Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2

Red Hat has announced the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5.2, the second update to its RHEL 5.x product series: "Today we released the second update to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. As with earlier minor releases, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 comes with a broad set of bug fixes, updated hardware support capabilities, quality improvements, and a set of new software features that have been backported from upstream open source projects to the Enterprise Linux 5 code base. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 enhancements are primarily focused in six areas: virtualization, laptop and desktop improvements, encryption and security, cluster and storage enhancements, networking and IPv6 enablement, serviceability." Read the press release and release notes for more details. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 is available to existing subscribers Red Hat Networks - either as a set of new installation media or via the usual upgrade mechanisms.

SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 SP2

Novell has announced the release of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10, Service Pack 2: "Novell today announced the availability of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 Service Pack 2 (SP2), containing enhancements in virtualization, management, hardware enablement and interoperability. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP2 is the only Xen-based virtualization solution with full support from Microsoft for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 guests and live migration of those guests across physical machines." This release provides security fixes and feature enhancements to SUSE Linux Enterprise 10, originally released in July 2006, but also includes package updates for popular software, such as Firefox (2.0.0.14) and OpenOffice.org (2.4.0). Please read the complete press release for further information. A full set of 60-day evaluation media for all supported architectures are available for download (see desktop, server), after registration.

Parsix GNU/Linux 1.5r0 Test 2

Alan Baghumian has announced the second test release of Parsix GNU/Linux 1.5r0, a desktop distribution and live CD based on Debian's testing branch: "The second testing version of Parsix GNU/Linux 1.5 (code name 'Viola') is available now. Viola test 2 brings several new features, contains a new kernel, updated software packages and several fixes for the reported defects. This version is synchronized with Parsix and Debian testing repositories as of May 17, 2008. Several bugs have been solved. Viola test 2 officially supports Compiz-Fusion, VirtualBox OSE and GNU Flash Player. Highlights: GNOME 2.22.1, X.Org 7.3, Linux kernel 2.6.24.4 with CK, TuxOnIce 3.0-RC7, iwlwifi 1.2.23 with LED support and PowerTOP patch, updated several kernel drivers, OpenOffice.org 2.4.0 and GNU Iceweasel 3.0 Beta 5." The release announcement, release notes. Download: parsix_1.5r0-test-2-i386.iso (681MB, MD5), parsix_1.5r0-test-2-amd64.iso (693MB, MD5).

rPath Linux 2.0

Michael K. Johnson has announced the release of rPath Linux 2.0, an highly customisable appliance operating system featuring the Conary package management utility: "rPath is pleased to announce that rPath Linux 2 is now available and recommended for general use as an appliance platform. What's new? rPath Linux 2 is the next step in the evolution of the rPath Linux platform. In addition to a technology refresh (new versions of included packages), rPath Linux 2 is better tuned as a platform to show off your work. Just enough OS - rPath Linux 2 is smaller than rPath Linux 1. Boot splash branding - rPath Linux 2 implements a graphical boot process which is easy to customize to look the way you want. Additional security mechanisms: - several additional runtime security measures have been added to most packages. More robust system boot - the syslinux bootloader is now the default bootloader....." Read the complete release announcement for more information. Download (MD5): rpath-2.0-x86-dvd1.iso (837MB), rpath-2.0-x86_64-dvd1.iso (896MB).

MEPIS antiX 7.2

MEPIS has announced the release of MEPIS antiX 7.2, a lightweight, community variant of MEPIS Linux designed for older computers: "MEPIS has announced the release of antiX 7.2, 'Vetëvendosje.' Built using the MEPIS Linux 7.0 core including the MEPIS 2.6.22 kernel and utilities, along with selected additions from Debian Lenny, this lightweight operating system is especially appropriate for older hardware and users who like a very fast functional system. Pre-configured window managers Fluxbox and IceWM, as well as Conky and ROX Desktop, come ready to use. The search tool Catfish and the video player gxine have been added. New features based on community contributions include revised customized menus for better usability, a detailed set of FAQs for the new user, original wallpapers, and scripts for easy configuration of user and system files." Read the release announcement and check out the list of installed application for further details. Download: antiX-M7.2.iso (359MB, MD5).

Sabayon Linux 3.5 Beta 3

Fabio Erculiani has announced the third beta release of Sabayon Linux 3.5: "Sabayon Linux x86/x86-64 3.5 Loop 3 (beta release). Distribution features and changes since beta 2: boot time takes from 15 to 25 seconds less, thanks to Gentoo OpenRC and Baselayout-2, combined with our boot optimizations; improved VirtualBox support; Entropy binary package management infrastructure 0.14.16.1; online repository browser at 7,000 packages per architecture; installer updates - added the long discussed custom packages selector; Eee PC install mode with many bug fixes; Linux kernel 2.6.25.2 featuring improved wireless and laptop support, ext4, Unionfs 2.3.3 and Aufs file system support; X.Org 7.3 featuring NVIDIA 173.08 and AMD/ATI 8.476; enhanced desktop featuring Compiz 0.7.4 and Fusion icon to enable and disable 3D effects on the fly...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: Sabayon-Linux-x86-3.5_Loop3-r1.iso (3,984MB, MD5, torrent), Sabayon-Linux-x86_64-3.5_Loop3-r1.iso (4,239MB, MD5, torrent).

