[Tfug] [Fwd: Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 released]

[Glen Pfeiffer]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 released
Resent-Date: Sun,  8 Apr 2007 08:15:44 -0500 (CDT)
Resent-From: debian-announce at lists.debian.org
Date: Sun, 8 Apr 2007 15:15:36 +0200
From: Alexander Schmehl <tolimar at debian.org>
To: debian-announce at lists.debian.org

------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Debian Project                              http://www.debian.org/
Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 released                         press at debian.org
April 8th, 2007               http://www.debian.org/News/2007/20070408
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 released

The Debian Project is pleased to announce the official release of
Debian GNU/Linux version 4.0, codenamed "etch", after 21 months
of constant development.  Debian GNU/Linux is a free operating
system which supports a total of eleven processor architectures
and includes the KDE, GNOME and Xfce desktop environments.  It
also features cryptographic software and compatibility with the
FHS v2.3 and software developed for version
3.1 of the LSB.

Using a now fully integrated installation process, Debian
GNU/Linux 4.0 comes with out-of-the-box support for encrypted
partitions.  This release introduces a newly developed graphical
frontend to the installation system supporting scripts using
composed characters and complex languages; the installation
system for Debian GNU/Linux has now been translated to 58
languages.

Also beginning with Debian GNU/Linux 4.0, the package management
system has been improved regarding security and efficiency.
Secure APT allows the verification of the integrity of packages
downloaded from a mirror. Updated package indices won't be
downloaded in their entirety, but instead patched with smaller
files containing only differences from earlier versions.

Debian GNU/Linux runs on computers ranging from palmtops and
handheld systems to supercomputers, and on nearly everything in
between.  A total of eleven architectures are supported
including:  Sun SPARC (sparc), HP Alpha (alpha), Motorola/IBM
PowerPC (powerpc), Intel IA-32 (i386) and IA-64 (ia64), HP
PA-RISC (hppa), MIPS (mips, mipsel), ARM (arm), IBM S/390 (s390)
and -- newly introduced with Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 -- AMD64 and
Intel EM64T (amd64).

Debian GNU/Linux can be installed from various installation media
such as DVDs, CDs, USB sticks and floppies, or from the network.
GNOME is the default desktop environment and is contained on the
first CD.  The K Desktop Environment (KDE) and the Xfce desktop
can be installed through two new alternative CD images.  Also
newly available with Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 are multi-arch CDs and
DVDs supporting installation of multiple architectures from a
single disc.

Debian GNU/Linux can be downloaded right now via bittorent (the
recommended way), jigdo or HTTP;  see <http://www.debian.org/CD/>
for further information.  It will soon be available on DVD and
CD-ROM from numerous vendors <http://www.debian.org/CD/vendors/>, too.

This release includes a number of updated software packages, such
as the K Desktop Environment 3.5 (KDE), an updated version of the
GNOME desktop environment 2.14, the Xfce 4.4 desktop environment,
the GNUstep desktop 5.2, X.Org 7.1, OpenOffice.org 2.0.4a, GIMP
2.2.13, Iceweasel (an unbranded version of Mozilla Firefox
2.0.0.3), Icedove (an unbranded version of Mozilla Thunderbird
1.5), Iceape (an unbranded version of Mozilla Seamonkey 1.0.8),
PostgreSQL 8.1.8, MySQL 5.0.32, GNU Compiler Collection 4.1.1,
Linux kernel version 2.6.18, Apache 2.2.3, Samba 3.0.24, Python
2.4.4 and 2.5, Perl 5.8.8, PHP 4.4.4 and 5.2.0, Asterisk 1.2.13,
and more than 18,000 other ready to use software packages.

Upgrades to Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 from the previous release,
Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 codenamed "sarge", are automatically handled
by the aptitude package management tool for most configurations,
and to a certain degree also by the apt-get package management
tool.  As always, Debian GNU/Linux systems can be upgraded quite
painlessly, in place, without any forced downtime, but it is
strongly recommended to read the release notes for possible
issues.  For detailed instructions about installing and upgrading
Debian GNU/Linux, please see the release notes
<http://www.debian.org/releases/etch/releasenotes>.  Please note
that the release notes will be further improved and translated to
additional languages in the coming weeks.


About Debian
------------

Debian GNU/Linux is a free operating system, developed by more
than a thousand volunteers from all over the world who
collaborate via the Internet.  Debian's dedication to Free
Software, its non-profit nature,  and its open development model
make it unique among GNU/Linux  distributions.

The Debian project's key strengths are its volunteer base, its
dedication to the Debian Social Contract, and its commitment to
provide the best operating system possible.  Debian 4.0 is
another important step in that direction.

Contact Information
-------------------

For further information, please visit the Debian web pages at
<http://www.debian.org/> or send mail to <press at debian.org>.