The weekly roundup for Linux users

Nov 16, 2009 11:26 GMT  ·  By

Welcome to the 71th issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly!

The following Linux-based operating systems were announced last week: SystemRescueCd 1.3.2, DEFT Linux 5, sidux 2009-03, OpenSuSE 11.2 and Linux Mint 8 RC1. This week's YouTube-powered video clip showcases the "hidden" powers of the newly released openSUSE 11.2 Linux-based operating system. At the end of the weekly, you will find the latest Linux distributions released and updated last week, and, of course, the development releases. Enjoy!

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Summary:

dots SystemRescueCdOn November 9th, François Dupoux announced the immediate availability of the SystemRescueCd 1.3.2 operating system. The new version of the tiny, Gentoo-based Linux distribution for system administrators and data recovery tasks comes now with the latest 2.6.31.5 Linux kernel, the alternative Linux kernel 2.6.27.38, a few important updated packages and a couple of other improvements. SystemRescueCd 1.3.2 also introduces initial support for Super Grub Disk!

Highlights of SystemRescueCd 1.3.2:

· Updated the standard Linux kernel packages to version 2.6.31.5 (with support for the Btrfs filesystem); · Updated the alternative Linux kernel packages to version 2.6.27.38; · Updated LVM2 (Logical Volume Manager) to version 2.02.51; · Updated the Xorg Server to version 1.6.3.901; · Updated dmraid to version 1.0.0 RC16; · Updated mdadm to version 3.0.2; · Updated Gparted to version 0.4.8; · Updated NTFS3G (Advanced NTFS-3G Features) to version 2009.4.4-AR21; · Added Super Grub Disk 1.21; · Added support for framebuffer video in the standard Linux kernel (the vga=xxx boot option); · Replaced the Xvesafb graphical mode with the Xfbdev one.

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SystemRescueCd 1.3.2

Download SystemRescueCd 1.3.2 right now from Softpedia.

dots DEFTAlso on November 9th, Stefano Fratepietro announced DEFT Linux 5, which is now based on the Linux kernel 2.6.31 of the Xubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) operating system, and DEFT Extra 2.0 (Computer Forensic GUI). Starting with this version, DEFT uses the LXDE desktop environment and therefore it should no longer be considered as a Xubuntu customization. DEFT Linux 5 has been also split in two releases, one for disk forensics activities (see the download link at the end of the article) and one for cell/network forensics tasks, which will be published next week.

Highlights of DEFT Linux 5:

· Linux kernel 2.6.31 (Xubuntu); · Nessus 4 security scanner; · Support for popular file systems; · Support for LVM (Logical Volume Manager); · Support for ewflib and afflib; · Added Xplico, Kismet, Ettercap, NMap and Wireshark network forensics tools; · Added Scalpel, PhotoRec and Foremost carving tools; · Added Rootkit Hunter, chkrootkit and Exploit Scanner tools; · Added the Outgess steganography detection application; · Added recordmydesktop for desktop recording and capture; · Added TrID, the file type identifier tool; · Updated Ophcrack to latest version; · Updated Clam anti-virus to version 4.15; · Added the deft-mount script to easily mount devices; · Added an advanced directory/files researcher tool.

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DEFT Linux 5

Download DEFT Linux 5 right now from Softpedia.

dots siduxOn November 11th, Stefan Lippers-Hollmann proudly announced the immediate availability of the sidux 2009-03 Linux-based operating system (codename "Mamos"). The new release ships with the ultimate Linux kernel 2.6.31.6 and the breathtaking KDE 4.3.2 desktop environment. sidux is a full-featured Live CD based on Debian Sid, with a special focus on hard disk installations, a clean upgrade path within Sid and supplementary hardware and software support. This is also the first release of sidux without the KDE 3.x and Qt 3.x packages!

