Announcing Slackware Linux 9.1!

The second Slackware release in the 9.x series (based on the GCC 3.2.3
compiler), Slackware Linux 9.1 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 2.4.0 (with a large collection of pre-compiled GNOME
applications), and KDE 3.1.4, the latest version of the award-winning
K Desktop Environment.  Slackware now uses the 2.4.22 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 9.1:

- Runs the 2.4.22 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org.
  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 2.3.2.  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 2.4.22 Linux kernel.  The 3D performance
  rockets past anything you've ever seen before.  Gamers, get ready. :)
  We've updated the S3 Savage driver for the Slackware 9.1 release,
  and upgraded to recent versions of the fontconfig and freetype
  bringing improvements in font handling.  Through the generosity of
  Bitstream, Inc., the Vera truetype font family is now included in
  Slackware's X series providing much better default fonts.
     
- Major enhancements to the printing system, with both CUPS and LPRng
  fully supported.  The Ghostscript interpreter (ESP Ghostscript
  version 7.05.6) 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, offering
  support for many printers from Canon, Lexmark, and Epson.

- Installs gcc-3.2.3 as the default C, C++, Objective-C and Fortran-77
  compiler.  Or, gcc-3.3.1 is also available as an alternate choice.

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

- Apache 1.3.28 web server with Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) support,
  SSL, and PHP.

- PCMCIA, CardBus, and APM support for laptops. (pcmcia-cs-3.2.5).
  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 2.3.1, 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 or 9.0 to Slackware 9.1.  The checkinstall utility
  has been added (in extra/) to help you build and maintain your own
  packages.  New tools (slackpkg and swaret) have been added in
  /extra that can update from an older version of Slackware to a
  newer one, and keep your Slackware system up to date.

- Web browsers galore!  Includes Netscape Communicator version 7.1,
  Konqueror 3.1.4, Mozilla 1.4 (now with anti-aliased font support
  and built-in junk email filtering), Epiphany 1.0, and Galeon 1.3.9.

- The complete K Desktop Environment (KDE) version 3.1.4, 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 2.4.0.
     
- A collection of GTK based applications, including:
  abiword-2.0.0, gaim-0.68, gimp-1.2.5 (with gimp 1.3.20 in /extra),
  gxine-0.3.3, 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, OpenMotif-2.2.2, 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 9.1, see this file:

    ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-9.1/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 41 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 9.1:
--------------------------

The full version of Slackware Linux 9.1 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-9.1/

The ZipSlack version of Slackware can be downloaded from:

   ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-9.1/zipslack/

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

   http://slackware.com/getslack/

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 9.1 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 9.1.
 -  The entire source code used to build Slackware Linux 9.1.

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