See also: last week's Distributions page.

Distributions

News and Editorials

RTFM!. We know what it means*. Sometimes, though, it's hard to find the right M to R and that's where the Linux Documentation Project (LDP) comes in. The LDP is a collection of Guides, HOWTOs, FAQs, man pages, and other sources of Linux related documentation. If you are having trouble finding the M you want to R, searching through the LDP site might help. The LWN Development page usually carries the LDP weekly news, with more information on what's new, what's revised, and so on. This week a particular document showed up in the list of new documents. It's really not so much new, as newly revised, with a new maintainer, and it's clearly in need of additional revisions. It's the English-language GNU/Linux distributions on CD-ROM (formerly: The Linux distributions HOWTO). As the name implies, this list of Linux distributions is very focused, covering only popular English-language distributions; specifically compiled for the Intel platform; available on CD-ROM; and easily accessible to the first-time user. As such it is much shorter than the LWN list which includes distributions in many languages and formats. Keeping the list focused allows new users to find the information they are looking for, without becoming overwhelmed by extraneous information.

Martin S. Wheeler is new maintainer of this document, and while he probably doesn't need a barrage of email asking why distribution x, y or z isn't on the list, he could use some help getting this document up-to-date. So if you are a maintainer of a distribution that falls within the scope of this list, check to see if your distribution is covered and follow the directions within the document to add or update the entry for your distribution. We've added a link to the English-language GNU/Linux distributions on CD-ROM document to the right sidebar of this page, along with the other known lists of Linux distributions.

* (For anyone who really doesn't know, it's - Read The Frelling** Manual -
** you may substitute your favorite F-word here).

No source for Sorcerer. Sorcerer GNU/Linux seems to be dead. The listing on Freshmeat is gone and the Sorcerer homepage now only contains only a short announcement which reads, in part: Sorcerer GNU Linux is no longer being distributed under the GNU/GPL license. If you have problems with this then write your own original source based GNU Linux distribution and give it away for free. (Thanks to Ravenhall)

Update: Numerous readers have written in to note that the rumors of Sorcerer's death are premature. Here's the new web page for this distribution. See also SorcererLinux.org for more information on this (fairly twisted) situation.

New Distributions

Netule. A company called Netule has created three new Linux distributions, which are now available for download. The EM-I or Email Module I is a full featured Email Server based on Sendmail; the WM-I or Web Module I is a vastly simplified Web Server based on Apache; and the FM-I or Firewall Module I is released in partnership with Astaro Security Linux. Netule products are a combination of open and closed source and are available bundled with hardware.

Distribution News

Debian GNU/Linux. The Debian Weekly News for March 13, 2002 contains news about the Woody release status, the Project Leader Elections debate, and congratulates Debian developer Bart Bunting for two gold medal wins in this year's Paralympics.

The DPL debate is now scheduled for 21:00 UTC Saturday, March 23, 2002. The start of the voting period has been postponed to 00:00 UTC, March 24th, 2002.

Mandrake Linux 8.2 is Available. MandrakeSoft has announced the release of Mandrake Linux 8.2. Features include support for encrypted filesystems, SMP support, easy setup for printers and scanners, a redesigned Mandrake Control Center, lots of new configuration wizards, and more.

MontaVista Linux. MontaVista Software Inc. has announced that MontaVista Linux will support IBM's new 440GP PowerPC microprocessor.

Red Hat Linux. Red Hat has updated e2fsprogs packages available, which fix many ext3 bugs. This advisory says that new versions of the Red Hat Network Update Agent and Registration Client are now available. These new versions include new features, optimizations, and bug fixes.

Keep an eye out for 'Skipjack', the code name for the newest Red Hat beta. The ftp site was not open for anonymous ftp as of this writing, but it might be open by the time you read this. Try ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/beta/skipjack/

Slackware Linux. Slackware also has updated e2fsprogs packages available for Slackware current.

SuSE Linux. SuSE Linux announced that the latest version of its advanced enterprise operating system, the 64-bit SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 7 for IBM eServer zSeries, will be available by the beginning of May.

Turbolinux Speeds Enterprise Acceptance of Linux. Here is a press release about Turbolinux 7 Server, "the first Linux distribution to conform to Li18NUX internationalization standards."

Yellow Dog Linux. Terra Soft is preparing to release Yellow Dog Linux 2.2; with Gnome 1.4, kernel 2.4.18 and XFree86 4.2.0; all built from a Red Hat 7.2 foundation. It should be out soon.

Minor Distribution updates

Astaro Security Linux. Astaro Security Linux has released v3.040 beta with major feature enhancements.

Devil-Linux. Devil-Linux released v0.5 beta 6 with lots of changes.

Keeper Linux. Keeper Linux has released KL 1.1a, with TinyLogin and other minor updates.

Kondara MNU/Linux. The Kondara Project has released Kondara MNU/Linux 2.1 code named "Asumi". (Thanks to Maya TAMIYA)

Libranet GNU/Linux. The folks at Libranet GNU/Linux have decided to set up a pay for download scheme to help out with the bills.

NSA Security Enhanced Linux. NSA Security Enhanced Linux has released v2002031409 with minor feature enhancements.

Vine Linux. Vine Linux has announced the release of Vine Linux 2.5 beta 1, available for i386 and PPC processors.

Distribution Reviews

Linux on a Floppy, an Intro to Mini Linux Distributions Version 1.0 (Linux Orbit). Linux Orbit introduces some mini-distributions, including Trinux, the Crash Recovery Kit, and tomsrtbt. "If you've ever been stuck on the freeway with a flat tire and no jack, you know what it's like to have a Linux system crash and not have a boot disk. And although nearly every Linux distribution company asks you make a boot/recovery floppy when you install Linux for the first time, many users skip this important step. Out of the boot/recovery disk concept was born the Mini-Linux distribution."

Lycoris Desktop/LX: The World's Flower Power (Tux Reports). Tux Reports focuses on usability in this review of the Lycoris Desktop/LX operating system. "I was surprised that my students latched onto Lycoris so readily. This says a lot about it's usability for novices. Clearly, Lycoris hit the mark for a Windows network. This Linux distribution worked well on a mid-sized Windows network. Students used it without complaining. We'll keep it on this network so that students can work with the school website (hosted on a Linux box)."

MandrakeSoft adds Office to Linux (ZDNet). This ZDNet UK article covers the release of Mandrake Linux 8.2, with a focus on the software that will be added to the boxed sets. "When the boxed product ships in April, version 8.2 will be the first Mandrake Linux version to include the office suite StarOffice 6.0 and the Outlook clone Evolution 1.02, both of which are considered to be significantly improved over earlier editions."

MandrakeSoft, SuSe add new life to Linux (ZDNet). This ZDNet UK article takes a look at Mandrake Linux 8.2 (which is already available for download) and the upcoming SuSE Linux 8.0. "SuSE Linux 8 includes tweaked versions of its e-mail client, organizer and media players. Other multimedia features include support for CD writing, video playback and editing, the Kooka scanning application, and version 0.9 of the Advanced Linux Sound Architecture."

Section Editor: Rebecca Sobol

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

Distribution Lists:
LWN List
DistroWatch
ibiblio
Linux.com
LinuxLinks
LDP English-language GNU/Linux distributions on CD-ROM
Woven Goods

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