Gentoo Linux 2006.0 Released

he Gentoo Release Engineering team proudly announces the release of Gentoo Linux 2006.0. Gentoo Linux 2006.0, the first release in the 2006 series, represents improvements across many architectures since the 2005.1 release.
Major highlights in the release include KDE 3.4.3, GNOME 2.12.2, XFCE 4.2.2, GCC 3.4.4 and a 2.6.15 kernel. This is also the first release with the Gentoo Linux Installer officially debuting on the x86 LiveCD, which will fully replace the Universal and PackageCD set. The LiveCD also features a fully-fledged Gnome environment. Later releases will include KDE support as well as a new LiveDVD.

The PPC64 team has made significant improvements in its release media. IBM's hardware donation to the team greatly helped this and ensured a smooth release. The CDs feature 64-bit kernels and 32-bit userlands rather than the previous pure 64-bit environment. Optimized stages are available for the G5 and POWER5 processors, making Gentoo the first distribution compile time optimized for the POWER5 processor via a power5 profile. The new release includes an experimental CD with full framebuffer support for dual-core G5 machines along with thermal management features. This makes Gentoo the first to market with release media with this level of support.

PPC and PPC64 profiles received further reorganization. They now match those of other 32/64-bit architectures such as SPARC and MIPS, unifying the look of the tree and allowing easier creation of specific profiles (for example, for server use) in the future. The PPC discs improve support for newer Apple laptops such as the last series of PowerBooks, which 2005.1 did not support, and feature improved OldWorld support with BootX on the universal CDs. The PPC team now produces the PackageCDs in a G4 and a ppc-generic configuration, especially useful for older and slower machines.

The Hardened team is pleased to release both 2.4 and 2.6 kernel targeted stages for the x86 platform. The previously experimental non-multilib AMD64 stages are now part of the 2006.0 release, while Hardened Gentoo with multilib on AMD64 has become possible and the team is releasing experimental stages.

The 2006.0 AMD64 release moves EM64T support out of the experimental realm. The InstallCDs feature support for NVIDIA SATA and for SysKonnect Yukon2 network cards as well as the inclusion of 32-bit Java Support. An experimental LiveCD is also available, featuring the Gentoo Linux Installer.

The Alpha team now provides split NPTL profiles as part of the 2006.0 release -- NPTL must use a 2.6 kernel, and those who require a 2.4 kernel or do not wish to enable NPTL can use the no-nptl subprofile instead to not take advantage of the new threading model. Stage tarballs are now provided for both variants, and the InstallCD provides both 2.4 and 2.6 kernels.

SPARC has moved to GCC 3.4.5 from the older 3.3 series and also to glibc 2.3.5 from 2.3.3 -- the profile features a 2.6 kernel and headers. However, this feature remains experimental and the SPARC team built the release media with the 2.4 subprofile. Testing from SGI Quality Assurance allowed the IA64 team to update its InstallCD to boot on SGI Prism machines.

Gentoo Linux is a community-driven project committed to producing a high-quality open source distribution; more information regarding this release, such as detailed release notes will be available on the Gentoo Release Engineering team's project page.

Gentoo.org

I downloaded and tried out the live cd and it seems pretty nicely done. Since I had recently just installed gentoo 2005 (my first gentoo install) I figured why not try this out, just to see how it differed from the install using the minimal install cd. It really followed a very similar pattern just with a graphical frontend. I didn't get to go all the way through the setup since my network crashed from something hopefully unrelated after booting into the livecd But it seems like the install would be a much nicer experience for people with only one accessible computer since they will assumedly be able to run most basic apps while the install is going on. Having an IM during the install process was something I had thought would be a nice touch when installing it the other way, so I'm glad to see them offer this live cd version. Of course, there is still a basic cd you can download to do the old install method, and this still isn't as quick or simple an install as other distro's but it makes it a bit more accessible to those worried about doing everything from a CLI.

Another pro of this setup as far as I can tell is the option to have it compile KDE/Gnome?OO.org etc all at the get go. Basically you set eeeeverything up and then hit "install" and a month later everything is compiled and running

I'm going to try again tonight or tomorrow hopefully to get a more indepth look at the new install process and I'll update this thread once I get a more full impression of the live cd and all its toys.

The PPC64 team has made significant improvements in its release media.

Let's see if this is right. Last time I tried it, the ppc64 install simply crashed on Power4 as well as on Power5 systems, whereas Redhat and Suze had no problems. Let's see if the LiveCD install things make the gentoo install easier for noobs.
First step : the download link works fine!
Edited February 28, 2006 by yordan (see edit history)

I'd be willing to bet it will make it a bit easier for us n00bs Even though I didn't really have any big problems myself with the install of the old version, that could be attributed somewhat to preperation and being comfortable in a command line environment. TO people who just jump into the install and are scared by a terminal, this would probably help them alot.Each page in the install also has a help page outlining what is going on, another helpful addition. Even more, the partitioner is somewhat graphical (CLI partitioners seem to freak out alot of people, hell partitioning in general scares alot of people) and you can even just free up space and hit "reccommended partition scheme" or something and boom, it gives you a swap partition, and boot partition, and a root (they use the 512mb swap, 100mb ext2 boot, leftover space for root ext 3 layout that the install guide uses). Of course, manual partitioning is always available too.Honestly though I'm glad I ran through the install before this came out (barely made it haha) as I probably would have wimped out and done the live cd install otherwise and I think it was a good experience doing it the other way. The Live cd, however, will make things alot faster in the future from the looks of it.

