Chapter 2. Новае ў Debian GNU/Linux 6.0

Table of Contents

2.1. Новае ў дыстрыбутыве
2.1.1. Firmware moved to the non-free section
2.1.2. Кіраванне пакетамі
2.1.3. Dependency booting
2.1.4. Unified keyboard settings
2.1.5. Kernel mode setting
2.1.6. LDAP support
2.1.7. Секцыя прапанаваных зменаў (proposed-updates)
2.1.8. The stable-updates section
2.1.9. backports.org/backports.debian.org
2.2. Debian Live
2.3. Comprehensive support for neuroimaging research

The Wiki has more information about this topic.

This release drops official support for the HP PA-RISC ('hppa'), Alpha ('alpha') and ARM ('arm') architectures.

Архітэктуры, што афіцыйна падтрымліваюцца ў Debian GNU/Linux squeeze:

In addition to the officially supported architectures, Debian GNU/Linux squeeze introduces the GNU/kFreeBSD ports ('kfreebsd-amd64' and 'kfreebsd-i386') as a technology preview. These ports are the first ones included in a Debian release which aren't based on the Linux kernel, but instead use the FreeBSD kernel with a GNU userland. Users of these versions however should be warned that the quality of these ports is still catching up with the outstanding high quality of our Linux ports, and that some advanced desktop features are not supported yet. However, the support of common server software is strong and extends the features of Linux-based Debian versions by the unique features known from the BSD world. This is the first time a Linux distribution has been extended to also allow use of a non-Linux kernel.

Дадатковыя звесткі аб статусе ўвасабленняў Debian для розных архітэктур, а таксама звесткі, спецыфічныя для канкрэтных увасабленняў, змешчаныя на Старонках ўвасабленняў Debian (Debian port web pages).

2.1. Новае ў дыстрыбутыве

Новы выпуск Debian зноў уключае больш праграм, чым яго папярэднік lenny; дыстрыбутыў утрымлівае больш за 10352 новых пакетаў (агульная колькасць пакетаў перавышае 29050). Большасць праграм у дыстрыбутыве абноўленыя (больш за 15436 пакетаў, што складае 67% ад колькасці пакетаў у lenny). Таксама, значная колькасць пакетаў (больш за 4238, 18% ад пакетаў, што ўваходзілі ў lenny) з розных прычынаў была выдалена з дыстрыбутыву. Абнаўленняў для такіх пакетаў болей не будзе, і яны будуць пазначаныя як састарэлыя ('obsolete') у інтэрфэйсах праграм кіравання пакетамі.

With this release, Debian GNU/Linux updates from X.Org 7.3 to X.Org 7.5.

Debian GNU/Linux again ships with several desktop applications and environments. Among others it now includes the desktop environments GNOME 2.30[1], KDE 4.4.5, Xfce 4.6.2, and LXDE 0.5.0. Productivity applications have also been upgraded, including the office suites OpenOffice.org 3.2.1 and KOffice 2.2.1 as well as GNUcash 2.2.9, GNUmeric 1.10.8 and Abiword 2.8.2.

Updates of other desktop applications include the upgrade to Evolution 2.30.3 and Pidgin 2.7.3. The Mozilla suite has also been updated: iceweasel (version 3.5.13) is the unbranded Firefox web browser and icedove (version 3.0.7) is the unbranded Thunderbird mail client.

Спіс абнаўленняў новага выпуску паміж іншых утрымлівае наступныя змены:

