Alpha Release Notes for Gentoo Linux 2006.0

1.  The Gentoo Linux Project

Overview

Gentoo Linux is a community driven project committed to producing high quality opensource software. These release notes for Gentoo Linux 2006.0 summarize important package updates, security updates, and many other changes that have happened since Gentoo Linux 2005.1

Table of Contents

• 1. Overview
• 2. Important Changes
• 2.1 Profile Changes
• 2.2 Stage Tarballs
• 2.3 Security Updates
• 2.4 Errata
• 2.5 Critical Package Updates
• 2.6 Portage Updates
• 2.7 Documentation Updates
• 3. Upgrading from previous versions of Gentoo Linux

2.  Important Changes for 2006.0

Profile Changes

Due to glibc problems we're now providing two different profiles. The default profile is default-linux/alpha/2006.0 requires a 2.6 kernel as it forces use of NPTL. Users that need a 2.4 kernel or don't want to use NPTL can use the default-linux/alpha/no-nptl profile instead.

Stage Tarballs

Because of the profile changes we now provide stage tarballs built for both the default alpha profile and the no-nptl profile. It's important to choose the no-nptl stage tarball if using a 2.4 kernel or if you don't want a NPTL enabled system.

Security Updates

Gentoo Linux 2006.0 contains security updates to address GLSAs (Gentoo Linux Security Advisories) numbered 200507-29 to 200601-17.

Individual GLSAs can be referenced by going to http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-$x.xml, and substituting $x with the desired GLSA number.

For more information, please consult the the Gentoo Linux Security Project home page.

Errata

Critical Package Updates

Important package-versions in this release:

• gcc 3.4.4-r1
• glibc-2.3.5-r3
• vanilla-sources-2.4.30
• vanilla-sources-2.6.15.1
• Portage-2.0.54
• xorg-x11-6.8.2-r6

There is both 2.6 and 2.4 kernels available on the InstallCD that will run on both, uniprocessor and smp machines.

For information about how to change your profile please read http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/gentoo-upgrading.xml

Portage Updates

The Portage version included in this release is 2.0.54 and the ChangeLog can be found via our online CVS repository.

Documentation Updates

Much consideration and time has been spent on the Gentoo Installation Handbook in order to get it more in sync with Gentoo 2006.0. Please note that it is a constant work in progress, and if any bugs are encountered, please refer them to the Gentoo Linux bugtracking system at http://bugs.gentoo.org.

3.  Upgrading and Installation of Gentoo Linux 2006.0

Installing Gentoo Linux 2006.0

The entire Gentoo Linux installation process is documented in the Gentoo Handbook.

Alpha architecture offers two InstallCDs. The first one being a universal bootable InstallCD which can be used to install with or without an Internet connection. The second InstallCD is a bootable minimal InstallCD that is smaller in size and includes only the basics needed to simply boot a machine.

At minimum, the universal or minimal InstallCD is required to boot the machine and install Gentoo. The universal InstallCD does not require an Internet connection to install from a stage3 installation tarball. The minimal InstallCD requires an Internet connection to install Gentoo Linux.

There is one kernel available on both bootable cds. It will run on both, uniprocessor and smp systems. The default kernel are based on linux-2.6.14.2 (vanilla-sources-2.6.14.2). The alternative kernel, gentoo2.4, is based on linux-2.4.30 (vanilla-sources-2.4.30).

The contents of this document, unless otherwise expressly stated, are licensed under the CC-BY-SA-2.5 license. The Gentoo Name and Logo Usage Guidelines apply.