[LWN Logo]
[LWN.net]

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.

Lists of Distributions
distrowatch
ibiblio
Kernelnotes
Linux.com
LinuxLinks
Woven Goods

Embedded Distributions:
3ilinux
Bifrost

BluePoint Embedded
Compact Linux
Coollinux
DSPLinux
ELinOS
ELKS
Embedded Debian
Embedix
Etlinux
FlightLinux
Hard Hat Linux
Jailbait
Linux/Coldfire
LEM
Midori
NeoLinux
OnCore Systems
PeeWeeLinux
RedBlue Linux
RedIce-Linux
Royal Linux
RTLinux
Tynux
uClinux
White Dwarf Linux

Handhelds/PDAs
Agenda-VR
Familiar (iPAQ)
Intimate (iPAQ)
Linux DA
PocketLinux
PsiLinux

Distributions


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

News and Editorials

As you'll notice below, news from the various distributions was hard to come by this week. As a result, we took the time to search the Freshmeat appindex for some of the distributions there that were not yet on our list. Enjoy!

Debian 2.2 (Kurt's Closet). Kurt Seifried at SecurityPortal.com took a look at Debian 2.2 this week and wasn't very happy with what he found, from a security perspective. Some of his concerns hinged on finding older versions of packages that, he presumed, still contained security holes. Kurt was unaware that Debian will frequently backport security patches to older versions of software, rather than automatically upgrade to a new version, in order to avoid unrelated bugs that may have been introduced in the latest version. This policy surprised him, but it is not unique to Debian.

Earlier this year, when a security bug was found in the latest kernel (at that time), Linux 2.2.16, a patch was immediately released against 2.2.16. Some distributions immediately released updated 2.2.16 packages (including Red Hat). Others, including SuSE and Caldera, chose to backport and test the patches against older versions of the 2.2.X series. Their reasoning? The 2.2.16 kernel had just been released and they were not comfortable enough that it was well-tested and stable to wish to recommend it to their customers. Yet, they knew a fix for the security problem needed to be made available as soon as possible.

Debian's choice is, therefore, common among distributions that prefer a more conservative approach to new packages. On the other hand, it is understandably confusing to people unaccustomed to it. How can you easily tell whether or not a distribution has been patched to fix a given problem? Apparently, the answer is "you can't", at least not easily. Security resources such as SecurityPortal, SecurityFocus, LinuxSecurity.com and our own LWN Security Summary exist partially to try and make that difficult process a little easier.

New Distributions

minilinux. Not new, but new to our list, minilinux is a small, special purpose Linux distribution aimed at Ham Radio/Packet Radio enthusiasts. (Thanks to Michael Derek Barnett).

Laonux. Also in the special purpose category, Laonux is a small distribution aimed at hobbyists, providing a small core from which to build a personalized distribution. [From Freshmeat].

Leetnux - the 'elite' Linux distribution. With a very similar purpose, Leetnux is perhaps best described using the author's own words:

Leetnux is a Linux distribution specifically designed for Linux users who want maximum configuratibility. Therefore, the installation is quite hard, absolutely nothing is done "automagically" as in modern Linux distributions, but the user has total control over the installation. The idea behind Leetnux comes from Linux From Scratch, but a Leetnux system is not as "pure" as an LFS system, because a minimal pre-compiled system must be installed.

The name "Leetnux" derives from the two words "elite" and "Linux". "elite" is often written as eleet, in the script kiddy scene also forms like leet, 31337 or 1337 are common. I mixed the two words "leet" and "Linux" to get the word "Leetnux", an "Elite Linux". :-)

Interestingly enough, Leetnux uses another Linux distribution, Tomsrtbt (Tom's Root Boot) as the official boot disk. [From Freshmeat].

Linux/Coldfire. Linux/Coldfire is dedicated to supporting the port of uCLinux to the Motorola Coldfire processor. "The whole environment, kernel and applications, seems very stable. Networking (Ethernet, PPP, etc) is working really well, and appears to be stable and reliable. Things like IP-masquerading and Dial-on-demand work. There is also a port of the FreeS/WAN IPsec implementation to uClinux/ColdFire now!" [From Freshmeat].

Rabid Squirrel Linux. Continuing the theme, which seems to be popular among Console/OS additions to Freshmeat, Rabid Squirrel Linux is aimed at "power users and administrators" who want to do things the "old-fashioned" way, that is, through compiling source rather than through any new-fangled software tool. In addition, Rabid Squirrel is particularly aimed at server systems.

Distribution Reviews

DukeOfURL reviews Storm Linux 2000. Stormix Technologies' Debian-based Storm Linux 2000 is reviewed by the DukeOfURL. "That's right, Storm is setting out to make Debian better! In fact, in many ways Storm has improved Debian, but has also commercialized it simultaneously... "

Review: Abit Gentus Linux 3.0a (DukeOfUrl). The Duke of Url reviews Abit Gentus Linux 3.0a. "Due to big problems with Gentus and the GPL, Abit removed PerMon from their suite of tools included. It's sad to see PerMon go, but thankfully, Abit CC has replaced it, and now works on all Linux distributions that run on the Red Hat code base. I wonder if the source is available? I doubt it, since this piece of work is a valuable commodity in the Linux community."

General Purpose Distributions

Debian Weekly News. This week's Debian Weekly News reports a glitch that may prevent the implementation of the new testing tree, at least in the short term. Other stories include naming problems with the Debian Helix Gnome packages, problems with the Debian bug tracking website and the role of Debian in the return of a stolen laptop.

Please note that our Debian coverage in last week's Distributions Summary contained an error. It implied that the new Debian testing tree was already in existence, while, instead, it is only in the process of being discussed and coded.

In a related topic, IndyBox announced the availability of Debian GNU/Linux on its RS2200 server line.

Red Hat Wins Industry Awards. Red Hat proudly announced that Red Hat Linux 6.2 was named "Editor's Choice - First Place" for server distribution in the September 2000 issue of Linux Magazine and "Best Distribution" for the third straight year at the recent LinuxWorld Conference & Expo in San Jose, CA, USA.

Section Editor: Liz Coolbaugh


August 31, 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


 

Next: Development

 
Eklektix, Inc. Linux powered! Copyright © 2000 Eklektix, Inc., all rights reserved
Linux ® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds