Slackware 11.0 is released [LWN.net]

From:		Slackware Linux Project <press-AT-slackware.com>
To:		slackware-announce-AT-slackware.com
Subject:		[slackware-announce] Slackware 11.0 is released!
Date:		Mon, 2 Oct 2006 21:05:58 -0700 (PDT)



Hi folks, and thanks for supporting the Slackware Project for all these 
years.  Here's the latest of a long line of release announcements.  I keep 
trying to tone down that marketing stuff... one day I'll get it right. 
(Hey, we have to keep the lights on here!  ;-)


Announcing Slackware Linux 11!

The first Slackware release more than a year in the making, this
edition of Slackware combines Slackware's legendary simplicity,
stability, and security with some of the latest advances in Linux
technology.  Expect no less than the best Slackware yet.

Among the many program updates and distribution enhancements, you'll 
find two of the most advanced desktop environments available today: 
Xfce 4.2.3.2, a fast and lightweight but visually appealing and easy
to use desktop environment, and KDE 3.5.4, the latest version of the
award-winning K Desktop Environment.

Slackware uses the 2.4.33.3 kernel bringing you advanced performance
features such as the ReiserFS journaling filesystem, SCSI and ATA RAID
volume support, SATA support, and kernel support for X DRI (the Direct
Rendering Interface) that brings high-speed hardware accelerated 3D
graphics to Linux.  Additional kernels allow installing Slackware
using any of the journaling filesystems available for Linux, including
ext3, ReiserFS, IBM's JFS, and SGI's XFS.  Slackware 11.0 also fully
supports the 2.6 kernel series, with your choice of the well-tested
2.6.17.13 kernel in /extra (including a version of this kernel that
supports multiple processors, multi-core CPUs, HyperThreading, and
about every other optimization available), or the recently released
2.6.18 kernel in /testing.  This kernel also spent a long time in
development and in our own testing has proven to be fast, stable,
and reliable.

All of these kernels may be used with Slackware's CD/DVD based
installation system, and NFS network installs may be done using the
2.6.17.13 (huge26.s) kernel.

- From the beginning, Slackware has offered a stable and secure Linux 
distribution for UNIX veterans as well as an easy-to-use system for 
beginners.  Slackware includes everything you'll need to run a 
powerful server or workstation.  Each Slackware package follows the 
setup and installation instructions from its author(s) as closely as 
possible, offering you the most stable and easily expandable setup.

Here are some of the advanced features of Slackware 11.0:

- - Runs the 2.4.33.3 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org.
   Special kernels were prepared to support hardware such as SCSI
   controllers, SATA controllers, USB keyboards and mice, parallel-port
   IDE devices, IBM PS/2 machines with the Microchannel bus, and even
   speech synthesizers providing access to Linux for the visually
   impaired community.  The performance of the 2.4.x kernel series
   along with Slackware's track record of careful attention to system
   security make it the perfect choice for running your production
   servers.

- - As an alternate choice, Slackware 11.0 includes Linux 2.6.17.13
   and 2.6.18 kernel source, kernel modules, and binary packages,
   along with the mkinitrd tool and instructions on using it to
   install the new kernel (see /boot/README.initrd).  When running a
   2.6 kernel, Slackware supports udev.  This is a system for
   creating devices in /dev dynamically, greatly reducing device
   clutter and making it easy to see what devices are actually
   present in the system.  Udev probes for and enables hardware on
   the system, much like the hotplug system does for a 2.4 kernel.

- - System binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.3.6.
   This version of glibc also has excellent compatibility with
   existing binaries.

- - X11R6.9.0 (same codebase as Modular X.Org 7.0.0)
   This is the X.Org Foundation's X Window System.  The 6.9.0 version
   includes additional hardware support, functional enhancements, and
   bug fixes compared with the 6.8.2 release that shipped in Slackware
   10.2, and we're added additional support for some recent popular
   Intel graphics chipsets.

