Ladislav Bodnar writes “I have installed and used many Linux distributions. The editorial, entitled The Linux Distribution Game is the result of my personal experiences – it aspires to be a gentle introduction to the many distributions out there. The rest of the DistroWatch site provides pure facts; this is the only exception, although I promise to be as unbiased as possible.”

PC World reports: “A newly reported vulnerability in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer allows hackers to steal or corrupt cookie information on a user’s desktop through a malformed URL at a website or in an HTML e-mail.”

ZDNet reports that “Consumers protecting their PCs with personal firewalls should not feel too comfortable in their defense methods, according to a security researcher.”

CNet reports that Dell Computer’s Digital Audio Receiver, which plays MP3 music files stored on a computer over a network, has been discontinued.

Daniel McKean writes, On the heels of announcing the next major revision to its popular BlueCat Linux product, LynuxWorksInc. announced today its intent to add hard real-time Linux to its product line, offering customers greater choice and a clear migration path for embedded designs. Provided as a comprehensive solution with bundled tools and service options, BlueCat RT will fill the cost and needs gap in embedded operating systems between non-real-time and robust hard real-time operating systems (RTOS) requirements. BlueCat RT will be based on licensed RTLinuxä technology from FSMLabs, which will be integrated with LynuxWorks’ own BlueCat Linux.

The integration of BlueCat with RTLinux provides a hybrid solution running on the same processor, with a majority of the application operating within Linux and a subset making use of the real-time performance of the RTLinux kernel. The addition of BlueCat RT to the LynuxWorks product portfolio provides developers greater choice in selecting the right operating system to meet their exact needs. The expanded product mix now includes: BlueCat, one of the industry’s most preferred non-real-time embedded Linux distributions; BlueCat RT, the new hybrid real-time Linux distribution; and LynxOS, the industry?s premier, linux-compatible RTOS based on open standards since 1990.

LynuxWorks is the only company to provide an embedded operating system solution covering the spectrum of open standards-based embedded and real-time requirements. Several key time-to-market benefits are derived for developers choosing to use the breadth of LynuxWorks? operating systems.

Easy migration path to next level. Akey benefit of LynuxWorks products is that the operating systems are designed with open, standard interfaces. Customers can choose the operating system, based on capabilities and requirements, with the option to easily migrate or reuse that code with another LynuxWorks operating system.

Shorten learning cycles. Developers have access to a common set of compatible commercial-grade development tools that work equally as well for any of the LynuxWorks operating systems. LynuxWorks’ tools include: compilers, debuggers, kernel trace tools and analyzers, and integrated development environments.

“BlueCat RT is a natural extension to our current product line as developers will have access to a complete suite of compatible operating systems that offer a higher level of performance with consistent interfaces and a common set of commercial grade tools,” said Inder Singh, president and CEO of LynuxWorks. “BlueCat RT expands on our company heritage for offering the industry the most compelling suite of solutions to fulfill growing embedded needs in the development process.”

BlueCat RT, utilizing licensed, patented technology from FSMLabs, uses a small real-time kernel, which co-exists with the BlueCat Linux operating system. The kernel gives developers greater flexibility in their product and system designs over standard Linux distributions by allowing the scheduling of pre-emptible tasks. As a multitasking operating system, real-time requests are bypassed around the Linux operating system to the real-time kernel for immediate handling. Developers will use BlueCat RT when there are a minimal number of real-time tasks in their applications, for cost considerations or a desire for overall simplicity of use.

About FSMLabs

Finite State Machine Labs Inc (FSMLabs) was founded by the creators of RTLinuxä with the goal of developing core real-time technology characterized by ease of use, robustness and precise design. FSMLabs has headquarters in Socorro New Mexico and offices and support and development partners worldwide. FSMLabs RTLinux software is used by companies and organizations such as Fujitsu, Jim Henson Creature Shop, United Technologies, NASA, and Sandia National Labs. For more information visit www.fsmlabs.com.

About LynuxWorks

LynuxWorks is a world leader in the embedded software market, providing operating systems, software development products and consulting services for the world’s most successful communications, aerospace/defense, and consumer products companies. Established in 1988, the company is a founding member of the real-time operating systems (RTOS) industry, and a leading participant in the Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC). LynuxWorks’ headquarters are located in San Jose, California. The company’s products include the open-source BlueCat Linux and the scalable, Linux-compatible LynxOS real-time operating system. World class companies use LynuxWorks’ products, including: 3Com, Alcatel, Boeing, Ericsson, Hewlett Packard, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Lucent Technologies, Marconi, Mitsubishi, Motorola, NEC USA, Raytheon, TRW and Xerox. For more information, please visit www.lynuxworks.com.

Daniel McKean writes, LynuxWorksInc., a provider of open source and real-time embedded solutions, today unveiled the latest version of its popular BlueCat Linux distribution. Using the new 2.4 Linux kernel and tool chain, the new distribution empowers developers to select the best-suited development platform for their needs by providing support for multiple microprocessors; including the Intel® XScaleä
microarchitecture, Intel® IXP1200 Network Processor, and Embedded Intel® Architecture. Other platforms will be available later in the year. Developers have increasingly chosen BlueCat tools for their unique value in embedded development and the ability to quickly make breakthroughs while bringing new devices to market.

BlueCat 4.0, with enhanced productivity and performance features, provides developers with a fully integrated and tested cross development environment to rapidly facilitate specific development requirements. Offered in professional bundled solutions, BlueCat is packaged with a range of host/target combinations, commercial grade tools, integrated development environments (IDE) and support programs.