Fedora 9

Fedora 9 has been released: "The Fedora Project, a Red Hat sponsored and community-supported open source collaboration, today announced the availability of Fedora 9, the latest version of its open source operating system distribution. Highlights: PackageKit, a cross-distribution package management solution; GNOME 2.22; KDE desktop 4.0.3 featuring upgrades to core components such as the port to Qt 4; NetworkManager improvements; Firefox 3 Beta 5; SELinux confined web browser; OpenJDK6, the release of Sun Java SDK under a free and open source license; X.Org updates; consolidated dictionary support; Bluetooth enhancements; persistent live USB support; Upstart init daemon; ext4 file system support...." See the formal press release and read the comprehensive release notes for more information. Download the installable live CD images from here: Fedora-9-i686-Live.iso (691MB, SHA1, torrent), Fedora-9-i686-Live-KDE.iso (691MB, SHA1, torrent), Fedora-9-x86_64-Live.iso (693MB, SHA1, torrent), Fedora-9-x86_64-Live-KDE.iso (695MB, SHA1, torrent).

openSUSE 11.0 Beta 2

The second beta of openSUSE 11.0 has been released: "The openSUSE team is proud to announce the second Beta release of openSUSE 11.0! New changes include countless bug fixes, as well as the import of the new openSUSE 11.0 artwork for login, splash screens and more. The live installation should work, but there are several known quirks, so be sure to check the most annoying bugs list before proceeding. Remember that this is a beta. It may not be safe to run for production systems, and should be used by users interested in testing the next release of openSUSE for bugs. Most annoying bugs: automatic configuration after boot into installed system behaves strangely; installation leaves traces of live system." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Interested beta testers can download the installation DVD images via BitTorrent: openSUSE-11.0-Beta2-DVD-i386.iso (4,370MB), openSUSE-11.0-Beta2-DVD-x86_64.iso (4,453MB).

GoblinX 2.7 Beta 1

Flavio Pereira de Oliveira has announced the availability of the first beta release of GoblinX 2.7, a Slackware-based live CD: "GoblinX 2.7 beta 1 is released. GoblinX Standard is the original edition, first released in October 2004. It includes five windows managers: KDE, Fluxbox, Xfce, Enlightenment and WindowMaker. Main upgrades since the last release: upgraded kernel (2.6.24.3), Aufs, Squashfs and linux-live; upgraded all GNOME libraries and applications; upgraded several more libraries and packages; upgraded KDE (3.5.9); upgraded Magic Center and Media Manager; added gosfiles to be read by our interfaces; added webmount features allowing anyone to use modules without downloading them; changes are restored and saved by default if device allows rewrite; changes can be saved to a FAT32 file system...." Visit the project's news page to read the full release announcement. Download: GoblinX-2.7.beta1.iso (293MB, MD5).

Parted Magic 2.2

Patrick Verner has announced the release of Parted Magic 2.2, a specialist live CD distribution designed to facilitate hard disk management tasks: "This is another update / bugfix in the 2.0 series. I dropped VisParted because strong development is coming from the GParted camp once again. Recent updated to PCManFM have made some new things possible on the desktop and improved the look and feel. All mountable partitions and CD-ROMs are fully supported from the desktop now, so it's never been easier to access files from Parted Magic. You will find most of the bad bugs and annoyances from 2.1 have been fixed." Visit the project's news page and check out the latest changelog for more information about Parted Magic 2.2. Download: pmagic-2.2.iso (44.9MB, MD5).

OpenSolaris 2008.05

Here it is: the first stable release from Project Indiana, OpenSolaris 2008.05: "From dorm room to boardroom. OpenSolaris has everything you need to take your brilliant idea, build a prototype, test it, deploy it, and run it on production servers -- out of a loft, or across your enterprise. And when your application goes viral, you won't have to throw hardware at the problem, or switch to a different OS. OpenSolaris is industrial strength and built to scale from the get go. The live CD makes it simple to boot to a fully functional desktop environment, including Firefox and Thunderbird. Try it without fear -- our instant rollback feature works like a giant undo button, so your system is always protected, and you'll never lose work. And, you can load OpenSolaris 2008.05 easily in a variety of virtualization technologies including the open source VirtualBox hypervisor." Visit the newly revamped OpenSolaris web site to learn more about Solaris on the desktop. Download: os200805.iso (686MB, MD5, torrent).

AMD to update their server roadmap

AMD have updated their server roadmap. Base on the roadmap, AMD is still on track with their "Shanghai" processor in 2H2008. This is AMD's first 45nm server processor and will feature HyperTransport 3.0, 6MB of cache (instead of 2MB on today's processor), and include core and instruction per clock enhancements.

Furthermore, AMD is planning to release 6-core "Istanbul" in second half of 2009 that will fit within current Socket F1 (1207). And in first half of of 2010, AMD expects to introduct its third generation "Opteron processor Socket G34 platform that supports DDR3 memory controller, AMD RD 890 chipset for non-coherent HyperTransport 3.0, along with an additional HT link."

AMD also plans to release six- and twelve-core Opteron for Socket G34 in first half of 2010, codenamed "Sao Paolo" and "Magny Cours" respectively.

AMD usually does not disclose so future processor release date until it is close or on the date of the launch. Looks like they are on track of their plans and that's why they are able to release the information. Looking at the roadmap, it looks like we are going to see some interesting products coming off the pipelines and that may be able to challenge Intel's Nehalem processor in the near future.