OpenBSD 5.0 released

The OpenBSD 5.0 poster OpenBSD 5.0 has been published, six months after the release of version 4.9. The OpenBSD project's newest release of the free BSD based UNIX-like operating system includes a number new and updated drivers, performance improvements and new features.

OpenBSD 5.0 includes the GNOME 2.32.2, KDE 3.5.10 and Xfce 4.8.0 desktop environments. It also contains a number of new and updated packages including versions 3.5.19, 3.6.18 and 5.0 of the Firefox web browser, PHP 5.2.17 and 5.3.6, LibreOffice 3.4.1, and Chromium 12. The release includes September's release of OpenSSH 5.9.

Updates to the install and upgrade process include the addition of full support for DUID disk installs and an option to install non-free firmware from the internet on first boot. Other changes include improved hardware support, security updates, and improvements to the network stack, routing daemons and SCSI. The developers also note that kernel randomisation speed and quality has been "substantially" improved.

More details about the release, including a full list of new features and changes, can be found in the official release announcement, release notes and in the change log. Version 5.0 of OpenBSD is available to download from one of the project's mirrors. Alternatively, users can purchase the new version on three CDs for fifty Canadian doillars (approximately £31); the proceeds support the developers and donations are also accepted.

(crve)