diff --git a/Changelog b/Changelog
index 632c95c3938ef06cc927733fa90fe9ff4ef82fb2..a4bbc29d7a5db1425e0164a119fbbeda12196f0d 100644
--- a/Changelog
+++ b/Changelog
@@ -1,3 +1,11 @@
+Changelog for ELPA 2018.11.001.rc1
+
+- improved autotuning
+- improved performance of generalized problem via Cannon's algorithm
+- check pointing functionality of elpa objects
+- store/read/resume of autotuning
+
+
 Changelog for ELPA 2018.05.001
 
 - significant improved performance on K-computer
diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index 9c205f46f200ebe97d66b9822aea95e557be8bff..7280a75d2ed9679ecb2337cf611d464c4e6c7402 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Preamble ##
 
-This file provides documentation on how to build the *ELPA* library in **version ELPA-2018.05.001**.
+This file provides documentation on how to build the *ELPA* library in **version ELPA-2018.11.001.rc1**.
 With release of **version ELPA-2017.05.001** the build process has been significantly simplified,
 which makes it easier to install the *ELPA* library.
 
diff --git a/ISSUES.md b/ISSUES.md
index 1c9d972f8713a47113bd606a99d0efc860db95d7..4bf428f7b3a1bbd18289c7e8f5d9f69834b63c1c 100644
--- a/ISSUES.md
+++ b/ISSUES.md
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@
 For more details and recent updates please visit the online [issue system] (https://gitlab.mpcdf.mpg.de/elpa/elpa/issues)
 Issues which are not mentioned in a newer release are (considered as) solved.
 
+### ELPA 2018.11.001.rc1 release ###
+- same issues as in ELPA 2017.11.001
+
 ### ELPA 2018.05.001 release ###
 - same issues as in ELPA 2017.11.001
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f27b6eaac4cce065782879ab6534e67fefca946f..2bd783f0f6b2558c4c6570314afb432efc7e5ce2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 ## Current Release ##
 
-The current release is ELPA 2018.05.001 The current supported API version
-is 20180525. This release supports the earliest API version 20170403.
+The current release is ELPA 2018.11.001.rc1 The current supported API version
+is 20181113. This release supports the earliest API version 20170403.
 
 [![Build 
 status](https://gitlab.mpcdf.mpg.de/elpa/elpa/badges/master/build.svg)](https://gitlab.mpcdf.mpg.de/elpa/elpa/commits/master)
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ the possible configure options.
 ## Using *ELPA*
 
 Please have a look at the "**USERS_GUIDE**" file, to get a documentation or at the [online]
-(http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.05.001/html/index.html) doxygen
+(http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.11.001.rc1/html/index.html) doxygen
 documentation, where you find the definition of the interfaces.
 
 ## Contributing to *ELPA*
diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES b/RELEASE_NOTES
index 32e6cff96e2b48408cca1b91a790f10b6b7e9049..2d773c3536b49f490d84e2e10a689934c6787b83 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
-This file contains the release notes for the ELPA 2018.05.001 version
+This file contains the release notes for the ELPA 2018.11.001.rc1 version
 
 What is new?
 -------------
-For detailed information about changes since release ELPA 2017.11 please have a look at the Changelog file
+For detailed information about changes since release ELPA 2018.05 please have a look at the Changelog file
 
-- This release improves the performance on the K-computer
-- The autotuning has been extended
-- an interface to solve the generalized eigenvalue problem has been added
+- improved autotuning
+- improved performance of generalized problem via Cannon's algorithm
+- check pointing functionality of elpa objects
+- store/read/resume of autotuning
 
 
 ABI change
diff --git a/SWITCHING_TO_NEW_INTERFACE.md b/SWITCHING_TO_NEW_INTERFACE.md
index b7452c3f27becc0bb0a499294e17a7d21d2fd019..c70e3c9e950635cf2eda37b0830bb7b0880c6e61 100644
--- a/SWITCHING_TO_NEW_INTERFACE.md
+++ b/SWITCHING_TO_NEW_INTERFACE.md
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ Local documentation (via man pages) should be available (if *ELPA* has been inst
 For example "man elpa2_print_kernels" should provide the documentation for the *ELPA* program which prints all
 the available kernels.
 
