[gentoo-gwn] Gentoo Weekly Newsletter - Volume 3, Issue 9

[Yuji Kosugi]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gentoo Weekly Newsletter
http://www.gentoo.org/news/en/gwn/current.xml
This is the Gentoo Weekly Newsletter for the week of March 1st, 2004.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
==============
1. Gentoo News
==============
   
2004.0 Released
---------------
  
Gentoo Linux is proud to announce the release of Gentoo Linux 2004.0 for 
the x86, AMD64, PowerPC, Sun SPARC, and SGI MIPS architectures. 
Additionally, the Gentoo Hardened team is announcing the inaugural release 
of a security-enhanced Gentoo platform for the x86 architecture. 
 
In addition to many bugfixes and security updates since the 1.4 release, 
Gentoo Linux 2004.0 contains a cutting-edge development toolchain and user 
environment including, but not limited to, Linux kernel 2.6.3, GCC 3.3.2, 
GLIBC 2.3.2, KDE 3.2, GNOME 2.4.1, and xfce4. 
 
We are pleased to announce the new Gentoo Store[1]. Available at the 
Gentoo Store are Gentoo Linux LiveCDs that come complete with the on-CD 
Gentoo Installation Handbook, 2004.0 Release Notes[2] and optimized 
pre-compiled binary packages. Users who want to stay up-to-date for 2004 
can purchase a subscription that offers the shipment of each quarterly 
2004.x release sent straight to their door. Those wishing to donate to 
Gentoo Linux can now do so in an easy and secure manner utilizing the new 
donation system. The Gentoo Store accepts PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and 
Discover for both orders and donations. 

 1. http://store.gentoo.org/
 2. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/releng
 
Gentoo Linux 2004.0 marks the debut of Catalyst, the new Gentoo release 
meta-tool. Using Catalyst, developers and users can create and customize 
every aspect of their Gentoo Linux system; from installation stages, to 
bootable LiveCDs, to customized binary packages for the Gentoo Reference 
Platform (GRP). For more information on Catalyst, please see the Catalyst 
project page and online documentation[3]. 

 3. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/releng/catalyst
 
Installation stages, LiveCDs, and Gentoo Reference Platform sets can be 
found on our mirrors[4]. More information about the Gentoo Hardened 
project can be found on its project page[5]. For more information, please 
consult our documentation[6], mailing lists[7], user forums[8], and 
official IRC channels[9]. 

 4. http://www.gentoo.org/main/en/mirrors.xml
 5. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/hardened
 6. http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en
 7. http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en
 8. http://forums.gentoo.org
 9. http://www.gentoo.org/main/en/irc.xml
    
=================================
2. Featured Developer of the Week
=================================
  
Alexander Gabert
 
Figure 2.1: Alexander Gabert
http://www.gentoo.org/images/gwn/20040301_pappy.jpg
 
This week, we are featuring Alexander Gabert[10] (pappy), another 
developer specializing in the security realm for Gentoo. Alexander is the 
lead for the gcc-hardened project, which has the goal of implementing 
security enhancements such as PIE (position independent executables) and 
PaX[11] address space randomization and stack protection. He is also 
co-lead, along with Ned Ludd[12] (solar), for the implantation of 
propolice[13], another stack protection utility. In addition, he is 
exploring work with the HPPA team on implementing Gentoo for pa-risc 
processors as well as adding user documentation for Hardened Gentoo[14]. 

 10. pappy@g.o
 11. http://pax.grsecurity.net/
 12. solar@g.o
 13. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/hardened/propolice.xml
 14. http://www.gentoo.org/proj/en/hardened/index.xml
 
Alexander came to Gentoo via Red Hat and SuSE through BSD, OpenVMS and 
Linux from Scratch. He was impressed with the opportunity to apply some of 
his interest in security to the new distro. In particular, he was 
interested in implementing the PaX userland components in Gentoo - which 
quickly resulted in an invitation to join the development team. He has 
also worked on implementing toolchains for non-x86 platforms like 
PA-RISC[15]. He works with a computer menagerie that includes routers, 
pa-risc workstations, vaxen, and Intel-based machines. He prefers 
Evolution[16], Afterstep[17] and several xterms for his working 
environment. 

