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<H4 ALIGN="center">"Linux Gazette...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I>"</H4>
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<center>
<table cellpadding=7><tr><td>
<IMG SRC="../gx/bytes.gif" border=1  ALT="News Bytes">
</td><td>
<H3>Contents:</H3>
<ul>
<li><a HREF="#leg">Legislation and More Legislation</a>
<li><a HREF="#links">Linux Links</a>
<li><a HREF="#conferences">Conferences and Events</a>
<li><a HREF="#general">News in General</a>
<li><a HREF="#distro">Distro News</A>
<li><a HREF="#commercial">Software and Product News</a>
</ul>
</td></tr></table>

<STRONG>Selected and formatted by  <A HREF="mailto:michael.conry@softhome.net">Michael Conry</A> and <A HREF="mailto:gazette@ssc.com">Mike ("Iron") Orr</A></STRONG>
</center>


<P> Submitters, send your News Bytes items in 
<FONT SIZE="+2"><STRONG>PLAIN TEXT</STRONG></FONT>
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announcement than an entire press release.





<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->

<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<font color="green">
<I>Linux Journal</I>'s new web site
</font>
</H3>

<CENTER>
<IMG ALT="[screenshot of site]"   SRC="misc/bytes/lj-site.png" WIDTH="413" HEIGHT="321" 
HSPACE="20">
</CENTER>
<BR CLEAR="all">

<I>Linux Journal</I> has redesigned their 
<A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/">web site</A>.  The new site is based on PHP-Nuke, and
allows users to have login accounts and to comment on every article in the site
(both magazine articles and web articles), reply to each other's comments, and
participate in discussion forums.  Best of all, the frames are gone!  (Good riddance.)

<BR CLEAR="all">

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->

<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<font color="green">
December 2001 <I>Linux Journal</I>
</font>
</H3>

<IMG ALT="[issue 92 cover image]"   SRC="misc/bytes/lj-cover92.png" WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=268 
ALIGN="left" HSPACE="20">

The December issue of <A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/"><I>Linux
Journal</I></A> is on newsstands now.
This issue focuses on System Administration.  Click 
<A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=NS-lj-issues/issue92&file=index">here</A>
to view the table of contents, or 
<A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/subscribe">here</A> 
to subscribe.

<P>
<FONT COLOR="green">All articles through December 1999 are available for
public reading at 
<A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/magazine.php">http://www.linuxjournal.com/magazine.php</A></FONT>.  
Recent articles are available on-line for subscribers only at 
<A HREF="http://interactive.linuxjournal.com">http://interactive.linuxjournal.com/</A>.  

<BR CLEAR="all">



<a name="leg"></a>
<p><hr><p>
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<center><H3><font color="green">Legislation and More Legislation</font></H3></center>



<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">European Legislation
</FONT>
</H3> 

Bad news from the European Patent office. It appears that they are just
itching to get a piece of the software-patents action their American
colleagues have been hogging. 
<a href="http://www.eurolinux.org/news/coup01A/">Eurolinux</a> have
<a href="http://www.eurolinux.org/news/coup01A/">
reported</a>
that the president of the European Patent Office has, "in preemption of political
decisions to be taken by European governments, decreed a regulation that
authorises patent claims to computer programs". The updated rules are
<a href="http://www.european-patent-office.org/legal/gui_lines/e/c_iv_2.htm">
available online</a> along with a 
<a href="http://www.epo.co.at/news/pressrel/2001_10_05_e.htm">
related memo</a>.
<p>
The outrage at this stems
both from strong feeling against software patents per se, and from the
undemocratic nature of their introduction. As 
<a href="http://interactif.lemonde.fr/article/0,5611,2866--246575-0,FF.html">
reported</a> by the French daily, Le Monde, European governments had
already made a decision to postpone changes to the articles in question
until further study had been done into the potential ramifications. 
<p>
A 
<a href="http://swpat.ffii.org/vreji/papri/bmwi-fhgmpi01/indexen.html">
study</a> commissioned by the German Federal Ministery of Economy and
Technology (BMWi) found that introduction of software patents would be
likely to put many currently successful software companies out of business
and slow down innovation in the software field (perversely, that report
then went on to <i>recommend</i> the introduction of these patents).
A European Commission 
<a href="http://europa.eu.int/comm/internal_market/en/indprop/softanalyse.pdf">
consultative report</a> [pdf]
found that 91% of respondants where opposed to software patents. However,
it appears that the "economic majority" was in favour of patents. So much
for democracy.
<p>
There are several fine online resources available if you want to
familiarise yourself about the issues regarding software patents.
<ul>
<li>
<a href="http://www.eurolinux.org/news/coup01A/">Eurolinux</a> is a leading
opponent of these "advances". Their
<a href="http://petition.eurolinux.org/">
Petition for a Software Patent Free Europe</a> is supported by 80000
signatures. Why not add your own?
<li>
The
<a href="http://www.ffii.org/indexen.html">
Federation for a Free Informational Infrastructure</a> also have a wide
range of news and information on these issues. In particular, there is a 
<a href="http://swpat.ffii.org/stidi/epc52/indexen.html">guide</a> to the
Interpretation and Revision of the crucial Article 52.
<li>
<a href="http://www.aful.org/">
AFUL</a>
(Association Francophone des Utilisateurs de Linux) have a moderate traffic
<a href="http://www.aful.org/mailman/listinfo/patents">
mailing list</a> where a range of opinions are expressed. The archives are
available 
<a href="http://www.aful.org/pipermail/patents/">
online</a>, and are worth reading (multilingual).
</ul>
<p>
<hr width="20%" noshade>
<p>

Slashdot
<a href="http://slashdot.org/yro/01/11/09/1322254.shtml">
reported</a>  on the signing of the new
<a href="http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN/cadreprojets.htm">
European Cybercrime Treaty</a>. The final version is available 
<a href="http://conventions.coe.int/Treaty/EN/projets/FinalCybercrime.htm">
here</a>. It is effectively a template to be used by signatory countries
when framing laws concerning crime committed using computers.
As
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4306273,00.html">
reported</a> by The Guardian, the treaty: "...outlines common definitions
of computer-related crimes, defines the methods for criminal investigations
and prosecution and establishes methods of international communication
between law enforcement officials."
<p>
Though some
<a href="http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011121/wr/crime_internet_dc_1.html">
comment</a> has been favourable, many civil rights groups have
<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1651000/1651381.stm">
condemned</a> the treaty on the grounds that it grants excessive powers to
police forces while eroding privacy. One consolation (as noted last
month) that Bruce Schneier has 
<a href="http://www.counterpane.com/crypto-gram-0108.html#8">
highlighted</a> is the explicit statement in the treaty of the legitimacy
of using "hacking/cracking" tools in 
<a href="http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2001/11/15/scanning.htm">
security work</a> (as opposed to using them to rob banks!).
Nevertheless, there is still strong cause for concern as the provisions for
extradition and cross border action could be subject to tragic abuse.


