Linux Inside: Distribution Updates

by Gene Wilburn

(The Computer Paper, February 2000. Copyright © Wilburn Communications Ltd. All rights reserved)

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You just get nicely settled into your Linux installation and, whoosh, it's out of date. Linux maintains a fast-paced development cycle that can leave you gasping for breath if you try to keep up with it. The kernel development team adds new features and patches on a daily basis, gathering them up as "releases" on a regular basis.

There are two streams of Linux kernel releases: odd numbered ones and even numbered ones. The odd numbered series, such as Linux 2.3, are experimental kernels--leading-edge stuff mainly for developers to test and experiment with, but still buggy and not intended for production. (Anyone is welcome to download these kernels and try them out, of course.) The even numbers, such as Linux 2.2, are the "stable" production releases where most of the known bugs have been excised.

But even the production kernels undergo sub-series releases. Hence we currently see a mix of 2.2.10, 2.2.11, 2.2.12 and 2.2.13 kernels as the distribution vendors work towards the forthcoming 2.4 production series.

In addition to the kernel itself, Linux packagers use each new distribution release as an opportunity to upgrade versions of libraries and other open-source programs and documentation. It's also a convenient time to add things such as new setup and admin features. Each distro also has to keep pace with the development of X Window and the various video and sound drivers that have been released since the last distribution.

Small wonder then that Linux distributions are a moving target. Since the start of this column (August 1999), every major Linux distribution has had at least one major upgrade. The nice thing about Linux is that it's not necessary to upgrade your system if you're happy with the way things work. But if you're after the latest drivers and support, the upgrades can be attractive. Here's a quick summary of the latest Intel-based updates (note: new Linux releases such as Corel Linux and Storm Linux are not included in this roundup):

Slackware Linux 7.0

Slackware Linux (www.slackware.com) is the oldest of the current distributions and the one that most clearly retains the flavor of the early days. It derived from the legendary (and now extinct) SLS distribution, one of the first Linux distros. It has the most Unix-like feel to its setup and configuration and it doesn't use RPM's. Instead it uses traditional Unix TGZ files for package management. The Slackware distribution is primarily the work of a single individual, Patrick Volkerding.

Slackware is highly valued for its stability. It focuses more on working right than on working fancy. For this reason Slackware is one of the top choices for production servers. With this release Slackware has caught up with other distributions on the desktop as well. Based on the 2.2.13 kernel, it offers KDE 1.1.2, GNOME and some new setup tools. Without X Window, Slackware can be installed on a minimal system with 16Mb RAM and 80Mb HD.

Slackware users, and they are many and fiercely loyal, tend to be the kind who don't mind rolling up their sleeves to work under the hood. Slackware is a particularly good release for those who want to study Linux as well as just use it.

Red Hat Linux 6.1

Red Hat Linux (www.redhat.com) is the distribution that gets the most press, partly due to its meteoric entry into the stock market. Red Hat has forged relationships with many commercial vendors, including IBM, SGI, Compaq and Dell. For this reason it is the best-known Linux in the corporate world.

Red Hat Linux has always maintained a decent balance between being a good server Linux and a good desktop Linux. It has some of the best auto-probing software, frequently recognizing and setting up video and audio hardware that other distros miss.

Nonetheless, Red Hat has taken some criticism. It is getting top heavy. To have full access to the Red Hat admin tools, you now have to install X Window, which in the case of servers is not particularly desirable. Red Hat has also developed a reputation for releasing to market before the distributions have been well tested. This was the case with 6.0. In many ways 6.1 is a bug-fix release, with a few added features including a new, graphical installation program to catch up to the competition. Red Hat favors GNOME over KDE--its implementation of KDE is wishy-washy.

Based on kernel 2.2.12, Red Hat Linux 6.1 offers a new auto-update feature and optional Pentium III optimization. Red Hat Linux 6.1 comes in three versions: Standard, Deluxe, and Professional.

Caldera OpenLinux 2.3

Caldera OpenLinux 2.2 (www.calderasystems.com) broke new ground with its graphical installation and auto partitioning. It was the first Linux that didn't scare off non-technical users. OpenLinux 2.3 continues this tradition with Caldera's LIZARD (Linux Wizard) installation plus Caldera-licensed versions of PartitionMagic and BootMagic.

