Once again, time for the weekly distribution roundup. This week we have a rather large list of releases, so let’s get to it

February 22:

• Frugalware Linux 1.0rc1: Frugalware linux is a “general purpose linux distribution, designed for intermediate users.” They announced their first release candidate which includes ext4 support, x86_64 java plugin, gService (a new graphical runlevel editor), plus many package updates.
• Foresight 2.1.0 GNOME Edition: Foresight is a linux distro that combines a user-focused desktop environment and Conary (developed by rPath). The 2.1.0 release has printer hot-pluggins, python 2.6, a new kernel, and package management improvements.
• SimplyMEPIS 8.0: This SimplyMEPIS release is the final version of 8.0 that is based off of Debian Lenny Stable.

February 23:

• APODIO 5.08-beta: APODIO is a linux distro “dedicated to multimedia tools for audio/visual creation.”  I am unable to find a changelog for the 5.08-beta at this time.

February 24:

• 64 Studio 3.0-beta2:  64 Studio is a distro based around native linux free software for digital content creation on x86_64, embedded and legacy hardware. The 3.0-beta2 release seems to have quite a few changes, but I cannot find a complete list.
• Linux Mint 6 “Felicia” XFCE CE: Linux Mint 6 “Felicia” XFCE CE is based off of Xubuntu 8.10. It includes kernel 2.6.27, XFCE 4.2.2, and Xorg 7.4. More complete “what’s new” list here.

February 25:

• Parted Magic 3.7: Parted Magic is a bug fix release that contains fixes for a package installer scripting error, fix to make G4L work, fixes and features for the wipe and mount scripts, code for booting iso’s from GRUB4DOS was re-merged,  as well as some other fixes and package updates.
• NexentaCore Platform 2.0 Beta2: Nexenta is a hybrid distro that combines the OpenSolaris kernel with the GNU/Debian user experience (which also allows for use of ZFS as the filesystem). This release has OpenSolaris build 104+ with critical patches, SMF support added for server applications, and it is based off of Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron.
• CAOS Linux NSA-1.0.8: CAOS NSA focuses on being a lightweight, fast, efficient, stable and secure linux distro designed to be used on servers, cluster compute nodes, network appliances, and even desktops/laptops. The 1.0.8 release contains bleeding-edge security updates, 2.6.28 kernel, numerous package updates, Perceus 1.5 cluster management software, and Abstractual, a cloud virtualization solution.
• Plamo 4.6: Plamo is a Japanese Linux distro based on Slackware with many Japanese-language enhancements included. Not quite able to decipher the exact changes from the Google translation of the release announcement.

February 26:

• CloneZilla Live 1.2.1-41: CloneZilla Live is a linux distro that provides system cloning functionality similar to Norton Ghost. The Live version is designed to do single machine backup and restore, they just released the testing version 1.2.1-41 but I do not see a changelog/release announcement outside of the files being available for download from their sourceforge downloads area.
• Astaro Security Gateway 7.400: Astaro Security Gateway intergrates complete Network, Web and Mail security via a browser-based user interface. The version 7.400 release includes many new features like: HTTPS Filtering, WAN Link Balancing, Site-to-Site SSL VPN, and many many  more. Hit the release announcement for the full list.
• PC/OS 2009v2: PC/OS is an Ubuntu-based linux distro designed to be easy to use out of the box. The 2009v2 release includes PC/OS WebStation 1.0, Opera 9.63, VLC 0.9.8, Skype 2.0, TrueCrypt 6.0a, plus many other package updates.

February 27:

• Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5: The fifth Alpha of the 9.04 release includes Xorg 1.6, font size optimization, kernel 2.6.28, ext4 support, and many other updated packages. Release notes are here.
• Kubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5: Kubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5 contains the same updates as the Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5  (minus the GNOME-specific stuff) as well as Qt 4.5 RC1, KDE 4.2, Ubiquity, Quassel, fixes allowing for Amarok2 and KMail/Akonadi to coexist, KDE4 Network-Manager Plasma Widget, Kdebluetooth updates, and choqoK ( a micro-blogging client).
• Xubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5: Unable to find an official release announcement or changelog, but I assume the changes will be the same core changes from Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5 plus some XFCE-related updates.
• Ubuntustudio 9.04 Alpha 5: Another Ubuntu-based distro release based off of Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5. Unable to find a release announcement or changelog.
• Mythbuntu 9.04 Alpha 5: Mythbuntu 9.04 Alpha 5 includes the core Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5 changes in addition to MythTV 0.21-fixes19961, XFCE 4.6, better MySQL error handling, easier to use version of ubiquity, and all XFCE theming updated to version 4.6 compatible themes.
• BlankOn Linux 5 stitches 2 (?): BlankOn is a linux distro developed by Linux Foundation of India and Ubuntu Indonesia. This release is based off of Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 5, not sure if any changes outside of the core language packs were made.
• CDlinux 0.9.2: The 0.9.2 release of CDlinux aims to stabilize the 0.9 series of releases and improve usability. Bugs in the installation wizard,  rc.swap script, CUPS, and a wine downgrade to stable 1.0.1 highlight the bugfixes. Qt 4.4.3, Opera 10.00.4102, smplayer 0.6.6, gmlive 0.21.2, xfburn 0.4.1, and gparted 0.4.3 highlight the package updates.

February 28:

• SliTaz Cooking 20090228: SliTax GNU/Linux is a mini distro designed to run well on 128MB of RAM. The new release includes bug fixes, updates, and many other new features like PCI/USB device auto-detection, a new GUI to manage Windows drivers, easier to use graphical package manager, and many more.
• ZevenOS 1.1: ZevenOS is a linux distro with a focus on a fast and easy to use system with a touch of BeOS. The 1.1 release switches to an Ubuntu 8.10 base and has  updated versions of MAGI 2 and Deskbar.
• Zenwalk 6.0 RC1: Zenwalk is a linux disto designed to have the latest stable software, optimized for performance, only one mainstream application for each task, complete set of tools for development/desktop/multimedia, and netpkg a simple network package management tool. The 6.0 RC1 release of Zenwalk contains kernel 2.6.28.7, XFCE 4.6, faster boot times, PAM authentication, wicd as the main network configuration tool, and many other updates.
• Dreamlinux 3.5: Dreamlinux is a Brazilian linux distro based on Debian and provides the XFCE and GNOME desktops. The 3.5 stable release includes kernel 2.6.28.5–i686, new init script written in LUA, new icons and default GTK theme, XFCE 4.4.2, Compiz, GNOME, and numerous other package updates available via Easy-install.

That’s it for this week’s releases, check back in next week for another edition of the Weekly Distribution Release Roundup.