<p>
<hr width="20%" noshade>
<p>
In a final titbit of European news, The Register
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/22819.html">
recently reported</a>
that the EU Microsoft probe hearings should take place December,  with a
verdict early 2002. It appears Competition Commissioner Mario Monti is not
giving much away about how this will pan out or what the ultimate aim is.

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">UK Developments
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P> 
The European Cybercrime treaty will not be of much interest to the United
Kingdom Government, as they seem to have implemented many of the most
draconian measures already.  In the current climate of terrorist fear,
things are being locked down even more tightly. New measures being
introduced by David Blunket (UK Home Secretary) will give law enforcement
bodies access to records of all UK telephone and internet users. This was
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4293489,00.html">
reported</a> in The Guardian. This access will not only be available for terrorism
investigations, but also for investigations regarding minor crimes and tax
issues.
This is basically an extension/clarification of the 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/19276.html">
much criticised</a>
<a href="http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/ripa/ripact.htm">
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000</a> which gave the government
unprecedented powers to monitor communications with very little outside
scrutiny or even the need for a court order. Apparently, it is
"inappropriate" to involve judges in the process where issues of national
security or economic well-being are involved. An article in <i>Criminal Law
Review</i> described this assertion as 
<a href="http://www.cyber-rights.org/documents/crimlr.pdf">
"wholly spurious"</a>.
<p>
The <a href="http://www.fipr.org/">
Foundation for Information Policy Research</a> (FIPR)
and
<a href="http://www.magnacartaplus.org/">
Magna Carta Plus</a>
have a lot of information regarding this and  related issues. 




<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Judge Refuses Adobe Injunction Against Reseller of OEM Software
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P> 
In a case that impacts the questions of (1) whether software is
"licensed" or "sold" and (2) the validity of End User License Agreements
(EULAs), a US district judge has 
<a href="http://www.cacd.uscourts.gov/CACD/RecentPubOp.nsf/bb61c530eab0911c882567cf005ac6f9/574aa79ff518021188256aed006ea2dc/$FILE/CV00-04161DDP.pdf">
denied</a> [pdf]
Adobe a preliminary injunction
against SoftMan Products Company for reselling Adobe software that was
originally bundled with computers in OEM fashion but that the computers'
owners did not want.

<P> The judge rejected Adobe's claim that the bundled copy was a "license"
rather than a "sale".  Thus, the First Sale doctrine applies, meaning
Adobe cannot control the subsequent transfer of the the software
after the initial sale.  
The court also found that SoftMan was not bound by the EULA because it
had never assented to it.  The validity of EULAs was also questioned
as the terms were not fully disclosed prior to the sale.
Linux Journal has more 
<a href="http://linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=5628">
details</a>.
<P> 
Linux Weekly News also has an informative
<a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1108/">
editorial</a> 
that examines how this ruling might affect other cases. One implication is
that it should be possible (if the principle of first sale now applies) to
resell e-books or unwanted OS installations. The ruling may also be
important to the
two DeCSS cases (the famous one and another one). These cases
"depend, partly, on
the claim that a commercial DVD package was 'improperly' reverse
engineered. It is the software's EULA that prohibits that
reverse engineering. If the code is reverse engineered without
installing it and agreeing to the EULA (by, say, disassembling it on a
Linux system), the EULA may not apply".

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Lawrence Lessig
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P>There is an 
<a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/issue_novdec_2001/lessig.html">
article</a>  by Lawrence Lessig at 
<a href="http://www.foreignpolicy.com/">Foreign Policy</a>
on the evolution of the Internet, transforming
communication relations from controlled to free, and the very real
threat that much of it may become controlled again.

<P> He makes some interesting comments about who invented various important Internet
protocols and services and on the vested interests vying for control.
"Policymakers around the world must recognize that the interests most
strongly protected by the Internet counterrevolution are not their own.
They should be skeptical of legal mechanisms that enable those most
threatened by the innovation commons to resist it."



<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Judge Rejects French Jurisdiction Over Yahoo's Auction of Nazi Artefacts
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P> 

<P> US District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel  has 
<a href="http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-7815683.html?tag=mn_hd">
refused</a> [cnet.com]
to enforce a French court's
order barring Yahoo from auctioning Nazi memorabilia on a US site that
was accessible to French citizens.  

<P> LG wonders what the judge would think if the situation were reversed, 
given the current attempts by US companies to get their US patents and
DMCA copyright rights recognized overseas. 