 15. http://parisc-linux.org/
 16. http://www.ximian.com/products/evolution/
 17. http://www.afterstep.org/
 
During the day, Alexander works for EDS as a field service engineer, a 
position he describes as "driving around and replacing power supplies and 
hard disks". He lives in a small town outside Munich, Germany, where he 
has recently moved into a house that is now populated with computers, 
children, a new wife and an aging electrical system. He entered the 
computer industry directly after finishing secondary school and German 
military service. His non-computer-related pastimes include playing chess, 
basketball, roller-blading, and playing with his children. Alexander 
offered his view on some recent controversies in the community: "We are 
working on a freely available, open-source operating system ... There is 
something that seems to be missing when lawyers carrying suitcases full of 
printouts walk into courtrooms to fight about it." A slightly sanitized 
version of his favorite quote would read "fighting for peace is like 
making love for virginity." 
   
==================
3. Gentoo Security
==================
  
No new security annoucements were posted this week.
   
=========================
4. Heard in the Community
=========================
  
gentoo-user
-----------
  
Gentoo and Commercial Support 
 
Given the semi-random nature of a "meta-distribution" package, some users 
attempting to install commercial Linux software on Gentoo have run into 
some roadblocks. In this[18] case, a user attempting to install 
Codeweaver's CrossoverOffice has some interesting comments from one of the 
company's founders. 

 18. http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.gentoo.user/68715
    
=======================
5. Gentoo International
=======================
  
Italy: Gentoo Pub in Milano on 6 March 2004
 
There was a test run for a Gentoo Milano Meeting on 28 February of unknown 
success at the time of this writing, but whatever the outcome of it was: 
Next Saturday, the Gentooista residents of Milano in Northern Italy will 
meet at the entrance to Garibaldi station (and spontaneously decide where 
to get fed and watered, no doubt). If you want to join them, be there at 
18:15 hours sharp on Saturday, 6 March 2004. Coordination thread at 
forums.gentoo.org, right here[19] (in Italian).

 19. http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=140680
   
===========
6. Bugzilla
===========
  
Summary
-------
  
 * Statistics 
 * Closed Bug Ranking 
 * New Bug Rankings 
    
Statistics
----------
  
The Gentoo community uses Bugzilla (bugs.gentoo.org[20]) to record and 
track bugs, notifications, suggestions and other interactions with the 
development team. Between 21 February 2004 and 27 February 2004, activity 
on the site has resulted in: 

 20. http://bugs.gentoo.org
 
 * 733 new bugs during this period 
 * 507 bugs closed or resolved during this period 
 * 21 previously closed bugs were reopened this period 
 
Of the 5175 currently open bugs: 137 are labeled 'blocker', 215 are 
labeled 'critical', and 390 are labeled 'major'. 
    
Closed Bug Rankings
-------------------
  
The developers and teams who have closed the most bugs during this period 
are: 
 
 * AMD64 Porting Team[21], with 111 closed bugs[22]  
 * Java team[23], with 46 closed bugs[24]  
 * Gentoo Games[25], with 29 closed bugs[26]  
 * Jeremy Huddleston[27], with 26 closed bugs[28]  
 * Mike Frysinger[29], with 24 closed bugs[30]  
 21. amd64@g.o
 22. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=RESOLVED&bug_status=CLOSED&ch
field=bug_status&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02-27&resolution=FIX
ED&assigned_to=amd64@g.o
 23. java@g.o
 24. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=RESOLVED&bug_status=CLOSED&ch
field=bug_status&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02-27&resolution=FIX
ED&assigned_to=java@g.o
 25. games@g.o
 26. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=RESOLVED&bug_status=CLOSED&ch
field=bug_status&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02-27&resolution=FIX
ED&assigned_to=games@g.o
 27. eradicator@g.o
 28. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=RESOLVED&bug_status=CLOSED&ch
field=bug_status&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02-27&resolution=FIX
ED&assigned_to=eradicator@g.o
 29. vapier@g.o
 30. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=RESOLVED&bug_status=CLOSED&ch
field=bug_status&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02-27&resolution=FIX
ED&assigned_to=vapier@g.o

    
New Bug Rankings
----------------
  
The developers and teams who have been assigned the most new bugs during 
this period are: 
 
