Red Hat Inc. announced Thursday the release of a test version of Fedora Core 2 that is based on the recently released 2.6 Linux kernel. Our readers are probably already aware that 2.6 integrates a whole lot more security into the kernel than was previously the case, including hooks for SELinux, IPSec, and ACLs. Fedora is a hobbyist version of Linux that is constantly being updated and likely does not offer the stability an enterprise would require for its mission-critical systems. This is the first of three phases of the Fedora Core 2 release schedule, which runs through April 19, said Brian M. Stevens, vice president of engineering. . . .
Red Hat Inc. announced Thursday the release of a test version of Fedora Core 2 that is based on the recently released 2.6 Linux kernel.

Fedora is a hobbyist version of Linux that is constantly being updated and likely does not offer the stability an enterprise would require for its mission-critical systems.

This is the first of three phases of the Fedora Core 2 release schedule, which runs through April 19, said Brian M. Stevens, vice president of engineering.

Stevens said that Red Hat on Thursday also released the alpha version of the next installment of Red Hat Enterprise Linux to OEMs, partners and large customers for review.

Fedora Core 2 is based not only on the 2.6 kernel, but also on Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux), a hardened version of Linux developed by the National Security Agency. SELinux includes "strong, flexible mandatory access control architecture incorporated into the major subsystems of the kernel," according to the NSA's Web site. "The system provides a mechanism to enforce the separation of information based on confidentiality and integrity requirements."

Red Hat is hoping for feedback from developers and testers that can be taken into account as subsequent test versions are developed. This is the first 2.6 distribution available for public review, and Stevens expects the feedback Red Hat receives to be crucial to the continuing development of the 2.6 kernel.

"You never expect [the feedback] you get back," Stevens said. "It's always the unknowns that are interesting. This is critical exposure."

In this test version, Stevens said SELinux must be booted separately for it to work. Stevens noted that the policy around SELinux needs to be refined. He expects that the second test version of Fedora will have SELinux turned on by default.

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