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Good and Bad DeCSS News
</FONT>
</H3> 

Slashdot
<a href="http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/11/01/1953236&mode=nested">
reported</a>
that in the California DeCSS case, a
court of appeal overturned the injunction
imposed by a lower court. Quoting: 'In the case
of a prior restraint on pure speech, the hurdle is substantially
higher [than for an ordinary preliminary injunction]: publication must
threaten an interest more fundamental than the First Amendment
itself. Indeed, the Supreme Court has never upheld a prior restraint, even
faced with the competing interest of national security or the Sixth
Amendment right to a fair trial.' This is obviously a very positive
development, though there is a long road still to be travelled.
<p>
<hr width="20%" noshade>
<p>
Less positively, in the New York MPAA v. 2600 case, the court of appeals
decision has gone in the favour of the MPAA. There are reports on the
judgement available 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/23084.html">
here</a> [TheRegister.co.uk] and 
<a href="http://www.eff.org/effector/HTML/effect14.37.html#III">
here</a> [EFF.org]. Cryptome.org has a very through 
<a href="http://cryptome.org/cryptout.htm#DVD-DeCSS">
collection</a>
of documents relating to both cases, including the
<a href="http://cryptome.org/mpaa-v-2600-cad.htm">text of the ruling</a>.
The judge accepted that computer code can be protected as a form of speech
under the first ammendment. He then decided that the target of the
injunction was not the <i>speech</i>, but the functional component (i.e.
the use the code can be put to: decrypting DVD's). In these circumstances,
the injunction can be granted as long as it is "content neutral", and the
impact on the speech component is incidental. The judge
writes:
<blockquote>
This type of regulation is therefore content-neutral, just as would be a
restriction on trafficking in skeleton keys identified because of their
capacity to unlock jail cells, even though some of the keys happened to
bear a slogan or other legend that qualified as a speech component.
</blockquote>
The other part of the rationale is that the Government's interest in the
prevention of unauthorised access to copyrighted material "is
unquestionably substantial". Thus, the injunction is upheld. A similar
argument is used relating to the injunction against linking to web pages
containing DeCSS.
<p>
Claims against the injunction based on the principle of fair use were
dismissed on the grounds that although the user is allowed to make fair use
(say, by quoting from a copyright work) she is not automatically entitled
to make that use with a preferred technology. CSS may prevent you taking a
still image from a movie, but it does not stop you from photographing your
monitor/television screen. Thus, your fair use rights are not affected.
<P>
The issue as to whether or not DeCSS is really a piracy tool was relegated
to footnote 5. The footnote correctly states that piracy is entirely possible
without DeCSS, but contends that DeCSS is a substantial aid to the process.
Many would 
<a href="http://www.opendvd.org/journalists.php3">
contend</a> that the piracy issue is actually a canard (=bogus), but
it is the most respectable argument the MPAA can come up with.
<p>
Note: I am not a lawyer (as they always say on Slashdot), and
this interpretation is based on a quick reading of the ruling just before
this month's deadline. However, I believe that the summary above is a fair
representation of the major points. As to the correctness of the ruling/opinions,
you must make up your own mind. Personally, some of the distinctions seem
a touch specious. The separation of speech and function with regard to
computer code is not as clear as in the case of the logo on a key, or a
poem written on a gun. Also, the issue of fair use regarding the
<i>playing</i> of legally purchased DVD's on Linux was summarily dismissed,
apparently on the basis that you have the right to watch, not decrypt,
DVD's you purchase, thus subsection 1201(a)(3)(A) of the 
<a href="http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=105_cong_bills&docid=f:h2281enr.txt.pdf">
DMCA</a> still applies.
<CITE>-- MC</CITE>

<hr width="20%" noshade>
<p>Slashdot has an
<A HREF="http://slashdot.org/features/01/11/30/1739226.shtml">eyewitness
	account of the Felten vs RIAA hearing</A>.  As you remember, Professor
Felton write a paper describing weaknesses in the CSS encryption used on
commercial DVDs.  RIAA threatened to sue him if he presented the paper at a
scientific conference.  But they didn't sue him, and after a public outcry
they withdrew their objection to him presenting the paper.  Meanwhile, Felten
filed a lawsuit of his own, claiming that RIAA's action encourages researchers
to censor themselves to avoid legal liability that may or may not be 
legitimate.  The judge dismissed the suit,
saying that he cannot rule on a potential issue (RIAA threatening to sue
Felten), but only on an actual issue (if RIAA sued him, which they didn't).
He said he is not allowed to rule on Constitutional issues (whether Felton's
free-speech rights were violated) in a non-criminal case without a compelling
reason, and there is no compelling reason in this case.  He also said this case
is like "night and day" compared to Dmitry Sklyarov's case, since Dmitry <EM>was</EM>
charged with a criminal violation of infringing for commercial gain.
<CITE>-- Iron</CITE>]

<P>
<hr width="20%" noshade>
<P>
Dmitry's trial date is now expected to be April 15, 2002, assuming the case isn't
dismissed in the meantime.

<P> More information about most of these issues is on the <A
HREF="http://www.eff.org/">Electronic Frontier Foundation</A> home page.

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Bad News for Napster
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P> 
In less positive news,
The Electronic Frontier Foundation published a
<a href="http://www.eff.org/Intellectual_property/P2P/Napster/20010226_rgross_nap_essay.html">
white paper</a>
on the US appeals court decision confirming that Napster was
liable for its users sharing copyrighted files.
The court agreed that the file-sharing technology in itself is not
illegal, but the minute its developers and users receive reasonable
knowledge that specific infringing files are servable on the system
(e.g., if they receive a "cease and desist" letter), they must
immediately delete these files or they, and possibly their ISP and so on
upline, will be liable.  Knowledge of infringing uses overshadows
whatever non-infringing uses the server may also be performing.  In
practice, this will have the effect of deletion through intimidation, or
deleting files that are alleged to infringe but may not.  It also forces
sysadmins to become their own police for the benefit of the content
companies, or face liability.  Technologies such as 
<a href="http://freenet.sourceforge.net/">
Freenet</a> that are
unable to police user access may have an advantage under this ruling.


<a name="links"></a>
<p><hr><p>
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<center><H3><font color="green">Linux Links</font></H3></center>



<P>
<a href="http://lwn.net/">
LWN</a> have the following links which you might enjoy:
<ul>
    <li> 
    <a href="http://lwn.net/Gallery/">
    LWN penguin gallery</a> 
    <li> 
    <a href="http://home.netscape.com/eng/mozilla/ns62/relnotes/62.html">
    Release notes</a> 
    on the new Netscape 6.2
    <li>
    A
    <a href="http://www.ghostscript.com/images/743_100dpi_JPEG_r.jpg">
    Cartoon</a> 
    about a truly terrifying experience installing ghostscript
    <li>
    LWN has also 
    <a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1108/kernel.php3">
    summed up</a> the main points of the Virtual Memory ex-controversy in
    Linux 2.4.
</ul>

<P>
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk">The Register</a> have reported 
<ul>
<li>
Microsoft's 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/22670.html">
bootloader concession</a>
could boost Linux, BSD. They also report on how
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/22971.html">
difficult</a> it is to buy a pre-installed Linux system from any of the
major PC builders.
<li>
Red Hat 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/22953.html">
offer</a>
to provide open-source software "in every school district in the United States
free of charge" (dig aimed at Microsoft?)
<li>
Linux fans 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/28/22837.html">
'hack'</a>
Windows XP advert. In a similar vein comes this
<a href="http://mirrors.meepzorp.com/xpsucks/">
photo</a>.
</ul>


<P>
CNet wonders whether the Open Source model be 
<a href="http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-202-7926093.html">
killed</a>
by hard times?
Annalee Newitz at AlterNet
<a href="http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=11923">
doesn't think so</a>.

<p>
Alternet look at <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=11947">
Network Admin Blues</a>

<P>
ZDNet ran a
<a href="http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/news/0,4586,2822789,00.html">
story</a> on the Virtual Memory issue. eWeek.com
<a href="http://www.eweek.com/article/0,3658,s%253D701%2526a%253D17813,00.asp">
covered it too</a>.

<p>
LinuxWorld have an 
<a href="http://www.linuxworld.com/site-stories/2001/1113.xterminal7.html">
article</a> on installing Debian over a network.

<P>
LinuxSecurity.com have a 
<a href="http://www.linuxsecurity.com/feature_stories/feature_story-93.html">
report</a>
Hal Burgiss' new Linux security
quick-start guides: the
<a href="http://www.linuxsecurity.com/resource_files/documentation/QUICKSTART/index.html">
Security Quick-Start HOWTO for Linux</a>
and the 
<a href="http://www.linuxsecurity.com/resource_files/documentation/QUICKSTART-Redhat/index.html">
Security Quick-Start HOWTO for Red Hat</a>.

<P>
At OReillynet.com Jerry Peek
<a href="http://linux.oreillynet.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/15/learnunixos.html">
explains</a>
why Unix and Macintosh users should learn
to use the command line.


<P>
BSD bug report in comic strip 
<a href="http://beta.jerkcity.com/jerkcity1110.html">
form</a>.
From the 
<A HREF="http://www.ssc.com/mailman/listinfo/atc">Aspiring to Crudeness</A> e-newsletter
.

<P>
There is an informative
<a href="http://linux.oreillynet.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/01/postmortem.html">
Article</a> 
at
<a href="http://linux.oreillynet.com/pub/a/linux/2001/11/01/postmortem.html">
linux.oreillynet.com</a>
about what a kernel Oops is and how to troubleshoot its cause.

<p>
<a href="http://www.rimbault.net/python/">
Here</a> is a large list of links to Python sites  and resources. Lots and
lots of information, including a selection of links to French language
Python sites.



<p>
Deepak, from Bangalore, India, submitted a link to his 
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/netmaniac00/stuffs.html">
webpage</a>  
where he has a PowerPoint presentation available for download. The title of
the presentation is "The (R)Evolution of an OS", and it provides a very
thorough broad-based introduction to Linux for people who may be familiar
only with Windows.
The slideshow is "95% StarOffice compatible", but even if you don't have
Powerpoint or StarOffice, you can also see thumbnails and full-size jpegs
of the individual slides.

<P>
Ernesto Hernandez-Novich suggested that we plug the 
<a href="http://www.linux.org.ve/">
Venezuelan Linux User's Group</a> and their 
<a href="http://www.linux.org.ve/archivo">
mailing list archive</a>. Linux Gazette is always pleased to be able to
alert readers to public linux resources.
A great way to promote a new or existing Linux Users' Group (LUG) 
is to register the LUG at
<a href="http://www.linuxjournal.com/glue">
GLUE</a>
(Groups of Linux Users Everywhere).

<p>

<a href="http://www.linuxdevices.com/">
LinuxDevices.com</a> have a 
<a href="http://www.linuxdevices.com/articles/AT6553340334.html">
Review</a> of Sharp PDA running Linux. This was  also
<a href="http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/11/05/2359227&mode=nested">
highlighted</a>
on Slashdot, which linked to an infoSync
<a href="http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=1063">
story</a>.


<P> Not Linux, but <A HREF="http://www.gatt.org/">www.gatt.org</A> is a satire of the WTO
web site from the viewpoint of anti-globalization activists.  The real WTO web site,
<A HREF="http://www.wto.org/">www.wto.org</A>, allegedly had a statement deploring this
pseudo-site.  In a comical turnaround, the satire site now has an article (at the bottom of
the home page) titled "Fake WTO site misleading public", with a link to the "fake" site
that is actually the <EM>real</EM> WTO site!

<P>
There's neither pine nor apples in pineapples, no ham in hamburgers,
Look 
<a href="http://iron.cx/writings/other/crazyeng.txt">
here</a> for further extracts from
the book <i>Crazy English</i>.


<a name="conferences"></a>
<p><hr><p>
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<center><H3><font color="green">Upcoming conferences and events</font></H3></center>

<P> Listings courtesy <EM>Linux Journal</EM>.  See <EM>LJ</EM>'s
<A HREF="http://www.linuxjournal.com/events/">Events</A> page for the
latest goings-on.

