January 04, 2006 -- Just before the clock struck midnight on December 31, the German developers of Kanotix released their v2005-04 Linux build. Contained in this release is the Linux kernel 2.6.14.5, X.Org 6.8.2 (with support for X.Org 6.9), KDE 3.4.3, and a wealth of other updates, patches, and new implementations. However, what has everyone talking about Kanotix is its superb hardware detection and auto-configuration abilities on all sorts of i686 and x86_64 hardware for being a LiveCD with HDD installer support. Being Linux-based hardware connoisseurs we couldn't help but to take Kanotix v2005-04 for a test drive.

December 28, 2005 -- MediainLinux, a Linux distribution formed in Italy and based upon the popular Knoppix, is different from other LiveCDs as it aims to offer a wide collection of FOSS audio, video, and graphics software. With this multimedia software MediainLinux Version 4 RC5, which was released on Christmas of this year, shapes up to be a enticing GNOME-optimized distribution.

December 17, 2005 -- With the number of fresh Linux installs we perform on a weekly basis with a variety of hardware, simply using the stock install CDs have become a sizable task due to the number of FOSS updates available on a daily basis. In fact, alone on Red Hat's servers and mirrors are over 839 updates just for the FC4 i386 architecture! Although the Red Hat Up2date process is relatively easy to perform the process can be quite time consuming even with an Up2date server running on the LAN. To fix the updating issue, as well as to provide a few other Phoronix additions, we have begun to re-master the Fedora Core 4 (Stentz) build. We share a few steps to the re-mastering process today in this guide.

December 11, 2005 -- Ark Linux, an easy-to-use distribution designed for the novice alternative OS users, has unveiled its latest major version that is 2005.2. Bundled into the single CD distribution is KDE 3.5, and OpenOffice 2.0 along with improved ATI 3D hardware support and most notably the inclusion of Ndiswrapper emulation layer to utilize unsupported wireless cards under Linux with the use of Windows drivers. In addition, Ark Linux 2005.2 features a long list of other significant changes.

December 08, 2005 -- Helix, a Linux distribution made by e-Fense and designed for incident response and computer forensics analysis has released their version 1.7. Bundled in this latest Knoppix-based distribution is a revamped GUI, as addition to its bootable capabilities it offers a few utilities that can be accessed when already in side of Microsoft Windows, while the Linux portion of the distribution itself has been updates to the 2.6.14 kernel with numerous other enhancements. Some of the mother miscellaneous packages include Autopsy v2.06, Sleuthkith v2.03, ClamAV v0.87.1-1, and EnCase Linen.

December 05, 2005 -- Linux From Scratch, a Linux distribution that lives by the quote "Your Distro. Your Rules." through allowing its users to create their very own custom Linux system based upon their LFS builds and using their step-by-step instructions in their numerous books. Released recently from the LFS community has been version 6.1.1, which largely consists of fixes since the v6.1 release. Part of this release is the new x86-6.1.1 LiveCD with some of the new features being the XFce Terminal improvements, jhalfs 0.2, rsync, sudo, and wireless_tools.

December 01, 2005 -- Nonux, a Slackware-based distribution basically keeping its residence to the Netherlands and other Dutch communities, has released their v2.0 release that includes the 2.6.14.2 kernel, GNOME 2.12.1, and a good deal of other package updates. This distribution is designed primarily for Dutch office use and bundled into a single ISO are both the LiveCD and install variants. For reference, the system failed to operate properly on two of the three systems we had tested with Nonux v2.0.

November 29, 2005 -- Troppix, a Debian-based distribution, that is designed for security professionals whether it be for auditors or penetration testers, has released their v1.2 stable release recently and we have experimented with this latest version and today have a few pictures from our testing process. This latest release implements enhanced support for many wireless Chipsets as well as updates to several security tools along with a good deal of other improvements. Overall this is another possible LiveCD alternative to Knoppix, PHLAK, or Auditor for performing legitimate security activities.

November 24, 2005 -- The first release candidate for MEPIS' upcoming SimplyMEPIS 3.4 series has been released and is now available from their mirrors. Since we last took at MEPIS a few releases ago they have implemented X.Org 6.8.2, KDE 3.4.2, OpenOffice 2.0, Firefox 1.5, Skype 1.2.0.18, and a wealth of other packages. In addition the DCC version of the Linux 2.6.12-10 kernel has been installed. Coincidently, this release has occurred on the third birthday for the MEPIS project. Shortly we shall hopefully see some additional news pertaining to the MEPIS SimplySOHO product.

November 20, 2005 -- Ubuntu the Debian-based distribution funded largely by Mark Shuttleworth that is focused upon building a viable desktop operating system powered by Linux, as well as enterprise software after it has received DB2 certification from IBM, has released their preliminary BETA release for the upcoming v6.04 build. Unlike Breezy Badger (v5.10) with its "Colony" development builds, Ubuntu has renamed the development snapshots for the v6.04 release to "Flight". The name for this upcoming release is also going to be known as Dapper Drake. Continuing on with their six month release cycle, Ubuntu 6.04 will be making its presence in April of 2006. Today we are checking out Kubuntu (the KDE version of Ubuntu) 6.04 Dapper Drake Flight 1.