Announcing Slackware Linux 10.2!

The second Slackware release of 2005, Slackware Linux 10.2 continues 
the long Slackware tradition of simplicity, stability, and security.

Among the many program updates and distribution enhancements, you'll 
find two of the most advanced desktop environments available today: 
Xfce 4.2.2, a fast and lightweight but visually appealing and easy
to use desktop environment, and KDE 3.4.2, the latest version of the
award-winning K Desktop Environment.

Slackware uses the 2.4.31 kernel bringing you advanced performance
features such as the ReiserFS journaling filesystem, SCSI and ATA RAID
volume support, SATA support, and kernel support for X DRI (the Direct
Rendering Interface) that brings high-speed hardware accelerated 3D
graphics to Linux.  Additional kernels allow installing Slackware
using any of the journaling filesystems available for Linux, including
ext3, ReiserFS, IBM's JFS, and SGI's XFS.  For those Slackware users
who are anxious to try the new 2.6.x kernel series, it is fully
supported by the system.  A precompiled Linux 2.6.13 kernel, modules,
and source code are provided (along with complete instructions on how
to install the new kernel).  A bootable 2.6.13 kernel ("test26.s")
with support for most SCSI, RAID, and SATA controllers is integrated
into the installer.

From the beginning, Slackware has offered a stable and secure Linux 
distribution for UNIX veterans as well as an easy-to-use system for 
beginners.  Slackware includes everything you'll need to run a 
powerful server or workstation.  Each Slackware package follows the 
setup and installation instructions from its author(s) as closely as 
possible, offering you the most stable and easily expandable setup.

Here are some of the advanced features of Slackware 10.2:

- Runs the 2.4.31 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org.
  Special kernels were prepared to support hardware such as SCSI
  controllers, SATA controllers, USB keyboards and mice, parallel-port
  IDE devices, IBM PS/2 machines with the Microchannel bus, and even
  speech synthesizers providing access to Linux for the visually
  impaired community.  The performance of the 2.4.x kernel series
  along with Slackware's track record of careful attention to system
  security make it the perfect choice for running your production
  servers.

- As an alternate choice, Slackware 10.2 includes Linux 2.6.13
  source, kernel modules, and binary packages, along with the
  mkinitrd tool and instructions on using it to install the
  new kernel (see /boot/README.initrd).  When running a 2.6
  kernel, Slackware supports udev.  This is a system for
  creating devices in /dev dynamically, greatly reducing device
  clutter and making it easy to see what devices are actually
  present in the system.

- System binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.3.5.
  This version of glibc also has excellent compatibility with
  existing binaries.

- X11R6.8.2
  This is the current release of the X.Org Foundation's X Window
  System.  The 6.8.2 version is a new release that includes
  additional hardware support, functional enhancements and bug fixes.
     
- Installs gcc-3.3.6 as the default C, C++, Objective-C, Fortran-77,
  and Ada 95 compiler.  gcc-3.4.4 is available as an alternate choice.

- Support for fully encrypted network connections with OpenSSL,
  OpenSSH, and GnuPG.

- Apache 1.3.33 web server with Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) support,
  SSL, and PHP.

- PCMCIA, CardBus, and APM support for laptops. (pcmcia-cs-3.2.8).
  Slackware also now includes hotplug support.  This locates and
  configures most hardware automatically as it is added (or removed)
  from the system.  It also loads the kernel modules required by
  sound cards and other hardware at boot time.

- New development tools, including Perl 5.8.7, Python 2.4.1, 
  Subversion 1.2.3, and graphical tools like Qt designer and KDevelop.

- Updated versions of the Slackware package management tools make it
  easy to add, remove, upgrade, and make your own Slackware packages.
  Package tracking makes it easy to upgrade from Slackware 10.1 to 
  Slackware 10.2 (see UPGRADE.TXT).  The slackpkg tool in /extra can 
  also help update from an older version of Slackware to a newer one, 
  and keep your Slackware system up to date.  In addition, the new
  slacktrack utility (in extra/) will help you build and maintain 
  your own packages.