<!-- *** BEGIN events table [this line needed by Linux Gazette events.py *** -->

<table cellpadding=5 border=0 width=100%>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>15th Systems Administration Conference/LISA 2001</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>December 2-7, 2001<BR>San Diego, CA<BR>
        <A HREF="http://www.usenix.org/events/lisa2001/" target="_blank">
        http://www.usenix.org/events/lisa2001</A><BR>
        </td></tr>  

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr> 

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Consumer Electronics Show (CEA)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>January 1-11, 2002<BR>Las Vegas, NV<BR>
        <a href="http://www.cesweb.org/" target="_blank">
	http://www.cesweb.org/</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Bioinformatics Technology Conference (O'Reilly)</b><BR>
	<td valign=top>January 28-31, 2002<BR>Tucson, AZ<BR>	
        <a href="http://conferences.oreilly.com/biocon/" target="_blank">
        http://conferences.oreilly.com/biocon/</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>COMNET Conference & Expo (IDG)</b><BR>
	<td valign=top>January 28-31, 2002<BR>Washington, DC<BR>
	<a href="http://www.comnetexpo.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.comnetexpo.com/</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>LinuxWorld Conference & Expo (IDG)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>January 30 - February 1, 2002<BR>New York, NY<BR>	
        <a href="http://www.linuxworldexpo.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.linuxworldexpo.com/</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>The Tenth Annual Python Conference ("Python10")</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>February 4-7, 2002<BR>Alexandria, Virginia<BR>
        <a href="http://www.python10.org/" target="_blank">
        http://www.python10.com/</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Australian Linux Conference</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>February 6-9, 2002<BR>Brisbane, Australia<BR>
        <a href="http://www.linux.org.au/conf/" target="_blank">
	http://www.linux.org.au/conf/</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Internet Appliance Workshop</b><BR>
	<td valign=top>February 19-21, 2002<BR>San Jose, CA<BR>		
        <a href="http://www.netapplianceconf.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.netapplianceconf.com/</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Internet World Wireless East (Penton)</b><BR>
	<td valign=top>February 20-22, 2002<BR>New York, NY<BR>				<a href="http://www.internetworld.com/events/weast2002/" target="_blank">
	http://www.internetworld.com/events/weast2002/</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Intel Developer Forum (Key3Media)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>February 25-28, 2002<BR>San Francisco, CA<BR>
	<a href="http://www.intel94.com/idf/index2.asp" target="_blank">
	http://www.intel94.com/idf/index2.asp</A><BR>
	</td></tr>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>COMDEX (Key3Media)</b><BR>
	<td valign=top>March 5-7, 2002<BR>Chicago, IL<BR>
        <a href="http://www.key3media.com/comdex/chicago2002/" target="_blank">
	http://www.key3media.com/comdex/chicago2002/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>BioIT World Conference & Expo (IDG)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>March 12-14, 2002<BR>Boston, MA<BR>
        <a href="http://www.bioitworld.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.bioitworld.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Embedded Systems Conference (CMP)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>March 12-16, 2002<BR>San Francisco, CA<BR>	
        <a href="http://www.esconline.com/sf/" target="_blank">
	http://www.esconline.com/sf/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>CeBIT (Hannover Fairs)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>March 14-22, 2002<BR>Hannover, Germany<BR>
        <a href="http://www.cebit.de/" target="_blank">
        http://www.cebit.de/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>COMDEX (Key3Media)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>March 19-21, 2002<BR>Vancouver, BC<BR>		
        <a href="http://www.key3media.com/comdex/vancouver2002/" target="_blank">
	http://www.key3media.com/comdex/vancouver2002/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>FOSE</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>March 19-21, 2002<BR>Washington, DC<BR>
        <a href="http://www.fose.com/" target="_blank">
        http://www.fose.com/</A><BR>	

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Game Developers Conference (CMP)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>March 19-23, 2002<BR>San Jose, CA<BR>
        <a href="http://www.gdconf.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.gdconf.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>LinuxWorld Conference & Expo Singapore(IDG)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>March 20-22, 2002<BR>Singapore<BR>					
        <a href="http://www.idgexpoasia.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.idgexpoasia.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Software Solutions / eBusiness World</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>March 26-27, 2002<BR>Toronto, Canada<BR>
        <a href="http://www.softmatch.com/soln20.htm#ssebw" target="_blank">
	http://www.softmatch.com/soln20.htm#ssebw</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>SANS 2002 (SANS Institute)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>April 7-9, 2002<BR>Orlando, FL<BR>
        <a href="http://www.sans.org/newlook/home.htm" target="_blank">
	http://www.sans.org/newlook/home.htm</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>LinuxWorld Conference & Expo Malaysia (IDG)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>April 9-11, 2002<BR>Malaysia<BR>
        <A HREF="http://www.idgexpoasia.com/" TARGET="_blank">
	http://www.idgexpoasia.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>LinuxWorld Conference & Expo Dublin (IDG)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>April 9-11, 2002<BR>Dublin, Ireland<BR>
        <BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Internet World Spring (Penton)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>April 22-24, 2002<BR>Los Angeles, CA<BR>
        <a href="http://www.internetworld.com/events/spring2002/" target="_blank">
	http://www.internetworld.com/events/spring2002/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference (O'Reilly)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>April 22-25, 2002<BR>Santa Clara, CA<BR>
        <a href="http://conferences.oreillynet.com/etcon2002/" target="_blank">
	http://conferences.oreillynet.com/etcon2002/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Software Development Conference & Expo (CMP)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>April 22-26, 2002<BR>San Jose, CA<BR>
        <a href="http://www.sdexpo.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.sdexpo.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Federal Open Source Conference & Expo (IDG)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>April 24-26, 2002<BR>Washington, DC<BR>
        <a href="http://www.idgworldexpo.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.idgworldexpo.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Networld + Interop (Key3Media)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>May 7-9, 2002<BR>Las Vegas, NV<BR>
        <a href="http://www.key3media.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.key3media.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Strictly e-Business Solutions Expo (Cygnus Expositions)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>May 8-9, 2002<BR>Minneapolis, MN<BR>
        <a href="http://www.strictlyebusiness.net/strictlyebusiness/index.po?" target="_blank">
	http://www.strictlyebusiness.net/strictlyebusiness/index.po?</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Embedded Systems Conference (CMP)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>June 3-6, 2002<BR>Chicago, IL<BR>
        <a href="http://www.esconline.com/chicago/" target=_"blank">
	http://www.esconline.com/chicago/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>USENIX Annual (USENIX)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>June 9-14, 2002<BR>Monterey, CA<BR>
        <a href="http://www.usenix.org/events/usenix02/" target="_blank">
	http://www.usenix.org/events/usenix02/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>PC Expo (CMP)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>June 25-27, 2002<BR>New York, NY<BR>
        <a href="http://www.techxny.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.techxny.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>USENIX Securty Symposium (USENIX)</b><BR>	
        <td valign=top>August 5-9, 2002<BR>San Francisco, CA<BR>
        <a href="http://www.usenix.org/events/sec02/" target="_blank">
	http://www.usenix.org/events/sec02/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>LinuxWorld Conference & Expo (IDG)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>August 12-15, 2002<BR>San Francisco, CA<BR>
	<a href="http://www.linuxworldexpo.com" target="_blank">
	http://www.linuxworldexpo.com</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>LinuxWorld Conference & Expo Australia (IDG)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>August 14 - 16, 2002<BR>Australia<BR>
        <a href="http://www.idgexpoasia.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.idgexpoasia.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>