- - Installs gcc-3.4.6 as the default C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran-77,
   and Ada 95 compiler.

- - Support for fully encrypted network connections with OpenSSL,
   OpenSSH, and GnuPG.

- - Apache 1.3.37 web server with Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) support,
   SSL, and PHP.

- - PCMCIA, CardBus, and APM support for laptops. (pcmcia-cs-3.2.8
   and pcmciautils-014).  Slackware also now includes hotplug and
   udev support.  This locates and configures most hardware
   automatically as it is added (or removed) from the system.
   It also loads the kernel modules required by sound cards and
   other hardware at boot time.

- - New development tools, including Perl 5.8.8, Python 2.4.3,
   Ruby 1.8.4, Subversion 1.4.0, and graphical tools like
   Qt designer and KDevelop.

- - Updated versions of the Slackware package management tools make it
   easy to add, remove, upgrade, and make your own Slackware packages.
   Package tracking makes it easy to upgrade from Slackware 10.2 to
   Slackware 11.0 (see UPGRADE.TXT).  The slackpkg tool in /extra can
   also help update from an older version of Slackware to a newer one,
   and keep your Slackware system up to date.  In addition, the
   slacktrack utility (in extra/) will help you build and maintain
   your own packages.

- - Web browsers galore!  Includes KDE's Konqueror 3.5.4,
   SeaMonkey 1.0.5 (this is the new replacement for the Mozilla
   Suite), and the immensely popular Firefox 1.5.0.7, as well as
   the Thunderbird 1.5.0.7 email and news client with advanced
   junk mail filtering.

- - The complete K Desktop Environment (KDE) version 3.5.4, including
   the KOffice productivity suite, networking tools, GUI development
   with KDevelop, multimedia tools (including the amazing Amarok
   music player), the Konqueror web browser and file manager, dozens
   of games and utilities, international language support, and more.

- - A collection of GTK+ based applications including gaim-1.5.0,
    gimp-2.2.13, gkrellm-2.2.9, gxine-0.5.7, xchat-2.6.6, xsane-0.991,
    and pan-0.14.2.91.

- - Large repository of extra software packages compiled and ready to
   run.  This includes various window managers, the K3b CD burning
   application for KDE, the Java(TM) 2 Software Development Kit
   Standard Edition, libsafe (advanced buffer overflow protection for
   additional security), ISDN support, additional 802.11 drivers, and
   much more (see the /extra directory).

- - Many more improved and upgraded packages than we can list here.  For
   a complete list of core packages in Slackware 11.0, see this file:

     ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-11.0/PACK...

- - Another Slackware exclusive:  Slackware's ZipSlack installation
   option is the fastest, _easiest_ Linux installation ever.  ZipSlack
   provides a basic text-based Linux system as a 70 megabyte ZIP archive.
   Simply unzip on any FAT or FAT32 partition, edit your boot partition
   in the LINUX.BAT batch file, and you can be running Linux in less
   than five minutes.  The ZipSlack installation includes everything you
   need to network with Linux (including Ethernet, token ring, and
   PPP), and extend the system with additional software packages such as
   X.  A ZipSlack system will even fit on a 250MB Zip(TM) disk, so you
   can carry a personal Linux system with you to run on any PC with a
   250MB Zip(TM) drive.


Downloading Slackware 11.0:
- ---------------------------

The full version of Slackware Linux 11.0 is available for download from
the central Slackware FTP sites hosted by our friends at www.cwo.com
and osuosl.org:

    ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-11.0/
    ftp://slackware.osuosl.org/pub/slackware/slackware-11.0/

The ZipSlack version of Slackware can be downloaded from:

    ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-11.0/zips...
    ftp://slackware.osuosl.org/pub/slackware/slackware-11.0/z...

If the sites are busy, see the list of official mirror sites here:

    http://slackware.com/getslack/

We will be setting up BitTorrent downloads for the official ISO images.
Stay tuned to http://slackware.com for the latest updates.


Purchasing Slackware on CD-ROM:
- -------------------------------

Or, purchase the Slackware Linux 11.0 six CD-ROM set directly from
Slackware Linux, and you'll be helping to support the continued
development of Slackware Linux!  :-)

This is the official release of Slackware on CD-ROM, and has many 
enhanced features, including:

  -  Easy bootable CD-ROM installation.  If your machine can boot a
     CD-ROM, just boot the first disc to begin the installation process.
  -  The ZipSlack edition of Slackware Linux 11.0.
  -  The source code used to build Slackware Linux 11.0.

The price for the Slackware Linux CD-ROM set is $39.95 plus shipping.

Slackware Linux is also available by subscription.  When we release a
new version of Slackware (which is normally once or twice a year) we
ship it to you and bill your credit card $24.95 plus shipping.  Shipping
is $5 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico for First Class.  Overseas is $9
PER ORDER.  There is an additional $3 COD charge (USA Only).  UPS Blue
Label (2nd day) [USA Only] is $10 PER ORDER, UPS Red Label (next day)
[USA Only] is $15 PER ORDER.


Ordering Information:
- ---------------------

    You can order online at the Slackware Linux store:
      http://store.slackware.com


    Order inquiries (including questions about becoming a Slackware
    reseller) may be directed to this address:
      info@slackware.com

    Or, send a check or money order to:

      Slackware Linux, Inc.
      1164 Claremont Drive
      Brentwood, CA 94513
      USA


Have fun! :^)

- ---
Patrick J. Volkerding    <volkerdi@slackware.com>

Visit us on the web at:  http://slackware.com

(Log in to post comments)

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 3, 2006 21:09 UTC (Tue) by dvandeun (guest, #24273) [Link]

Glibc and gcc have been deliberately held back in Slackware 11 because it wants to offer the choice between kernel 2.4 and kernel 2.6. Gcc 4 cannot compile kernel 2.4, and glibc 2.4 does not support linuxthreads anymore.

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 4, 2006 20:00 UTC (Wed) by beoba (guest, #16942) [Link]

Honest question: What does 2.4 offer that 2.6 is still unable to provide?

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 4, 2006 20:45 UTC (Wed) by dlang (subscriber, #313) [Link]

in some configurations it's a little smaller

but mostly it's warm and fuzzies that it's not changeing significantly while 2.6 is continueing to evolve too rapidly for many people's tastes.

Speed of evolution...

Posted Oct 5, 2006 1:14 UTC (Thu) by xoddam (subscriber, #2322) [Link]

Kernel 2.6.8 is evolving too rapidly?

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 7, 2006 9:26 UTC (Sat) by oak (subscriber, #2786) [Link]

> mostly it's warm and fuzzies that it's not changeing significantly
> while 2.6 is continueing to evolve too rapidly

I.e. meaning that v2.4 is much more extensively / tested than any
given v2.6.x version... Doesn't v2.4 (e.g. with commercial OSS
drivers) also support some older HW which v2.6 doesn't support anymore?

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 5, 2006 9:34 UTC (Thu) by dvandeun (guest, #24273) [Link]

> Honest question: What does 2.4 offer that 2.6 is still unable to provide?

Ease of mind.

That, and long filenames on DOS disks of course. :-)

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 4, 2006 0:04 UTC (Wed) by kirkengaard (subscriber, #15022) [Link]

Consider this the stable release. Major system basics have been frozen at compatibility points for the kernel choice, as has been mentioned. However, most of the other software is current, and we tend to be ahead of the curve on bugs, whether because we stayed with a known stable, or because we're already on a version without the bug. You cannot truly say that the "ancient" choices here are so old that they defy use, nor can you say that they make it impossible to compile current code under a Slackware 11 installation. Read ChangeLog.txt and you will get an idea of why certain newer versions get rejected. The choices tend to be explained.

