Announcing Slackware Linux 8.1!

The first major release for 2001, Slackware Linux 8.1 continues the
Slackware tradition of simplicity, stability, and security.  It is the
essential Linux distribution from the team that knows Linux inside and
out.  Among the many program updates and distribution enhancements, you'll
find two of the most advanced desktop environments available today: GNOME
1.4.1 (with a large collection of pre-compiled GNOME applications), and
KDE 3.0.1, the latest version of the award-winning K Desktop Environment.
Slackware now uses the 2.4.18 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 8.1:

- Runs the 2.4.18 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 2.2.5.

- XFree86 4.2.0
  This version of XFree86 represents a major re-design, and brings with 
  it many greatly anticipated new features, most notably support for 
  hardware accelerated graphics using the Direct Rendering Interface 
  supported by the 2.4.18 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 version 7.05, 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-2.95.3 as the default C, C++, Objective-C and Fortran-77
     compiler.  gcc-3.1 is also included in the extra/ directory.

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

- Apache 1.3.24 web server with Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) support, SSL,
     and PHP.

- PCMCIA, CardBus, and APM support for laptops. (pcmcia-cs-3.1.33)

- New development tools, including Perl 5.6.1, Python 2.2.1, 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 package naming system has been expanded to include the base 
     name, version, architecture, and build number (like other packaging 
     systems you may have seen before ;).  The improved package tracking 
     makes it easy to upgrade to Slackware 8.1 from Slackware 7.0, 7.1,
     or 8.0.

- Web browsers galore!  Includes Netscape Communicator version 6.2.3,
     Konqueror 3.0.1, Mozilla 1.0 (!!!), and Galeon 1.2.5.

- The complete K Desktop Environment (KDE) version 3.0.1, 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) 1.4.1.  
     Includes a full range of GNOME packages such as abiword-1.0.2,
     evolution-1.0.7, gnumeric-1.0.7, nautilus-1.0.6, pan-0.11.3,
     sawfish-1.0.1, xscreensaver-4.05_gnome, and more.
  
- 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, 
     gcc-3.1, 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 8.1, see this file:

     ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-8.1/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 38 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, SLIP 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 8.1:
--------------------------

The full version of Slackware Linux 8.1 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-8.1/

The ZipSlack version of Slackware can be downloaded from:

   ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-8.1/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 8.1 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 installed bootable live CD-ROM -- just boot the second disc and
       run a full Linux system right off the disc, including networking, 
       full development, and X with no installation necessary.  Makes the
       ultimate Linux rescue disc!
 -  The ZipSlack edition of Slackware Linux 8.1.
 -  The entire source code used to build Slackware Linux 8.1.

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

   Email orders and reseller information:
     info@slackware.com
   
   Or, send a check or money order to:

     Slackware Linux, Inc.
     3623 Sanford St
     Concord CA 94520
     USA


Have fun! :^)

---
Patrick J. Volkerding    <volkerdi@slackware.com>
Logan Johnson            <logan@slackware.com>
Chris Lumens             <chris@slackware.com>
David Cantrell           <david@slackware.com>

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