Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 7 *Beta* Availability Announcement

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Red Hat is pleased to announce the availability of the *beta*
release of Update 7 for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 family
of products, including:

 - Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (v. 3) for x86, AMD64/EM64T, 
    Itanium, POWER, S/390 and zSeries
 - Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES (v. 3) for x86, AMD64/EM64T, Itanium
 - Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS (v. 3) for x86, AMD64/EM64T, Itanium
 - Red Hat Desktop (v. 3) for x86 and AMD64/EM64T

This update beta includes the following enhancements:

 - Availability of a full set of updated installable CD ISO
    images via Red Hat Network, with OS package updates and
    install-time support for new hardware.

 - Availability of updated Extras ISO images via Red Hat
    Network, with third party package updates.

 - Improved autofs / automounter support

 - Added support for OpenIPMI

 - Driver updates including dell_rbu, lpfc, aacraid, tg3, 
    megaraid2, e1000
   
 - Security enhancement through an improved ExecShield

 - Security updates, bug fixes, and feature enhancements to
    numerous system packages.

Beta release notes are attached to this mail in plain text 
format.

Packages added in this beta release include:

OpenIPMI

Packages updated in this beta release include:

anaconda
autofs
bash
binutils
bootparamd
chkconfig
comps
cups
curl
diskdumputils
ethereal
findutils
gaim
gcc
GConf2
gdb
gdk-pixbuf
gdm
glibc
gstreamer-plugins
gtk2
hwdata
imap
initscripts
iputils
kernel
krb5
libaio
librsvg2
libungif
lynx
man
metacity
miniChinput
mozilla
mrproject
netdump
netpbm
nfs-utils
nss_ldap
openldap
openoffice.org
openssl096b
openssl
pam
perl
php
psacct
redhat-config-printer
redhat-release
rhn-applet
rhnlib
rpmdb-redhat
ruby
samba
scrollkeeper
shadow-utils
squid
sysreport
sysstat
up2date
util-linux
vixie-cron
wget
XFree86
xloadimage
xpdf
xscreensaver
ypbind
ypserv


The beta update packages and CD images are intended for testing
purposes only, and will be followed up with official, supported
update packages delivered as official product errata when testing
is complete.  Red Hat may, at any time, change the contents of
any or all of these beta updates.  The beta testing period is
scheduled to continue through March 1st, 2006

Please remember that this beta software is not supported and
is not intended for production environments!  Please do not publish
any benchmark or performance results based on this beta release.
Upgrades will *not* be supported from the beta update to the
subsequent official update; a fresh base install will be
required.

This message includes details on obtaining the early access software,
reporting bugs, and communicating with Red Hat and other testers via
mailing lists during the early access period.

For specific package change logs and version levels, consult the
architecture-specific channel package lists on Red Hat Network.


Accessing the Software
----------------------

The beta update packages are available via Red Hat Network
(https://rhn.redhat.com) to all current Red Hat Enterprise Linux
subscribers.  The updates are available via two methods:

(a) Fresh install from new ISO images

For Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 7 Beta, a completely
new installable ISO image set is provided.

Once you have logged in to RHN, click on the "Channels" tab and 
choose the appropriate child channel entitled "<product name> Beta".
Click on the 'Downloads' sub-tab, and follow the directions
provided to download installable ISO images for your platform and
release.

(b) Update existing test installation using RHN beta channel

Once you have logged in to RHN, click on the "Channels" tab and 
choose the appropriate child channel entitled "<product name> Beta".
Click on the "Target Systems" subtab, and select all of the
non-production, test systems you want to participate in the beta
program.  Click on the "subscribe" button to apply the
selection(s).

Once the beta channel has been subscribed, run the following command
from a shell prompt on each target system to update any packages for
which new versions exist:

up2date

You will see a list of packages that are available to be installed.
Select all packages and step through the instructions.  Note: you will
optionally be able to skip installation of the kernel.  Do not skip the
kernel!  Be sure to select it as well for installation.

For more information, Red Hat Network user guides and FAQs are
available on the RHN website at https://rhn.redhat.com.