<tr><td valign=top>
        <b>Communications Design Conference (CMP)</b><BR>
        <td valign=top>September 23-26, 2002<BR>San Jose, California<BR>
        <a href="http://www.commdesignconference.com/" target="_blank">
	http://www.commdesignconference.com/</A><BR>

<tr><td colspan=2><HR size=5 width=100% noshade align=center></td></tr>
</table>
<!-- *** END events table [this line needed by Linux Gazette events.py *** -->


<a name="general"></a>
<p><hr><p>
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<center><H3><font color="green">News in General</font></H3></center>


<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Kernel News
</FONT>
</H3> 
Kernel 2.4.16 has been released, fixing an
unmounting bug in 2.4.15 (released just recently) that causes fs
corruption. The changelog for the first pre-version of 2.4.17 is available
<a href="http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2001-11-28-015-20-NW-KN">
here</a>
2.4.x maintenance has been passed to Marcelo Tosatti.  But the horrible
bug was Linus' fault, not his.  ("I inherited this mess from the
previous administration," is what a US president would say.)
<p>
A new development series has been started, 2.5.x.  However, 2.5.0 is
the same as 2.4.15, so it has the same horrible bug.  In other words,
don't use it.
LWN have <a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1129/kernel.php3">reported</a> the
availability of a 2.5.1-pre3 prepatch that fixes this bug. No major changes
(cleanups and fixes mostly).  This ends the over-a-year hiatus in which there
was no development kernel.  

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Amazon Saves $$ With Linux and MS vs Linux
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P> 
<a href="http://news.cnet.com/">
CNet</a> recently 
<a href="http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-200-7720536.html?tag=owv">
reported</a> that
"Amazon.com was able to cut $17 million in technology expenses in the
last quarter largely because of a switch to Linux." This was also
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/archive/22576.html">
reported</a> at The Register who have links to Amazon's SEC filing.
<P>
Before everyone starts predicting the demise of Windows, its worth pointing
out that this gain was
<a href="http://www.wininformant.com/Articles/Index.cfm?ArticleID=23086">
at the expense of</a> UNIX servers (WinInfo). Still it is certainly encouraging.
Especially so in light of The Register's report of a 
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/4/22770.html">
Microsoft memo</a> describing Linux as  "<i>the</i> long-term
threat against our core business.  Never forget that!". You should really
take a look at The Reg's report: the
original memo is included at the end of the page, complete with references
to butt-tattoos (don't ask!). The contents indicate that MS sees Linux as
being an obstacle to their plan of replacing UNIX servers with MS powered
(there's an oxymoron) servers. Sales folk are urged to identify UNIX
systems in their customer's organisations, and then focus on getting MS
into those functions (presumeably before some geek slips Linux in).
(Story also
<a href="http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/11/12/136243&mode=nested">
featured</a> on Slashdot.)
<p>
This  brings to mind the 
<a href="http://www.opensource.org/halloween">
Halloween memo</a> of 1998. To refresh your memory of the documents, and
also on the intervening history, take a look at LWN's
<a href="http://lwn.net/2001/1101/">
editorial</a> 
revisiting the memos.  They ask--and answer--the question "How many of the
predictions came true?"






<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Microsoft PR Spin Continues While Browser Lockout Still in Effect
</FONT>
</H3> 
Last month we briefly reported on the issue of 
<a href="http://www.msn.com/">MSN</a> not working with non-Internet
Explorer browsers, and <a href="http://www.opera.com/">Opera Software</a>'s
comments on the situation. Since then, Opera have issued a 
<a href="http://www.opera.com/pressreleases/20011101.html">
press release</a> detailing apparent inaccuracies/spin being fed into the
media by Microsoft spokespeople. Also, not all site features are made
available to non "MSIE 5" browsers. Seems the only way to get proper service
is to set the browser identity to "MSIE 5". These kinds of behaviour
(taking the Opera statement at face value) bode ill for the future of the
open internet.




<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Powers New Particle Discovery With 96-Processor Linux NetworX Cluster Supercomputer
</FONT>
</H3> 

<p><a href="http://www.linuxnetworx.com">
Linux NetworX</a> have announced
that scientists at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab)
are using a Linux NetworX cluster to help identify new particles as part
of a worldwide scientific collaboration to find subatomic clues to reveal
the building blocks of the universe.
Fermilab scientists are studying the collisions of protons and
antiprotons in an effort to identify new particles that are produced as a
result of the collisions.
<P> Located in Batavia, Ill., Fermilab's 48-node cluster from Linux NetworX
includes 96 Pentium III 1.0 GHz processors, 48 GB of memory (RAM) and a
Fast Ethernet interconnect.





<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Linux Clusters
</FONT>
</H3> 

The Register brought
<a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/53/22849.html">
the story</a> that
Compaq  has followed through on its promise to GPL its NSC, or Non Stop
Clusters code (the
code that SCO licensed and co-developed as UnixWare Non Stop
Clusters).  Compaq announced two projects - The CI Project (for the
infrastructure) and SSI.
"...and here with one blow is a pretty comprehensive applications platform:
Oracle can failover from node to node", Peter Braam.

<P>
On the commercial front,
<a href="http://www.ibm.com/">IBM</a> have introduced the world's first
pre-packaged Linux cluster, a powerful and scalable system that has been
optimized for e-business.
The IBM eServer Cluster meets the demand of corporate customers who
have neither the time nor inclination to "roll their own" Linux clusters
from a collection of mismatched piece parts. They want an easy-to-order
system delivered  and supported by  a single vendor.
IBM gave no link to the press release.

