| Ubuntu 7.04 due April 19 |
Apr. 16, 2007
 For Linux business users, the most important Linux release of 2007 so far is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. But for most other Linux fans, the upcoming release of Ubuntu Version 7.04 on April 19 demands more attention.
This new v7.04 release encompasses five versions: Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu Desktop, Edubuntu, Kubuntu, and Xubuntu. Along with the self-explanatory server and desktop versions, Edubuntu is meant for educational uses; Kubuntu is a desktop platform that uses KDE 3.5.6 for its desktop environment instead of Ubuntu's GNOME 2.18; and Xubuntu is a desktop for lower-end PCs and uses the lightweight Xfce 4.4 desktop manager.
The family is built around the new Linux 2.6.20 kernel. As a cutting-edge distribution, Ubuntu's developers try to bring together the latest and best of open-source software every six months. Users interested in a more settled, stable distribution with full support can turn to Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Long Term Support).
Ubuntu Server
Ubuntu 7.04 Server Edition adds support for hardware facilities that speeds the use of virtual machines, and boasts improved hardware support and easy upgrades.
On x86 systems with the Intel VT or AMD-V extensions, Ubuntu supports the new KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine support) virtualization, which was first implemented in the Linux 2.60.20 kernel. This enables users to run multiple virtual machines on unmodified Linux. Each virtual machine has private virtualized hardware: a network card, disk, graphics adapter and so on. Canonical Ltd. officials said Ubuntu is the first Linux distribution that supports VMware's VMI (Virtual Machine Interface), which provides optimized performance under VMware.
A great advantage to this, said Ubuntu's leader and financial backer Mark Shuttleworth, in a Linux-Watch interview, is that KVM and VMware makes it easy for Linux to support paravirtualization-style virtual machines. Unlike, "Xen, which is not quite there yet, VMware and KVM work on Linux without a special kernel, while still producing great performance numbers."
Jane Silber, Canonical's director of operations, stated, "Virtualization is becoming de rigueur in the data center and we've made it a priority to incorporate it into this latest release. Our users want choice and ease of use, so whether as a guest or host operating system, Ubuntu 7.04 will support commercial virtualization products such as VMware, as well as open-source projects including Xen and KVM."
The server also has a new management tool that enables simple, automated upgrading to new releases of Ubuntu. This completes the ability to easily and safely upgrade Ubuntu whether using it on the desktop or server. The server tool gives administrators control over how the upgrade will be undertaken and lets the manager override decisions where required. By default the upgrade tools provide full dependency-checking and task upgrades ensuring the server remains functional. Whether using Ubuntu server on a single system or across a data center, this ability to upgrade seamlessly should help administrators save time and money.
In addition to virtualization support and easy upgrades, new server features include: - A range of new performance improvements including better performance on multicore processors, support for the Processor Data Area and optimizations for 64-bit architectures.
- New print and sound support through Jetpipe, a printing architecture, and PulseAudio sound server for thin clients.
- Improved availability of network services via improved scheduling for highly parallel services. Services such as SQL and Apache should remain more responsive and stable under heavy loads.
- Secure remote network installation using a remote SSH (Secure Shell) terminal.
- Improvements on UltraSPARC systems so that Ubuntu recognizes other operating system installations and can install without damaging data or operating systems.
- An updated LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP/Python/Perl) stack, which includes new versions of Apache, 2.2.3; MySQL 5.0.38, Python, 2.5; and PHP 5.2.1.
- Updates to the supported cluster suites: Updates to the latest software along with the latest Red Hat GFS (Global File System) and OCFS2 (Oracle Cluster File System). The server also includes technology previews of GFS2 and the new local mount capability for OCFS2 for administrators to start testing before production deployments.
Ubuntu Desktop
On the desktop side, the new Ubuntu comes with a Windows migration tool. The tool recognizes Internet Explorer bookmarks, Firefox favorites, desktop wallpaper, AOL IM and Yahoo IM contacts, and imports them all into Ubuntu during installation. This offers easier and faster migration for new users of Ubuntu and individuals wanting to run a dual-boot system.
While Ubuntu is not embracing proprietary software the way Freespire has, this new version does make it simpler to work with proprietary multimedia formats. It includes a new guided wizard for automatically installing multimedia codices not shipped with Ubuntu, which gives users a safe and easy way to experience proprietary music and videos.
Ubuntu 7.04 will also work with Linspire's upcoming open CNR (Click 'N Run) application installation program, which will let users easily install both open-source and proprietary programs.
Shuttleworth added, however, that "There are no plans to make CNR part of the default package management." Users who prefer to use the traditional Synaptic Package Manager or even the command-line Deb commands can continue to do so.
The new desktop also includes plug-and-play network-sharing support with Avahi. This is a system that facilitates service discovery on a local network. Its functionality is similar to Apple Mac OS X's Rendezvous and Bonjour. This Zeroconf (Zero configuration) enables users to immediately view and use network-enabled printers and file and media servers.
All versions of Ubuntu 7.04 will be maintained for 18 months on both the desktop and server, with additional free support available from the Ubuntu community. For deployments that require additional service guarantees, full telephone and online support is commercially available globally from the professional support team at Canonical and service partners.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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