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Announcing Slackware Linux 9.0!

The first major Slackware release based on the GCC 3.2.2 compiler,
Slackware Linux 9.0 continues the ten-year 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: 
GNOME 2.2 (with a large collection of pre-compiled GNOME applications),
and KDE 3.1, the latest version of the award-winning K Desktop
Environment.  Slackware now uses the 2.4.20 kernel bringing you
advanced performance features such as the ReiserFS journaling
filesystem, SCSI and ATA RAID volume support, and kernel support
for XFree86's 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.

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 9.0:

- Runs the 2.4.20 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org,
  with Andrew Morton's patches to stabilize the ext3 filesystem.
  Special kernels were prepared to support hardware such as SCSI
  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.

- System binaries linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.3.1.  This
  version of glibc has been patched to improve compatibilty with
  existing binaries.

- XFree86 4.3.0
  This version of XFree86 represents a major upgrade with greatly
  improved performance and support for more video hardware, including
  support for hardware accelerated graphics using the Direct Rendering
  Interface supported by the 2.4.20 Linux kernel.  The 3D performance
  rockets past anything you've ever seen before.  Gamers, get ready. :)
     
- Major enhancements to the printing system, which now uses LPRng for 
  better performance and security.  CUPS is also provided as an 
  alternative in the extra/ directory.  The Ghostscript interpreter has 
  been upgraded to ESP Ghostscript version 7.05.6, which brings with it
  several new printer drivers as well as support for the new IJS
  interface, which allows new printer drivers to be added to Ghostscript
  without requiring a recompilation.  Two IJS servers are available in
  this release.  HPIJS, which supports more than 60 HP Inkjet printer
  models, and Gimp-Print, which supports many printers from Canon and
  Epson.

- Installs gcc-3.2.2 as the default C, C++, Objective-C and Fortran-77
  compiler.  This supports C++ much better than the gcc-2.95.3 compiler
  used in previous Slackware releases.

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

- Apache 1.3.27 web server with Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) support, SSL,
     and PHP.

- PCMCIA, CardBus, and APM support for laptops. (pcmcia-cs-3.2.4).
  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 5.8.0, Python 2.2.2, and 
  graphical tools like Qt designer, KDevelop, and Glade.

- Updated versions of the Slackware package management tools make it easy
  to add, remove, upgrade, and make your own Slackware packages.
  The improved package tracking makes it easy to upgrade from Slackware
  8.1 to Slackware 9.0.  The checkinstall utility has been added
  (in extra/) to help you build and maintain your own packages.

- Web browsers galore!  Includes Netscape Communicator version 7.02,
  Konqueror 3.1, and Mozilla 1.3 (now with anti-aliased font support
  and built-in junk email filtering).

- The complete K Desktop Environment (KDE) version 3.1, 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.

- The GNU Network Object Model Environment (GNOME) version 2.2.  
     
- A collection of GTK based applications, including:
  abiword-1.0.4, gaim-0.60cvs, gimp-1.2.3, and pan-0.13.4.

- Large repository of contributed software compiled and ready to run. 
  This includes various window managers, support for 3Dfx gaming cards, 
  XFree86 3.3.6 servers to support older hardware, OpenMotif-2.2.1, 
  the Java Runtime Environment, libsafe (advanced buffer overflow
  protection), ISDN support, 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 9.0, see this file:

    ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-9.0/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 42 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 9.0:
--------------------------

The full version of Slackware Linux 9.0 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-9.0/

The ZipSlack version of Slackware can be downloaded from:

   ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-9.0/zipslack/

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

   http://slackware.com/getslack/


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

Or, purchase the Slackware Linux 9.0 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.
 -  Fully bootable live CD-ROM -- just boot the second disc and run a 
       basic Linux system right off the disc, including networking tools.
       Makes the ultimate Linux rescue disc!
 -  The ZipSlack edition of Slackware Linux 9.0.
 -  The entire source code used to build Slackware Linux 9.0.

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
Slackware™ is a trademark of Patrick Volkerding.