  XMM-Newton EPIC observations reveal the population of X-ray sources of the
bright Local Group spiral galaxy M 31, a low-star-formation-rate galaxy like
the Milky Way, down to a 0.2-4.5 keV luminosity of 4.4E34 erg/s. With the help
of X-ray hardness ratios and optical and radio information different source
classes can be distinguished. The survey detected 856 sources in an area of
1.24 square degrees. Sources within M 31 are 44 supernova remnants (SNR) and
candidates, 18 super-soft sources (SSS), 16 X-ray binaries (XRBs) and
candidates, as well as 37 globular cluster sources (GlC) and candidates, i.e.
most likely low mass XRBs within the GlC. 567 hard sources may either be XRBs
or Crab-like SNRs in M 31 or background AGN. 22 sources are new SNR candidates
in M 31 based on X-ray selection criteria. Time variability information can be
used to improve the source classification. Two GlC sources show type I X-ray
bursts as known from Galactic neutron star low mass XRBs. Many of the M 31 SSS
detected with XMM-Newton, Chandra and ROSAT, could be identified with optical
novae. Soft X-ray light curves can be determined in M 31 center observations
for several novae at a time opening a new area of nova research.