While Caldera OpenLinux can be used as server, it is packaged primarily as a desktop distribution. Based on kernel 2.2.10, OpenLinux 2.3 includes KDE 1.1.1. The 2.3 release is a minor update, with a number of bug fixes and some new commercial "trial-version" packages added.

The overall emphasis in Caldera OpenLinux 2.3 is on graphical management and, for better or worse, shielding users from the Linux command line. It continues to be a useful release to suggest to Windows users who are new to Linux and want to try it out without making a technical commitment.

SuSE Linux 6.3

SuSE Linux (www.suse.com) is the biggest Linux distribution, now spanning six CDs. Originating from Germany, SuSE is the leading distribution in Europe. Installation and support is multilingual.

A slick distro with excellent admin tools, SuSE 6.3 offers a new graphical installation, auto partitioning, and better hardware detection, bringing it into line with the latest Caldera and Red Hat releases. The 6.3 release is based on kernel 2.2.13 and KDE 1.1.2.

SuSE packs an enormous amount of trial software onto its CDs as well as the broadest selection of open-source offerings. For this reason SuSE makes an excellent Linux for laptops. You don't need to spend a lot of time downloading software with this distribution--most of what you want is on the CDs. SuSE also includes a comprehensive user manual.

Mandrake Linux 6.1 (Macmillan Linux)

Mandrake Linux (www.linux-mandrake.com) is based on Red Hat Linux and keeps pace with Red Hat release numbers. Hence the latest is 6.1. It is based on kernel 2.2.13 and it installs KDE 1.1.2.

Mandrake Linux 6.0 won the "Product of the Year" award at LinuxWorld Expo'99 for its improvements on Red Hat, including a well installed KDE environment, optimization for Pentium processors, and an auto-update feature. Red Hat 6.1 now includes optimized code and auto update as well, plus a graphical installation which Mandrake does not offer, so Mandrake has lost some of its advantage. It still offers a much better KDE than Red Hat however.

Mandrake Linux 6.1 is the Linux that forms Macmillan Linux and is widely available in computer and office supply stores under that name.

TurboLinux 4.0

Just as Red Hat is the leading distribution in North America and SuSE is the leading distribution in Europe, TurboLinux (www.turbolinux.com) is the leading distribution in Asia. It outsells all other distributions in Japan, China, Indonesia and Korea. It comes in English, Japanese and Chinese versions.

TurboLinux 4.0, based on the Linux 2.2.12 kernel, represents a jump from 3.6. It is offered in three versions: TurboLinux Workstation, TurboLinux Server, and TurboLinux TurboCluster Server. The server version contains a professional version of BRU, a commercial backup utility, while the cluster server package contains utilities and kernel support for setting up a high-performance Linux cluster.

TurboLinux does not have a large following in North America at this time, but the company has entered a relationship with IBM. IBM ships TurboLinux along with its Linux port of DB2 and WebSphere. TurboLinux deploys its own X-based graphical admin tools in an environment it calls TurboDesk, a modified WindowMaker interface. It also offers KDE and GNOME.

Debian GNU/Linux

The only major distribution that has not released an official update at the time of this writing is Debian GNU/Linux (www.debian.org). Because it has been on the verge of a major production-release update for several months, I'm anticipating its jump to the Linux 2.2 kernel by the time this column reaches print.

Debian GNU/Linux is similar to Slackware Linux in that it can be easily set up as a minimal installation on a server, with no X Window components required. It also makes a solid graphical workstation.

Debian GNU/Linux is the only non-commercial Linux distribution. It is maintained by volunteers across the Internet in a manner parallel to the Linux kernel development team. It is philosophically dedicated to the concept of truly "free" software. As with Slackware, it tends to be a conservative release, more focused on working correctly than on adding bells and whistles.

Debian uses DEB packages rather than RPMs and Debian was the first Linux to offer auto-updating features. It is one of the most robust distributions of Linux though its installation procedure is lengthy and peculiar.

As a tribute to its excellence, Debian has been picked as the underlying Linux for two commercial distributions: Corel Linux and Storm Linux, both of which have added graphical installation procedures and management packages. Both Corel and Storm have used the "experimental" 2.2 kernel release of Debian (code-named 'potato') in their distributions, in advance of an official move to this level by Debian itself. This release will form the basis for the official Debian release once the development team considers kernel 2.2 to be sufficiently stable. (Now that's conservatism with a capital C!)

Gene Wilburn (gene@wilburn.ca) is a Toronto-based IT manager, musician and writer who operates a small farm of Linux servers.

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