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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.

Distribution Link updates: thanks to our readers!. In response to our request last week, we received updated links for several distributions for which our own links had grown stale. That includes Eurielec Linux, now to be found at http://www.eurielec.etsit.upm.es/linux/ (thanks to Fernando Herrera de las Heras and Jesus Ortega). Linux Pro Plus, actually one of the older distributions out there, can still be found at http://www.LinuxPro.com and is still for sale over at the Linux Mall, though its long-term future is apparently uncertain.

No updates were received for CCLinux, Eonova, Linux-Kheops or nanoLinux II, so they have been removed from our list.

Red Flag Linux: Web site now available. [RedFlag logo] In response to the question in some people's minds as to whether the Red Flag Linux distribution in China that we mentioned again last week actually existed, Dominic Beecher was kind enough to point out that the website http://www.redflag-linux.com/ is up and running as of January 18th. It is, of course, in Chinese, so our personal knowledge of the distribution has not greatly increased.

"There's quite a detailed page about version 1.0 (apparently based on Red Hat Linux version 6.0), and a shorter page with information about changes and improvements made in version 1.1 which is coming soon. There are also links to a downloads page (which I haven't tried, so can't guarantee that it'll work)," commented Dominic.

New Distribution of the Week: ThinLinux. Jack van den Akker wrote to inform us of a new Linux Distribution from the FirePlug Consulting Group. ThinLinux is a "ThinLinux is a general toolset which can be used to do almost anything. Packages which will install and run under the ThinLinux system might include things such as stand alone firewalls, dedicated camera servers, MP3 players, X-10 controllers, to custom device facilities for any number of interesting applications." Jack was also kind enough to respond to a number of our questions about ThinLinux in this quasi-interview.

Embedix 1.0 ships. Lineo has announced that version 1.0 of Embedix - its version of OpenLinux aimed at embedded systems - has begun shipping. Also announced was "Embedix PDA," a compatibility layer on top of Embedix which facilitates the porting of Windows CE code.

Note that Embedix is a "licensed" version of Linux, meaning that it contains proprietary software which requires a license to be purchased in order to be used. The non-proprietary portions of Embedix are available for download. For more information, see the LinuxDevices.com interview with Lineo CEO, Brian Sparks.

The LNX System. The LNX System is another new distribution in development; it aims "to be a well-engineered and well-documented system, which attempts to draw from the best practices of other systems, and develop better practices where only poor ones exist." Like any such project, it's looking for developers to help out; see the announcement for details on what they are up to.

Corel Linux

Corel Linux a Hit. Corel Linux is a hit worldwide according to this press release from Corel Corporation.

Corel Linux: for your desktop (MSNBC). MSNBC reviews Corel Linux. "COREL LINUX is terrific. Not perfect, but terrific. If you've been waiting to try Linux on your home computer, you've now run out of excuses. You put in the CD and reboot your machine and Corel does the rest."

Debian GNU/Linux

No nominations received. Currently, no nominations have been received for the post of Debian Project Leader for the next year. The nomination period will extend for a little over one more week. This is one difficulty with a system where people must nominate themselves ... and have a clear idea of the consequence of doing so!

VA.debian.org will no longer be mirroring the Debian ftp archive, due to space constraints, according to this note. If you are using that mirror, you will want to redirect your system to some alternative.

Mastodon

Mastodon INST0050 has been announced. This distribution, supported by David Parsons, strives to assure that a.out lives on.
You may be asking ... So, just what ARE you talking about here? Mastodon is Yet Another Linux Distribution, but it's not like any of the others. Mastodon offers:
  • Linux kernel 2.0.28
  • Libc 4.8.0 (all a.out, all the time)
  • As much OpenBSD and FreeBSD userland as possible.
  • A completely different /etc/rc.d setup that's almost documented.
  • An ascii menu-driven installer
  • A little more paranoia via using tcp wrappers for every internet service.
  • Some point and drool administration, all woefully undocumented.
  • Everything compiled for the 386 instruction set, so you can run this on the old 386sx you've got rotting away in the closet.
  • ... and more undiscovered bugs that you can shake a stick at.

Spiro Linux

SPIRO-Linux WETMINtS is a Web-Enabled Telephone Administration System for Linux, released under the GPL, that has been announced. "Using WETMINtS you can configure DNS, Samba, NFS, local/remote filesystems and more using your Web- Enabled cellular phone. WETMINtS is simple web enabled cellular phone software, and consists of a number of CGI programs which directly update system files. WETMINtS supports all SPIRO-Linux and other linux operating systems." They are also looking for volunteers to help with the WETMINtS project.

SuSE Linux

SuSE 6.3 vs. Redhat 6.1 (EmuTech2000). EmuTech2000 has put up a comparative review of Red Hat 6.1 and SuSE Linux 6.3. "The SuSE Linux 6.3 Package came with a 480+ page manual, 6 CD's, 2 boot-disks and 2 lovely 'Powered by SuSE Linux' Stickers:) The Redhat Linux 6.1 Package came with 3 manuals, which when combined are over 900 pages long, 4 CD's, 1 boot-disk, 6 lovely 'Powered by Redhat Linux' stickers and 1 large www.redhat.com sticker, which was not so lovely:)" Final score: 7 to 6, in favor of SuSE (on a scale of 10). Clearly, though, areas for improvement were found in both ...

Section Editor: Liz Coolbaugh


January 27, 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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