ПакетВерсія ў 5.0 (lenny)Версія ў 6.0 (squeeze)
Apache2.2.92.2.16
DNS-сервер BIND9.6.09.7.1
Вэб-сервер Cherokee0.7.21.0.8
Паштовы транспарт (MTA) Courier0.60.00.63.0
Dia0.96.10.97.1
VoIP-кліент Ekiga2.0.123.2.7
Exim, стандартны паштовы сервер у Debian4.694.72
GNU Compiler Collection -- стандартны кампілятар Debian4.3.24.4.5
GIMP2.4.72.6.10
GNU бібліятэка С2.72.11.2
lighttpd1.4.191.4.28
maradns1.3.07.091.4.03
MySQL5.0.51a5.1.49
OpenLDAP2.4.112.4.23
OpenSSH5.1p15.5p1
PHP5.2.65.3.2
Паштовы транспарт (MTA) Postfix2.5.52.7.1
PostgreSQL8.3.58.4.5
Python2.5.22.6.6
Samba3.2.53.5.5
Tomcat5.5.266.0.28

The official Debian GNU/Linux distribution now ships on 4 to 5 binary DVDs or 28 to 32 binary CDs (depending on the architecture) and 4 source DVDs or 28 source CDs. Additionally, there is a multi-arch DVD, with a subset of the release for the amd64 and i386 architectures, along with the source code. Debian GNU/Linux is also released as Blu-ray images, also for the amd64 and i386 architectures, along with the source code.

Debian still supports Linux Standard Base (LSB) version 3.2.

2.1.1. Firmware moved to the non-free section

Some drivers included in the Linux kernel used to contain non-free firmware blobs. Starting from squeeze this firmware has been moved to separate packages in the non-free section of the archive, such as firmware-linux. If such packages are installed, the firmware will be loaded automatically when required.

2.1.2. Кіраванне пакетамі

The preferred program for interactive package management from a terminal is aptitude. For a non-interactive command line interface for package management, it is recommended to use apt-get. apt-get is also the preferred tool for upgrades between major releases. If you are still using dselect, you should switch to aptitude as the official front-end for package management.

For squeeze APT automatically installs recommended packages by default[2]. This can be changed by adding the following line in /etc/apt/apt.conf:

APT::Install-Recommends "false";

2.1.3. Dependency booting

An important improvement in the Debian GNU/Linux boot system is the introduction of dependency-based boot sequencing and parallel boot. This feature is enabled by default in new installs and it will be enabled for upgrades from lenny, if possible.

This feature is enabled through the use of insserv by sysv-rc to order init.d scripts based on their declared dependencies[3]. It has been possible after a sustained effort to adapt all the boot scripts of packages provided in the distribution as well as the boot system itself.

With dependency-based boot sequencing it is also now possible to run the boot system scripts in parallel which can, under most circumstances, improve the speed of the boot process. This feature is enabled by default, in new systems and upgrades, whenever possible. To disable it specify

CONCURRENCY=none

in /etc/default/rcS. For more information on this feature refer to the information available in /usr/share/doc/insserv/README.Debian.

2.1.4. Unified keyboard settings

In this new release, the settings for the keyboard have been unified so that both the console and the Xorg server use the same settings. The keyboard settings are now defined in the /etc/default/keyboard configuration file which overrides the keyboard defined in Xorg's configuration file.

The console-setup package now handles the keyboard for both environments as well as the font configuration for the console. You can reconfigure the keyboard layout and related settings by executing dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration or by manually editing the /etc/default/keyboard configuration file.

2.1.5. Kernel mode setting

Graphics mode setting code for the most common desktop chipsets (from Intel, ATI/AMD and NVIDIA) has moved from the respective Xorg drivers to the Linux kernel. This provides a number of advantages, such as:

  • More reliable suspend and resume

  • Ability to use graphics devices without X

  • Faster VT switch

  • Native mode text console

More details are in Section 5.6, “Graphics stack changes” and in the Debian wiki.

2.1.6. LDAP support

This Debian release comes with several options for implementing client-side authentication using LDAP. Users of the libnss-ldap and libpam-ldap packages should consider upgrading to libnss-ldapd and libpam-ldapd.

These newer packages delegate the LDAP queries to a central unprivileged daemon (nslcd) that provides separation between the process using the LDAP information and the daemon performing LDAP queries. This simplifies handling of secured LDAP connections, LDAP authentication credentials, provides a simpler mechanism to perform connection fail-over and debugging and avoids loading LDAP and related libraries into most applications.