“LynuxWorks has been a key provider of Linux software tools for the Intel® Internet Exchange Architecture,” said Doug Davis, general manager of the Intel Network Processor Division. “The company’s investment in second-generation BlueCat products for the XScale microarchitecture, IXP1200 Network Processor and Embedded Intel® Architecture products can provide valuable time-to-market benefits for developers of next-generation platforms and tools for embedded Linux development.”

Forming the core of each bundle is an optimized suite of embedded development tools. LynuxWorks has leveraged unique intellectual property from over 13 years of embedded computing expertise to deliver an advanced Linux tool set. These tools are engineered for ease-of-use and offer enhanced time-to-market benefits.

BlueCat tools benefit developers by:

• Providing unique gdb extensions for kernel debugging,
• Leveraging widely used development environments and user interfaces,
• Providing simple time-saving graphical interface to trace, debug and tune kernels, and application functions for increased performance,
• Quickly configuring kernel functions and size for exact application requirements,
• Using open frameworks for managing and optimizing power usage for constrained devices,including simple utilities for controlling boot, flash programs, disk, connectivity and display functions,
• Easily enabling the loading and using of tested application components such as boot routines, web servers, application shells, demo programs and more.

“LynuxWorks is excited to continue our commitment to IXA with a second-generation product for the XScale microarchitecture, IXP1200 Network Processor and Embedded Intel® Architecture product lines. BlueCat 4.0 professional tools bundles for Intel’s microprocessor platforms provide developers the most comprehensive embedded development environment available today,” said Inder Singh, LynuxWorks CEO. “Our timely support for the industry?s most advanced embedded microprocessors continues to be unwavering, which remains a key differentiating benefit for those seeking proven, professional Linux tools for embedded needs.”

Price and Availablity

The price schedule for BlueCat 4.0 follows a bundled pricing structure. All bundles include basic support with optional upgradeable tiered and priority level support packages. Quantity development seat price discounts are available. BlueCat 4.0 bundles will be immediately available in flexible pricing schedules for Intel products starting with the XScale microarchitecture, with IXP1200 Network Processor and Embedded Intel® Architecture to follow later in the year.

BlueCat 4.0 Standard Bundle: BlueCat 4.0, commercial license and support package for Windows or Linux host development. The Standard Bundle is priced at $2,699.

BlueCat 4.0 Professional Trace Bundle: BlueCat 4.0, commercial license, SpyKer kernel trace tool and support package for Windows or Linux host development. The Professional Trace Bundle is priced at $3,799.

BlueCat 4.0 Professional IDE Bundle: BlueCat 4.0, commercial license, LynuxWorks’ VisualLynux Integrated Development Environment (IDE) or CodeWarrior IDE Edition and support package for Windows or Linux host development. The Professional IDE Bundle is priced at $4,899.

BlueCat 4.0 Developer?s Bundle: BlueCat 4.0, commercial license, SpyKer kernel trace tool, VisualLynux IDE or Code Warrior IDE Edition and support package for Windows or Linux host development. The Developer’s Bundle is priced at $5,999.

About LynuxWorks? BlueCat

LynuxWorks’ BlueCat is an open-source Linux distribution. It is available as a complete solution for developers without run-time royalties. A non-commercial version of the operating system is available at no charge or with documentation for $299. Professional developer commercial license bundles are available as a complete software development environment that includes commercial grade tools for debugging and tuning applications along with a variety of optional support packages for software engineering, technical support, consulting and professional services from LynuxWorks.

About LynuxWorks

LynuxWorks is a world leader in the embedded software market, providing operating systems, software development products and consulting services for the world’s most successful communications, aerospace/defense, and consumer products companies. Established in 1988, the company is a founding member of the real-time operating systems (RTOS) industry, and a leading participant in the Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC). LynuxWorks’ headquarters are located in San Jose, California. The company’s products include the open-source BlueCat Linux and the scalable, Linux-compatible LynxOS real-time operating system. World class companies use LynuxWorks’ products, including: 3Com, Alcatel, Boeing, Ericsson, Hewlett Packard, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Lucent Technologies, Marconi, Mitsubishi, Motorola, NEC USA, Raytheon, TRW and Xerox. For more information, please visit www.lynuxworks.com.

CNet reports that Platform Computing has signed a deal to commercialize an Open Source supercomputing
project.

Platform is working with the Globus Project to commercialize the Globus Toolkit for governing the
use of computers and storage systems joined into a large computing “grid.”

Lawrence Teo writes, Linux 2.4.15-pre2 just got out. Here’s the changelog:

pre2:
– Ivan Kokshaysky: fix alpha dec_and_lock with modules, for alpha config entry
– Kai Germaschewski: ISDN updates
– Jeff Garzik: network driver updates, sysv fs update
– Kai Mäkisara: SCSI tape update
– Alan Cox: large drivers merge
– Nikita Danilov: reiserfs procfs information
– Andrew Morton: ext3 merge
– Christoph Hellwig: vxfs livelock fix
– Trond Myklebust: NFS updates
– Jens Axboe: cpqarray + cciss dequeue fix
– Tim Waugh: parport_serial base_baud setting
– Matthew Dharm: usb-storage Freecom driver fixes
– Dave McCracken: wait4() thread group race fix

From BSDToday: “Sysctl() is a function that is included in OpenBSD, FreeBSD, NetBSD and Linux. The
sysctl() function allows for the retrieval and setting of system information. This article is
going to focus on the uses and function of sysctl in a BSD environment.”

ZDNet reports a subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform heard Friday that government agencies have some chronic problems with their computer security.