Apparently owner-linux-kernel-digest@vger.rutgers.edu wrote:
> ------------------------------
> From: Daniel Stone <daniel@dustpuppy.ods.org>
> Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 18:41:36 +1000
> Subject: Re: Linux 2.4 - press release?
> I think you should mention:
> USB and FireWire - possibly appealing to the multimedia market, etc? Note
> the high proliferation of USB Zip drives, etc, so you could tout this as how
> it's great that we've got all the k-whrad standards.
> Netfilter - I think I mention this to everyone I talk to about Linux 2.4.
> Stateful inspection, totally extensible, separate conntrack/NAT ... what more
> can I say? (apart from a cool maintainer </suck-up>)
> um, and that's about it!
> Be well :)
> d
> --
> Daniel Stone
> Kernel Hacker (or at least has aspirations to be)
> daniel@dustpuppy.ods.org
> http://dustpuppy.ods.org
>> Hello,
>> I'm not sure if this has been discussed yet, I'm not completely
>> caught up with the current kernel list. However with the pending
>> release of Linux 2.4, it may be time to bring this up again.
>> I've created a rough draft (intended for discussion only!) of a press
>> release for Linux 2.4, if we decide to go with one. Greg Smart and
>> Albert Cahalan attempted this for Linux 2.2 but I don't think anything
>> came of that work -- now I've decided to step up and make a fool of
>> myself for Linux 2.4. :)
>> Please take a look at this and let me know what you think. There's
>> probably someone on this list who actually knows what to do with a
>> press release, it's quite a bit beyond my experience. Feel free to
>> edit this as appropiate.
>> Oh, and I stuck a small plug for my "Wonderful World" document at the
>> end. For a final version, we would want to point that at a good
>> resource for more information about the release-- I'm a bit biased in
>> this respect.
>> Thanks,
>> Joe Pranevich
>> Linux Writing Person
>> --
>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>> LINUX KERNEL 2.4 (DRAFT!)
>> The Internet, August XX, 2000
>> Linus Torvalds and the kernel development team would like to announce
>> the immediate availability of Linux 2.4, the latest revision of the
>> popular open source operating system kernel. This update brings
>> increased scalability and performance to all Linux users, in addition
>> to new hardware support.
>> Notewothy Features:
>> - Enterprise Ready! Linux 2.4 includes changes that make it even
>> more ready for Enterprise environments. This new revision supports up
>> to 64 gigabytes of RAM, allows files to be larger than 2 gigabytes,
>> supports many more simultaneous processes, and has been largely
>> rewritten to take better advantage of systems with multiple
>> processors.
Is "largely re-written" an overstatement? The SMP from 2.0 to 2.2
was "largely re-written." Most of the SMP locking code through
2.3.x has been refined. I gather that the network devices and
code path have been "unserialized."
>> - Rewritten network layer to be faster than ever before, especially
>> on multi-processor hardware. This new layer brings to Linux the
>> flexibility and power formerly available only with expensive routing
>> hardware.
[moved a bullet point -- unserialized net is more interesting
in the server/enterprise context]
- The new netfilter code replaces "ipchains" with the most
flexible and modular packet filtering available.
- Policy based routing and quality of server (QoS) queueing and
packet scheduling allows Linux systems to precisely control
the flow of data through the system and into and out of your
networks.
- FreeS/WAN and CIPE (available via international patches) provide
kernel level support for transparent network cryptography.
- These (previous three) features make Linux the
ideal kernel for building custom routers.
- Support for very high speed (gigabit) ethernet and other
(FDDI, HIPPI) network interfaces.
>> - Cutting-edge hardware support. Linux now supports Itanium, the
>> 64-bit Intel hardware soon to be released as well as the S/390, an IBM
>> mainframe, and SuperH, often used in WindowsCE handhelds. Linux 2.4
>> improves support for Intel and Apple desktop and server hardware, in
>> addition to Compaq servers based on the Alpha processor, Sun Sparc
>> systems, MIPs systems, and other platforms.
Let's not forget StrongARM/ARM, MIPS, 68k (including the
Coldfire and Dragonball processors in that family). These are
used in many embedded systems (including many PDAs).
(Palm Pilot is Dragonball, moving to StrongARM?)
>> - Linux is now even better suited for desktop environments with a
>> new resource manager and support for USB and Firewire
>> hardware. Additionally, Linux 2.4 also improves support for PC Cards
>> (PCMCIA) and legacy "Plug-and-Play" cards.
[moved bullet point, see previous comment]
- Linux is also well suited to many laptop, mobile and embedded
applications. There is additional support for Transmeta's
new line of "Crusoe (TM)" low-power consumption x86 processors
which are powering web pads and long running "work all day"
laptops.
[Okay, shameless plug for our favorite kernel hacker's employer
--- but still a feature].
- ACPI support builds on the advanced power management
(APM) features from earlier kernel versions.
- The new Linux kernel now has integrated PCMCIA and Cardbus
support (long available as an "add-on" patch). Also included
is support for a number of wireless networking products and
protocols, for "untethered" convenience.
>> - Support for version 3 of the popular NFS filesystem for sharing
>> files in UNIX-like environments.
>> - Linux 2.4 includes special enhancments for webservers including a
^^^^^^^^^^^ enhancements --- typo
>> kernel-level web server and "wake one" support for speedier page
>> serving with all popular web servers, including Apache.
The Linux developers sarcastically acknowlege Mindcraft and
thank them for their efforts in helping us identify the need
for these improvements.
Also the "kernel-level web server" is better described as a
kernel level web "accelerator." That is more accurate, and it
is less likely to scare off business users who have already
chosen a web server/daemon.
>> - Logical Volume Manager for easy administration of disk space,
>> including adding, deleting, and resizing disk slices on the fly.
- "Capabilities" support extends the UNIX security model and
allows Linux to provide more fine-grained access to system
privileged. The "capabilities bounding set" further allows
the administrator to "lock down" their system and prevent
persistent changes, even in the face of "rogue" applications.
[It's an oversimplification, but it's never been mentioned in
previous press releases and "Wonderful World" revisions.]
>> This update is already available to advanced users through multiple
>> kernel mirrors (ftp.kernel.org) Although no timeframes have been
>> announced at this time, all current Linux distributors will be
>> updating to this version of the kernel within the next several months.
>> Linux is developed by a online team of programmers headed by Linus
>> Torvalds, a resident of Santa Clara, CA. Linux has been developed
>> using the open source methodology which provides for source code and
>> peer review at all stages of deve lopment. It is because of this
>> system of openness that Linux has grown to be the most successful
>> non-corporate operating system to date.
>> For more informatoon, please consult www.linux.org for a list of
^^^^^^^^^^^ information --- typo
>> other Linux- related websites. More information on the new features
>> in Linux 2.4 can be found in the "Wonderful World of Linux 2.4"
>> document, available ...
>> Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds.
>> -30-
>> Get your FREE Email and Voicemail at Lycos Communications -
>> http://comm.lycos.com
Did the list ever decide on reiserfs? In or out?
(I'd prefer to put it in, marked as EXPERIMENTAL, for what
it's worth, PLEASE, no more flamefest on it; I just want to know).
--
Jim Dennis Technical Research Analyst Linuxcare, Inc.
jimd@linuxcare.com, http://www.linuxcare.com/
415 505-9306 415 701-7457 fax
Linuxcare: Support for the Revolution
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