Enterprise Linux Release Notes
(Release 5.1 )
Introduction
This document covers following topics regarding Enterprise Linux 5.1
* Changes from upstream release
* New packages added
* Kernel and Driver Updates
* Technology Preview Features
* Unbreakable Linux Support
Changes from Upstream Release
The following rpms are modified from the upstream rpms. All changes are trademark and look/feel related unless otherwise noted below under the specific RPM.
* anaconda
Path of the Distribution changed from RedHat to Enterprise on the install CDs.
* basesystem
* booty
* bug-buddy
* cryptsetup-luks
* efax
* firstboot
* gnome-desktop
* gnome-session
* gpm
* gstreamer
* gstreamer-plugins-base
* httpd
* initscripts
* jpackage-utils
* kdeadmin
* kdebase
* kernel
GPG key releated changes
* kexec-tool
* libvirt
* libxml2
* libxslt
* microcode_ctl
Updated firmware from Intel
* openssl
* piranha
* pirut
* postgesql
* redhat-artwork
* redhat-rpm-config
* rhgb
* rhpl
* rpm
* sblim
* setroubleshoot
* sos
* squirrelmail
* stunnel
* sysreport
* system-config-date
* system-config-httpd
* system-config-kickstart
* system-config-network
* system-config-nfs
* system-config-printer
* system-config-samba
* system-config-securitylevel
* system-config-services
* system-config-soundcard
* system-config-users
* tog-pegasus
* tux
* wireshark
ocfs2 related fix.
* xorg-x11-server
* zsh
Following packages are removed
* redhat-logos
Replaced by oracle-logos
* redhat-release
Replaced by enterprise-release
* redhat-release-notes-5Server
Replaced by enterprise-release-notes-5Server
* rhn-setup
Replaced by up2date
* rhn-setup-gnome
Replaced by up2date-gnome
* rhn-client-tools
Replaced by up2date
* rhnsd
Replaced by up2date
* rhn-check
Replaced by up2date
* yum-rhn-plugin
* fonts-chinese
Following documentation packages are removed
* Deployment_Guide
* Virtualization
* Global_File_System
* Cluster_Administration
New Packages added
Enterprise Linux has following additional packages
* ocfs2
* ocfs2-tools
* oracleasm
* oracleasm-support
Kernel and Driver Updates
This section covers significant changes in kernel in this release.
Bug Fixes added by Oracle
* Add entropy module option to e1000 and bnx2 [ORA 6045759]
* Fix msi issue with kexec/kdump [ORA 6219364]
* Fix alloc_pages_node() static `nid' race made kernel crash [ORA6187457]
* Fix bad unlock_page() in error case [ORA 6263574]
* Fix error-path crashes in dio [ORA 6242289]
Enterprise Linux 5.1 ships two set of kernel packages. One with bug fixes added by Oracle and another one without any changes from upstream kernel. Default installation installs kernel whthout fixes added by Oracle. kernel with bug fixes added by Oracle needs to be manually installed. Following are the steps to install this kernel
1. mount Enterprise Linux 5.1 CD 1 or DVD
2. copy the rpms from <mount_pont>/Server/oracle_updated to your system
3. install the required kernel using the rpm command,
e.g. rpm -ihv kernel-2.6.18-53.0.0.0.1.el5.x86_64.rpm
Fixes/Additions from upstream distribution provider
* Enhancement for Ext3 ( file system capacity has been extended beyond 8TB to a maximum of 16TB)
* Added Shared page tables support for hugetlb memory.
* The new sysfs parameter tick_driver option allows you to adjust the system clock rate while maintaining the same visible HZ timing value to user space applications. Some useful setup values for 1000Hz clock
2 = 500Hz
4 = 250Hz
5 = 200Hz
8 = 125Hz
10 = 100Hz
Note: tick_divider command-line argument may not work properly on x86_64
architecture. This issue will be addressed in a future update of
Enterprise Linux 5
* Kernel boot line parameter mpath enables anaconda to detect, create, and install to dm-multipath devices.
* SAN disk device (Fibre Channel or iSCSI) is now supported as boot devices.
* Support added for nfsroot in this release.
* Installation / Boot for iSCSI software initiator (open-iscsi) supported in this release.
* Added function calls to set maximum read request size for PCIX and PCI-Express for PCI drivers
* Added support for SB600 SMBus
* Support added for I/OAT-enabled chipsets in e1000 driver.
* Support added for 5709 hardware in bnx2 driver.
* Added forcedeth-0.60 driver.
* Support added for NetXen 10GbE network cards in netxen_nic driver.
* Added support for Chelsio 10G Ethernet Network Controller.
* Added support for PCI error recovery to the s2io device.
* Broadcomm wireless ethernet driver now supports PCI ID for nx6325 card.
* fixed a bug that caused an ASSERTION FAILED error when attempting to start a BCM4306 via ifup.
* Added EEH PCI error recovery support for the Intel 10-gigabit ethernet card in ixgb driver .
* qla3xxx driver is enabled and updated to provide networking support for QLogic iSCSI adapters without using iSCSI.
* IPMI driver updated to be in sync with upstream version 2.6.21.3.
* Added PCI IDs for aic79xx driver.
* Added support for PRIMERGY RX800S2 and RX800S3 in aacraid driver.
* Emulex lpfc driver updated to version 8.1.10.9.
* Updated qla4xxx driver.
* Added support for Areca RAID controllers in arcmsr driver.
* 3w-9xxx module now support 3ware 9650SE.
* The CIFS client has been updated to version 1.48aRH.
* Added support for MODULE_FIRMWARE tags.
* Added support for ICH9 controllers.
* Add support for Greyhound processors in CPUID calls.
* Support added in Oprofile for new Greyhound performance counter events.
* The Intel graphics chipset is now supported through the DRM kernel module.
* ACPI power management have improved S3 suspend-to-RAM and S4 hibernate.
* Support added for implicit active-active failover using dm-multipath on EMC Clariion storage.
Technology Preview Features
Following Technology Preview features are currently not supported under Enterprise Linux 5 , may not be functionally complete.
* Stateless Linux
* devicescape (d80211)
* FS-Cache ( local caching facility for remote file systems)
* AIGLX
* iSCSI Target
* FireWire
* Systemtap
These features are not suitable for production use. However, these features are included to provide the feature with wider exposure.
Unbreakable Linux Support
Enterprise Linux offers an option to keep your operating system upto date with latest operating system patches using up2date. To be able to use this option you need to have Unbreakable Linux Support. For more information please visit http://linux.oracle.com
Note: Prior to using up2date, import the RPM-GPG-KEY for Enterprise Linux:
rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY