda version updated to FC5 Test1 with X.Org 7.0, LVM2 and RAID partition support, GCC 4.0.1, glibc 2.3.5, GNOME 2.12.1, faster installation, enhanced auto-mounting of external devices in GNOME, WiFi radar now included, and much more. For the moment, AMD64 and i686 are available, but PPC will be available soon too. Go grab the full version edition in our store or the download edition from the download section." Read the release announcement and changelog for further details. Quick links to the torrent files: vlos-1.2.1-download_i686.iso (699MB), vlos-1.2.1-download_amd64.iso (676MB).
A new version of Parsix GNU/Linux, an Iranian distribution based on Debian and KANOTIX, has been released: "Finally, after two months of hard work, Parsix GNU/Linux 0.75 is ready! This version is the most complete and stable release of Parsix GNU/Linux ever. Many many improvements have been made since 0.70, such as new look and feel, highly improved installation system with existing installation update feature, automatic USB mass storage management, GNOME 2.12.2 desktop environment, Kernel 2.6.14.5 optimized for i686 and k7, i686-optimized libc6 with NPTL support, X.Org 6.9, new live and GRUB splash screens, Parsix documentation, many updated packages...." See the release announcement for more details. Download: parsix_0751.iso (697MB, MD5).
Having evolved from its original focus as a mini live CD, SAM is about to become a full-featured desktop Linux distribution. The first development release of SAM Linux Desktop 2006-1 has arrived: "After a long time without a new version of SAM, the first preview of the new and much larger SAM live CD is available for download. It is based on Mandriva Linux 2006 with fresh software from the Cooker. This preview does have some bugs left to kill, but it will give you a good impression of what SAM now stands for: a complete, easy to use, fast and clean XFce Linux desktop for home users." Read the rest of the release announcement for additional details. Download: sam-2006-1-preview.iso (699MB, MD5).
The developers of Zenwalk Linux have released the "core" of the upcoming Zenwalk 2.2: "Zenwalk core 2.1 is released! The new version of Zenwalk core includes the following improvements: based on Linux kernel version 2.6.14.4 with Reiser4 support; SGI XFS support was added; Pcmciautils replaces Pcmcia-cs; video detection tool 'videoconfig' was improved and should auto-detect nearly 100% of video card drivers and monitor frequencies; network configuration tool 'networkconfig' now handles wireless settings; glibc is upgraded to version 2.3.6, GCC to version 3.4.5; Netpkg now has full dependency support...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information. Download: zenwalk-2.1core.iso (244MB, MD5).
The second release candidate of SimplyMEPIS 3.4-3 is out: "The latest SimplyMEPIS release candidate, version 3.4-3 rc2 addresses some problems identified and reported by the community. All users were added to the scanner group, this is a change mandated by the Debian udev configuration. Usbmount was removed because all of its functionality seems to be handled elsewhere in udev. As far as we can tell, it's never called. Meauto was tweaked to enable serial ports, if serial is not configured automatically by the system. This should work only for standard serial ports and internal modems that have a UART interface." Read the complete release announcement for more details. Download: SimplyMEPIS_3.4-3.rc2.iso (687MB, MD5).
The third alpha (also known as "Flight") release of Ubuntu Linux 6.04 "Dapper Drake" is ready for testing: "The Dapper Drake continues to improve bringing us great new software and many very beneficial improvements. This week brings us Flight 3, the third alpha release of Ubuntu 6.04 - The Dapper Drake. Improvements in this release include an updated installer CD boot splash, X11R7, GNOME 2.13.4, improved and simplified menus, new default desktop panel configuration...." Find more information in the release announcement and the features page. As usual, the Ubuntu download server contains live and installation ISO images, as well as torrent files for all three supported architectures. A couple of quick download links to the i386 CD images (MD5): dapper-install-i386.iso (626MB) and dapper-live-i386.iso (603MB). Kubuntu and Edubuntu Flight CD 3 images are also available.
The second test build of Fedora Core 5 has been released: "The Fedora Project announces the second release of the Fedora Core 5 development cycle, available for the i386, x86_64, and PPC/PPC64 architectures. Notable Features of FC5 Test2: new logo; package selection within the installer has been reenabled; based on GCC 4.1 for performance and security; GNOME 2.13.4; Pirut (pronounced like a pirate): Package Installer, Remover, Updater Tool; includes pup, the Package Updater Program...." Read the release announcement and release notes for further details. CD and DVD images of the release for three architectures are available for download from a number of Fedora mirrors or the BitTorrent server; here is a quick link to the DVD image for i386: FC5-test2-i386-DVD.iso (2,915MB, SHA1). While you are downloading, take the time to read this comprehensive review at Mad Penguin.
T2, a source-based distribution originally forked from ROCK Linux, has been updated to version 2.1.1: "The T2 development team is proud to present 'Lychee Punch', the first maintenance release (2.1.1) for the stable 2.1 branch. This release includes bug fixes, security fixes, updates and even some improvement to the SDE. Most notable are: Kaffe 1.1.6, KDE 3.4.3, XFce 4.2.3.2, WINE 0.9.1, Mono 1.1.10, Eclipse 3.1.1, Xpdf 3.01pl1, KOffice 1.4.2, Samba 3.0.21a, OpenOffice.org 2.0.0.1, MPlayer 1.0pre7try2...." Here is the full release announcement. The tarball with scripts to build a custom distribution from source can downloaded from here: t2-2.1.1.1.tar.bz2, while pre-built binary ISO images targetted at the desktop are available from this directory.
The development of SimplyMEPIS 3.4 has moved one step closer to the final release: "The latest SimplyMEPIS release candidate, version 3.4-3 rc1 is expected to fix the recent problems with parallel printer compatibility. For 3.4-3, SimplyMEPIS utilizes a 2.6.15 kernel and udev for most hardware autodetection and configuration tasks. Network setup was changed to take advantage of udev event handling. After the final release, the changes in 3.4-3 will be available in updated MEPIS packages. The kernel was made more modular so it would be easier to issue updates to drivers, particularly for Intel. Since KDE 3.4.3 became available in the past few weeks, it was also included. Firefox 1.5 was updated to a more stable build." Find more information in the press release. Download: SimplyMEPIS_3.4-3.rc1.iso (687MB, MD5).
A new version of Nonux, a Dutch Slackware-based distribution with Dropline GNOME designed for office use, has been released. Some of the more important enhancements include: upgrade to Linux kernel 2.6.14.5; upgrade to GNOME 2.12.2; upgrade to OpenOffice.org 2.0.1; upgrade to Evolution 2.4.2.1; integration of email notification applet into task bar; improvements to hard disk installation script; updates to boot loader to detect and configure system for dual booting with Windows. More details are available in the release announcement on the project's home page (in Dutch). Download (MD5): nonux-2-2.iso (598MB).
The developers of Ultima Linux have released a live CD edition of their Slackware-based distribution: "The Ultima Linux LiveCD is a complete Ultima desktop system squeezed into a 544MB CD. It contains everything that you've come to expect from Ultima Linux, including: a complete, modern KDE desktop with Mozilla Firefox web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird e-mail client, OpenOffice.org office suite, AbiWord Personal word processor, The GIMP image manipulation program, XMMS digital audio player, complete networking support, effortless to use - just stick in the CD and reboot!" Find more information of the distribution's LiveCD page. The ISO image is available for download via BitTorrent: ultimalinux-4-sp3-LiveCD.iso (543MB).
tinysofa classic server, a server-oriented distribution originally forked from Trustix Secure Linux, has received a new update: "tinysofa classic server 2.0 Update 3 (Ceara) is now generally available. This release focuses on bug fixes, integrates all released security fixes, and updates various packages to the more recent upstream releases. 'Ceara' features: the Linux 2.6.13 kernel, grsecurity support, APT and SmartPM for advanced package management, the next generation PHP 5 environment (5.0.4), OpenSSH 4.2, high availability features such as DRBD (0.7.14) and UCARP (1.1), the latest development tools and languages (GCC 3.4.3, Python 2.4), and much more." The full release announcement can be found on the project's home page. Download (SHA1): Ceara.i586.iso (354MB) or Ceara.x86_64.iso (359MB).
After nine beta releases, this is the first pre-release candidate of SME Server 7.0. What's new? "Test Internet Access now accesses contribs.org and only passes two pieces of information - the version installed on your server and a string used to differentiate your server from others using this test; server manager changed to use contribs.org branding; usernames of the form first.last and first_last are now allowed; the maximum length of user and group names has increased from twelve to 31; reconfiguration reboot added to 'Shutdown and Reboot' panel; automated conversion to RAID on upgrade feature removed; bug fixes." See the release announcement for more details. Download: smeserver-7.0pre1.iso (428MB, MD5).
Damn Small Linux 2.1 has been released. From the changelog: "New SATA boot time support; new Icontool GUI controls many icon features; new docked.lua - Lua dock apps - mount and dMix replace mount.app and wmix; mew mount.lua - Lua GUI disk mount tool; new dMix - Lua GUI sound mixer; mew ucitool.lua - Lua GUI lists UCI mounts & allows easy deinstall of UCIs; new Torsmo replaces asmem, wmcpuload, & wmnet to better support both window managers; new Ted replaces Flwriter; new .xpdfrc - to support direct printing from Xpdf; new links - Lua links download wrapper; new added Thai keyboard support...." Download: dsl-2.1.iso (49.8MB, MD5).
