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The NERC Environmental Bioinformatics Centre was pleased with many of the positive comments made by Dean Freeman in his review. We would like to take this opportunity to clear up some issues raised in his review. The most important thing is that NEBC Bio-Linux has always been, and continues to be, free to anyone who wants it. Our application process is not used to deem worthiness; it is used only as information necessary for our firewall and the configuration files required for the network installation of Bio-Linux 4.0. Once our system is set up, people can install Bio-Linux at any time they choose; specifying a time allows us to ensure that staff are on hand in the NEBC office to provide support if required. We are currently developing Bio-Linux 5.0, which will be on an Ubuntu base. This will remove the need for a network installation, and will enable people to use the system as a Live-DVD or carry out a full installation. We have always recommended that the Live version of Bio-Linux 4.0 (on a Knoppix base) be used only as a live system as Knoppix was not designed with ease of installation in mind – as Dean experienced. Finally, we regret very much that Dean came upon a very early, and far from finished, version of the Bio-Linux 5.0 image. This image was advertised over a small mailing list maintained by us. We would like to re-assure our current users, and anyone else interested in the project, that the final version of Bio-Linux 5.0 will contain working Java and updated version of the bioinformatics software packages we maintain.

The NEBC Team

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