Ubuntu Linux 9.10 'Karmic Koala' Starts
Its Climb Faster boot times, cloud services, more software and fewer "paper cuts" get packed into the latest Linux release.
The open source OS's developers are simultaneously releasing theserver, desktop and netbook editions of Ubuntu 9.10 today, offeringwhat Shuttleworth earlier this week referred to as a complete platformthat he hopes will become the default alternative to Microsoft's Windows operating systems.
The first thing that new users are likely to notice about the Karmic release is the speedier boot process.
"The boot process is now substantially faster in Karmic than ithas been in any previous Ubuntu release," Shuttleworth said in aconference call with the media earlier this week. "We have a goal toget to a 10-second boot, and Karmic is a nice step in that direction."
The previous Jaunty Jackalope Ubuntu Linux release had made similar boot speed gains when it debuted in April.
Among the new features of the Karmic releases is the UbuntuSoftware Center, which is an attempt to revamp the add/remove softwarefunction in Ubuntu. Shuttleworth explained that Ubuntu is headed in thedirection of opening up the software delivery mechanism both to empowerthird-party ISVs and to make it a smoother experience for users.
Shuttleworth is also hoping that the new Ubuntu release won'tgive users "paper cuts," either. As part of the release cycle forKarmic, Ubuntu started a project called 100 Paper Cuts, which aimed toeliminate bugs and trivial annoyances that users had identified.Shuttleworth reported that for the final release, there had been some80 "paper cut" fixes.
With Karmic, Ubuntu is also opening up a new effort to delivernetwork services to the user's desktop with the Ubuntu One service.Ubuntu One provides users with 2 GB of free backup storage and cloudsynchronization, housed on Amazon's S3 cloud storage service and paidfor by Shuttleworth's company Canonical, which is Ubuntu's leadcommercial sponsor.
Ubuntu One also offers an option to purchase 50 GB of cloud-based storage.
In Karmic, Ubuntu One is focused on file management as well assome contact and address book management. But in the future,Shuttleworth said that Ubuntu One will move into other areas, suchidentity management.
"We really are starting to combine the idea of free softwarewith services direct to the desktop and shifting the emphasis from thepersonal computer to personal computing," Shuttleworth said. "This isblurring the lines between traditional desktop software and what peopleare referring to as computing in the cloud."
On the server side of Ubuntu, enabling the cloud is also a keygoal, courtesy of the Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC), another enhancedfeature of the Karmic release. UEC made its initial Ubuntu debut in theJaunty Jackalope release in April with full enterprise support servicesfollowing several months later. In the Karmic release, UEC is being more tightly integrated into the server as well as being enabled with a UEC store for applications.The application store packages cloud-ready application for easyconsumption and deployment by enterprise users -- similarly to modelslike Apple's App Store for the iPhone.
While Ubuntu has added features and performance improvement onits server OS, it still faces a strong competitive battle against Linuxrivals Red Hat and Novell in the enterprise space. One area that Ubuntuhas focused on with past releases is server certification forenterprise hardware, though that wasn't a key focus in the Karmicrelease.
"The general server story continues to improve, it is wonderfulto see the rate of adoption of adoption of Ubuntu on the servergenerally," Shuttleworth said. "Our relationships on the hardware frontare improving, but we have no new server certification announcements tomake with this release."
source: http://www.internetnews.com
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