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Linux is Number 1 at Lyris
</FONT>
</H3> 
<P>
<a href="http://www.lyris.com">
Lyris Technologies, Inc.</a>,  developer of email
messaging and filtering software, have revealed  that downloads of its
applications for Linux have surpassed all other Unix-based versions combined.
Lyris' core products include 
<a href="http://www.lyris.com/products/listmanager/">
ListManager</a> 
for opt-in email newsletters, and
MailShield for server-based protection against unsolicited email.
Linux versions of Lyris software have grown from 40% to
more than 60% of the company's Unix downloads since January 2001.

<a name="distro"></a>
<p><hr><p>
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<center><H3><font color="green">Distro News</font></H3></center>


<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Debian
</FONT>
</H3> 
The lates revision of the Debian 2.2 series of releases, 
<a href="http://www.debian.org/News/2001/20011105">
Debian 2.2r4</a>, has been unleashed. This release "mostly includes
security updates, along with a few corrections of serious bugs in the
stable distribution."

<hr noshade width="20%">

A vulnerability in the packages ssh-nonfree and ssh-socks has been 
<a href="http://www.debian.org/security/2001/dsa-086">
reported</a>.
Migration to OpenSSH is recommended, but updated non-free packages have been
released.

<hr noshade width="20%">

Debian Weekly News 
<a href="http://www.debian.org/News/weekly/2001/31/">
reported</a> that Javier Fernndez-Sanguino Pea has contributed
a <a href="http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-euro-support/">
Debian Euro HOWTO</a> to the Debian Documentation Project. This will be
important reading for anyone living in or doing business with the European
Union after January 1st.

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">LynuxWorks / BlueCat
</FONT>
</H3> 
<a href="http://www.lynuxworks.com">
LynuxWorks Inc.</a>,
a provider of open source and real-time embedded solutions, have
unveiled the latest version of its popular BlueCat Linux distribution.


<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Mandrake
</FONT>
</H3> 
<a href="http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/">Mandrake Linux</a> have
announced
<a href="http://www.mandrakesoft.com/products/81/gaming-edition">
Mandrake Linux Gaming Edition</a>. This new edition comes on 4 CD's, and is
powered by TransGaming Technologies' portability layer. The distro comes
complete with Electronic Arts' <i>The Sims</i>.
Reports on the release are available
<a href="http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=01/10/20/1755210">
here</a> [Slashdot]
and
<a href="http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=29767">
here</a> [BluesNews].


<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">SuSE
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P>
<a href="http://www.suse.de/en/">
SuSE Linux</a> 
have announced SuSE Linux
<a href="http://www.suse.de/en/products/suse_business/connectivity/">
Connectivity Server</a>. The company's
latest business product is a pre-configured Linux network solution,
especially adapted to the requirements of SME and suitable for file and
print services in company networks as well as secure connections to the
Internet.

<hr noshade width="20%">

SuSE Linux, have  made an agreement with IBM to 
distribute IBM's entire line of software for Linux in Europe, 
Middle East and Africa as a Value Added Linux Distributor.

<hr noshade width="20%">

FirstLinux.com have
<a href="http://www.firstlinux.com/articles/suse7.3/">
reviewed</a> 
SuSE 7.3, which has also recently been released in its
<a href="http://www.suse.de/en/products/suse_linux/ppc/index.html">
PowerPC Edition</a>.


<a name="commercial"></a>
<p><hr><p>
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<center><H3><font color="green">Software and Product News</font></H3></center>

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">OpenSSH
</FONT>
</H3> 

<p>
OpenSSH 3.0 has been 
<a href="http://linuxtoday.com/news_story.php3?ltsn=2001-11-07-001-20-PS">
released</a> (as reported by Linux Today). Go to their 
<a href="http://www.openssh.com/">
homepage</a> for details and downloads (3.0.1 was later released on Nov.
15th).

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">XNotesPlus V3.4.0 Debuts
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P>Michael J. Hammel, the Graphics Muse, is
pleased to announce the release of version 3.4.0 of XNotesPlus, a Personal
Information Manager for the Linux and Unix desktop.  XNotesPlus includes
support for all major features on the Palm Pilot, including Memos, Todo
Lists, the Address Book and Calendaring.  All data from each feature can be
downloaded from the Pilot, edited within XNotesPlus and uploaded back to
the Pilot.  Additionally, backups and restores of a Pilot PDA can be
managed from within XNotesPlus.

<P> The release of XNotesPlus includes numerous bug fixes, many of which were
serious problems in earlier releases.  Users of older versions are highly
encouraged to upgrade.

<P> XNotesPlus is available in both
<a href="http://www.graphics-muse.org/source/XNotesPlus/XNotesPlus-v3.4.0.tar.gz">
source</a>
and
<a href="http://www.graphics-muse.org/source/XNotesPlus/XNotesPlus-v3.4.0-Linux-gtk.tar.gz">
Red Hat Linux 7.0</a>
dynamically built binary distributions.

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Creatures on Linux
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P>
Creature Labs Ltd and Linux Game Publishing Ltd have
announced that Creatures Internet Edition, the latest in the
breakthrough Creatures series, is to be released for Linux.
Creatures Internet Edition is a bundle of Creatures 3 and Creatures
Docking Station and it also includes 4 different Norn breeds (the
creatures within the game).  The game allows interaction with other
players over the internet.  For more information about Creatures
Internet Edition, please visit 
<a href="http://ds.creatures.net/expansion/cie.pl">
http://ds.creatures.net/expansion/cie.pl</a>.



<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Rackspace Partners with Red Hat on E-commerce
</FONT>
</H3> 

<a href="http://www.rackspace.com">
Rackspace Managed Hosting</a> 
a provider of managed hosting services, and 
<a href="http://www.redhat.com/">
Red Hat Linux</a> have launched E-Commerce Complete, a comprehensive,
hosted e-commerce solution. The offering features the Red Hat E-Commerce
Suite installed and pre-configured on a Rackspace hosting platform, and it
includes support and services from both companies to ensure complete
integration and smooth management of the application. 

<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Sharp Goes for Opera in Embedded Software Solution
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P>Opera Software today announced that Sharp
<a href="http://www.opera.com">
Opera Software</a>
have announced that Sharp will use its Opera 5 for Linux Web browser in the
Zaurus SL-5000D developer unit.  The Zaurus SL-5000D is a robust
Linux/Java-based handheld.  The Opera Web browser will be used as part of 
<a href="http://www.lineo.com">
Lineo, Inc's</a>
powerful
software solution Embedix Plus PDA, launched at JavaOne in June this year.
Apart from Opera 5 for Linux, the Embedix Plus PDA solution contains Lineo's
Embedix Linux, 
<a href="http://www.trolltech.com">
Trolltech's</a>
Qt/Embedded and QT Palmtop graphical user
interfaces, and 
<a href="http://www.insignia.com">
Insignia Solution's</a>
Jeode PDA Edition.


<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Linux Application Appliance and Application Partner Program from Tricord
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P>
<a href="http://www.tricord.com">
Tricord Systems</a>,
developer of the IlluminaTM clustering software and
Lunar FlareTM NAS appliance-- have 
<a href="http://www.tricord.com/appliance/aggregation?PID=detail.html&CID=7051ad7e699e436ea18a62bf5fd78096&DID=595eab195be04f09910c9e0d9e9e9afa">
announced</a> a new application appliance
series for independent software developers and systems integrators.  The
Lunar Flare AA 1100 and AA 1200 support Linux-based applications,
consolidating them on an easy-to-manage, fault tolerant, scalable platform
with unique clustering and storage capabilities.
Tricord's application appliance series combines a high-performance Linux
server with built-in clustered storage, making it an optimal appliance
solution for content-hungry applications.
<p>
Additionally Tricord Systems,
and
<a href="http://www.tarantella.com">
Tarantella</a>,
have 
<a href="http://www.tricord.com/appliance/aggregation?PID=detail.html&CID=7051ad7e699e436ea18a62bf5fd78096&DID=449ad8dd7d9e4b149ddf17bbe207b3ff">
announced</a> that Tarantella Enterprise 3 software has been
certified on Tricord's Lunar Flare Application Appliance (AA) platform.



<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">GUI Programming with Python
</FONT>
</H3> 
<P> The Python/QT book; GUI Programming with Python: QT Edition is in final
edit and will be shipping by the end of the month. For those who are unaware
QT is the toolkit behind many powerful applications, including the KDE
Desktop for Linux/UNIX.
<P> The new book covers the use of Python and QT extensively, including the
Blackadder RAD environment for Windows and Linux.
For those interested please visit:
<a href="http://stage.linuxports.com/projects/pyqt">
http://stage.linuxports.com/projects/pyqt</a> 



<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Grey Zone Announces the 3 Minute Extranet with SecureZone 5
</FONT>
</H3> 


<a href="http://www.greyzone.com">
Grey Zone</a>, a developer of
out-of-the-box Linux-based Web content management software, announces the
release of SecureZone 5.  SecureZone 5 enables business users to create a
completely functioning extranet, including users and content, in as little as 3
minutes.  SecureZone empowers non-technical professionals to rapidly spawn an
unlimited number of distinct Web sites from a single platform.  The product
combines security, content management, and audience-based publishing
capabilities that simplify the Web publishing process, helping companies
rapidly and cost-effectively conduct business over the Web.
Although ease of use is a major priority, SecureZone is also very feature
rich. For more information consult
<a href="http://www.greyzone.com">
Grey Zone's web page</a>. SecureZone pricing begins at
$50,000. 



<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">XML/PosgreSQL Application Server LXP 0.8
</FONT>
</H3> 

<a href="http://www.commandprompt.Com"> Command Prompt, Inc.</a> announced the release of 
<a href="http://www.commandprompt.com/products_lxp.lxp">
LXP</a> 
version 0.8.0, Command Prompt's PostgreSQL application server.
The LXP application server provides easy access to the advanced features of
PostgreSQL. LXP offers a suite of services to assist the Linux web developer
produce easily managed, dynamic websites, data driven websites. Beyond the
LXP markup language you can also utilize the following languages through our
direct URI support: Java, PHP, C, C++, Python, and Perl. LXP also
offers a fast valid XML parsing engine, useful to support industry
standard DTDs such as RDF/RSS.
An example of LXP application can be
found at <A HREF="http://LinuxPorts.Com">LinuxPorts.Com</A>.



<P> <hr> <P> 
<!-- =================================================================== -->
<H3><IMG ALT=" "   SRC="../gx/bolt.gif">
<FONT COLOR="green">Teamware Office 5.3 for Linux Edition 4
</FONT>
</H3> 

<P> 
<a href="http://www.teamware.com">
Teamware Group</a>, a Fujitsu subsidiary, have released edition 4 of
Teamware Office 5.3 for Linux, a complete set of ready-to-run groupware
applications for today's business professionals. In the new edition the
main emphasis is on web service enhancements.
Edition 4 is the first Teamware Office for Linux version with the main
focus on the browser side. The new look & feel for the web service client
templates has been developed according to extensive usability research and
customer requests.
Via the renewed web service Teamware Office modulescan be easily
accessed with standard web browsers. The service enables fixed www
addressing for any Teamware Office object over standard HTML templates
making integration with other web based systems as well as search engines
easy.

<p>Teamware Office can be purchased online through the Teamware web site at
<a href="http://www.teamware.com/linux"> www.teamware.com/linux</a>.  Also
a free 90-day evaluation version can be downloaded at the site.




<!-- *** BEGIN copyright *** -->
<P> <hr> <P> 
<H5 ALIGN=center>
Copyright &copy; 2001, Michael Conry and 
the Editors of <A HREF="mailto:gazette@ssc.com"><I>Linux Gazette</I></A>.<BR>
Copying license <A HREF="../copying.html">http://www.linuxgazette.com/copying.html</A><BR>
Published in Issue 73 of <i>Linux Gazette</i>, October 2001</H5>
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