redmist writes " MontaVista Software will write a version of Linux called Hard Hat for use on Force Computers "tiny" computers with embedded processors. The project will begin with Intel-based machines and later will include PowerPC machines. MontaVista will focus on "the need for small memory footprint, guaranteed response, high availability, and other key issues that desktop Linux does not provide," the company said. Get the whole story here. "

montezuma writes "HP announced their high-end Visualize workstations running Red Hat. " That XL550 looks pretty spiffy. But its nice seeing that they're doin' it.

Bruce Inglish writes "InfoWorld Pundit (and inventor of Ethernet) Bob Metcalfe just posted his 99/6/19 column entitled: "Linux's '60s technology, open-sores ideology won't beat W2K, but what will?" in which he predicts that "Linux will fizzle against Windows" and compares the Open Source community to communism and the Back-to-the-Earth Movement. "

Graymalkin asks: "I was wondering if there is a Linux program (or many programs) that would let me have a single server on a LAN and then a bunch of diskless clients. I'd like to make the clients have a motherboard, memory, a processor, and a NIC and get all their info from the server. If possible I'd also like to have all the networked stuff loaded into the server's memory so there's as few disk read/writes as possible. Can I do this?"

Karpe writes "You can read it in news.com. Microworkz will sell a $199 computer for surfing the Web. It's called iToaster, and will run Linux." They aren't giving out much real data except that its x86 based, and it won't feature tons of advertising as part of your web browsing experience (as most of the "Free" PCs floating around seem to want).

Yakumo asks: "I know this is probably a common question, but I have been unable to find anything very constructive on it; is there any third-party support for the QuickCam VC for Linux? I know that neither Connectix, nor currently Logitech have released any specs on it, but I heard rumors that there have been a few reverse-engineering attempts made, and I was wondering if there was any news in that department." I really wish hardware manufacturers would release their specs. I really do.

An anonymous reader wrote in to tell us that Cygnus is planning to ship an IDE for Linux this summer. It's called Code Fusion and it'll have a lot of competition with CodeWarrior and more already out there. But it will support C/C++ and Java.

dancomfort sent us the news that Group Bull SA, the French computer manufacturer has joined the Linux group as well. They are setting up some new units, as well as certifying some of their servers with Red Hat 6. They are also planning on porting Common Data Security Architecture, in partnership with Intel.

Jim Dabell writes "Macmillan have announced they are releasing "The Complete Linux(TM) Operating System 6.0" based on Mandrake. There are also deluxe and secure server options. " Why not. Everybody else seems to be creating their own distribution. Its fun.

Chris DiBona wrote in to send us this summary of Linus' talk over at the BALUG. Lots of pictures and a good summary of the talk. Worth a gander.

Alan Hodgkinson asks: "I would like to setup a bunch of Linux boxes without keyboards and monitors. The systems must be accessable/controlable via their serial ports, including the ability to send them a hard reset. Sun Sparc hardware has this feature. You can remove the keyboard and the system will boot and send all its console output through the serial port. You can even reset the machine by sending a break to the serial port. Is there any hardware available for PCs that will provides this functionality? (And that works on a wide variety of PC hardware). ISPs must face this problem. What do they do? Tips anyone?"

Skeezix writes "Linus says that he aims to make kernel upgrades more incremental instead of cramming tons of features into each major upgrade. The net result? The next major kernel upgrade might be out by Fall." I still haven't worked out all my kinks with 2.2 yet, at this rate 2.4 will be out before I sort it out!

Andrew Dvorak wrote to us with Andrew Leonard's latest Salon piece about the in-progress Mindcraft II testing. Interesting reading-and the difference between the OSes is evident-Linux sent hacks, MS marketers.

ulissesr asks: "Hi there! I just bought SuSE Linux v6.1 featuring linux 2.2.7 and had no problems installing it. My problem is my ISDN adapator, which is a pcbit-d by Octal! I just haven't found a way to get it to work with the new kernel or could it be the new ipppd verion? Can some good soul point me to a dial-up script for ipppd with PAP authentication?"

Bathmat wrote in to send us a story on new Linux Telephony. I'm sure most of you realize that this is an area where Linux still tends to lag behind certain other OSs. This one is about White Pine who is apparently hooking up with Red Hat to provide this stuff under Linux.

VA Linux Systems has been selected as a Fortune Magazine "Cool Company". You can get the whole scoop on the Fortune site. The article talks about some of the people that have been been hired in by VA recently for the Linux Labs as well - with Jon "Mad Dog" Hall being one of them.

DJ Jose wrote in to note that the Compaq Itsy is making the PR rounds again. We've mentioned this a few times in the past (seems that every few months it gets some new publicity). For those who haven't been here all along, Itsy is a tiny little butt kicking Linux box that I lust after and occasionally have erotic dreams about. But lets not talk about that now.

After many months of hacking, Alan Cox has released what is likely to be the last 2.0 kernel. He writes in his diary that we will only see 2.0.38 if there is some sort of security hole. For those who don't know the drill by now, you can download the kernel from any kernel.org mirror.

Gerr asks: "I'm looking into building a project that uses S-Video output to display a simple menu system onto a television/monitor (or going through a stereo to display output to a device). Are there any Linux projects currently working on S-Video or anyone in the world of Linux hacking who has some technical information about displaying information via this protocol? "

dfn_doe asks: "Is there an easy way to replicate a very large Linux install across multiple machines using a CDR as the transfer medium?? I have 9 boxes that need to have about 9 gigs of Web, Database, and other information spread across two drives and 10 partitions and I REALY don't want to do it manually. Any utilities? Any suggestions? In case anyone is interested this is for serving a large distributed database to a secure Web Server." Using a CDR? That's odd, if you have a newtork, you should be using that to automate installation as opposed to burning loads of CDs (not to mention the installation). What do you all think?