| Fedora Core 6 arrives |
Oct. 24, 2006
The Red Hat-sponsored, community-supported Fedora Project announced on Oct. 24 that Fedora Core 6 is now available. The latest version of this popular Linux distribution boasts improved desktop performance, new tools for system administrators and developers, and simplified virtualization management, among other enhancements.
On the desktop, Fedora Core 6 now comes with KDE 3.5.4 and GNOME 2.16, as well as its own improved fonts and artwork. In addition, Core 6 include a new platform that enables GL-accelerated effects on a standard desktop, better and faster software updating tools, and the latest upstream versions of favorite open-source applications.
It also includes a newly rewritten printer configuration tool. With the improvements to CUPS and GTK printer control, printers are now detected on-demand as necessary. In addition, it now supports per-user queues, so users can customize their printer settings without having to modify system-wide configurations.
Red Hat also claims that the latest Fedora provides a noticeable performance increase during the start-up of applications such as OpenOffice.org. This has been accomplished in general by enhancements to the underlying systems -- for example, the start-up boost that applications such as OpenOffice.org receive comes from them being rebuilt with DT_GNU_HASH. This hash is optimized for speed and data cache accesses. Network file system performance has also been improved.
The new Fedora also offers significant new features and improvements for system administrators. One major gain, according to Max Spevack, Red Hat's Fedora project leader, is that administrators can now specify external repositories during installation time. While it has long been possible to install from a local or specific network location, with this change managers can also select third-party package repositories during installation. "The impetus for this change is quite simple -- choice. Fedora installation is now more customizable than in previous releases," Spevack said.
According to Spevack, Fedora's program installer also features greatly improved YUM (Yellow Dog Updater, Modified) functionality. YUM is an automatic updater and package installer/remover for RPM (RPM Package Manager) systems.
Core 6 also includes new GUI-based management tools such as a virtualization manager for Xen, a SELinux troubleshooting tool, and an improved LVM cluster management tool. Smart card services are provided through the new CoolKey technology. Other system improvements include support for IPv6 and a single 2.6.18-based Linux kernel that automatically detects and configures for the number of processors on a machine.
In particular, Spevack believes that the virtualization manager will make it much easier to install and administer virtual machines. "We were missing a tool to bring virtualization to the masses," said Spevack. "This will make it possible for people who aren't virtualization wizards to use Xen."
In addition to the previously supported x86, x86-64, and Power PC chip architectures, this release features support for Intel-based Macs.
You can download Fedora Core 6 at the Fedora Project website.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
Do you have comments on this story?
Talkback here
NOTE: Please post your comments regarding our articles using the above link. Be sure to use this article's title as the "Subject" in your posts. Before you create a new thread, please check to see if a discussion thread is already running on the article you plan to comment on. Thanks!
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.
4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.
Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.
Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.
Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.
Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.
Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.
Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.
Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.
|
|
|
|
|
news feed