|
It's here! Ubuntu 6.10, aka Edgy
Eft, is now available for download by worldwide fans of Ubuntu,
Kubuntu, and Edubuntu Linux. Canonical Ltd., Ubuntu's commercial half,
announced the release of both the desktop and server versions on Oct.
26.
It's here! Ubuntu 6.10, aka Edgy
Eft, is now available for download by worldwide fans of Ubuntu,
Kubuntu, and Edubuntu Linux. Canonical Ltd., Ubuntu's commercial half,
announced the release of both the desktop and server versions on Oct.
26.
Canonical is claiming that Ubuntu 6.10 offers a cleaner,
sharper design, together with new and enhanced desktop applications and
advances in security. It also boasts significantly faster boot-up times
and leading edge free software programs.
While Ubuntu 6.10 is not Canonical's primary business Linux -- that honor still goes to Ubuntu 6.06 LTS
-- the new Ubuntu will be maintained for 18 months, with free security
updates for all users. For deployments that require additional service
guarantees, full telephone and online support on commercial terms is
available globally from Canonical and its service partners'
professional support teams.
Desktop enhancements
The
desktop version introduces a host of new features, an improved
interface, and a wide variety of new applications and desktop tools
that make Ubuntu 6.10 flexible and user-friendly. These enhancements
include:
- Tomboy, an easy-to-use note-taking tool
- F-Spot,
the Mono-powered photo management program. This program enables
tagging, photo editing and automatic uploading to on-line photo sites
like Flickr
- GNOME 2.16, which includes general improvements and new features such as enhanced power management
- Upstart, a replacement start-up manager offering a cleaner design, eye-catching effects and a substantially faster boot time
- The
brand spanking new Firefox 2.0 Web browser wih inline spell check
support in Web forms, easy recovery of crashed sessions, built-in
phishing detectors, enhanced search engine management with built in
OpenSearch support, and better support for previewing and subscribing
to Web feeds
- Proactive security features, preventing many common security vulnerabilities even before they are discovered
- Evolution 2.8.0, the Novell email and groupware client which brings new features such as vertical message panes
In
a conversation on the day before the release, Shuttleworth also said,
that Canonical's close partnership with Intel has lead to improvements
in Ubuntu 6.10. In particular, Ubuntu now works better with with Intel
Core Duo Processors, the Intel 965 Express chipset, which is used for
graphics, and Intel Centrino Mobile Technology, which is used in many
WiFi-enabled laptops.
Ubuntu server
The Ubuntu
server edition also makes it much easier to deploy Ubuntu in such
common Linux server roles as a web or file server.
Where
Ubuntu 6.10 server stands out from other Linux server distributions is
that it includes a pre-release of the upcoming LTSP-5 (Linux Terminal Server Project).
LTSP-5 is designed to offer thin clients a lower TCO (total cost of
ownership), simpler installation, and easier maintenance than typical
office desktop deployments. With all data stored on the server,
administrators have substantially eliminated the cost of updating
individual workstations to ensure their security.
LTSP-5 includes:
- Automatic
network configuration with DHCP service for servers with two or more
network cards attached -- available with the alternate CD installer
- Language
and session selection from the LTSP log in manager -- allowing a user
to choose from any of the languages and desktop sessions installed on
the server
- Support for locally attached devices on thin
clients -- allowing users to access cameras, iPods or USB sticks on the
thin client
- Printing support -- enabling printing on a local printer from the thin client
- Full support for Etherboot
This
new functionality comes from Ubuntu's partnership with the LTSP, which
has adopted Ubuntu as the host Linux for its Project MueKow LTSP
variant. In MueKow, LTSP ships only the actual LTSP code rather than
the entire, and much larger and harder to maintain, LDE (LTSP Build
Environment). According to Shuttleworth, the MueKow thin-client
approach makes much more TCO sense for businesses considering switching
from Windows to Linux, in contrast to the fat-client approach used by
Novell in SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop (SLED) 10, or Red Hat with its
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) workstation.
Ubuntu LTSP project
manager Oliver Grawert stated, "LTSP-5 is the culmination of over one
and a half years of collaboration between the LTSP project, the Ubuntu
project, and the open source community to define the next generation of
Linux thin client technology. This partnership between the thin client
expertise of LTSP and the desktop technology of Ubuntu has enabled a
richer thin client experience for users than ever before, while
allowing both projects to benefit from each other's achievements,"
There
had been rumors that Ubuntu might soon announce a major pre-installed
deal with a desktop PC vendor, but, according to Shuttleworth, there is
no such deal in the works. Shuttleworth does believe, however, that the
LTSP thin-client space may prove very profitable for Canonical in the
long run.
Kubuntu and Edubuntu too
The Edgy Eft
release also includes new versions of Kubuntu and Edubuntu. Kubuntu is
Ubuntu with KDE 3.5.5 as the primary desktop environment instead of
GNOME. Edubuntu is a derivative of Ubuntu for the education market.
Edubuntu 6.10 includes the LTSP enhancements, as well as an enhanced
student control panel.
Availability
You can download your own copy of Ubuntu, in both desktop and server versions, here. Kubuntu is here. Edubuntu is here. Due to high-demand, be prepared to face delays for starting your download.
Read the original article: http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS2048204365.html
|
Get Informed 