- Web browsers galore!  Includes KDE's Konqueror 3.4.2, 
  Mozilla 1.7.11, and the immensely popular new Firefox 1.0.6.
  (as well as the Thunderbird 1.0.6 email and news client with
  advanced junk mail filtering)

- The complete K Desktop Environment (KDE) version 3.4.2, including
  the KOffice productivity suite, networking tools, GUI development
  with KDevelop, multimedia tools, the Konqueror web browser and
  file manager, dozens of games and utilities, international language 
  support, and more.

- A collection of GTK+ based applications, including abiword-2.2.9
  (upgraded from version 2.0.12 in Slackware 10.1), gaim-1.5.0,
   gimp-2.2.8, gkrellm-2.2.7, gxine-0.4.8, and pan-0.14.2.91.

- Large repository of extra software packages compiled and ready to 
  run.  This includes various window managers, support for 3Dfx gaming
  cards, OpenMotif-2.2.2, the K3b CD burning application for KDE, 
  the Java(TM) 2 Software Development Kit Standard Edition,
  libsafe (advanced buffer overflow protection for additional 
  security), ISDN support, additional 802.11 drivers, and much more 
  (see the /extra directory).
  
- Many more improved and upgraded packages than we can list here.  For
  a complete list of core packages in Slackware 10.2, see this file:

    ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-10.2/PACKAGES.TXT

- Another Slackware exclusive:  Slackware's ZipSlack installation
  option is the fastest, _easiest_ Linux installation ever.  ZipSlack
  provides a basic text-based Linux system as a 48 megabyte ZIP archive.  
  Simply unzip on any FAT or FAT32 partition, edit your boot partition 
  in the LINUX.BAT batch file, and you can be running Linux in less 
  than five minutes.  The ZipSlack installation includes everything you 
  need to network with Linux (including Ethernet, token ring, and 
  PPP), and extend the system with additional software packages such as 
  X.  A ZipSlack system will even fit on a Zip(TM) disk, so you can 
  carry a personal Linux system with you to run on any PC with a 
  Zip(TM) drive.

     
Downloading Slackware 10.2:
---------------------------

The full version of Slackware Linux 10.2 is available for download from
the central Slackware FTP site hosted by our friends at www.cwo.com:

   ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-10.2/

The ZipSlack version of Slackware can be downloaded from:

   ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-10.2/zipslack/

If this site is busy, see the list of official mirror sites here:

   http://slackware.com/getslack/

Thanks to the generosity of the Open Source Lab at Oregon State
University we also have a new high-speed primary mirror site:

   ftp://slackware.osuosl.org/pub/slackware/slackware-10.2/

We will be setting up BitTorrent downloads for the official ISO images.
Stay tuned to http://slackware.com for the latest updates.


Purchasing Slackware on CD-ROM:
-------------------------------

Or, purchase the Slackware Linux 10.2 four CD-ROM set directly from
Slackware Linux, and you'll be helping to support the continued
development of Slackware Linux!  :-)

This is the official release of Slackware on CD-ROM, and has many 
enhanced features, including:

 -  Easy bootable CD-ROM installation.  If your machine can boot a 
    CD-ROM, just boot the first disc to begin the installation process.
 -  The ZipSlack edition of Slackware Linux 10.2.
 -  The source code used to build Slackware Linux 10.2.

The price for the Slackware Linux CD-ROM set is $39.95 plus shipping.

Slackware Linux is also available by subscription.  When we release a
new version of Slackware (which is typically once or twice a year) we
ship it to you and bill your credit card $24.95 plus shipping.  Shipping
is $5 in the USA, Canada, and Mexico for First Class.  Overseas is $9
PER ORDER.  There is an additional $3 COD charge (USA Only).  UPS Blue
Label (2nd day) [USA Only] is $10 PER ORDER, UPS Red Label (next day)
[USA Only] is $15 PER ORDER.  


Ordering Information:
---------------------

   You can order online at the Slackware Linux store:
     http://store.slackware.com

   Order inquiries (including questions about becoming a Slackware
   reseller) may be directed to this address:
     info@slackware.com
   
   Or, send a check or money order to:

     Slackware Linux, Inc.
     1164 Claremont Drive
     Brentwood, CA 94513
     USA


Have fun! :^)

---
Patrick J. Volkerding    <volkerdi@slackware.com>

Visit us on the web at:  http://slackware.com