[gentoo-announce] Gentoo Linux Updates

[gentoo-announce] Gentoo Linux Updates

[Daniel Robbins]

Hi All,

Here's a list of recent, important Gentoo Linux package updates:

  sys-apps/portage-1.8.0

  Portage 1.8.0 now allows shared libraries to be updated safely.  This allows
  one to easily upgrade glibc, even when in X and running lots of applications.
  Nothing will die or segfault, and based on independent tests this
  functionality appears to be working.

  sys-libs/glibc-2.2.4-r8

  This version of glibc depends on the new version of Portage and takes
  advantage of its safe installation features.  It also contains an important
  security patch for the glob-related functions in glibc which allow for a
  remotely-exploitable hole, especially if you're running an FTP server.  If
  you'd like to use this new glibc, you should be able to simply merge it.
  Glibc takes a long time to build, but after it's merged, you'll be protected
  against this exploit.  Merging the new glibc will cause
  sys-apps/portage-1.8.0 to be automatically merged if it hasn't been already.

  sys-apps/baselayout-1.6.8

  The new baselayout package no longer uses a bash-based init-wrapper.  Due
  to the tight integration with the init system, the sys-apps/sysvinit package
  is now depreciated and has been integrated into baselayout.  You can use
  the new baselayout by merging it and then finding all "._cfg*" files in 
  /etc, and updating the appropriate ones.  Type "emerge --help config" for
  more information.  If you have a seperate /usr partition, you should also
  merge the newest sys-apps/sh-utils, which now has "sleep" moved from /usr/bin
  to /bin.

  NOTE: After installing baselayout, you may find that at reboot/shutdown time,
  your root filesystem cannot be properly mounted.  If this happens, you'll
  be given the option to log in as root to investigate.  If this happens to you,
  simply log in by typing in the root password, then type "sync; sync" to be
  sure that all your data is on the disk, and then type "reboot".  Then, the
  new initscripts will kick in and you shouldn't have this problem again.

  sys-devel/binutils-2.11.90.0.31

  This new version of binutils appears to be quite compatible and is now the
  default binutils for Gentoo Linux, upgraded from 2.11.90.0.7.  This new
  version fixes kernel compilation problems for kernels compiled for the
  "Athlon/Duron/K7" CPU type.  It may also fix stability issues with kernels
  compiled for the "Pentium III" processor type.  This particular upgrade has
  fixed several "Athlon/Duron/K7"-related problems experienced in the field.
  
  sys-kernel/linux-sources-2.4.16-r1

  This is our latest and greatest kernel source package.  It now depends on the
  new binutils for proper compilation (the new binutils will get merged
  automatically if you merge this ebuild).  This kernel includes support for
  ReiserFS, ext3 and XFS filesystems (and of course many more), LVM, ACPI, and
  the low-latency and preemptible kernel patches (which can both be run
  simultaneously). Note that if you enable the low latency patch's "sysctl
  control" option, low latency will default to *off*.  If you want to use LVM
  with this kernel, remember to merge sys-apps/lvm-user.  If you want to use
  XFS with this kernel, remember to merge sys-apps/xfsprogs.

Enjoy!
  
-- 
Daniel Robbins                                  <drobbins@gentoo.org>
Chief Architect/President                       http://www.gentoo.org 
Gentoo Technologies, Inc.