From SEUL.org:
“Raju Mathur of Kandalaya recently informed the LinuxInIndia newsletter about work to take GNU/Linux to schools around Delhi.”

Patricia Colby writes: MontaVista Software Inc., the company powering the embedded revolution, and Xilinx Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX), the leader in complete programmable system solutions, today announced that MontaVista(tm) Linux® Professional Edition will support the Xilinx Virtex-II Pro(tm) FPGA. This technology advancement enables developers of embedded Linux products to target a completely programmable, re-programmable and field-upgradable system platform.
The collaboration allows the broad base of Linux developers to accelerate their embedded designs with the ability to reconfigure, enhance and optimize those designs throughout the entire product development life cycle. This announcement represents the first time FPGA-based systems developers can build and deploy on a Linux platform.

?MontaVista Software supports the most advanced semiconductor architectures, such as the new Virtex-II Pro family,? said Brian Grega, vice president of business development, MontaVista Software. ?The combination of the reconfigurable Virtex-II Pro FPGA and MontaVista Linux makes an ideal platform for a wide range of embedded applications.?

The integration of the Virtex-II Pro hardware platform with embedded Linux yields a flexible design environment, in which engineers can lower product costs and accelerate their time to market. Consequently, developers will benefit from the advantages of open source software to lower their product costs on a single, company-standard hardware platform that can target many different applications. This facilitates a quick start to design projects and supports fixes, enhancements and performance optimization to hardware or software throughout the entire product development process.

?Communications systems designers and developers of other embedded computing applications increasingly request Linux support for their next-generation products,” said Erich Goetting, vice president and general manager of the Advanced Products Division at Xilinx. ?MontaVista Software?s experience in the embedded market and the superior quality of its products make MontaVista Linux a logical complement to our Virtex-II Pro family.?

Reciprocal Partnering Programs Membership

Xilinx has joined the MontaVista Partnering program, which gives users access to a world-class group of hardware and software providers who have embraced MontaVista Linux. With a wide variety of partners from which to choose, the program is dedicated to offering solutions to customer challenges. MontaVista has also joined Xilinx’s Alliance program of industry partners, providing a full eco-system of support, including EDA, IP cores, design service, reference design and embedded solutions for the Virtex-II Pro.

About Virtex-II Pro

On a single programmable platform chip, the Virtex-II Pro Platform FPGA integrates fully embedded systems components, hard and soft IP, and millions of gates of customizable logic. Virtex-II Pro offers hard IBM PowerPC 405 processor cores, custom IP generation, multi-gigabit serial transceivers and up to 10 Mb of on-board RAM. This rich set of features supports a wide range of applications by providing a very high level of flexibility to system designers.

MontaVista Software was one of the first embedded software companies to develop a Linux-based platform for the IBM PowerPC family of processors beginning with the PowerPC 405GP. MontaVista Software and IBM work very closely to ensure that all IBM PowerPC and PowerNP processors will be supported by MontaVista Linux.

Availability

MontaVista Linux Professional Edition 2.1 will be available for the Xilinx Virtex-II Pro platform in the fourth quarter of this year from MontaVista Software and its worldwide distribution channels. It is offered as a product subscription, providing customers with the MontaVista Linux kernel, utilities, development tools, software updates, access to the MontaVista Zone and full technical support. MontaVista Linux Professional Edition 2.1 is open source, royalty-free and built from 100 percent pure Linux sources.

Powerful Tools

Hardware and software engineers need powerful tools to develop, boot and debug their system. MontaVista Linux Professional Edition 2.1 provides broad tool support via a variety of open source tools retargeted for embedded cross development, including the first MontaVista development environment powered by KDevelop ? an award-winning open source integrated development environment (IDE). The product offers a Linux trace tool (including kernel performance and execution analyzer) significantly updated by MontaVista Software for PowerPC. Other valuable tools include the MontaVista Library Optimizer Tool, MontaVista Target Configuration Tool, and scores of other useful applications and utilities. Also included are embedded versions of the ext3, ReiserFS and JFFS journaling file systems.

Xilinx provides the ISE FPGA design suite, IP generation tools, enhanced GNU software compiler/debugger and the ChipScope Pro? hardware debugger – part of a complete tool suite for all aspects of hardware, software and systems engineering. A new powerful solution for booting the system with MontaVista Linux uses System ACE, a Xilinx companion chip external to the Virtex-II Pro FPGA, which allows the flexible booting of a system without any ROM.

About MontaVista Linux Professional Edition 2.1

MontaVista Linux Professional Edition 2.1, one of the most widely used embedded Linux development platforms, includes an impressive array of cross-development tools for system and application code, unparalleled processor and board support, native real-time performance in Linux, and hundreds of deployable utilities, libraries, drivers and other run-time components. Based on Linux kernel version 2.4.17, MontaVista Linux Professional Edition 2.1 targets 24 different processors supporting 68 commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and reference boards. With this release, MontaVista Software reinforces its claim to having the broadest embedded hardware support in the industry. MontaVista Linux provides native Linux real-time performance with the MontaVista preemptible kernel and real-time scheduler. Last month, the prestigious French publication “Electronique? named MontaVista? Linux® Professional Edition 2.1 the ?Best Embedded Tool and Development Solution for 2002.? Earlier this year, this product was also named ?Best Embedded Linux Solution? at the Linux World and Expo in New York.