* Note: Systems that are updated with the beta update will not be
upgradeable to the official update.  A fresh install will be
required to ensure support! *


Bug Reporting
-------------

Red Hat customers with active support contracts should report their
bugs through Red Hat support at:
  http://www.redhat.com/support

Red Hat partners with Issue Tracker accounts should report their
bugs through the Issue Tracker interface at:
  https://enterprise.redhat.com/issue-tracker/

All other testers should report bugs via the public Bugzilla tool
(filed against product "Red Hat Enterprise Linux Public Beta" and 
version "rhel3-update") at:
  http://bugzilla.redhat.com


Mailing Lists
-------------

Red Hat has created public mailing list for communication during
this and all future Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 beta programs.

* [email protected]

  A low-volume, moderated, announcement-only mailing list.  Red Hat
  will use this list to communicate one-way information about RHEL 3
  beta programs, such as notifications when updates are
  available or solicitations for beta feedback.  Subscribe at:
    https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/rhelv3-announce

* [email protected]

  A public general discussion mailing list for beta testers of
  Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 updates.  Subscribe at:
    https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/taroon-beta-list

Thank you for participating in the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3
Update 7 beta program.

Sincerely,

The Red Hat Enterprise Linux Team


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               Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 Update 7 Release Notes

   Copyright (c) 2005 Red Hat, Inc.

   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Introduction

   The following topics are covered in this document:

     o Changes to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux installation program
       (Anaconda)

     o General information

     o Kernel-related information

     o Changes to drivers and hardware support

     o Changes to packages

Changes to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Installation Program (Anaconda)

   The following section includes information specific to the Red Hat
   Enterprise Linux installation program, Anaconda.

  Note

   In order to upgrade an already-installed Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 system
   to Update 7, you must use Red Hat Network to update those packages that
   have changed. The use of Anaconda to upgrade to Update 7 is not supported.

   Use Anaconda only to perform a fresh install of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3
   Update 7.

     o If you are copying the contents of the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3
       Update 7 CD-ROMs (in preparation for a network-based installation, for
       example) be sure you copy the CD-ROMs for the operating system only.
       Do not copy the Extras CD-ROM, or any of the layered product CD-ROMs,
       as this will overwrite files necessary for Anaconda's proper
       operation.

       These CD-ROMs must be installed after Red Hat Enterprise Linux has
       been installed.

General Information

   This section contains general information not specific to any other
   section of this document.

     o DebugInfo packages provide full debugging symbol binaries for
       individual package libraries so that system analysis tools and
       profilers can fully debug and trace applications. DebugInfo packages
       install these binaries in the directory /usr/lib/debuginfo.

       With the -debuginfo RPMs installed, users are able to fully take
       advantage of the following deep analysis tools:

          o Program debugging with gdb

          o kernel core dump debugging with crash

          o performance analysis and profiling with systemtap and oprofile

       DebugInfo packages for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 are available from
       the Red Hat FTP site at the following URLs:

 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/updates/enterprise/3AS/en/os/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/updates/enterprise/3desktop/en/os/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/updates/enterprise/3ES/en/os/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/updates/enterprise/3WS/en/os/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/enterprise/3/en/os/AMD64/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/enterprise/3/en/os/i386/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/enterprise/3/en/os/ia64/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/enterprise/3/en/os/ppc/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/enterprise/3/en/os/s390/Debuginfo
 ftp://ftp.redhat.com/pub/redhat/linux/enterprise/3/en/os/s390x/Debuginfo

Kernel-Related Information

   This section contains information related to the Red Hat Enterprise Linux
   3 Update 7 kernel.

     o A new /proc sysctl interface is available in Red Hat Enterprise Linux
       3 Update 7 to enable an improved NUMA-friendly page allocation policy.
       The default behavior is the same as Update 6, which does not use this
       policy. To enable the policy, you may choose from the following
       methods:

          o Run the following command as root:

 echo "1" > /proc/sys/vm/numa_memory_allocator

          o Alternatively, use the sysctl command:

 /sbin/sysctl vm.numa_memory_allocator=1

          o Finally, you can also type the following line in
            /etc/sysctl.conf:

 vm.numa_memory_allocator = 1

       The improved NUMA-friendly page allocation policy only affects the
       systems with NUMA capabilities; and the feature is only supported in
       the x86_64 kernel.

     o A new boot option called nokeyb is included in Red Hat Enterprise
       Linux 3 Update 7. The option disables console keyboard support for IBM
       blade servers. This option is automatically set for IBM blade servers
       during bootup.

