Black Cat Linux 6.2
Black Cat Linux 6.2 is a Red Hat–based Linux distribution developed around the year 2000 by the Donbass Linux User Group members Leonid Kanter and Alexander Kanevsky. Its core objective was to offer a universal operating system suitable for Internet/Intranet servers, office workstations, and home multimedia systems. Particular emphasis was placed on out-of-the-box support for Russian and Ukrainian languages and compatibility with third-party commercial software.
The very first Black Cat release was essentially a localized version of Red Hat Linux 5.2, enhanced with fixes and additional utilities to streamline installation in Russian and Ukrainian environments. Installation tools were modified to allow users to select their language during setup. In collaboration with Red Hat Software, Leonid Kanter contributed localization improvements upstream; several of these language tools were incorporated into Red Hat 6.0, released on April 26, 1999. By the time version 6.2 shipped in 2000, Black Cat Linux had firmly established its place among the top ten most popular distributions in Russia, capturing 6.5 percent of the local Linux user base that year. Two editions of 1,500 copies each were produced and retailed via the ISP “GEON,” with the RPM repository hosted on the Donbass Linux User Group’s website.
Key Feautures:
– KDE 1.1 and GNOME desktop environments for graphical usability on x86 machines
– First Linux to include Kaspersky Anti-Virus out of the box, offering built-in malware protection for Linux
– Preconfigured server and workstation services suitable for Internet/Intranet deployment
– Seamless support for Russian and Ukrainian locales, keyboards, and fonts
– Compatibility layers for select commercial Linux applications, easing enterprise adoption
Installation media comprised five CDs containing the kernel, system utilities, source code, third-party packages, and StarOffice suite for document handling. All software was licensed under GPL terms, ensuring freedom to study, modify, and redistribute the system. Installation proceeded via a customized Red Hat 5.2 installer that prompted for language selection and partitioning. The graphical installer guided users through configuring network settings, selecting server roles or workstation profiles, and setting up multimedia modules. Post-install, a system administrator could further refine services (e.g., Apache, Samba) using familiar Red Hat-style RPM and configuration tools.
Black Cat Linux 6.2 was offered in two main editions, each limited to 1,500 copies. Distribution channels included:
– Retail sale through ISP “GEON” branches
– Direct download via archive mirrors (e.g., Archive.org)
– Community swap and local user-group meetups
This controlled release strategy helped fund ongoing localization efforts while building a tight-knit user community.
From 1999 to 2002, Black Cat Linux demonstrated the viability of region-focused distributions that catered to local language needs and enterprise requirements. Its integration of commercial antivirus software set a precedent for security-focused Linux spins. Although later eclipsed by broader international projects, Black Cat’s contributions to Slavic localization influenced mainstream distributions, notably Red Hat’s own Russian and Ukrainian support packages.