Mandrake 8.1 Beta1 (Raklet) Released

keegnotrub writes: "Mandrake just dumped 8.1 Beta on their servers. Along with updated software (KDE 2.2, kernel 2.4.8, etc) they have reworked their control center to include many new features." Word to the wise: there are some reactions to this beta -- as well as a list of known bugs and fixes -- at mandrakeforum.com. What I'd like to know is if a Wacom Intuos USB tablet will work out-of-the-box on 8.1, since I just bought a refurbed one ;)

Re:Big problem: DevFS

[Liquid-Gecka]

Remember, with devfs /dev/hdxx don't exist until the defsd program is run. Setting up linux to boot from /dev/hda1 will cause it to fail because /dev/hda1 doesn't exist. Also, you can download and run MAKEDEV without any problems to convert to non devfsd. I have yet to see a single device that doesn't work (Not that they are not out there mind you..) ReiserFS has no problems what so ever with devfs as long as you select the right partition (not /dev/hdxx!) its usually /dev/discs/disc0/part0 or something like that (I am at work so I can not verify). the /dev/hda1 link is acually created by the devfsd. =) Read the devfs how-to before starting and you usually have no problems whatsoever.

I like Mandrake but

[CptnKirk]

their migration path has been less than perfect for me in the past. In short when I upgraded to 8.0 there were many problems with KDE related to a previous KDE 2.1 install. There were strange glibc problems which caused crashes in bitkeeper and other programs. Their installer had problems figuring out which programs to "upgrade" as well.

My solution to these problems was to wipe and reinstall. Most settings were stored in my home dir which I did not wipe and the rest of the programs were upgraded as a side effect. My RiserFS partitions were uneffected and when I was finished the strage problems I had went away.

I enjoy my Mandrake dist. but I'd caution those who are looking to "upgrade" via their installer.

Re:Big problem: DevFS

[Nailer]

It's never really worked, and it doesn't work with half of the drivers currently out there

Then that's the fault of the drivers. What is broken is not being able to consistently address hot pluggable hardware, and almost every other Unix has a DevFS-like system (at least Solaris, OSX, and FreebSD IIRC) they seem to have a fairly proven track record or working in a real world environment.

Re:Mandrake is cool, but surely Debian is better.

[Nailer]

1. RMS talks about Free Software, not Open Source

2. ESR talks about Open Source.

3. 98% of the packages included with Red Hat are Open Source. Netscape 4 (the main non Open Source one) won't be included in the next release. Pine is still there, IIRC.

4. Mandrake was derives from Red Hat (2 words). Not Red Hat from Mandrake. Tho it harly matters, Mandrake's now quite distinct from Red Hat.

5. Free Software has a specific meaning. Freedom is an english world which also a well defined meaning and which is not exclusively to do with Free Softare. People use the BSD license precisely because is allows large corporattions (and small corporations, and small proprietary limited companies) the freedom to use the software as they see fit.

And no, I don't use BSD or particularly like the BSD license. But they're my own personal opinions and I present them as such, not as `facts'.

a download mirror in australia

[jason andrade]

http://planetmirror.com/pub/mandrake/iso/i586/8.1/

btw, it's "Raklet" not "Rakel", from the filename.

cheers,

-jason

Re:RANT

[msobkow]

Personally I never upgrade -- I reformat the drive and do a clean install. Even RPM upgrades (much less the whole OS) can break changes I've made to my system configs, particularly as most of the software I use isn't part of the core distro.

Another important issue is to either use one of the canned package sets, or start with the bare minimum and pick the specific packages you'll be using. Some of them seem to conflict with each other, particularly those from the extra CDs. Unfortunately you can only find out which ones conflict by running into problems.

As to stability and reliability, I have to tip my hat to Mandrake. Ever since RedHat started their 7.x series, Mandrake has not only been more current but more reliable. Common stock hardware (e.g. CUSL2, EEPro10/100, CD, 60GB IBM HDD, and SBLive OEM) would not run RedHat 7.x reliably, regardless of which release I tried. Mandrake 8.0 was solid except for an issue with kdelibs that caused the occasional crash (fixed within 2 weeks of initial release.)

Having tried to "roll my own" from the Mandrake cooker using LFS as a guideline, I know how much work these people do to get it working. They do a terrific job.