[ale] New SuSE 8.0

[Keith Hopkins]

Dow Hurst wrote:
> I wanted to pass this on as it bears on some topics everyone might be
> interested in.  I saw this announcement as a link on the IBM Linux-Line
> April magazine website.  The Firewall2 is a YaST2 module for configuring
> an iptables firewall rather than ipchains.  Also, for those running SuSE
> 7.3 right now:  I just ran the online update this morning and got some
> KDE2 updates that really speeded up the login process.  :)
> 
> But, I had to chmod 4755 /opt/kde2/bin/artsd to fix a KDE2 login hang. 
> Also, after successfully logging in as root under KDE2, the dcopserver
> can't connect with KLauncher so programs won't start from the graphical
> menu. :(
> 
> I don't see why they couldn't have named this SuSE 7.4 though.  Must be
> a marketing dude that made that decision.  I usually wait for x.1 or x.2
> for bug fixes but the release number makes less sense these days so I
> may try out the 8.0.  SuSE seems to provide bug fixes and security
> patches for every release thru a set lifetime and each new release is
> really to showcase new functionality instead of just bug fixes.  In a
> couple of years we will be at Mandrake 41.2, SuSE 38.5, and Slackware 9.
> ;)
> Dow
> 
> 
> 
> SuSE Linux 8.0 for April debut
> At CeBIT 2002, SuSE Linux introduced its SuSE Linux 8.0 distribution, 
> saying it will be generally available this month. With its automated 
> installation support and graphical user interface KDE 3, SuSE Linux 8.0 
> aims mainly for the qualified user's desktop. Highlights of SuSE Linux 
> 8.0 include:
> - NEW: glibc 2.2.5 and kernel 2.4.18
> - NEW: graphic support with XFree86 4.2 incl.GeForce3-support
> - NEW: Included: SuSE Linux Firewall2
> - NEW: Apache 1.3.23 Webserver and additional modules
> - NEW: Samba 2.2.3a - File- and Printserver for Windows-networks
> - NEW: Open Office (Beta), StarOffice 5.2
> - NEW: Digital sound with ALSA 0.9
> - NEW: DVD burning
> - NEW: Borland Kylix 2
> - NEW: GNOME 1.4.1 incl. Nautilus
> - Journaling filesystems: ReiserFS, JFS, XFS und Ext3
> - YaST2- Tool for Logical Volume Manager
> - YaST2-Runleveleditor for selective activation of Server processes
> 

You right, this doesn't look that much different from 7.3, which I'm running now.

I really do like SuSE and YaST(1).  YaST2 (the TUI, not the GUI) still has lots of room for improvement.

But for 8.0?  The big problem I have with SuSE is their x.0 an x.1 distros.  SuSE is a really really big distro, and the 6.0, 6.1, 7.0, 7.1 and even 7.2 releases were fairly buggy.  They DO put out patches fairly quickly for major flaws, which is very nice, and SuSE distros upgrade well withing the release (6.1->6.3) but not to new releases (6.3->7.3 kept too many of the 6.3 configs in place that didn't work right with the 7.3 programs).

I'll probably wait until 8.2 or 8.3 comes out before I purchase the package again.  In the mean time, I'll continue to download updates from their web site, and use YaST2's Graphical on-line update tool.

Another plus for SuSE and updates, is that they keep seperate Gnome and KDE sections on their ftp site, so you can get the latest and greatest (almost) prepackaged for SuSE.

-- 
Lost in Tokyo,
   Keith



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