 * Core System Packages Team[31], with 35 new bugs[32]  
 * x86 Kernel Team[33], with 16 new bugs[34]  
 * Gnome Desktop Team[35], with 11 new bugs[36]  
 * AMD64 Porting Team[37], with 11 new bugs[38]  
 31. base-system@g.o
 32. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=NEW&bug_status=ASSIGNED&bug_s
tatus=REOPENED&chfield=assigned_to&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02
-27&assigned_to=base-system@g.o
 33. x86-kernel@g.o
 34. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=NEW&bug_status=ASSIGNED&bug_s
tatus=REOPENED&chfield=assigned_to&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02
-27&assigned_to=x86-kernel@g.o
 35. gnome@g.o
 36. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=NEW&bug_status=ASSIGNED&bug_s
tatus=REOPENED&chfield=assigned_to&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02
-27&assigned_to=gnome@g.o
 37. amd64@g.o
 38. 
http://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?bug_status=NEW&bug_status=ASSIGNED&bug_s
tatus=REOPENED&chfield=assigned_to&chfieldfrom=2004-02-21&chfieldto=2004-02
-27&assigned_to=amd64@g.o
    
==================
7. Tips and Tricks
==================
  
Recovering the root password
 
This week's tip shows you a couple of ways to reset the root password if 
you've forgotten it. 
 
The easiest way is of course to boot off the Gentoo LiveCD, chroot into 
the primary hard disk as described in the Gentoo Install Guide and use 
passwd. 
 
If you don't have a LiveCD, or the system doesn't have CDROM drive, you 
can reboot the system into single user mode to reset the password. Simply 
pass the options "init=/bin/sh" to the kernel from the bootloader menu. 
When the system boots it will drop you into a root shell. The disk will be 
mounted read-only so remount it read-write with mount -o rw,remount 
/dev/ROOT (be sure to change ROOT to your actual root partition). Edit 
/etc/shadow and remove the encrypted password. Reset the root password 
with passwd and reboot the system.
 
You should now be able to login with the new password.
   
===========================
8. Moves, Adds, and Changes
===========================
  
Moves
-----
  
The following developers recently left the Gentoo team: 
 * none this week 
 
Adds
----
  
The following developers recently joined the Gentoo Linux team:
 
 * Jason Huebel () - amd64 
    
Changes
-------
  
The following developers recently changed roles within the Gentoo Linux 
project:
 
 * none this week 
    
====================
9. Contribute to GWN
====================
  
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 39. gwn-feedback@g.o
   
================
10. GWN Feedback
================
  
Please send us your feedback[40] and help make the GWN better.

 40. gwn-feedback@g.o
   
================================
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================================
  
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===================
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===================
  
