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Distributions

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

News and Editorials

Linux From Scratch. Linux From Scratch is in the "Education" section of the LWN Distributions List because:

The most important reason for LFS's existence is teaching people how a Linux system works internally. Building an LFS system teaches you about all that makes Linux tick, how things work together, and depend on each other. And most importantly, how to customize it to your own taste and needs.
LFS Introduction.

An LFS system can be very large, if you want to add lots of extra software. It can also be very small; some LFS installations are less than 8Mb.

Linux From Scratch doesn't come on a CD or a floppy. You need to have an existing Linux system before you can install LFS. Mostly, LFS is book of instructions.

This book describes the process of creating a Linux system from scratch from an already installed Linux distribution, using nothing but the sources of the software that we use.
LFS 3.2-rc2.

These instructions are tested continually and revised as necessary. (See the change log for details.) LFS 3.2-rc2 was released this week.

LFS intends to be platform independent, however development does take place on x86 hardware. The book will tell you where to download the source tarballs; how to build a partition for your LFS system; what to do with the kernel packages (3.2-rc2 uses Kernel-2.4.17); how to compile, link and install packages; and how to build boot scripts. When you are done you'll have a customized Linux system, optimized for your hardware. Maybe not the easiest installation around, but one that will teach you quite a lot about Linux internals.

LFSMake. LFSMake is a related project consisting of a set of makefiles to automate the installation of a "Linux From Scratch" system. Version 3.1 of LFSMake is out; a long-overdue update that brings LFSMake up-to-date with the LFS 3.1 book.

LRs-Linux. It is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and if that's true LFS should be flattered by the appearance of LRs-Linux. LRs-Linux is based on LFS. In contrast to LFS and most common distributions, LRs Linux has the ability to compile directly from the CD. This means that binaries can be natively compiled for the target host during the install, enhancing the performance of the resultant system. The install process is largely automated. LRs-Linux was initially released at version 0.2.5 on February 27, 2002.

New Distributions

Audio Bookshelf. Including the Enigma Audio Bookshelf here is stretching the definition of a Linux distribution just a bit. But this is a bootable CD product, which contains enough of a Linux operating system to turn a PC into a book reader. Any PC meeting the minimum requirements can be turned into a Linux based book reader, regardless of the OS installed on the hard drive. Read the book yourself, or have the computer read to you. We've added it to our list under 'Special Purpose/Mini' distributions.

Keeper Linux. Here is an announcement for Keeper Linux. It comes on two floppy disks and it's designed to meet specific application needs. Current applications include the security of internal networks linked to DSL/cable modem and dial-up connections. Others include administration of remote servers. We've listed it with the "Floppy based" distributions.

OEone HomeBase 1.2 Software for Internet Computer to Debut Shipping. OEone has announced the release of HomeBase 1.2. HomeBase, essentially, is an ultra user-friendly distribution with a Mozilla-based desktop. OEone also sells low-cost hardware running this distribution.

PUPLinux. The Audio Bookshelf might have been a stretch, but as long as we're stretching things, we'll stretch a bit further and introduce PUPLinux, Personable UniProcessor Linux, 1.2.14 umbilical snip version. Why is this a stretch? Because there really is no such beast, only this posting to the Linux kernel mailing list. Enjoy.

Distribution News

Debian News - Elections, Woody release status. The Debian Weekly News for February 27 is available; it looks at the latest Woody release news, crypto support in Debian, progress with OpenOffice, LSB compliance, the Debian leader elections, and more.

The nomination period has ended and three candidates will run for Debian Project Leader. The candidates are: Bdale Garbee, Raphaël Hertzog, and Branden Robinson. Next week we'll have a brief profile of the candidates.

The search for Debian Project Leader panelists is complete. Four panelists and a moderator have been chosen. These people will facilitate the Project Leader debate.

Meanwhile, here's last Sunday's Woody release status update. Additional release status updates can be found by searching for "release status update" in these list archives. A running list of Release Critical bugs can be found at http://bugs.debian.net/ and a graph of the freeze progress (in terms of remaining RC bugs) can be seen at http://bugs.debian.org/release-critical/.

Plans are coming together for Debconf 2 to be held in Toronto July 5 - 7, 2002.

Lycoris Now Offering HP PCs PreLoaded With Desktop/LX. Lycoris announced the availability of Hewlett Packard PCs Pre-Loaded with Desktop/LX.

Mandrake Linux News. Mandrake Linux 8.2 beta4 is out. Beta testers should read this first. Then, focus tests on the following areas:

Look for MandrakeSoft at CeBIT, Hannover, Germany - March 13-20.

Wasabi Introduces NetBSD for Intel IOP321. Wasabi Systems, the NetBSD Company, announced its support for the Intel IOP321 I/O processor based on the Intel XScale core.

Red Hat Updates to 5.6.1 (use Perl). Red Hat now has RPMs for Perl 5.6.1 available.

Minor Distribution updates

PeeWeeLinux. PeeWeeLinux has released version 0.61.1. This version removes the requirement for ncurses4. The pwlconfig tool now works correctly with newer Linux distributions.

ROOT Linux. ROOT Linux has released 1.3pre2 with major bug fixes and package upgrades.

Trustix Secure Linux Bugfix Advisories. Trustix Secure Linux has released the following bug fix advisories.

samba: a new upstream version for TSL 1.5.
gnupg: TSL has updated their public key.
swup: Swup uses the new key (see above) for validation of the TSL-packages.
apache: The httpd init script in the apache-1.3.23-1tr contained a faulty chkconfig line which caused the apache web server to be started on bootup. This could be a security risk for TSL 1.5 systems.

Distribution Reviews

Lycoris Linux (ExtremeTech). ExtremeTech reviews Lycoris Linux (the distribution formerly known as Redmond Linux). "All the apps in this distro were chosen for their quality, dependability and strength. You will not be obliged to sift through a 'dumping' of half-developed applications to find one that 'almost' works. Everything in Lycoris Desktop/LX works. Since I installed Lycoris a few weeks ago, I used their automatic updating system once. It works without a hitch and installs everything automatically."

Casting spells with a Linux distro written especially for sysadmins (LinuxWorld). LinuxWorld reviews Sorcerer GNU/Linux (SGL). "[SGL creator Kyle] Sallee based the name (and the names of many of its features) on the notion that sysadmins are wizards, and much of what they accomplish is, to the common user, magic. Sorcerer's magic allows you to build and maintain a Linux system based on the very latest stable source code for each component, from the kernel to X, compiled on and for your machine."

Linux open Sorcerer casts its spell (vnunet). Here is another review of Sorcerer GNU/Linux. "To accomplish the 'magic' seen by the uninitiated end user, the wizard is able to 'cast' application spells. Using the command line "cast [application]" will locate the latest stable source for the relevant application, perhaps the author's homepage, and download, configure, compile and install it."

RedFlag Linux Reviewed. Tummy.com's Sean Reifschneider has sent around this review of RedFlag Linux. "Greetings. I spent the weekend downloading RedFlag Linux (the one from China), and thought I'd give a quick review of it. This is largely related to the installer and boot process."

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol

March 7, 2002

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

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