Messages in this thread | | | Date | Fri, 15 Jan 1999 03:49:13 +0000 (GMT) | From | Linux account <> | Subject | 2.2.0 Press Release -- an old draft resurfaces |
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Hi. I've just seen the press release drafts. Independently (almost as an exercise) I was toying with this; are any phrases of any use to you? Dates are from memory only (no hard research here) so there are all manner of inaccuracies.
DRAFT 2.2
An updated version of the Linux Kernel is now available. The new "Linux Kernel 2.2" now becomes the program at the heart of computers running the Linux operating system, a free, immensely powerful and secure system developed by a large community of programmers collaborating for many years via the Internet. Version 2.2 builds on the industrial-strength stability, data storage and communication capabilities of the previous version, to give its users the greatest possible performance from their hardware, software and networks. It aims at full POSIX compliance, thus retaining its compatibility with Unix or Unix-like systems.
The kernel, which supersedes all others, includes improved or additional support for a very wide range of new and old hardware. This includes Intel, Motorola, Alpha, ARM, Power PC and Sparc processors, large arrays of very fast disks, ISDN links, video and audio hardware, and the fastest network cards. Additionally, the highly advanced networking allows the kernel to perform virtually any function that a system administrator might require.
Particular improvements include: - support for symmetric multiple processing, automatically sharing the load between several CPUs in the same machine; - drivers for Universal Serial Bus devices; - support for IPv6 addressing (48-bit internet addresses); - X.25 and AX.25 packet switching; - infra-red communication device drivers; - network file systems including NFS, Coda and Samba (Windows); - international language support; - many video and sound drivers.
The new kernel, and the unceasing development that continues, places Linux users at the forefront of today's computer technology, allowing them unrestricted use of their hardware's capabilities and full customisation. After this release, developers will continue to make improvements to this kernel, all of which will be freely available to the public.
BACKGROUND
The Linux kernel, when combined with other software (often supplied by the GNU project of the Free Software Foundation), forms the heart of the World's most popular Unix-like operating system. The Linux project was started in 1991 when a Finnish student, Linus Torvalds, began development (for educational purposes) of a simple program that could multi-task. He placed his source code on the Internet, and was greeted by many suggestions and improvements which were tried, tested, included or rejected, and which led to the release of the first "production" Linux Kernel in 1994. Today, an estimated eight million users run Linux systems with GNU software, making it the third most popular operating system with only Mac and Microsoft Windows in front.
The Kernel's development and success is unique in the history of operating systems. Since its inception, the project has released its code under the GNU Public Licence from the Free Software Foundation. This means that the source code (from which the runnable binary is compiled) must be freely available, and that anyone may modify it if they, too, agree to make their source code available. Because many hundreds of people are now writing code for the kernel, and because many thousands are eager to test it, any proposed code has to endure a thorough thrashing from many hard-to-please users before it becomes part of the kernel proper. Torvalds still maintains the 'official' kernel, but, of course, anyone in the world is welcome to modify it for their own needs.
Today, those millions of users, who include Internet Service Providers, multi-national companies, NASA, computing professionals and home PC users, find that no other operating system brings the power and flexibility that Linux gives. A full range of application software (again, much of it free) exists to enable a Linux installation to be all that a user requires.
Add pointers to URLs etc.
Yours,
John Hayward-Warburton linux@billabong.demon.co.uk http://i.am/computing
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