Kernel release: 2.4.23-rc5, Nov 25, 2003

2.4.23-rc5 has been released today.
See changelog for full details.

Files added: 202
Files changed: 1551
Files removed: 13

Despite a cracker incursion into Debian Project servers this week, representatives of the Debian Linux distribution said the open-source code behind it remains untouched.

Ian Murdoch, chairman of Progeny Linux Systems Inc. and founder of Debian, told eWEEK.com, "Fortunately, open-source developers tend to be very good at keeping cryptographic signatures on files and multiple backups to make sure that everything stays all right."

I shouldn't be grizzling about Red Hat's moves to “enterprise-ify” Linux once again, but I can't help it. A few weeks ago, I and many other users registered with the Red Hat Network (RHN) received an email explaining that that was it. No more support for the Linux distribution that's arguably the most popular in the world.

With immediate effect, Red Hat will cease support for version 7.x and 8.0 of its Linux distribution, whereas users of the latest instalment, 9.0, have a slightly longer period of grace – until April 30 next year.

If you do want a supported distribution from El Sombrero Rojo, you need to buy into the new Enterprise programme. Or, you could take your chances with the free “community” version, Fedora. It's unsupported, but has Red Hat developers working on it, and Red Hat reckons it will appeal to those who've downloaded the previous distributions for free.

Oracle Australia will be the platinum sponsor for Australia's national Linux conference, linux.conf.au, which will be held in Adelaide in January, a media release says.

The main conference will be held from January 14 to 17 at the t Adelaide University. The platinum sponsor is the second biggest sponsor of the event.

Oracle will sponsor part of the main conference and also the inaugural mini-conference on Linux and Open Source in Government which will be held on January 12 and 13.

Within just days of launching it on Saturday, LinuxWorld Magazine’s quest for predictions as to what 2004 holds in store for the Linux operating system has already been read by 23,033 people – a figure that continues to grow hourly as members of the Linux community add their own - many and varied - suggestions. Join Florian Cramer, Matthew Johnson, and others today in adding your own responses.

Webmaster's note: The Debian server compromise as seen from the "Windows" perspective

A hacker compromised several key servers belonging to the Debian Project, a Linux distribution maker last week, an event that seems to mirror issues Microsoft had two years ago when hackers compromised the software giant's network. The hacker incursion into Debian, however, was more dramatic, with the project's bug-tracking, mail list, Web server, and security component servers being compromised. In the aftermath of the attack, however, Debian officials say the code for its Linux distribution was unchanged

SuSE Linux began distributing a free version of its newest desktop operating system Monday and plans to update its high-end product Tuesday.

The company began selling its desktop product, SuSE Linux 9, in October. Now, after SuSE's customary one-month wait, the software is available free as a download. Customers can install the software from a network or hard drive but can't create installation CDs, the company said.

The downloadable version is missing a few software packages that can't be downloaded because of license restrictions, SuSE said. It also doesn't include support.

There's a traditional definition of a shyster: a lawyer who, when the law is against him, pounds on the facts; when the facts are against him, pounds on the law; and when both the facts and the law are against him, pounds on the table. The SCO Group's continuing attempts to increase its market value at the expense of free software developers, distributors and users through outlandish legal theories and unsubstantiated factual claims show that the old saying hasn't lost its relevance.

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