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Article from Issue 262/2022
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Rocky Linux 9 Has Arrived; Slimbook Upgrades CPUs in Executive Linux Ultrabook; Fedora Linux Is Coming to the Raspberry Pi 4; KaOS 2022.06 Now Available with KDE Plasma 5.25; Manjaro 21.3.0 Now Available; SpiralLinux: a New Linux Distribution Focused on Simplicity

Rocky Linux 9 Has Arrived

Rocky Linux 9 is now available and is a landmark release for several reasons. First off, there has been a surge in Rocky Linux deployments, putting it ahead of CentOS Stream and AlmaLinux. But more than that, Rocky Linux includes several security enhancements and networking features to help make it a best-in-class open source operating system for businesses of all sizes.

In the new release, you'll find SHA-1 message digest for cryptographic purposes has been deprecated (as the cryptographic hash functions are no longer considered secure). In addition, you'll find OpenSSL 3.0.1 (which includes provider concept, a new versioning scheme, an improved HTTP/HTTPS client, support for new protocols/formats/algorithms, and more), OpenSSH version 8.7p1 (which includes the replacement of the SCP/RCP protocol with the more predictable SFTP protocol), SELinux performance improvements, and the automatic configuration of security compliance settings for PCI-DSS, HIPAA, DISA, and more.

As for the networking improvements, you'll find that MultiPath TCP Daemon can now be used instead of iproute2 for the configuration of MultiPath TCP endpoints. Also, NetworkManager now uses key files to store connection profiles (but still supports ifcfg). Iptables-nft and ipset are deprecated and have been replaced by the nftables framework. Finally, network-scripts has been removed in favor of NetworkManager to configure network connections.

One other major move forward for Rocky Linux is that this version was built with a community-developed, open source, cloud-native system, called Peridot. This Golang project was developed to assure new versions of Rocky Linux can be released within one week after each RHEL version. By migrating to this system, anyone can reproduce Rocky Linux from scratch, ensuring that the distribution will always be available. The source for the Peridot build system can be found on GitHub (https://github.com/rocky-linux/peridot-releng).

For more information about the new Rocky Linux release, be sure to read the complete release notes (https://github.com/rocky-linux/documentation/blob/6d86674106233d3c0ab72da734de8eedee4e6549/docs/release_notes/9_0.md).

Slimbook Upgrades CPUs in Executive Linux Ultrabook

Slimbook, well known for producing KDE Plasma-powered laptops, has given their Executive series a bit of a refresh by making them available with the Intel 12th Gen Alder Lake CPU. This new iteration adds considerably more power (14 Cores, 20 threads, 24MB cache, and up to 4.80GHz clock speeds), improved battery life, and better graphics (via an integrated Iris Xe 4K chipset). Consumers will find two different models available with this configuration: A 14-inch 3K display, running at a 90Hz refresh rate (at 2880x1800 resolution) and a 16-inch model that sports NVIDIA RTX 3050Ti graphics with 4GB GDDR6 RAM (also at a 90Hz refresh rate).

The 14-inch model does get a beefier battery (99WHr), whereas the 16-inch model's battery is a smaller 82WHr. Both laptops include USB-C Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, HDMI 2.0, and USB-C 3.2 (with Display Port). The keyboards are backlit with large touchpads and the devices can be upgraded up to 64GB DDR4 3200Mhz RAM and up to 4TB NVMe SSD storage. Both versions include a 1080p full HD webcam with integrated stereo mic, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 2W stereo speakers, and a Kensington Lock mount. You can select from numerous Linux distributions to be preinstalled (such as Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Debian, elementary OS, Pop!_OS, Linux Mint, and more).

Price starts at approximately $1,322 for the 14-inch model and $1,627 for the 16-inch. Order your new Slimbook Executive now (https://slimbook.es/en/store/slimbook-executive).

Fedora Linux Is Coming to the Raspberry Pi 4

Fedora Linux has been available for desktops, servers, and even IoT devices. However, if you wanted to install the OS on the Raspberry Pi 4 device, you were out of luck – until now. With the upcoming release of Fedora 37, support for the devices might well finally become a reality. Although not official, it has become a proposed change and will be implemented if it receives approval from the Fedora Engineering Steering Committee.

The reason the Raspberry Pi 4 has yet to be supported by Fedora Linux has been the lack of accelerated graphics. However, with upstream work on the kernel and Mesa (specifically the V3D GPU for both OpenGL ES and Vulkan), it's now just a matter of enabling support. The one caveat is that support for WiFi on the Raspberry Pi 400 is not a part of this (although testing for audio support is).

According to the Raspberry Pi 4 Fedora Wiki page, "The support for the Raspberry Pi ecosystem has been an ongoing evolution. The aim of this change is to support the Raspberry Pi 4 including the 4B, the 400, and the CM4 with IO board. Upstream now supports accelerated graphics using the V3D GPU for both OpenGL ES and Vulkan. There's also enhancement to wired networking with support for PTPv2 on the CM4/4B."

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