I posted this to debian-publicity a few days ago. But it doesn't look like there is much action there...
Here is my translation of Joey's document into english . Feel free to edit it or use any part in an official release statement. Debian GNU/Linux 2.1 released After seven months of development, the new version of the well known Linux distribution was released in early March. Debian GNU/Linux consists of 100% free software. The goal of the Debian project is to keep Linux systems and their components free and to promote free software. Debian's definition of "free software" is laid out in the Debian social contract <http://www.debian.de/social_contract>. Debian 2.1, code-named "slink", was released not only for Intel x86 based machines, but also for Alpha, Motorola 680x0, and SPARC based machines. The SPARC and Motorola distributions appear for the first time in this release. Debian GNU/Linux is by far the most comprehensive of the Linux distributions. The current release contains more than 2250 pre-compiled, pre-configured binary packages which have been compiled from some 1500 source packages by over 400 volunteer workers. All of the important networking and database software that one expects in a contemporary Linux distribution is present. However, the packages cover a enormous range of uses, representing all the diversity of free software users. Of course, the most popular free software is found in the new release, including the current version of the X11 graphics system (XFree863.3.2.3a), PostgreSQL (6.3.2), GIMP (1.0.2), Apache (1.3.3), and even Roxen (1.2.46). The applications developer will also find a large number of C, Perl, and Python libraries. Debian is still based on the flexible .deb format. The powerful package manager ``dpkg'', allows easy installation, maintainence, and upgrading of packages. In particular, dpkg implements a carefully conceived method for handling dependencies and configuration. Packages from other Linux distributions can be installed via the ``alien'' program. The package management system is completed with the familiar frontend ``dselect'', as well as with the new ``apt'' package, together with refined administration mechanisms. These mechanisms provide for optimal integration of packages with the system. For instance, packages are registered with an abstract menu system from which all window managers construct menus of available programs automatically upon installation. Another mechanism allows installation of interchangeable packages to provide a desired function that other packages may depend upon, (i.e, different ``vi'' clones). Yet another, is the installation of methods to display different MIME-types. Debian GNU/Linux 2.1 is delivered with the well tested and groomed kernel 2.0.36 . During the testing phase of Debian 2.1, kernel 2.2 was released. However it has proven to be not sufficiently stable. In addition, a few packages must be upgraded. For the few cases where the newer kernel is necessary, details on the upgrade can be found at <http://www.debian.de/releases/slink/running-kernel-2.2> . Since the previous release, the distribution has grown to such an extent that it can no longer be contained on a single CD. Therefore, the ``multi-CD'' method was developed to install the distribution from a set of official CD's. As usual, the official CD images can be downloaded from <http://cdimage.debian.org/>. These images are useful only to those who wish to manufacture CD's, and not to those who wish to download the distribution to install it without a CD. The official CD images consist of two source code CDs and two binary CDs. The installation diskette is available in English or German. As usual, the installation program can be booted via the installation diskette or CD, while the remaining installation can be made via CD, hard disk, NFS, or HTTP. The current development distribution of Debian 2.2 can be found on the ftp servers in the distribution named ``unstable'' (or the code name ``potato''). New packages and upgraded packages are being integrated into potato. The package management and installation methods are under intensive development. Also, the developers are working on additional architectures, such as PowerPC and ARM (used in the Netwinder), as well as on a version which employs the Hurd kernel. WWW: http://www.debian.org/ FTP: ftp://ftp.debian.org/pub/debian/ Mirrors: http://www.debian.org/distrib/ftplist Vendors: http://www.debian.org/distrib/vendors CD Images: http://cdimage.debian.org/ -- John Lapeyre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tucson,AZ http://www.physics.arizona.edu/~lapeyre ----- End forwarded message ----- -- John Lapeyre <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tucson,AZ http://www.physics.arizona.edu/~lapeyre