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 41. http://www.gentoo.org/news/be/gwn/gwn.xml
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Yuji Carlos Kosugi <carlos@g.o> - Editor
AJ Armstrong <aja@×××××××××××××.com> - Contributor
John Davis <avenj@g.o> - Contributor
Brian Downey <bdowney@×××××××××××.net> - Contributor
Luke Giuliani <cold_flame@×××××.com> - Contributor
Kurt Lieber <klieber@g.o> - Contributor
Rafael Cordones Marcos <rcm@×××××××.net> - Contributor
David Narayan <david@×××××××.net> - Contributor
David Nielsen <Lovechild@××××××××.com> - Contributor
Ulrich Plate <plate@g.o> - Contributor
Sven Vermeulen <swift@g.o> - Contributor
Hendrik Eeckhaut <Hendrik.Eeckhaut@×××××.be> - Dutch Translation
Jorn Eilander <sephiroth@××××××××.nl> - Dutch Translation
Bernard Kerckenaere <bernieke@××××××××.com> - Dutch Translation
Peter ter Borg <peter@××××××.nl> - Dutch Translation
Jochen Maes <linux@××××.be> - Dutch Translation
Roderick Goessen <rgoessen@××××.nl> - Dutch Translation
Gerard van den Berg <gerard@××××××.net> - Dutch Translation
Matthieu Montaudouin <mat@××××××××.com> - French Translation
Xavier Neys <neysx@g.o> - French Translation
Martin Prieto <riverdale@×××××××××.org> - French Translation
Antoine Raillon <cabec2@××××××.net> - French Translation
Sebastien Cevey <seb@×××××.net> - French Translation
Jean-Christophe Choisy <mabouya@××××××××××××.org> - French Translation
Thomas Raschbacher <lordvan@g.o> - German Translation
Steffen Lassahn <madeagle@g.o> - German Translation
Matthias F. Brandstetter <haim@g.o> - German Translation
Lukas Domagala <Cyrik@g.o> - German Translation
Tobias Scherbaum <dertobi123@g.o> - German Translation
Daniel Gerholdt <Sputnik1969@g.o> - German Translation
Marc Herren <dj-submerge@g.o> - German Translation
Tobias Matzat <SirSeoman@g.o> - German Translation
Marco Mascherpa <mush@××××××.net> - Italian Translation
Claudio Merloni <paper@×××××××.it> - Italian Translation
Christian Apolloni <bsolar@×××××××.ch> - Italian Translation
Stefano Lucidi <stefano.lucidi@×××××××××××××.org> - Italian Translation
Yoshiaki Hagihara <hagi@×××.com> - Japanese Translation
Katsuyuki Konno <katuyuki@××××××××.jp> - Japanese Translation
Yuji Carlos Kosugi <carlos@g.o> - Japanese Translation
Yasunori Fukudome <yasunori@××××××××××××××××.uk> - Japanese Translation
Takashi Ota <088@××××××××××.jp> - Japanese Translation
Radoslaw Janeczko <sototh@×××.pl> - Polish Translation
Lukasz Strzygowski <lucass.home@××.pl> - Polish Translation
Michal Drobek <veng@××.pl> - Polish Translation
Adam Lyjak <apo@××××××××××××××××××××.pl> - Polish Translation
Krzysztof Klimonda <cthulhu@×××××××××.net> - Polish Translation
Atila "Jedi" Bohlke Vasconcelos <bohlke@×××××××××.br> - Portuguese 
(Brazil) Translation
Eduardo Belloti <dudu@××××××××.net> - Portuguese (Brazil) Translation
João Rafael Moraes Nicola <joaoraf@×××××××××.br> - Portuguese (Brazil) 
Translation
Marcelo Gonçalves de Azambuja <mgazambuja@×××××××××.br> - Portuguese 
(Brazil) Translation
Otavio Rodolfo Piske <angusy@××××××××.org> - Portuguese (Brazil) 
Translation
Pablo N. Hess -- NatuNobilis <natunobilis@××××××××.org> - Portuguese 
(Brazil) Translation
Pedro de Medeiros <pzilla@××××××××.br> - Portuguese (Brazil) Translation
Ventura Barbeiro <venturasbarbeiro@××××××.br> - Portuguese (Brazil) 
Translation
Bruno Ferreira <blueroom@××××××××××××.net> - Portuguese (Portugal) 
Translation
Gustavo Felisberto <humpback@××××××××××.net> - Portuguese (Portugal) 
Translation
José Costa <jose_costa@×××××××.pt> - Portuguese (Portugal) Translation
Luis Medina <metalgodin@×××××××××.org> - Portuguese (Portugal) Translation
Ricardo Loureiro <rjlouro@×××××××.org> - Portuguese (Portugal) Translation
Aleksandr Martyncev <amncorp@××.ru> - Russian Translator
Sergey Galkin <gals_home@××××.ru> - Russian Translator
Sergey Kuleshov <svyatogor@g.o> - Russian Translator
Alex Spirin <asp13@××××.ru> - Russian Translator
Denis Zaletov <dzaletov@×××××××.ru> - Russian Translator
Lanark <lanark@××××××××××.ar> - Spanish Translation
Fernando J. Pereda <ferdy@××××××.org> - Spanish Translation
Lluis Peinado Cifuentes <lpeinado@×××.edu> - Spanish Translation
Zephryn Xirdal T <ZEPHRYNXIRDAL@××××××××××.net> - Spanish Translation
Guillermo Juarez <katossi@××××××××××××××××.es> - Spanish Translation
Jesús García Crespo <correo@××××××.com> - Spanish Translation
Carlos Castillo <carlos@×××××××××××××.com> - Spanish Translation
Julio Castillo <julio@×××××××××××××.com> - Spanish Translation
Sergio Gómez <s3r@××××××××××××.ar> - Spanish Translation
Aycan Irican <aycan@××××××××.tr> - Turkish Translation
Bugra Cakir <bugra@×××××××××.com> - Turkish Translation
Cagil Seker <cagils@××××××××××.tr> - Turkish Translation
Emre Kazdagli <emre@××××××××.tr> - Turkish Translation
Evrim Ulu <evrim@××××××××.tr> - Turkish Translation
Gursel Kaynak <gurcell@××××××××.tr> - Turkish Translation