Upgrading to libnss-ldapd and libpam-ldapd should be easy as existing configuration information will be mostly reused. Only for advanced configuration should any manual reconfiguration be necessary.

These packages however currently lack support for nested groups and only support password change using the LDAP password modify EXOP operation.

2.1.7. Секцыя прапанаваных зменаў (proposed-updates)

Усе змены да стабільнага выпуску (і да папярэдняга стабільнага выпуску) праходзяць праз адмыслова пашыраны перыяд праверкі перш чым патрапіць у сховішчы. Кожнае абнаўленне стабільнага (альбо мінулага стабільнага) выпуску завецца рэвізіяй або “кропкавым выпускам” (“point release”). Падрыхтоўка рэвізіяў адбываецца праз механізм прапанаваных зменаў.

Packages can enter proposed-updates in two ways. Firstly, security-patched packages added to security.debian.org are automatically added to proposed-updates as well. Secondly, Debian GNU/Linux developers may upload new packages to proposed-updates, where they get added after review by the Stable Release Managers. The current list of packages can be seen at http://ftp-master.debian.org/proposed-updates.html.

Калі Вы жадаеце прыняць удзел у праверцы абноўленых пакетаў да таго, як яны будуць афіцыйна дададзеныя ў чарговую рэвізію, дадайце секцыю proposed-updates да файлу наладак sources.list:

deb     http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian squeeze-proposed-updates main contrib
deb-src http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian squeeze-proposed-updates main contrib

The next time you run apt-get update, the system will become aware of the packages in the proposed-updates section and will consider them when looking for packages to upgrade.

У межах праекта Debian гэта не з'яўляецца прынцыпова новай магчымасцю, але раней яна публічна не абвяшчалася.

2.1.8. The stable-updates section

Some packages from proposed-updates may also be made available via the squeeze-updates mechanism. This path will be used for updates which many users may wish to install on their systems before the next point release is made, such as updates to virus scanners and timezone data. All packages from squeeze-updates will be included in point releases.

Note that this replaces the functionality previously provided by the volatile.debian.org archive.

In order to use packages from squeeze-updates, you can add an entry to your sources.list:

deb     http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian squeeze-updates main contrib
deb-src http://mirrors.kernel.org/debian squeeze-updates main contrib

The next time you run apt-get update, the system will become aware of the packages in the squeeze-updates section and will consider them when looking for packages to upgrade.

When a new package is made available via squeeze-updates, this will be announced on the debian-stable-announce mailing list.

2.1.9. backports.org/backports.debian.org

The service provided by the backports.org repositories has been integrated in Debian infrastructure and is now an official Debian service, hosted at backports.debian.org.

2.2. Debian Live

With squeeze Debian provides official Live systems for the amd64 and i386 architectures.

A Debian Live system is a Debian system that can be booted directly from removable media (CD-ROMs, DVDs, USB keys) or from another computer over the network without the need of installation. The images are produced by a tool named live-build, which can easily be used to create custom live images. More information about the Debian Live project can be found at http://live.debian.net/.

2.3. Comprehensive support for neuroimaging research

Debian GNU/Linux 6.0 is the first GNU/Linux distribution release ever to offer comprehensive support for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) based neuroimaging research. It comes with up-to-date software for structural image analysis (e.g. ants), diffusion imaging and tractography (e.g. mrtrix), stimulus delivery (e.g. psychopy), MRI sequence development (e.g. odin), as well as a number of versatile data processing and analysis suites (e.g. nipype). Moreover, this release has built-in support for all major neuroimaging data formats. See the Debian Science and Debian Med task pages for a comprehensive list of included software and the NeuroDebian webpage for further information.



[1] With some modules from GNOME 2.32.

[2] This change implies that disk requirements for tasks selected through the debian installer have increased too. For more information please see the “Disk Space Needed for Tasks” chapter in the Installation Guide.

[3] These dependences are declared through the use of the header format specified in the Linux Standard Base (LSB)