If you're that impatient for current stuff, watch the flux ramp up after this in -current. And consider that it could be worse. You could choose Debian stable releases. I consider this to be a nice happy medium. :)

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 4, 2006 0:47 UTC (Wed) by allesfresser (subscriber, #216) [Link]

As for the Python version, I'm very glad that Pat didn't upgrade to v2.5, since many things aren't yet compatible with all the changes in 2.5. Prime example in my world: Zope and Plone.

Pat makes a system that works, not one built for coolness value. My impression of his standard is that he uses the latest known very-stable version of a package, not necessarily the absolute newest release.

Slackware = VERY stable Linux distribution

Posted Oct 4, 2006 7:17 UTC (Wed) by pr1268 (subscriber, #24648) [Link]

Amen to that! Kudos to Pat and the entire Slackware Team for a stable distribution.

Thanks also to the fellow posters for enlightening us on why Slackware holds back on the GCC version - I never realized that the 2.4 kernel won't compile on GCC 4.x (I use a vanilla 2.6 myself).

Again, to quote Allesfresser, Slackware just works!

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 5, 2006 11:37 UTC (Thu) by lysse (subscriber, #3190) [Link]

Do not feed the bridge-dwellers, they are dangerous.

(A dangerou is like a troll, but hairier.)

Bunch of software released the same day?

Posted Oct 9, 2006 0:23 UTC (Mon) by juhl (subscriber, #33245) [Link]

> I'm not a versioman myself, but trading second hand packages for new and
> shiny and selling slackware to beginners just seems a *real* marketing to
> me.

I'll take "slightly older and stable" over "new and shiney" any day. That's one of the things that has kept me using Slackware through the years - it just works - that's worth quite a lot if you ask me.

Slackware 11.0 is released

Posted Oct 4, 2006 19:59 UTC (Wed) by Alan_Hicks (subscriber, #20469) [Link]

It's real easy. Just flip to a second VT and mount the partition where your install files are located. Then when setup asks you for the source media, select something like "pre-mounted partition" and give it a path.

Slackware 11.0 is released

Posted Oct 5, 2006 15:21 UTC (Thu) by tjc (subscriber, #137) [Link]

Thanks!

What pacages do I need for a base install, besides everything in a/? Specifically, do I need anything from l/?

Slackware 11.0 is released

Posted Oct 5, 2006 18:29 UTC (Thu) by Alan_Hicks (subscriber, #20469) [Link]

I suggest reading the book. :^) http://www.slackbook.org

The a series is all that is needed for a base install. From that, you can install any other packages you need.

Slackware 11.0 is released

Posted Oct 5, 2006 21:09 UTC (Thu) by tjc (subscriber, #137) [Link]

Thanks for the link! But the book doesn't really answer my question, which is why I asked. :-)

I realize that I should be asking these questions on the slackware forum, which is my next step. There's at least one page out there that explains all this, but I can't find it. Either it's gone, or it's google rank is way down.

Slackware 11.0 is released

Posted Oct 5, 2006 22:03 UTC (Thu) by allesfresser (subscriber, #216) [Link]

I would suggest some of the packages in the N series as well, depending on your needs, especially things like tcpip, dhcpcd or dhcp, iptables, nfs-utils, openssl, openssh, rp-pppoe, etc. Things in the L series would probably help too.

Which packages to install

Posted Oct 5, 2006 21:08 UTC (Thu) by pr1268 (subscriber, #24648) [Link]

Or, if you are like me and want to run Slackware like it were a "pretend" Gentoo distribution, you could install the a packages and d packages (and nothing else), then build all the other desired packages from the source directory, with your own optimizations in the SlackBuild scripts. ;-)

P.S. You might have to install the l packages as well. Be advised that a source install may be an all-day affair.

Which packages to install

Posted Oct 5, 2006 22:05 UTC (Thu) by allesfresser (subscriber, #216) [Link]

Geez, and I thought *I* was hardcore. :-)