Highlights of sidux 2009-03:

· Based on Debian Sid (2009-11-11); · Linux kernel 2.6.31.6; · KDE 4.3.2 desktop environment; · X.Org 7.4; · Iceweasel 3.5.4 web browser; · New artwork; · OpenJDK 6; · memtest86+ 4.0; · Support for USB 3.0; · Support for KVM (Kernel Virtual Machine); · Support for Sound Blaster X-Fi sound cards; · Support for RaLink rt2400, rt2570, rt2500, rt73 and rt61 802.11b/g Wi-Fi cards; · Support for Intel Wireless Multicomm 802.11; · Support for Intel Wireless WiFi Link 1000/ 5xxxAGN/ 6000/ 6050; · Support for RealTek RTL8187B and RTL8187 USB WLAN cards; · Support for RealTek RTL8185 and RTL8180L PCI WLAN cards; · Support for many Atmel and Atheros wireless cards; · Acer Aspire One fan control support; · Automatic X.Org detection; · OpenFWWF 5.2 firmware (for Broadcom AirForce 802.11b/g Wi-Fi cards).

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sidux 2009-03

Download sidux 2009-03 right now from Softpedia.

dots openSUSEOn November 12th, Novell proudly announced that openSUSE 11.2 was released after more than eleven months of hard work! openSUSE 11.2 can be downloaded for free either as Live KDE4 and GNOME CDs or as installable only DVDs, for both i586 and x86_64 architectures.

Highlights of openSUSE 11.2:

· Linux kernel 2.6.31.5; · EXT4 filesystem; · GNOME 2.28.0 desktop environment; · KDE 4.3.1 desktop environment; · X.Org 7.4; · X.Org server 1.6.5; · Dedicated Home partition; · Slab Main Menu for GNOME; · OpenOffice.org 3.1; · USB installation support; · WebYaST; · In-place upgrades; · Social networking support; · Over 1,000 open source apps; · KDE4 and GNOME Live CDs; · New artwork.

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openSUSE 11.2

Download openSUSE 11.2 right now from Softpedia.

Download openSUSE 11.2 KDE4 Live CD right now from Softpedia.

Download openSUSE 11.2 GNOME Live CD right now from Softpedia.

dots MintOn November 13th, Clement Lefebvre, the father of the Linux Mint project, proudly announced the immediate availability of the Linux Mint 8 RC1 (codename Helena) operating system. Linux Mint 8 will be based on the newly released Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) and it will be powered by Linux kernel 2.6.31, X.org 7.4 and GNOME 2.28.1. Above all that, the 8th release of Linux Mint will include brand-new artwork, updated applications and many, many other amazing features for all its fans out there!

Highlights of Linux Mint 8 RC1:

· Based on Ubuntu 9.10; · Linux kernel 2.6.31; · EXT4 filesystem; · X.Org 7.4; · GNOME 2.28.1; · Improvements to the Menu; · Improvements to the software manager; · Improvements to the update manager; · New Upload manager tool; · Lots of bugs fixed.

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Linux Mint 8 RC1 - Image courtesy of the Clement Lefebvre

Download Linux Mint 8 RC1 right now from Softpedia. Remember that this is an unstable release and it should NOT be installed on production machines. It is intended for testing purposes only!

dots Video Clip of the WeekVideo Clip of the Week: The Power of Linux - openSUSE 11.2

· For this week, we've posted a video clip that showcases the power of the brand-new openSUSE 11.2 Linux operating system! The video has 2 minutes and 52 seconds, and it was posted by the KvaHackSoft. Enjoy!

Download from SoftpediaNew Distributions:

· Zenwalk Core 6.2 · VectorLinux KDE-Classic 6.0 · ThorsHammer 090109

Download from SoftpediaDistributions Updated Last Week:

· Vinux 2.1 Leviathan Edition · Ultimate Edition 2.4 · ZevenOS 2.0 · PelicanHPC 1.9.3

Download from SoftpediaDevelopment Releases:

· Parted Magic 4.6 RC1 · Chakra LiveCD Alpha 4 · VectorLinux SOHO 6.0 Beta 1 · Clonezilla LiveCD 1.2.3-10 · Tiny Core Linux 2.6 RC1 · Yoper 2009 Beta 2 · BioPuppy 2.0 Beta

See you again next Monday, November 23rd, for another issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly.