| Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) arrives |
Oct. 26, 2006
 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.
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