sidux 2008-01 'Nyx' i686 & amd64 DVD

A lot later than planned, but now we have the pleasure to announce the immediate availability of sidux 2008-01 "Νυξ", shipping in roughly ≈435 MB kde-lite flavours for amd64 and i386 (i686), a combined i386+amd64 release with ≈1470 MB KDE for kde-full and an xdelta to add initial localisations for all currently supported languages.

sidux is a full featured Debian sid based live CD with a special focus on hard disk installations, a clean upgrade path within sid and additional hard- and software support. The ISO is completely based on Debian sid, enriched and stabilized with sidux' own packages and scripts.

Release notes for Νυξ

"Νυξ" concentrates on KDE 3.5.9, the large changes implied by Kernel 2.6.24.4, the newly added "resolvconf" facilities to deal with DNS settings in combination with "Ceni" and our new build system for sidux. Furthermore a large number of individual functionality enhancements and bugfixes have been applied to the full package line up.

Talking about upstream development, kernel 2.6.24 has merged "i386" and "x86_64" as sub-architectures for the new generic "x86" architecture and offers support for further wireless lan devices like RealTek RTL8180L/ RTL8185, UVC video support for Logitech webcams, high resolution timers and dynamic ticks for amd64 systems. Especially these kernel related changes have imposed a number adaptions on sidux' kernel release process, which is now provided by packages closely following Debian's lead and are finally, accompanied by a number of GPL2 compatible external module packages, available through plain apt-get. Metapackages (please see introduction below) now easily allow selecting the required kernel support and keeping up to date with bug- and security fixes.

Another major topic has been the dissolution of the former "sidux" menu into the XDG compliant menu categories, which — in combination with the new SVG based artwork — allow for better compatibility with alternative window managers and desktop environments and have been a precondition for future KDE4 or potential GNOME or XFCE support. Likewise a number of packages have undergone major changes or been replaced by new approaches (like Ceni replacing netcardconfig) alltogether.

The release plan for further sidux releases in 2008 has been adapted accordingly (yes, this implies a hopefully shorter release cycle for Έρεβος).

Our special thanks go to the sidux art team and especially all mirror hosters for their efforts regarding sidux.

Now to the interesting topics, like what's on the menu for now:

• amd64 (AMD64, Intel Core2, newer 64 bit capable AMD Sempron and Intel Pentium 4 CPUs (watch for the "lm" flag in /proc/cpuinfo or use infobash -v3) and i686 (Pentium pro/ Pentium II, AMD K7 Athlon or newer)).
• Debian sid, as of 2008-04-11.
• kernel 2.6.24.4 (smp, hard preemption).
• X.org 7.3.
• KDE 3.5.9 (en + de).
• new, SVG based, artwork created by sidux art team under Bernard Gray (cleary), David Creedy (klaymen) und Daniel-S-P, providing improved KDE4 and GNOME support.
• dissolution of the previous "sidux" menu into the corresponding XDG categories, allowing broader window manager support and XDG compliance.
• offline manual for en + de directly on the disc, online manuals for more languages online at http://manual.sidux.com/ and available via apt; a big thank you goes to the documentation and translation teams!
  Please note that the offline manual is only available on the running live CD or the installed system.
• many changes for the manual.
• iwlwifi3945/ iwlwifi4965 support.
• b43/ b43legacy support for Broadcom wlan cards.
• rt2x00 support for RaLink cards.
• support for RealTek RTL8180L and RTL8185 PCI/ cardbus wlan cards.
• support for RealTek RTL8187 USB wlan cards.
• support for ADMtek ADM8211 PCI/ cardbus wlan cards.
• support for IPWireless 3G UMTS PCMCIA cards.
• support for HSDPA Broadband Wireless Data (Globe Trotter) cards.
• e1000e support for Intel 82801I, 82566DM-2, 82562GT-2, 82562G-2 and 82562V-2 Gigabit Ethernet cards (ICH9).
• support for Logitech Quickcam Orbit, Logitech Quickcam Pro for Notebooks, Logitech Quickcam Pro 5000, Asus Eee PC webcams (linux-uvc).
• driver support for Ricoh R5U870 OEM webcams
• fw-detect to probe for hardware with non-free needs.
• memtest86+.
• overhauled partition and file system detection.
• /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ superseding the monolithic /etc/apt/sources.list.
• virtualbox-ose-guest 1.5.6 support.
• bitsetting/ xrandr settings for ATi and Intel cards.
• basic lvm2 detection and install support on exististing logical volumes.
• Ceni as primary tool for handling network devices.
• consistent switch to Debian's "su-to-root" instead of using custom su wrappers.
• new build system.
• fixed problems with grub-install.
• resolvconf support to handle DNS discovery.
• new interpretation of the graphics detection.