Sections: Main page Security Kernel Distributions Development Commerce Linux in the news Announcements Back page All in one big page See also: last week's Distributions page. |
DistributionsPlease note that security updates from the various distributions are covered in the security section. Embedded Systems: which distribution will you use?. LinuxDevices has announced the results from their survey, Which Linux distribution(s) will you use?. A large split showed up between the distributions that have been used for embedded systems up until now and the ones that people expect to use in the future. Currently, most embedded systems applications have apparently been built with Red Hat, Debian, Caldera or SuSE, with a three-way tie among Slackware, Mandrake, and RTLinux for fifth place. However, those same group of people gave a different mix for future applications: Red Hat (15%), Lineo Embedix (13%), PROSA ETLinux (10%), and Debian (9%), with Lynx BlueCat Linux and Caldera tied for fifth place (6%). That puts specialized embedded-systems versions of Linux at 29% of future applications, a large increase, particularly since most of these distributions have been announced within the past six months. It appears that specialized distributions for embedded systems are being fairly warmly embraced. The embedded systems market has always been highly fragmented, with many, many different vendors competing with proprietary systems. Such a marketplace is probably also more easily willing to take on a less well-known vendor for a Linux distribution, particularly since the differences between Linux distributions is much smaller than between proprietary systems. Caldera should be happy. Remembering that Lineo is derived from Caldera OpenLinux, the above figures show an actual overall win for Caldera. Gentus, a new distribution from ABIT. ABIT Computer Corporation, a hardware manufacturer and retailer of "mainboards and video cards", has released its own distribution, Gentus (please note, this URL may crash Netscape -- it works with lynx or kfm). More information on the distribution can be found in this press release. The Gentus distribution is, as could be guessed, customized for ABIT's hardware. (Thanks to Marcus Lauer.) More distributions out of China. We've previously listed and spoken of Red Flag Linux and XteamLinux, two Linux distributions out of China. Now, thanks to Pierre Goad, we have another two distributions to list: Tom Linux and BluePoint Linux. Quoting from the website, "Tomlinux 1.0, oriented for the students and computer fans, debuts in its Chinese educational version now with brand-new Chinese KDE desktop. Besides bountiful network software and multimedia software attached, Tomlinux incorporates white-hot games, VCD player, C/C++ and Fortran compilers, word processor Kedit, and bilingual support. " Since the BluePoint Linux website is only available in Chinese, Ambrose Li was kind enough to take a look and provide us an unofficial translation. Many thanks, Ambrose. "BluePoint Linux 1.0 runs on the Intel x86 platform. In addition to features found in other fine Linux distributions, BluePoint features extensive localization and internationalization features, especially those adapted to actual needs in the Chinese market." Elfstone Linux. A company called Elfstone Software has turned up with a new distribution - Elfstone Linux, currently available in beta form. It claims to be "the most Unix-like of all commercial Linux distributions," and features a Motif-based GUI. Bastille LinuxBastille Linux 1.03. An updated version of Bastille has been announced. Bastille is really less a distribution than a hardening script for Red Hat Linux. The latest version has been updated to support Red Hat 6.1.Corel LinuxReview of Corel Linux 1.0 (LinuxPower). LinuxPower has put up a review of Corel Linux 1.0. "I must also say that releasing a Glibc2.0 based distribution at this point in time is almost in itself enough to give the distribution thumbs down. It was okay at the time Debian made the release of their distribution, but it is not okay now."Debian GNU/LinuxDebian Weekly News. This week's edition highlights packages in danger of being removed from the upcoming Debian release, including such mainstream packages as apache, fetchmail, gpm, and samba. February 28th is the deadline for their repair. Meanwhile, the Debian Leader elections have commenced and will close in two weeks.Debian at CeBIT. Debian has put out a press release covering their planned activities at CeBIT. They have a major presence going, with four booths staffed with Debian people and several talks. Debian-hurd kernel cousin. The February 16th edition of the debian-hurd kernel cousin mentions new regular IRC meetings, man, dpkg and a topic for the next Hurd user group. Empire LinuxEmpire Linux is a tiny Linux distribution that runs on a single floppy. It is based on LOAF (Linux on a Floppy) and is still in early development. Version 0.2 has just been announced.Green Frog LinuxGreen Frog Linux is a slightly larger Linux distribution, disk-based, intended for use by people who want to "roll their own distribution". The latest version, 0.5a (Pyonkichi), moves from exim to postfix for its default mailer, integrates the 2.2.13 kernel, and has a new installer.Also from the same author, Pocket Linux is a "a branch of Green Frog Linux that is intended to be used on a NEC Mobile Gear (the i486 one) PDA" which is in alpha and recommended only for the very brave. LibraNetNew version of Linux by Libranet. Libra Computer Systems announced the release of version 1.2 of the 'Linux By Libranet' distribution. LibraNet is a Debian-based distribution. The new version has updated kernel, Gnome and KDE packages, so is presumably based on the not-yet-released potato tree. An updated installer is included with the new version.Linux Router ProjectPCWeek Reviews Linux Router Project. PCWeek has published this review of the Linux Router Project. "The Linux Router Project code "is another, very slimmed-down distribution of Linux that is less than 2MB so that it will fit on one floppy disk," Berger said. As a result, it can function as a router or firewall when running just from a PC's floppy drive."muLinuxmuLinux 7r12b has been released. This is a minor update to the development branch. "muLinux (LLLLLinux, really) is a full-configured, minimalistic, almost complete, application-centric tiny distribution of Linux (2.0.36 modular kernel) made in Italy. muLinux resides on a single 1722K floppy. Works on PC 386-4M + swap space, and installs in RAM, UMSDOS, EXT2 & LOOP-EXT2. "Red Hat LinuxPreview of Red Hat 6.2. A preview of Red Hat 6.2 has been provided by TheNewOS.com. "Ultimately 6.2beta's improvements over 6.1 seem largely to be in the form of bells and whistles."Storm LinuxStorm Linux makes its debut at CeBIT 2000 this week.SuSE LinuxCNET review: SuSE 6.3. CNET has put out a review of SuSE Linux 6.3. "The bottom line: The new YaST2 installer makes 6.3 better than SuSE 6.2, but it needs more polish to make it a good choice for new users. It's still a solid choice for enterprise users".William Henning reviews SuSE 6.3. AboutLinux.com has a detailed review by reviewer extroadinaire, William Henning. He gives it an "Overall Grade: A Recommended". And the bottom line: "I would not hesitate to recommend SuSE 6.3 for people who are technically inclined. As long as you can follow the documentation you should not have any problems installing SuSE 6.3." Section Editor: Liz Coolbaugh |
February 24, 2000
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