-Also a [online doxygen documentation] (http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.05.001/html/index.html)
+Also a [online doxygen documentation] (http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.11.001.rc1/html/index.html)
 for each *ELPA* release is available.
 
 
diff --git a/USERS_GUIDE.md b/USERS_GUIDE.md
index 67776108aedd0ae9157b63702507a6a2513b21a5..9ad240e05f33fb81fc8b4f67ef75ee3d834a7dae 100644
--- a/USERS_GUIDE.md
+++ b/USERS_GUIDE.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ Local documentation (via man pages) should be available (if *ELPA* has been inst
 For example "man elpa2_print_kernels" should provide the documentation for the *ELPA* program, which prints all
 the available kernels.
 
-Also a [online doxygen documentation] (http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.05.001/html/index.html)
+Also a [online doxygen documentation] (http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.11.001.rc1/html/index.html)
 for each *ELPA* release is available.
 
 
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ The following table gives a list of all supported parameters which can be used t
 
 ## III) List of computational routines ##
 
-The following compute routines are available in *ELPA*: Please have a look at the man pages or  [online doxygen documentation] (http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.05.001/html/index.html) for details.
+The following compute routines are available in *ELPA*: Please have a look at the man pages or  [online doxygen documentation] (http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.11.001.rc1/html/index.html) for details.
 
 
 | Name         | Purpose                                                                 | since API version |
diff --git a/USERS_GUIDE_DEPRECATED_LEGACY_API.md b/USERS_GUIDE_DEPRECATED_LEGACY_API.md
index 801d3f4eaea72df4a2b8bd8f484706eb55f85276..2a6aab3602f467e9362f852d49e682c3838a02b2 100644
--- a/USERS_GUIDE_DEPRECATED_LEGACY_API.md
+++ b/USERS_GUIDE_DEPRECATED_LEGACY_API.md
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ The *ELPA* library consists of two main parts:
 
 Both variants of the *ELPA* solvers are available for real or complex singe and double precision valued matrices.
 
-Thus *ELPA* provides the following user functions (see man pages or [online] (http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.05.001/html/index.html) for details):
+Thus *ELPA* provides the following user functions (see man pages or [online] (http://elpa.mpcdf.mpg.de/html/Documentation/ELPA-2018.11.001.rc1/html/index.html) for details):
 
 - elpa_get_communicators                        : set the row / column communicators for *ELPA*
 - elpa_solve_evp_complex_1stage_{single|double} : solve a {single|double} precision complex eigenvalue proplem with the *ELPA 1stage* solver
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 4748946a52a106401411d1ef068fd79a6c1a406f..efdab653c8ce0225750235f9516c5b2389bc9cd0 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@ AC_SUBST([ELPA_SO_VERSION], [12:0:1])
 
 # API Version
 AC_DEFINE([EARLIEST_API_VERSION], [20170403], [Earliest supported ELPA API version])
-AC_DEFINE([CURRENT_API_VERSION], [20180525], [Current ELPA API version])
+AC_DEFINE([CURRENT_API_VERSION], [20181113], [Current ELPA API version])
 # Autotune Version
 AC_DEFINE([EARLIEST_AUTOTUNE_VERSION], [20171201], [Earliest ELPA API version, which supports autotuning])
-AC_DEFINE([CURRENT_AUTOTUNE_VERSION], [20180525], [Current ELPA autotune version])
+AC_DEFINE([CURRENT_AUTOTUNE_VERSION], [20181113], [Current ELPA autotune version])
 
 AX_CHECK_GNU_MAKE()
 if test x$_cv_gnu_make_command = x ; then
@@ -1320,13 +1320,13 @@ m4_foreach_w([elpa_m4_kind],[real complex],[
         ])
 ])
 
-#echo " "
-#echo "***********************************************************************"
-#echo "*  This is a the first release candidate of ELPA 2018.05.001.rc1      *"
-#echo "*  There might be still some changes until the final release of       *"
-#echo "*  ELPA 2018.05.001                                                   *"
-#echo "***********************************************************************"
-#echo " "
+echo " "
+echo "***********************************************************************"
+echo "*  This is a the first release candidate of ELPA 2018.11.001.rc1      *"
+echo "*  There might be still some changes until the final release of       *"
+echo "*  ELPA 2018.11.001                                                   *"
+echo "***********************************************************************"
+echo " "
 
 if test x"$enable_kcomputer" = x"yes" ; then
   echo " "
diff --git a/elpa.spec b/elpa.spec
index bb7031af2a8aa6d880f93c705c64d406adebfbb0..2fbd197e531eef4ec5695123c3505face404a5c1 100644
--- a/elpa.spec
+++ b/elpa.spec
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 %define with_openmp 0
 
