Dec 27, 2010 10:03 GMT  ·  By

KNOPPIX 6.4.3 has been released bringing several updated packages along with the usual bug fixes. This is also the first release to bring support for the open-source nouveau driver for Nvidia video cards. KMS is now also included in the kernel shipped with the latest KNOPPIX release.

"The current version has been completely updated from Debian 'Lenny', 'Testing' and 'Unstable' and uses Linux kernel 2.6.36.1, X.Org 7.5 for supporting current computer hardware," the release notes of Knoppix 6.4.3 read.

Other changes in the new release include: "experimental free nouveau graphics modules supporting NVIDIA cards; accelerated graphics via kernel mode settings (KMS); OpenOffice.org replaced by LibreOffice 3.3.0; Process Control Group support for terminal shells."

With the batch of updates, most packages should be getting an upgrade in KNOPPIX 6.4.3. The latest version comes with a new kernel and X.Org 7.5 (X.Org 7.6 has just been released), among the bigger changes.

There is also support for the open-source nouveau 3D driver for Nvidia cards, which is used by default. However, since the open-source driver is not on par with the proprietary, binary releases from Nvidia, or the older 'nv' driver, you may experience some issues and incompatibilities.

In this case, KNOPPIX recommends using the more reliable nv driver by starting with the following boot option: "knoppix nomodeset xmodule=nv".

Using KMS might lead to issues with some Toshiba Satellite notebooks with ATI graphics cards, the KNOPPIX team also warns.

Another change, though mostly a symbolic one at this point, is the switch from OpenOffice.org to LibreOffice, the OpenOffice fork that aims to preserve the project's independence and free software status which may be threatened under Oracle's leadership of the former Sun project.

KNOPPIX 6.4.3 CD and DVD is available for download here on Softpedia.