Slackware 13.1slackware-13.1

Wed May 19 08:58:23 UTC 2010
Slackware 13.1 x86_64 stable is released!
Lots of thanks are due -- see the RELEASE_NOTES and the rest of the
ChangeLog for credits.  The ISOs are on their way to replication,
a 6 CD-ROM 32-bit set and a dual-sided 32-bit/64-bit x86/x86_64 DVD.
We are taking pre-orders now at store.slackware.com, and offering
a discount if you sign up for a subscription.  Consider picking up
a copy to help support the project.  Thanks again to the Slackware
community for testing, contributing, and generally holding us to a
high level of quality.  :-)
Enjoy!

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+
+    Yes, it's that time again!  After many months of development and 
+careful testing, we are proud to announce the release of Slackware 
+version 13.1!
+
+    We are sure you'll enjoy the many improvements.  We've done our best 
+to bring the latest technology to Slackware while still maintaining the 
+stability and security that you have come to expect.  Slackware is well 
+known for its simplicity and the fact that we try to bring software to 
+you in the condition that the authors intended.
+
+    Slackware 13.1 brings many updates and enhancements, among which 
+you'll find two of the most advanced desktop environments available 
+today: Xfce 4.6.1, a fast and lightweight but visually appealing and 
+easy to use desktop environment, and KDE 4.4.3, a recent stable release 
+of the new 4.4.x series of the award-winning KDE desktop environment.  
+We continue to make use of HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) and udev, 
+which allow the system administrator to grant use of various hardware 
+devices according to users' group membership so that they will be able 
+to use items such as USB flash sticks, USB cameras that appear like USB 
+storage, portable hard drives, CD and DVD media, MP3 players, and more, 
+all without requiring sudo, the mount or umount command.  Just plug and 
+play.  Properly set up, Slackware's desktop should be suitable for any 
+level of Linux experience.  New to the desktop framework are ConsoleKit 
+and PolicyKit.  ConsoleKit handles "seats", things like dealing with 
+devices when switching from one user to another.  PolicyKit is a system 
+for fine-grained access control, allowing a non-root user to run certain 
+tasks with elevated privilege, but more securely than if the entire task 
+were simply run as root.
+
+    Slackware uses the 2.6.33.4 kernel bringing you advanced performance 
+features such as journaling filesystems, SCSI and ATA RAID volume 
+support, SATA support, Software RAID, LVM (the Logical Volume Manager), 
+and encrypted filesystems.  Kernel support for X DRI (the Direct 
+Rendering Interface) brings high-speed hardware accelerated 3D graphics 
+to Linux.
+
+    There are two kinds of kernels in Slackware.  First there are the 
+huge kernels, which contain support for just about every driver in the 
+Linux kernel. These are primarily intended to be used for installation, 
+but there's no real reason that you couldn't continue to run them after 
+you have installed.  The other type of kernel is the generic kernel, in 
+which nearly every driver is built as a module.  To use a generic kernel 
+you'll need to build an initrd to load your filesystem module and 
+possibly your drive controller or other drivers needed at boot time, 
+configure LILO to load the initrd at boot, and reinstall LILO.  See the 
+docs in /boot after installing for more information.  Slackware's Linux 
+kernels come in both SMP and non-SMP types now.  The SMP kernel supports 
+multiple processors, multi-core CPUs, HyperThreading, and about every 
+other optimization available.  In our own testing this kernel has proven 
+to be fast, stable, and reliable.  We recommend using the SMP kernel 
+even on single processor machines if it will run on them.
+
+
+Here are some of the advanced features of Slackware 13.1:
+
+- Runs the 2.6.33.4 version of the Linux kernel from ftp.kernel.org.
+  Also included is a kernel patched with Speakup to support speech
+  synthesizers providing access to Linux for the visually impaired
+  community.  The 2.6.x kernel series has matured into a stable
+  kernel, and provides reliable performance for your desktop or
+  your production server.
+
+- System binaries are linked with the GNU C Library, version 2.11.1.
+  This version of glibc also has excellent compatibility with
+  existing binaries.
+
+- X11 based on the X.Org Foundation's modular X Window System.
+  There's been much activity in the X development world, and the
+  improvements in terms of performance and hardware support are
+  too numerous to mention them all here.
+
+- Installs gcc-4.4.4 as the default C, C++, Objective-C, 
+  Fortran-77/95, and Ada 95 compiler.
+
+- Support for fully encrypted network connections with OpenSSL,
+  OpenSSH, OpenVPN, and GnuPG.
+
+- Apache (httpd) 2.2.15 web server with Dynamic Shared Object 
+  support, SSL, and PHP 5.2.13.
+
+- PCMCIA, CardBus, USB, IEE1394 (FireWire) and ACPI support.  This
+  makes Slackware a great operating system for your laptop.