About Xilinx Inc.

Xilinx Inc. is the worldwide leader of programmable logic solutions. Additional information about Xilinx is available at www.xilinx.com.

About MontaVista Software Inc.

MontaVista Software Inc. powers the embedded revolution by providing open-source systems software solutions for embedded developers. Founded in 1999 by real-time operating system (RTOS) pioneer James Ready, MontaVista Software?s principal products include MontaVista? Linux® Professional Edition and MontaVista? Linux® Carrier Grade Edition. The Professional Edition is a Linux-based embedded source and binary distribution, cross development platform and a set of tool kits for x86/IA-32, PowerPC, StrongARM, MIPS, SH, ARM, XScale, Xtensa and other microprocessor architectures. The Carrier Grade Edition is a second-generation high availability product that is an ideal Linux platform for telecommunications and carrier-grade applications. MontaVista Software also provides several complementary technology products addressing specific customer needs such as the Java development environment, high availability technology, powerful graphics toolkits and more. MontaVista offers developers a family of products and services for embedded design and development targeted for applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer devices.

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, Calif., MontaVista Software is a privately held company funded by leading investors such as Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co., IBM, Intel Capital, Panasonic and Sony Corporation. For more information about MontaVista Software, please visit http://www.mvista.com, email to info@mvista.com or call (408) 328-9200.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a trademark of MontaVista Software Inc. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

MontaVista contacts

Joe Samagond,Director of Marketing and Corp Comm, MontaVista Software Inc., Phone (408) 328-9234,E-mail: jsamagond@mvista.com

Patricia Colby, PR Strategy and Business Development, Pacifico Inc. (for MontaVista), Phone (408) 293-8600 ext. 340, E-mail: pcolby@pacifico.com

Bill Weinberg, Director of Strategy/Evangelism, MontaVista Software Inc., Phone: (408) 328-9213, E-mail: bill@mvista.com

Xilinx contacts

Ann Duft, Public Relations, Xilinx Inc., Phone:(408) 879-4726, ann.duft@xilinx.com

Jay Gould, Product Marketing, Xilinx Inc., Phone:(425) 844-9905,
jay.gould@xilinx.com

Gentu writes: “OSNews runs a quick blurb and poll on the idea of an ad-sponsored OS or desktop. What is interesting is that the answer is a bit hard, as embarassing commercialism is against the OSS’s freedom, while on the other hand, it is a handy and easy way to get funding for your favorite open source project. Which is more important? The software itself and how we can continue evolving it by any legal means, or the license and philosophy behind that very software?”

LinuxSecurity Contributors write: “LinuxSecurity.com reports on current security news. This week, perhaps the most interesting articles include ‘How we could have prevented an Apache worm,’ ‘Advanced SQL Injection,’ ‘Integrating Flexible Support for Security Policies into the Linux Operating System (SE),’ and ‘The State of Anomaly Detection.'”

jean laganiere writes “The concept behind rxlinux, is to centralise configuration and management of multiple linux
servers. New servers can be deployed in minutes. A web interface is used to build custom
iso cdrom dedicated for specific servers. Server, also called rxnodes, boot up from that
cdrom and get the rest of configuration and software from a master server. No administration
is done directly on nodes. Everything is controlled from the master servers.
Well almost everything.

rxlinux masters (rxmasters)
————————–

An rxmaster is a machine used to configure and build iso cdrom images for rxnodes. The
rxmaster holds a database for all nodes. Each rxnodes can be managed, configured and
updated from the rxmaster. The rxmaster also served as software distributor for the rxnodes.
An rxmaster is a simple web server running the rxmaster cgi.

rxlinux nodes (rxnodes)
———————–

An rxnode is a physical machine running one or more server applications. It is typically a
low-end machine dedicated for a specific task. Rxnodes, always boot from a custom cdrom made
especially for him by the rxmaster. The root file system is small (about 32Mb) and stored in
ramdisk. At boot time, the rxnodes connect to an rxmaster and download configuration files
and all necessary software packages. Those packages are automatically deployed and executed in
ramdisk. When the machine reboot, all software and configurations will be fetched and deployed
again. When the rxnode has finished booting-up and all software are running, it is completely
independent from the rxmaster until next reboot.

http://www.fusionw3.com/rxlinux/”

Anonymous Reader writes: “DesktopLinux.com reprots that Tex9, a small software company based in San Francisco, has announced a public beta of its xtunes plugin that provides full iPod support for Linux users. Read more.”

Linux Industry leaders Caldera International, Inc. (Nasdaq: CALD), Conectiva S.A., SuSE Linux AG, and Turbolinux, Inc., today announced that the upcoming release of UnitedLinux will support the new Intel(r) Itanium 2 processor. The general release date for UnitedLinux is expected by the end of 2002 and will support many of the advanced features and advantages introduced in Itanium 2-based servers, including superior reliability and scalability, and industry leading enterprise performance. The organization of UnitedLinux, a new initiative that will streamline Linux development and certification around a global, uniform distribution of Linux designed for business, was announced in May.
“Intel is supportive of the industry efforts to develop a business-focused standard Linux,” said Lisa Hambrick, director, Intel Enterprise Processor Marketing. “Intel Itanium 2-based systems will provide the high-end reliability and scalability features needed for business-critical computing, and combining that with UnitedLinux offers end-users a very compelling enterprise solution.”

UnitedLinux addresses enterprise customers’ need for a standard, business-focused Linux distribution that is certified to work across hardware and software platforms, accelerating the adoption of Linux in the enterprise. Systems and software companies including AMD, Borland, Computer Associates, Fujitsu Siemens, Fujitsu, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Intel, NEC, Progress Software and SAP are supporting the UnitedLinux initiative. For additional information on UnitedLinux, contact Caldera, Conectiva, SuSE or Turbolinux or go to www.unitedlinux.com.

About UnitedLinux
UnitedLinux is a standards-based, worldwide Linux solution targeted at the business user and developed by Caldera, Conectiva, SuSE, and Turbolinux. Designed to be an enterprise-class, industry-standard Linux operating system, UnitedLinux provides a single stable, uniform platform for application development, certification, and deployment, and allows Linux vendors, Independent Software Vendors, Independent Hardware Vendors, and Original Equipment Makers to support a single high value Linux offering. For more information, go to www.unitedlinux.com.

Intel and Itanium are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries.

GonzoJohn writes: “While discussing home firewall setups with a colleague, I was introduced to a name I had not heard before. He said that he had set up a floppy based firewall using Freesco. “What is Freesco?” I asked. “Is it based on SCO Unix?” No, as it turns out — it is a free Cisco router alternative based on Linux 2.0.38 and Ipfwadm that is very easy to setup …
I decided that it may be worth it just to make the install floppy and set it up on my existing firewall machine. There would be no harm, because I could just pull the floppy and reboot. I did just that, and was pleasantly surprised with how easy it actually was to install and configure.
Read the review at LinuxOrbit.com.”

C|Net’s News.com reports that a German programmer says he “has made the first step toward running the Linux operating system on Microsoft’s Xbox game console — without running into any legal entanglements. Michael Steil, a German programmer, has built an application called linuxpreview, which simply flashes the Xbox LED (light-emitting diode) and draws a penguin on the Xbox start-up screen, along with the message ‘Xbox Linux Coming Soon!’ and a link to the Xbox Linux Web site.”

– by Tina Gasperson –
Outpost.com, also known as Fry’s Electronics, has quietly posted a $399 system manufactured by GQ, and running ThizLinux
5.0, a distribution created in Hong Kong.
Fry’s house brand, GQ, is serviced by a company called BTC (Behavior Tech
Computer) that is headquartered in Taiwan. A BTC representative in California,
USA, says that the PCs loaded with ThizLinux have been online for about a month
and are selling well, especially since it is an “entry-level” system.

Here are some of the specs:

CPU: Intel® Celeron® Processor 1.10 GHz
Chipset: VIA VT133

Memory: 128MB PC133 SDRAM (expandable to 1 GB)

Two DIMM slots for 168-pin SDRAM memory modules
Support for 100/133 MHZ memory bus
Maximum installed memory is 2 x 512MB = 1GB
Hard Drive: 20 GB Ultra hard drive
CD-ROM: 52x CD-ROM
Floppy Drive: 3.5″ 1.44 MB FDD

Operating System: ThizLinux Version 5.0

Bundled Software:

PC-Cillin2000 provides automatic virus protection under Windows
95/98/NT/2000
SuperVoice is data, fax and voice communication software
MediaRing Talk provides PC to PC or PC to Phone internet phone communication
3Deep delivers the precise imagery and displays accurate color in your
monitor

It was not described how a system running ThizLinux could also run
PC-Cillin, SuperVoice, and MediaRing Talk, all Windows software. Maybe ThizLinux
is a Lindows competitor, although there doesn’t appear to be any information about ThizLinux running Windows apps on its site. The BTC rep we spoke with seemed to think the mention of Windows software on Outpost.com is in error.

ThizLinux says it has an .ISO version of its desktop operating system available
for free download, but apparently you have to enter a product code and other
personal details to get to it — even though ThizLinux writes on its site: “We
also welcome other Linux users who feel interested in our products, to register
as our online members.”

ThizLinux company representatives were not available for comment.