Changes to Drivers and Hardware Support

   This update includes bug fixes for a number of drivers. The more
   significant driver updates are listed below. In some cases, the original
   driver has been preserved under a different name, and is available as a
   non-default alternative for organizations that wish to migrate their
   driver configuration to the latest versions at a later time.

  Note

   The migration to the latest drivers should be completed before the next
   Red Hat Enterprise Linux update is applied, because in most cases only one
   older-revision driver will be preserved for each update.

   These release notes also indicate which older-revision drivers have been
   removed from this kernel update. These drivers have the base driver name
   with the revision digits appended; for example, megaraid_2002.o. You must
   remove these drivers from /etc/modules.conf before installing this kernel
   update.

   Keep in mind that the only definitive way to determine what drivers are
   being used is to review the contents of /etc/modules.conf. Use of the
   lsmod command is not a substitute for examining this file.

   The following device drivers are new or updated in Red Hat Enterprise
   Linux 3 Update 7:

     o incorporate Dell Remote BIOS Update (dell_rbu) driver version 2.1

     o upgrade SATA support (core, libata, and drivers)

     o update OpenIPMI driver to version 35.11 plus fixes

     o update Emulex LightPulse Fibre Channel (lpfc) driver to 7.3.3

     o incorporate MegaRAID Serial Attached SCSI (megaraid_sas) driver
       version 00.00.02.00

     o update megaraid2 driver to v2.10.10.1

     o fix megaraid2 rmmod/insmod crash on EM64Ts with >4GB

     o update Adaptec AAC RAID (aacraid) driver to 1.1.5-2412

     o incorporate Broadcom NetXtreme II (bnx2) network driver version 1.4.30

     o update Broadcom Tigon 3 (tg3) network driver to version 3.43RH

     o add support for HT1000 chipset in serverworks driver

     o update Intel(R) PRO/1000 (e1000) network driver to version 6.1.16-k2

     o enable Adaptec SA-1210 interrupts in siimage driver

     o prevent oops in Adaptec aic7xxx driver while adding new devices

     o add printk_ratelimit sysctl to allow I/O errmsg control

     o add support for system-wide IPV4 arp_announce sysctl

     o prevent Compaq SmartArray (cciss) driver unload while diskdump
       activated

     o Rate limiting has been added for certain SCSI error messages that
       print when I/O is done to a failed device. This prevents continuous
       logging of messages when a Fibre Channel cable is unplugged from an
       active device. There are two sysctl parameters associated with this
       function:

          o printk_ratelimit: the minimum length of time in seconds between
            messages that have been designated as rate limited. Default is 0
            (rate limiting is off).

          o printk_ratelimit_burst: the number of rate-limited messages that
            will be allowed to print before rate limiting kicks in. Default
            is 10.

            This feature can be enabled by the following example command:

 sysctl -w kernel.printk_ratelimit=5

     o The following drivers were preserved in earlier Update releases. They
       are no longer needed because the current drivers have been shown to be
       suitable replacements.

          o 3w-xxxx_10200033

          o ips_70015

          o cmpci_564

          o qla2200_70003RH1

          o qla2200_70003RH1

          o qla2200_70003RH1

          o lpfc_703

          o megaraid_2106

          o fusion_20511

          o aacraid_10102

       You must remove these drivers from /etc/modules.conf before installing
       this kernel update.

Changes to Packages

   This section contains listings of packages that have been updated or added
   from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 as part of Update 7.

  Note

   These package lists include packages from all variants of Red Hat
   Enterprise Linux 3. Your system may not include every one of the packages
   listed here.

   The following packages have been updated from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3
   Update 5:

     o ****** UNDER DEVELOPMENT *******

   The following packages have been added to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3
   Update 7:

     o ****** UNDER DEVELOPMENT *******

   The following packages have been removed from Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3
   Update 7:

     o ****** UNDER DEVELOPMENT *******

   ( x86 )

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