+
+- The udev dynamic device management system for Linux 2.6.x.
+  This locates and configures most hardware automatically as it
+  is added (or removed) from the system, and creates the access
+  nodes in /dev.  It also loads the kernel modules required by
+  sound cards and other hardware at boot time.
+
+- New development tools, including Perl 5.10.1, Python 2.6.4,
+  Ruby 1.9.1-p378, Subversion 1.6.11, git-1.7.1, mercurial-1.5.2,
+  graphical tools like Qt designer and KDevelop, and much more.
+
+- 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 13.0 to 
+  Slackware 13.1 (see CHANGES_AND_HINTS.TXT).  The slackpkg tool 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
+  slacktrack utility (in extra/) will help you build and maintain
+  your own packages.
+
+- Web browsers galore!  Includes KDE's Konqueror 4.4.3, 
+  SeaMonkey 2.0.4 (this is the replacement for the Mozilla
+  Suite), and the immensely popular Firefox 3.6.3, as well as
+  the Thunderbird 3.0.4 email and news client with advanced
+  junk mail filtering.
+
+- The KDE Software Compilation 4.4.3, a complete desktop environment.
+  This includes the KOffice productivity suite, networking tools, GUI
+  development with KDevelop, multimedia tools (including the amazing
+  Amarok music player and K3B disc burning software), the Konqueror web
+  browser and file manager, dozens of games and utilities,
+  international language support, and more.
+
+- A collection of GTK+ based applications including pidgin-2.7.0,
+   gimp-2.6.8, gkrellm-2.3.4, gxine-0.5.903, xchat-2.8.6, xsane-0.996,
+   and pan-0.133.
+
+- A repository of extra software packages compiled and ready to run.
+  This includes the Java(TM) 2 Software Development Kit Standard
+  Edition, an MPlayer browser plugin, and 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 13.1, see this file:
+
+    ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-13.1/PACKAGES.TXT
+
+     
+Downloading Slackware 13.1:
+---------------------------
+
+    The full version of Slackware Linux 13.1 is available for download 
+from the central Slackware FTP sites hosted by our friends at 
+www.cwo.com and osuosl.org:
+
+   ftp://slackware.osuosl.org/pub/slackware/slackware-13.1/
+   ftp://ftp.slackware.com/pub/slackware/slackware-13.1/
+
+If the sites are 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.
+
+    Instructions for burning the Slackware tree onto install discs may 
+be found in the isolinux directory.
+
+
+Purchasing Slackware on CD-ROM or DVD:
+--------------------------------------
+
+    Or, please consider purchasing the Slackware Linux 13.1 six CD-ROM 
+set or deluxe dual-sided DVD release directly from Slackware Linux, and 
+you'll be helping to support the continued development of Slackware 
+Linux!
+
+    The DVD release has the 32-bit x86 Slackware 13.1 release on one 
+side, and the 64-bit x86_64 Slackware 13.1 release on the other.  Both 
+sides are bootable for easy installation, and includes everything from 
+both releases of Slackware 13.1, including the complete source code 
+trees.
+
+    The 6 CD-ROM release of Slackware 13.1 is the 32-bit x86 edition.  
+It includes a bootable first CD-ROM for easy installation.  The 6 
+CD-ROMs are labeled for easy reference.
+
+
+    The Slackware 13.1 x86 6 CD-ROM set is $49.95 plus shipping, or 
+choose the Slackware 13.1 x86/x86_64 dual-sided DVD (also $49.95 plus 
+shipping).
+
+
+    Slackware Linux is also available by subscription.  When we release 
+a new version of Slackware (which is normally once or twice a year) we 
+ship it to you and bill your credit card for a reduced subscription 
+price ($32.99 for the CD-ROM set, or $39.95 for the DVD) plus shipping.
+
+    For shipping options, see the Slackware store website.  Before 
+ordering express shipping, you may wish to check that we have the 
+product in stock. We make releases to the net at the same time as disc 
+production begins, so there is a lag between the online release and the 
+shipping of media. But, even if you download now you can still buy the 
+official media later. You'll feel good, be helping the project, and have 
+a great decorative item perfect for any computer room shelf.  :-)
+
+
+Ordering Information:
+---------------------
+
+    You can order online at the Slackware Linux store:
+
+        http://store.slackware.com
+
+    Other Slackware items like t-shirts, caps, pins, and stickers can 
+also be found here.  These will help you find and identify yourself to 
+your fellow Slackware users.  :-)
+
+    Order inquiries (including questions about becoming a Slackware 
+reseller) may be directed to this address:  info@slackware.com
+   
+
+Have fun! :^)  I hope you find Slackware to be useful, and thanks
+very much for your support of this project over the years.
+
+---
+Patrick J. Volkerding    <volkerdi@slackware.com>
+
+Visit us on the web at:  http://slackware.com
+