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Mandriva Linux (formerly Mandrakelinux or Mandrake Linux is a Linux distribution created by Mandriva (formerly Mandrakesoft). The first release was based on Red Hat Linux (version 5.1) and KDE (version 1.0) in July 1998. It has since diverged from Red Hat and has included a number of original tools mostly to ease system configuration. Mandriva Linux (at those times named Mandrake Linux) was originated by Gaël Duval, who was also a co-founder of Mandrakesoft.
Features
The major features of Mandriva Linux are:
Installation, control and administration
Mandriva Linux uses the Mandriva Control Center for administration of Linux rather than using a text editor to change settings. It has many programs known as Drakes or Draks, collectively named drakxtools, to configure many different settings. Examples include MouseDrake to set up a mouse, DiskDrake to set up disk partitions and drakconnect (previously known as draknet but forced to change its name after a company of the same name complained) to set up a network connection. They are written using GTK+ and Perl, and most of them can run in both graphical and text mode.
Desktops
Mandriva Linux is geared to use KDE or GNOME as the standard desktops, but includes others such as IceWM, Blackbox, Window Maker and twm. A unique theme known as "Mandrakegalaxy" provides consistency between applications and desktop environments. Mandrakegalaxy debuted in version 9.1 and Mandrakegalaxy II appeared in 10.0. A variant of Mandrakegalaxy is "Mandrakegalaxy Squared", which uses square window buttons rather than round ones.
Package manager
Mandriva Linux uses a package manager called urpmi, which functions as a wrapper to the RPM package management system. It is similar to apt-get in that it allows seamless installation of a given software package by automatically installing the other packages needed. It is also media-transparent due to its ability to retrieve packages from various media, including network/Internet, CD/DVD and local disk. Urpmi also has an easy-to-use graphical front-end called RPMdrake which is integrated into the Mandriva Control Center.
Although Web sources for urpmi are not added on the installation of Mandriva Linux, they are available at [http://easyurpmi.zarb.org/ EasyUrpmi] or through an option in the Software Sources Manager in versions above 2005LE (10.2). This functionality allows the user to choose some or all of the various software repositories available for their version of Mandrivalinux and can greatly expand the amount of software that the user can install through the urpmi system.
Name changes
From its inception to version 8.0, Mandrake named its flagship distribution Linux-Mandrake. From version 8.1 to 9.2 it was called Mandrake Linux.
In February 2004 MandrakeSoft lost a court case against Hearst Corporation, owners of King Features Syndicate. Hearst contends that MandrakeSoft is infringing upon King Features' trademarked character Mandrake the Magician. The word Mandrake is not unique to the King Features character, and MandrakeSoft is appealing the decision.
As a precaution, MandrakeSoft renamed its products by removing the space between the brand name and the product name and changing the first letter of the product name to lower case, thus creating one word. Starting from version 10.0, Mandrake Linux became known as Mandrakelinux, and its logo changed accordingly. Similarly, MandrakeMove became Mandrakemove.
In April 2005 Mandrakesoft announced that after the [http://www.mandriva.com/company/press/pr?n=/pr/corporate/2539 corporate acquisition] of Conectiva, and the legal dispute with Hearst Corporation, the new company name would be Mandriva, and that Mandriva Linux would be the new name covering products.
Versions
Latest version
The latest stable version is Mandriva Linux 2007, released on 2006-10-03.
Development version
The development tree of Mandriva Linux has always been known as Cooker. This tree is directly released as a new stable version.
The next scheduled release will be named 2007.1 and is planned for release in April 2007.
Derivatives
Distributions that are based on Mandrakelinux, some by MandrakeSoft itself, others by independent projects. Some maintain compatibility with Mandrakelinux, so that installing a Mandrakelinux RPM also works on the offspring.
Mandriva One
Mandriva One [http://www.mandriva.com/en/community/mandrivaone] is a LiveCD based on Mandriva Linux. As well as being runnable as a purely live CD, it may also be used to install a full version of Mandriva Linux on a hard drive with a wizard, including partitioning tools.
GlobeTrotter
GlobeTrotter is a LaCie mobile USB drive loaded with a specific version of Mandrakelinux. Like Move, it can boot most PCs into Linux without installing first. The 40 GB hard drive makes it a convenient way to carry a Linux workstation around.
GlobeTrotter was launched in August 2003 and can be ordered through Mandrakesoft's online store.
Mandriva Linux Clustering
Based on the CLIC project, this distribution allows users to set up a cluster. This product includes Drakcluster (GUI) for improved usability.
This product is dedicated to the HPC market but it could also be used (with some modifications) to all kinds of clusters (High Availability, applicative, grid, ...). It features parallel commands (bash, copying tools), deployment (disks), software upgrade/downgrade (urpmi parallel), monitoring (ganglia), etc.
Clustering [http://www.mandriva.com/en/enterprise/products/clustering] is available on x86 and x86-64 architectures.
Discontinued
Firewall
Linux Mandrake 7.2 had a version tailored specifically for use as a firewall, known as Single Network Firewall (SNF). Its successor, based on Mandrake 8.2, was titled Multi Network Firewall (MNF). The third iteration will be based upon Mandrakelinux 10.0.
These firewall distributions are designed to provide security for computer networks, and can be administered remotely via a Web browser based interface or Secure Shell. There are two versions. The Download Edition contains only free software and is freely downloadable via the Internet. The corporate version has added functionality and comes with support from MandrakeSoft.
Gaming edition
Mandrake Linux 8.1 had a Gaming Edition, which was a game oriented Linux distribution. It had a port of The Sims using the Transgaming WineX technology.
CLIC
CLIC (aka Cluster LInux pour le Calcul) is a dedicated version of Mandrakelinux created by MandrakeSoft specifically for clustering environments. It was sponsorised by the RNTL, others partners are ID-IMAG, Groupe Bull and Mandrakesoft. This project's aim was to produce a HPC Linux Distribution for 32 & 64 bits processors.
The objective of project CLIC is to allow the realization of large scientific computers while being based on free software. The objective consists of the realization a Linux distribution for clusters of machines, meeting the needs for deployment, administration and programming of clusters within the framework of exploitation for intensive calculation.
It features an automated installation of a full cluster using the Ka tools, urpmi and the clusterscripts.
This project was finished on 1 December 2003 and Mandrakesoft decided to continue that project with a product called Mandrakeclustering.
Mandriva Move
A LiveMove is the set formed by a LiveCD and a bootfloppy or USB flash drive.
Mandriva Move is a Mandriva product that benefits from a Mandriva Linux LiveCD which doesn't need to be installed to run on a computer, and a USB key that automatically records bootloader, hardware configuration and personal data.
The first version of Mandriva Move was released in December 2003 (but only distributed to customers in January 2004, due to production delays - a problem very common to Mandrakelinux releases, unfortunately). It brought two main innovations compared to competitors:
* ability to eject the cdrom if the machine has 256 MB of RAM or more (Knoppix also can, but needs to copy the whole cdrom into RAM, therefore needs a machine with 1 GB of RAM or more), and continue to operate in a "downgraded" mode allowing only to play multimedia files
* transparent save of any user modification of his/her own files and system configuration files, if operated with a USB key
The new version of Mandriva Move, now simply called Move was released in October 2004. Hardware support and stability have seen much improvement.
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