Sent: Monday, March 05, 2007 12:49 PM
To: Linux and Red Hat on Alpha processors
Subject: Alpha Core 3 is available
Hello All,
Alpha Core 3 Release Notes
==============================
Welcome to Alpha Core 3 (Nastia) final version !
This release is based on the Fedora Core 5 release + some
packages from updates. Everything's just been a straight
rebuild of the SRPMs where possible. Where changes have been
necessary, the release number has had "axp" and a further
revision number appended.
Where a package has failed to build properly, or
something not worked we followed the following steps:
1) Check for obvious problems caused by the build system
having older versions of supporting utilities. Rebuild those first.
2) See if the cause is something obvious that can be fixed
with a simple change to the .spec file. A couple of the
uglier hacks come from this step (see the Beecrypt SRPM).
3) Grab the latest version of the package from the Rawhide
tree and try building that, try match a compromise version
but not necessarily latest (see kernel).
4) Hounted alpha specific bugs and write patches wich are
submited to Fedora folks upstream, and merged with our alphacore.
Things in AC3 (in addition to FC5 release notes)
================================================
1. gcc 4.1.1-1 - one of the latest version of gcc tree with
working java. Most of the java packages are built and
included into the distribution.
Special features
----------------
1. mono 1.2.2.1.fc5axp - preview of C# on Alpha. Jist-In-Time
(JIT) produces native code.
Alpha Kernel Notes
------------------
1. Recent kernel 2.6.17. The distribution kernel supports some new
sysctl calls (they are not exported in vanilla kernel).
2. Support for TITAN-based machines (DS15/DS25/ES45) and
TSUNAMI-based machines (DS10/DS20/ES40/XP1000) can now handle
graphics controllers not on the primary PCI "hose" (aka domain).
This is important especially for DS15 and ES45, since the PCI bus
with slots on DS15 is hose #2, and the AGP slot on ES45 is also
hose #2.
3. Support for MARVEL (ES47 et al) is now working (default:
16 CPUs max)
4. The problem with AS800/Digital Server 3305 and DE500-BA tulip NIC
crashing is now fixed
Huge thanks to Jay Estabrook.
Alpha XORG 7.1.1 Notes
----------------------
1. DRI/DRM for Radeon-based graphics cards seems quite stable.
2. DRI/DRM will now work on graphics cards not in "hose" #0, so
3D apps will run on DS15 and ES45/AGP.
3. Modular Xorg server is expected to work.
Known Issues
============
1. Java packages could produce "unaligned access exception"
(UAE) messages in /var/log/message. They are very rare.
2. gcc could produce a code that can generate UAEs. In most
cases that is the problem in source code that should be fixed.
3. No support for MILO machines. Sorry.
4. The installer offer less functionality than before. Don't
try to customize packages during install - it likely won't
work. Just let the installer to install packages for one of
predefined configurations.
Additional packages could be installed later manually or via
"yum" from local repository.
5. The SMP kernel is not installed by default - it should be
installed manually.
6. The installer doesn't install the correct xorg driver (as
far as I understand it installs vesa driver). The proper
driver should be installed manually.
7. The NFS image install expects to have just iso images in
exported directory (not the full install tree). Just copy
distribution iso images to exported NFS directory and select
"NFS image" install method (the installer should be ran with
"askmethod" parameter).
8. The "prelink" package doesn't work.
The iso images are available at:
ftp://ftp.rdsor.ro/pub/Linux/Distributions/AlphaLinux/core/3.0b/iso
The SRPMS iso image is available too.
Hall of Fame
============
Thanks very much to Jay Estabrook (HP) for his kernel/xorg
patches and testing efforts and support. He helped to resolve
a showstopper issue with xorg packages that really delayied
the AC3 release.
Thanks very much to Cristian Balint for being with the project.
Thanks to RedHat who accept patches for Alpha.
Also a very special thanks for people who participated on the
mailing list with posting suggestions and bug reports.
If want to participate or just simply feel that something not
work please mail or check these out:
AXP-List: https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/axp-list
"Do svidania", hope for meeting on an AC 4 release.
Regards,
Sergey.
tsv solvo ru
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