Linux News for Jun 28, 2001

• Apache Today: GroupIT site-content engine previewed (Jun 28, 2001, 23:30)
  The system, written in PHP and running on an Apache server, is designed for content management and group collaboration.


• Enterprise Linux Today: OSDL Announces 2001 Enterprise Achievement Award Contest (Jun 28, 2001, 22:45)
  "A cash prize of $25,000 will be granted to a developer or group that has made a significant contribution to Linux for the enterprise."


• Enterprise Linux Today: SuSE Linux Provides Certified Platform for mySAP.com (Jun 28, 2001, 22:11)
  "Today, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server for the 32-bit architecture by Intel was awarded the status "Generally Available for mySAP.com". This certification now enables companies all over the world to utilize mySAP.com on SuSE Linux Enterprise Server and take advantage of services and support from SAP AG."


• ServerWatch: Gordano Adds Linux Mail Server to Product Line (Jun 28, 2001, 21:20)
  "GLMail is a standards-compliant mail server whose features include configuration and remote access via any Web browser; mail directory and search capabilities; message and log archiving with automatic compression; recovery procedures; LDAP connectivity; Mail Meta Language (MML) scripting; and a caching Web proxy server."


• Red Hat Bug Fix Advisory: Linux kernel 2.2.19 available providing minor bug fixes (Jun 28, 2001, 21:05)
  "The previous 2.2.19 kernel shipped with a defective ibcs and lacked the VPN support that was present in the 2.2.17-14 kernel. This kernel also fixes reported problems with Xircom cardbus PC cards and a potential race condition on SMP systems involving NFS code."


• Mandrake Linux Security Update Advisory: kdelibs (Jun 28, 2001, 20:53)
  "A problem exists with the kdesu component of kdelibs. It created a world-readable temporary file to exchange authentication information and delete it shortly after. This can be abused by a local user to gain access to the X server and could result in a compromise of the account that kdesu would access."


• Globe and Mail: Corel posts modest quarterly profit (Jun 28, 2001, 19:00)
  Leaving the Linux space and refocusing on its core markets -- graphics products and word processing -- helped the firm post a profit for the second consecutive quarter. Plus, CEO Derek Burney confirmed that Corel had not received an adequate offer for its Linux products, so a sale is still on hold.


• BrowserWatch: Microsoft to Scrap Smart Tags (Jun 28, 2001, 18:35)
  After a public outcry, Microsoft backs away from a controversial plan to insert live hyperlinks on Web pages managed by Microsoft Internet Explorer -- without the knowledge or participation of the Web page's designer.


• Alan Cox: Linux 2.4.5-ac20 (Jun 28, 2001, 17:45)
  "This is the initial merge with 2.4.6pre - treat this one with care, it may not be the most reliable 2.4.5ac release ever made."


• Linux-2.4.6-pre6 released (Jun 28, 2001, 17:15)
  Linux 2.4.6-pre6 was released today. Changelog within.


• UPDATED: internetnews.com: Microsoft Break-up Overturned (Jun 28, 2001, 16:10)
  As expected, a federal appeals court ruled that breaking up the software giant was not an acceptable remedy to antitrust charges. In addition, the court found that U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson improperly conducted himself in the case. Link to PDF of the ruling within.


• Eric Raymond on the VA Linux Change of Course (Jun 28, 2001, 15:43)
  A few hours after the news broke regarding VA Linux's decision to leave the hardware business in favor of concentrating on its SourceForge OnSite software and its OSDN web properties, we wrote Eric Raymond with a few questions. Mr. Raymond, in addition to being a "noted open source evangelist," also sits on the VA Linux Board of Directors, so we were able to get his take not only on the immediate picture from the ground but the broader picture of just what VA Linux's decision means for Linux and open source software in general. We also asked a question or two about yesterday's other big story: Microsoft's decision to support FreeBSD in its .NET initiative.


• IBM Releases v 1.0.0 of the Open Source Journaled File System (JFS) (Jun 28, 2001, 15:01)
  "IBM is pleased to announce the v 1.0.0 release of the open source Journaled File System (JFS), a high-performance, and scalable file system for Linux."


• EuroLinux Seminar on Software Patents (Jun 28, 2001, 14:55)
  "The seminar will study the evolution of the meaning of technicity in the last 15 years. Participants include lawyers, software specialists, representatives of professional associations, politicians, civil servants and researchers."


• The Industry Standard: Microsoft uses Open Source, Despite Critical Stance (Jun 28, 2001, 13:39)
  A common thread in talkbacks over the past few weeks as stories have appeared about Microsoft's attacks on the GPL and its own use of open source software has been the company's Interix product. Craig Mundie pops up to explain that while the company may acquire GPL'd products in the process of acquiring another company. Samba's Jeremy Allison, Sendmail's Eric Allman and the FSF's Bradley Kuhn are on hand for this item, as well.


• LinuxJournal: Why is Microsoft Attacking the GPL? (Jun 28, 2001, 13:23)
  This column discusses FUD. Specifically, it discusses Microsoft FUD as directed against the GPL. Along the way, it looks at the classic pre-Microsoft example: IBM's campaign against Amdahl: "Business history teaches the following lesson: When a market-dominating firm engages in a FUD campaign of this magnitude, it's not merely because they're scared of competition from a new market entrant."


• Linux Weekly News for June 28, 2001 (Jun 28, 2001, 12:37)
  Leading items and editorials: Caldera's new releases and per-seat licensing, the end of the Alpha


• LinuxPR: K12LTSP will be officially released on July 4th, 2001. (Jun 28, 2001, 05:26)
  "K12LTSP is an easy to install, Linux based terminal server package designed for schools. It comes ready to run with lots of programs for classroom use. It works with low maintenance, diskless workstations that are immune to viruses and mischievous student tampering. K12LTSP is based on RedHat 7.1 (www.redhat.com), StarOffice from Sun microsystems (www.sun.com/staroffice) and the Linux Terminal Server Project."


• LinuxProgramming: Gnome Basic 0.0.20 released (Jun 28, 2001, 05:10)
  "The cleaner meaner, grammaticaly correct Gnome Basic. It transpires lots of work has got done recently, so what better than a new release."


• Mandrake Linux Security Update Advisory: kdelibs (Jun 19, 2001, 12:59)
  "A problem exists with the kdesu component of kdelibs. It created a world-readable temporary file to exchange authentication information and delete it shortly after. This can be abused by a local user to gain access to the X server and could result in a compromise of the account that kdesu would access."