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See also: last week's Distributions page.

Distributions


Please note that security updates from the various distributions are covered in the security section.

This week's new distributions. We already mentioned a couple of distributions on our front page this week, including the release of Blue Cat Linux 1.0 and White Dwarf Linux, both embedded systems distributions. We've mentioned Blue Cat before, but they've now announced their inaugural version. White Dwarf Linux is entirely new.

Outside of embedded systems, though, new distributions continue to crop up. In this case, we take a look at two new distributions based on providing language support. First, let's talk about the newest naming conflict in the distributions arena (not an uncommon occurrence, unfortunately).

Easy Information Technology has announced a Chinese version of its easyLinux distribution; it will be called "Dragon Linux." easyLinux has been around for a while and it is good to see it expanding its support for additional languages. Unfortunately, DragonLinux is an unrelated distribution that has also been around for some time, first listed on our distributions page in May of 1999. DragonLinux is/was a small UMSDos-based distribution, definitely not a desktop system like easyLinux. The URL for that page worked two weeks ago, but did not today, when we retested it. Therefore, we don't yet know if there is anyone around to protest at this new distribution with the same name.

Next, Kaiwal Linux, was brought to our attention this week. It appears to be a new distribution based on Red Hat. Version 3.1 was recently released in Thailand, complete with a manual in Thai. We found a bit more information via the LinuxBiz page on Kaiwal Software, the parent company.

Last, we have a distribution with a French emphasis: PingOO Linux (in French or English). PingOO has been around since 1997 and is associated with the Project Linux Edu. A Debian-based distribution, it is aimed at local communities, public organizations, schools, etc.

Demo Linux

DemoLinux 1.0 has been announced. DemoLinux is a distribution built to run directly off of CD, without requiring any installation or harddisk. The current version is based off of Mandrake 5.3, with additional technologies from Red Hat and SuSE.

Debian GNU/Linux

Debian Weekly News for February 8. Here's the Debian Weekly News for the week of February 8. The big news this week is that the Debian project is about to begin accepting new maintainers - something they haven't done for some time.

Debian For Kids. A new Debian for Kids project is starting.

Volunteer needed. Richard Braakman is looking for a volunteer to help him with contacting maintainers wtih release-critical bugs.

Linux-Mandrake

Linux-Mandrake for the Alpha processor. MandrakeSoft has announced the beta version of Linux-Mandrake for the Alpha processor.

Mandrake 7: Beyond Red Hat? (Ext2). Ext2 (part of Tucows) reviews Linux-Mandrake 7.0. "All in all Mandrake has upped the bar as far as user friendliness in a distribution."

PhatLinux

DistributionWatch Review: PhatLinux (LinuxPlanet). LinuxPlanet reviews PhatLinux. "This distribution is a good choice for those who just want to dip their toe into the world of Linux. Although I do have some quibbles in terms of ease of navigation, in general PhatLinux has done a decent job of making a system that will rival Windows in terms of applications and ease of setup." (Thanks to R. McGuinness). PhatLinux is a distribution, around since 1998, that installs and runs on a Windows 95/98 partition.

Red Hat Linux

Red Hat 6.2 beta. Here is the announcement for the beta release of Red Hat 6.2. It includes some hype ("This bad boy eats Lizards for breakfast" - what could they be referring to?), a list of new features (including the 2.2.15 kernel, which still has not been released by Linus), and download instructions.

Red Hat Linux wins InfoWorld Product of the Year - again. Red Hat announces that it has won InfoWorld's "Product of the Year" award for the fourth time in a row...

Red Hat arrive en France (Journal Informatique). Le Journal Informatique covers (in French) the opening of Red Hat's Paris office. This move is accompanied by the acquisition of Logiciels du Soleil, a French distributor. English text available via Babelfish. (Found in Portalux News).

Rock Linux

New Rock Linux website. The official website for Rock Linux has moved to http://www.rocklinux.org/. Rock Linux is aimed at "skilled Linux/Unix Administrators . Look for them at the SANE 2000 conference in Maastricht, The Netherlands, this May.

Since we last reported on Rock Linux in October, they've released a complete PalmOS cross development environment, released Rock Linux 1.3.7, ported to the iMac and added a rescue subdistribution. Talk about busy! For more information on Rock Linux, check out this article on the "Rock Linux Philosophy".

Section Editor: Liz Coolbaugh


February 10, 2000

Please note that not every distribution will show up every week. Only distributions with recent news to report will be listed.


Leading
Caldera OpenLinux
Debian GNU/Linux
Linux-Mandrake
Red Hat
Slackware
SuSE
TurboLinux

Also well-known
ASPLinux
Best Linux
Conectiva Linux
e-smith

Progeny
Rock Linux

Non-technical desktop
easyLinux
Icepack Linux
Independence
LibraNet
Redmond Linux
WinSlack

Education
Boston University
kmLinux
LinuxFromScratch
OpenClassroom
Red Escolar

General Purpose
Alzza Linux
aXon Linux
Bad Penguin Linux
BearOps
Black Cat Linux
BluePoint Linux
BYO Linux
CAEN Linux
Cafe Linux
ChainSaw Linux
Circle MUDLinux
cLIeNUX
Complete Linux
Console Linux
Corel Linux
CRUX
Darkstar Linux
DLite
easyLinux
Elfstone Linux
ESware Linux
Eurielec Linux
eXecutive Linux
Fried Chicken
FTOSX
FullPliant
Gentoo
Go!Linux
HA Linux
Halloween Linux
HispaFuentes
IceLinux
Ivrix
ix86 Linux
J-LINUX
JBLinux
Jurix
KRUD
KSI-Linux
Lanthan Linux
Laonux
LASER5
Leetnux
Linpus Linux
Linux Cyrillic Edition
Linux MLD
LinuxOne OS
LinuxPPP
Linux Pro Plus
Linux-SIS
LNX System
LoopLinux
LSD
Lute Linux
MageNet
Mastodon
MaxOS
minilinux
MSC.Linux

NoMad Linux
Omoikane GNU/Linux
PingOO Linux
Plamo Linux
PLD
Project Ballantain
PROSA
Rabid Squirrel
Repairlix
Root Linux
Scrudgeware
Serial Terminal
Sorcerer
spyLinux
Stampede
Stataboware
TechLinux
TimeSys Linux/RT
Tom Linux
Trinux
Turkuaz
Ute-Linux
VA-enhanced Red Hat
Vine Linux
Virtual Linux
WholeLinux
WinLinux 2000
XTeamLinux
ZipSpeak

Country-specific
Argentina
GNU/Linux Ututo
Britain
Definite Linux
Eridani
China
COSIX
Red Flag
France
Linux/MNIS
Italy
LinuxEspresso
Madeinlinux
Vedova
Spain
Linux Esware
Thailand
Kaiwal Linux
Thai Linux Extension

Related Projects
Chinese Linux Extension

Historical (Non-active)
Dualix
Gentus
Giotto
MCC Interim Linux
OS2000
Storm Linux


 

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