@Jeigh....

 

Gentoo is not like other Distro's

Their is no "version" like for example, fedora 1,2,3.

with gentoo, its just a question of, how long ago you last "emerge --sync && emerge -uDv world"

 

dont think of Gentoo 2006 as a new gentoo version, its a new Gentoo Profile.

 

you DONT need to re-install !

 

Major highlights in the release include KDE 3.4.3, GNOME 2.12.2, XFCE 4.2.2, GCC 3.4.4 and a 2.6.15 kernel.

On my Gentoo 2005.1 system i am currently running...

 

KDE-3.5.1, Gnome-2.12.2, GCC-3.4.4-r1, kernel-2.6.15-r5 ( with XFCE 4.2.2available )

 

my 2005.1 is running equaly up-to-date software, in in the case of KDE, more up to date software ( because i use the testing mask ~amd64 with KDE packages )

 

You can update your 2005.1 profile to 2006.0 in a few simple steps.

 

see the link https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Upgrading_Gentoo

 

(specific documentation has not yet been released for 2006.0, but i would expect it to arive soon)

 

One of the reasons why gentoo is s fantastic, so diferant from other distro's is the way it updates and installs, an hw it avoids re-installs.

 

you dont need downtime to upgrade

Oh no I know that, I'm just doing the reinstall to see what its like comparatively to the other install method. I figure since I don't really have my other system set up too much yet, it won't be a big loss regardless. Best time for me to try it out if I'm ever going to want to.But yea I know you just need to upadte everything to keep your distro at the bleeding edge, thats one of the things that has me interested in gentoo

and are scared by a terminal,

I had exactly the opposite problem. I love terminals, and gentoo was afraid by mine.
The CD first booted, I choosed "install" and the answer was "illegal terminal type term0" "system halted".
I expected at least seing the installation starting. I hope this will not be the case with the new version I am currently downloading.

One of the reasons why gentoo is s fantastic, so diferant from other distro's is the way it updates and installs, an hw it avoids re-installs.

So, from that point of view, gentoo starts being just like AIX...
Edited February 28, 2006 by yordan (see edit history)

Haha yea honestly I can't imagine being afraid of using a CLI. I mean that was one of the first things that I saw that made me want to try linux back in the day heh. It just seemed so powerful and precise compared to the GUI... but to each their own

:Update:I am currently installing gentoo again The live cd thing makes it way smoother haha. While the actual choices are all virtually identical except they have a nice GUI to guide you along, the fact that you have a working OS booted in the background while it runs is insanely nice. No need to leave your system compiling for hours on end without being able to use it for much (well you could surf with links before but... this is nicer haha)It seems like they really did a good job on this. I can see alot more people trying to install gentoo once they realize the new installer is more friendly

:Update 2:Well, it's the morning after, but it's not the morning I get to boot into Gentoo Since The new installer has you pick "extra packages" to ermerge automatically it severely heightens the amount of time possible between beginning the install and you first reboot. I chose to get alot of my big compiles over with since I had all last night and then all day today while I'm at work to let it run, so I chose to auto-emerge x11, kde, gnome, open office, and a handful of smaller apps I'll need regardless (Firefox, thunderbird, etc). Everything up to this stage was completed in a mere 2-3 hours, but it's been compiling the rest and still is going as expected. It's about 4/5 of the way through the extra packages, currently eating away at kde.In case anyone is curious for time comparisons, my comp is a 2.8ghz P4 w/HT with 1.5gig Ram.

my comp is a 2.8ghz P4 w/HT with 1.5gig Ram.

Did you remember to set the "kdeenablefinal" USE flag ???

This use flag will slaughter your free memory, but dramatically reduce kde compile time.

Since you have plenty of free ram, and the computer is dedicatde to compiling right now, i would recomend you give it a try.

EDIT:
Ive seen screen-shots of the installer, but i will have to wait untill they release the amd64 version.

Personally, i dont understand why they didnt release amd64 at the same time as x86.

They can leave the installer itself as 32bit, with a 6bit kernel (for the chroot)

The installer itself can use all the same 32bit binaries as the x86 installer, it just needs to unpack a dirrerant base system.

After all, the installer only needs to pass parameters to, and execute emerge.

Yea I was kinda assuming the amd64 one would be out too, kinda weird.And no I didn't enable that use flag... there are alot of those things haha :| I know I haven't got the best USE flag setup right now but I'll learn over time heh But yea I'm at work now so the comp is at home compiling away so I assume it'll be done (or at least past kde) by my arrival at home this evening.Thanks for the tip for the future though. I kept watching my system manager and my ram was topping out at only about 20% used, so if that would reduce kde compile times it'll be a good tip to keep in mind.