Monthly Archive:: May 2005

No ELF Vulnerability in Linux Kernel (Updated)

David Adams 2005-05-29 Privacy, Security 44 Comments

Update: It appears that we mischaracterized the conclusions in our title and our summary on this story. Greg KH was referring only to the ELF vulnerability in this story. Whether we were deliberately mislead by the submitter of this story or not, we regret the error.

The original story: According to "Greg KH," co-maintainer of the 2.6.x.y series of important stability and security fixes, the Linux kernel does not suffer from the much-hyped hyper threading vulnerability that affected the BSDs: " The main reason there have not been any updates, is that there really isn't a problem for the 2.6 kernel. The original author has admited this finally, no one was ever able to reproduce it on a 2.6 kernel. The only reason I released a kernel update, was at the time, we thought there was an off-chance that there was a problem. However in further testing, it has not been the case." This confirms Linus's earler assertion.

Intel Adds DRM to Chips

Submitted by David 2005-05-29 Intel 101 Comments

If you though the subject of DRM and Trusted Comouting had gone away, think again. Intel is adding DRM capabilities to its new Pentium D chipsets, but as with AMD, they're not that keen on talking about it. Aside from DRM, there's also this gem: Additionally, AMT also features what Intel calls "IDE redirection"...allow administrators to remotely enable, disable or format or configure individual drives and reload operating systems and software from remote locations, again independent of operating systems.

The First Apple

Submitted by Saad 2005-05-29 Apple 47 Comments

The first computer Apple released was also its cheapest until the release of the Mac mini. It was an innovative machine. Unlike its peers, it included a keyboard interface and onboard graphics, options that cost hundreds of dollars on other platforms. It even included mass storage: the machine had a built-in cassette interface. Read the article at MLAgazine.

GIT HOWTO for the Linux Kernel

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-28 Linux 7 Comments

A HOWTO on GIT patch management software that replaces Bitkeeper has been published on the Linux Kernel mailing list.

Debian RAID 1/5 system installer

Guest post by Juerd 2005-05-28 Debian 6 Comments

Half a year ago, I shared with OS News my favourite way of installing Debian. After a while, though, the manual procedure gets rather boring. So I automated most of it, which saves me at least 10 minutes per installation. The script works well with the latest Knoppixes, that use 2.6 kernels by default (better S-ATA support).

Interview with PalmSource exec’s probes elucidates Linux strategy

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-28 Wireless 14 Comments

This installment in LinuxDevices.com's "Executive Interview" series explores PalmSource's plans with respect to morphing Palm OS into a middleware and application stack that runs on top of Linux, with an aim of targeting mobile phones and other wireless-enabled devices. While visiting the company's annual developers conference in San Jose this week, we sat down with PalmSource VP of Engineering Mike Kelley and Director of Product Marketing John Cook to discuss PalmSource's Linux strategy and plans. Read the interview here.

Windows rapidly approaching desktop usability

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-27 Windows 393 Comments

"Every year or so I like to see how Microsoft is doing in its attempt to make a desktop operating system as usable as Linux. Microsoft Windows XP, Home Edition, with Service Pack 2, is a tremendous improvement over previous Windows versions when it comes to stability and appearance, but it still has many glitches that..." Read more at NewsForge.

OS makers slow to fix flaw, researcher says

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-27 Privacy, Security 34 Comments

Operating system vendors were given two months notice before a security flaw was made public, but some have yet to resolve the issue, a security researcher has claimed.

Mac OS X 10.4 ‘Tiger’ in depth

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-27 macOS 17 Comments

"Review I've been running Mac OS X 'Tiger' since the day after its release, on 29 April. At the time, hundreds of reviews of the operating system were published, but I didn't want to be a part of the herd, since many of them were little more than lists of the new features. I wanted to spend some more time with Tiger before getting off the fence." Read the article at TheRegister.

POWER5 Virtualisation: SUSE Linux Virtual I/O Server

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-27 SuSE, openSUSE 19 Comments

Reduce your operation costs for complex environments by creating efficient and flexible virtualisation capabilities. Nigel Griffiths describes the benefits of the IBM POWER5 servers and provides examples on how to set up the environment for pSeries, p5, and eServer OpenPower systems.

IBM Discloses Cell Based Blade Server Board Prototype

Submitted by Peter Stöckli 2005-05-27 IBM 35 Comments

IBM Corp. has revealed a prototype blade server board featuring the Cell microprocessor jointly developed with the Sony Group and Toshiba Corp. The company demonstrated the prototype in front of only a few clients at a hotel room outside Los Angeles, US, at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), game tradeshow.

Using a Network Analyser as a Security Tool

Submitted by DTY 2005-05-27 Privacy, Security 3 Comments

Because firewalls and other defensive security measures are not failsafe, you need additional tools to detect and respond to security breaches as they occur. A network analyser can detect known (and even some unknown) virus attacks and make the cleanup process much more efficient.

The ‘Dirty Little Secret’ About Longhorn

Submitted by JM 2005-05-27 Windows 69 Comments

Developers say there's a dirty little secret about Longhorn that few Softies are discussing publicly: Longhorn won't be based on the .Net Framework . . . Instead, the .Net Framework will be the core for a small subset of Longhorn, specifically the Windows API Platform (WAP), which consists primarily of the "Avalon" Windows presentation system and the "Indigo" Windows communications system

Rumours of the death of VMS…

Submitted by Ken Farmer 2005-05-27 OS News 25 Comments

After 30 years, the venerable VMS operating system is showing no signs of going away. How is it holding on to its position at the heart of some of the world’s most mission-critical systems?

Mac OS X 10.4 – more bling than bang?

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-27 macOS 96 Comments

While the third update to Mac OS X, Panther, was an essential upgrade for Mac users, the fourth has presented Apple's marketeers with something of a challenge. The ritual that we call the annual OS upgrade is Apple's best publicity showcase after January MacWorld - a chance to remind the world that it doesn't just make iPods. Read the review here.

Developing GNOME Applications with Java

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-27 Gnome 48 Comments

Design your application's GUI look in XML, write the code in Java and plug the whole thing in to the GNOME desktop.

Indigo not so open as .NET Framework?

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-26 Microsoft 50 Comments

A Novell-backed project seeking to create an open source version of web services technology in future versions of Windows could hit an IP hurdle from Microsoft. Evaluation has begun on an open source version of Indigo, the web services communications layer due in Longhorn and updates to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Review: SanDisk’s Sansa e130 mp3/WMA Player

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-26 Multimedia, AV 80 Comments

Are you looking at buying a truly affordable & expandable mp3 player with an LCD screen & FM radio that just works? SanDisk's newest mp3 player Sansa might just be what you were looking for!

OSS on OS X

Eugenia Loli 2005-05-26 macOS 42 Comments

Apple recently released Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger, the latest update to the flagship operating system. Featuring developer-oriented features such as Core Data under the hood, the Unix-based Tiger and the introduction of powerful yet increasingly cost-effective Mac hardware is enticing many a curious Linux enthusiast to prowl over to the nearest Apple Store and get their paws on a Mac. Read more at NewsForge.

Nokia Announces Patent Support to the Linux Kernel

Submitted by Timo Saarinen 2005-05-26 Legal 32 Comments

Nokia Corporation announced that it allows all its patents to be used in the further development of the Linux Kernel. Nokia believes that open source software communities, like open standards, foster innovation and make an important contribution to the creation and rapid adaptation of technologies. Nokia also committed not to assert any of its Patents against Linux Kernel.