 Name:           elpa
-Version:        2018.05.001
+Version:        2018.11.001.rc1
 Release:        1
 Summary:        A massively parallel eigenvector solver
 License:        LGPL-3.0
diff --git a/test_project_1stage/configure.ac b/test_project_1stage/configure.ac
index 2b48ec33e86f25820385536d86ee374366c9ac47..82f534cf74830577f817d7984c8542f1bfd1fcfd 100644
--- a/test_project_1stage/configure.ac
+++ b/test_project_1stage/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 AC_PREREQ([2.69])
-AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.05.001], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
-elpaversion="2018.05.001"
+AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.11.001.rc1], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
+elpaversion="2018.11.001.rc1"
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/test_real.F90])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign -Wall subdir-objects])
diff --git a/test_project_1stage_legacy_api/configure.ac b/test_project_1stage_legacy_api/configure.ac
index 2b48ec33e86f25820385536d86ee374366c9ac47..82f534cf74830577f817d7984c8542f1bfd1fcfd 100644
--- a/test_project_1stage_legacy_api/configure.ac
+++ b/test_project_1stage_legacy_api/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 AC_PREREQ([2.69])
-AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.05.001], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
-elpaversion="2018.05.001"
+AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.11.001.rc1], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
+elpaversion="2018.11.001.rc1"
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/test_real.F90])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign -Wall subdir-objects])
diff --git a/test_project_2stage/configure.ac b/test_project_2stage/configure.ac
index ffca37534e88581e459bc818b879131c8244c670..a99e08691e365febc02a23f0db8fb7b8e9f14efa 100644
--- a/test_project_2stage/configure.ac
+++ b/test_project_2stage/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 AC_PREREQ([2.69])
-AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.05.001], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
-elpaversion="2018.05.001"
+AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.11.001.rc1], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
+elpaversion="2018.11.001.rc1"
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/test_real2.F90])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign -Wall subdir-objects])
diff --git a/test_project_2stage_legacy_api/configure.ac b/test_project_2stage_legacy_api/configure.ac
index 025ff1f21c43f6e48b5737ccf4ec7cc7f2979b4f..fba8c04f466eb509960a27e92c0b57f16aefc9b4 100644
--- a/test_project_2stage_legacy_api/configure.ac
+++ b/test_project_2stage_legacy_api/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 AC_PREREQ([2.69])
-AC_INIT([elpa2_test_project],[2018.05.001], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
-elpaversion="2018.05.001"
+AC_INIT([elpa2_test_project],[2018.11.001.rc1], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
+elpaversion="2018.11.001.rc1"
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/test_real2.F90])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign -Wall subdir-objects])
diff --git a/test_project_C/configure.ac b/test_project_C/configure.ac
index 20e1228a88dc540b5095dc5e0dfdf7b75afee484..a7e05a99a2931fc0ecca3d5e4c7aeb928b863152 100644
--- a/test_project_C/configure.ac
+++ b/test_project_C/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 AC_PREREQ([2.69])
-AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.05.001], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
-elpaversion="2018.05.001"
+AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.11.001.rc1], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
+elpaversion="2018.11.001.rc1"
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/test_real.c])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign -Wall subdir-objects])
diff --git a/test_project_C_2stage/configure.ac b/test_project_C_2stage/configure.ac
index a3a54663e31cf1b96413e5ca63a4957bc10e40a3..aedaf3df378ae15b6e078b97a4386c4c4de562e3 100644
--- a/test_project_C_2stage/configure.ac
+++ b/test_project_C_2stage/configure.ac
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 AC_PREREQ([2.69])
-AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.05.001], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
-elpaversion="2018.05.001"
+AC_INIT([elpa_test_project],[2018.11.001.rc1], elpa-library@rzg.mpg.de)
+elpaversion="2018.11.001.rc1"
 AC_CONFIG_SRCDIR([src/test_real2.c])
 
 AM_INIT_AUTOMAKE([foreign -Wall subdir-objects])