The first stable release of STX Linux is out. Major changes since RC3: "Three packaged patches from the download page applied; installer corrected for creating an fstab that allows normal users to mount CDROM and floppy drives; the usual package updates; included Elleo's hacked eworkpanel with notification area; included recompiled pyfltk (XFT font rendering now also in STXCC); GTK 2 and EDE themes switched to STX for a more uniform appearance; included gnome-cups-manager for printer administration (more common than the CUPS web front-end); included Requiredbuilder for creating dependency files for Slackware / STX packages." Visit the project's news page to find out more about the release. Download from here: stx-1.0.iso (421MB, MD5).
A new version of Finnix is out: "Finnix is a small, self-contained, bootable Linux CD distribution for system administrators, based on Debian testing. Today marks the release of version 86.2 for the x86, PowerPC, and UML/Xen platforms. Finnix 86.2 contains several new features, including Linux kernel 2.6.15, improved hardware detection (using data from Fedora Core 4), improved reliability when booting from USB CDROM and thumb devices, and an expanded general-purpose task utility, aptly named 'finnix'. In addition, Finnix may now be installed and run directly from a hard drive." The release announcement. Download (MD5): finnix-86.2.iso (92.0MB) or finnix-ppc-86.2.iso (113MB).
DragonFly BSD 1.4 has been released: "1.4 is our third major DragonFly release. This release represents a significant milestone in our efforts to improve the kernel infrastructure. DragonFly is still running under the Big Giant Lock, but this will probably be the last release where that is the case. The greatest progress has been made in the network subsystem. The TCP stack is now almost fully threaded (and will likely be the first subsystem we remove the BGL from in coming months). The TCP stack now fully supports the SACK protocol and a large number of bug and performance fixes have gone in, especially in regard to GigE performance over LANs." Find more details in the comprehensive release notes. Download (MD5): dfly-1.4.0_REL.iso.gz (81.4MB). DragonFly BSD is a fork of FreeBSD 4.x series, representing a logical continuation of the branch that proved itself to be one of the most stable and reliable FreeBSD releases ever built.
The first release candidate of the Lunar Linux installation CD is available: "Here is the first release candidate for the final 1.6.0-i686 series ISO. The major changes in this release are that glibc is now NPTL-enabled and the SATA install code has been rewritten to discover more discs properly. The release is based on the installer code of the 1.5.x ISO series but brings you a 2.6.14.5 kernel, udev+hotplug and sysfs natively in the installer. Dialog has been downgraded to fix a menu bug. Bash 3.1 is included. Being the first release candidate I expect some minor bugs to surface once people start testing. Please file bugs accordingly in the tracker and mark them with the version of this release." The release announcement. Download: lunar-1.6.0-i686-rc1.iso.bz2 (271MB, MD5).
Yellow Dog Linux 4.1 has been released: "Terra Soft Solutions is pleased to announce the release of Yellow Dog Linux v4.1. This next evolution of Yellow Dog provides an incredible array of updates and improvements, the foundation for the most complete, integrated release to date: support for backlit keys; PCMCIA cell phone and modem support; support for Atheros wi-fi cards; dual head configuration via the GUI; install direct to and boot from FireWire drives; USB device auto-mount under both KDE and GNOME; greatly improved sound support; graphical Up2Date package install and update tool ... and a completely rebuilt KDE and Gnome 'start' menu for vastly improved navigation of the graphical user interface." More details in the press release. The new release is currently only available for members of YDL.net enhanced (US$59.95 + US$5.00/month); but the press release promises a public release in the middle of February.
A brand new version of Arch Linux has been released: "Here it is, folks. All the Arch goodness you know and love, only half the fat. We've added some better hardware detection, stock initrd support for neat things like encrypted root filesystems, network profiles, and more little goodies here and there. Thanks for the patience, everyone. As always, read the docs before installing." See the brief release announcement on the distribution's news page. Download: arch-0.7.1.iso (509MB, MD5); also available via BitTorrent. Arch Linux is an independent i686-optimised community distribution for intermediate and advanced Linux users.
The second -- and probably the last -- release candidate of the SOHO edition of VectorLinux Linux 5.1 has been released: "SOHO-rc2 is available and ready for testing before we go final. Lots of little fixes to tune up our default firewall with Samba, CUPS and hplip. The x-11 base system was updated to patch 4. Larry Gagnon's menu fixes are in. Joe1962's new vl-hot is in for USB mountable devices. The bootsplash was updated so the animation goes away correctly (still needs a little tweaking). There are some artwork updates to be done but overall looks good. XFce should be able to do its themes now and the default look of XFce was modified. So brave ones download, install and report back the results of your findings." The release announcement. Download: VLSOHO-5.1-rc2.iso (688MB, MD5).
The third release candidate of Damn Small Linux 2.1 is ready. What's new? "New mount.lua - Lua GUI disk mount tool; new dMix - Lua GUI sound mixer; new icontool.lua - Lua GUI lists UCI mounts and allows easy deinstall of UCIs; new .xpdfrc - to support direct printing from Xpdf; new links - Lua links download wrapper; new added Thai keyboard support; update filetool.lua GUI - added NONE option to skip backup/restore; update wordview.lua GUI - added file chooser for *.doc; update System Stats GUI - added more views and better font...." See the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: dsl-2.1RC3b.iso (49.9MB, MD5).
EnGarde Secure Linux has been updated to version 3.0.3: "Guardian Digital is happy to announce the release of EnGarde Secure Community 3.0.3 (Version 3.0, Release 3). This release includes several bug fixes and feature enhancements to the Guardian Digital WebTool, the SELinux policy, and the LiveCD environment. New features include: a new WebTool frontend to the NetDiff Network Scanner; the WebTool AIDE host intrusion detection module is now enabled by default; support for USB keyboards; the latest stable versions of MySQL (5.0.17), Apache (2.0.55), BIND (9.3.2), iptables (1.3.4)...." Read the release announcement for further information. Download: engarde-community-3.0.3.i686.iso (623MB, MD5) or engarde-community-3.0.3.x86_64.iso (611MB, MD5).
The Rangoli live CD is the product of IndLinux, a project dedicated to providing support for Indian languages in open source software. A new live CD demonstrating the current progress of the development team has been released: "Rangoli live CD 1.0 beta released. Rangoli is multilingual live CD from IndLinux.org based on Morphix. It boots directly into a chosen language desktop as available on boot menus. This is a demo and test release, primarily intended for testing out Indic stuff and not for production use. A final version should be coming up by the end of January." The distribution provides support for Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Gujarati and Punjabi, as well as Nepali and Dzongkha (the language of Bhutan). See the release announcement for more details. Download: rangoli-1.0b.iso (689MB, MD5).
m0n0wall, a tiny firewall and server based on FreeBSD, has been updated to version 1.21: "m0n0wall 1.21 released! m0n0wall 1.21 greatly improves the captive portal (better and more RADIUS options, file manager, stability), updates all components to the latest version and fixes several bugs." The release is based on 4.11-RELEASE-p13. Other changes include stability improvements to mini_httpd, captive portal RADIUS improvements, and various package updates (PHP 4.4.1, Dnsmasq 2.23). See the release announcement and changelog for a complete list of changes. Download: cdrom-1.21.iso (5.73MB, MD5).
Happy New Year! The first news item of 2006 is the announcement of the much awaited new release of KANOTIX, a live CD with a reputation for having the best hardware auto-detection and auto-configuration on the market. Released in the dying minutes of 2005, KANOTIX 2005-04 features: "kernel 2.6.14.5 with numerous patches; udev 0.079 and new hardware recognition (hwsetup-ng) - no kudzu based recognition anymore; new graphical installer with update feature; ACPI and DMA are activated by default; kernel optimised for modern CPUs - i586 and x86_64; X.Org 6.8.2 for full support of NVIDIA and ATI cards; KDE 3.4.3; Firefox 1.5; OpenOffice.org 2.0.0; Unionfs support; AMSN 0.95 instant messenger with video support...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: KANOTIX-2005-04.iso (699MB, MD5). A "Lite" edition (with KOffice, but without OpenOffice.org) and a 64-bit edition for x86_64 processors are also available.
3CX Phone System is a specialist, Debian-based Linux distribution designed to run a complete unified communications platform. The 3CX client, included in the distribution, can also be installed separately on most hardware as well as the cloud. It provides a complete open standards-based IP PBX and phone system that works with popular SIP trunks and IP phones. It will automatically configure all supported peripherals and it also comes with clients for Windows, OS X, iOS and Android. The ISO image includes a free license for the 3CX PBX edition. The ISO image contains the standard Debian installer which installs a minimal system with the nginx web server, PostgreSQL database, iptables firewall and Secure Shell. Options not relevant to 3CX have been removed from the distribution. Download the installation ISO image from here: debian-amd64-netinst-3cx.iso (628MB).
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