The next major version of Ubuntu Linux isn't due out until October 29th. But the neat thing about open source projects is that development happens in public, and anyone willing to risk tackling a few bugs is welcome to download the recently released Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 3.
The latest build features a number of updates including updated versions of the GNOME desktop environment and the Linux kernel. Canonical has also updated the GRUB bootloader to GRUB2, changed the default filesystem to ext4, and added a new Intel video driver architecture. Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 also replaced Pidgin as the default instant messaging client with Empathy.
Continue reading 29.07.2009. 11:12
Some would say this has been a long time in coming, but others are probably looking around to see if they can spot Babe the pig taking off: Microsoft has announced it is submitting 20,000 lines of source code to the Linux kernel under the GPL2 licence.
Even Microsoft seems to be aware how strange this situation is, describing the move as "a break from the ordinary". The code essentially provides device drivers for Linux that help it detect when it is running on Microsoft's proprietary Hyper-V virtualisation system so that performance is improved.
Sam Ramji, the senior director of Platform Strategy in Microsoft’s Server and Tools division, said the code was there to "enhance interoperabilty" between Windows and Linux, "to provide the choices our customers are asking for." Tom Hanrahan, the direction of Microsoft's Open Source Technology Center (it has one of them?) was more specific: "The Linux device drivers we are releasing are designed so Linux can run in enlightened mode, giving it the same optimized synthetic devices as a Windows virtual machine running on top of Hyper-V. Without this driver code, Linux can run on top of Windows, but without the same high performance levels."
Continue reading 20.07.2009. 11:40
London: July 1, 2009-- Canonical, the founder of the Ubuntu project, today launched new professional services to help and support users building 'private clouds', cloud infrastructures behind a corporate firewall.
The move follows the technical preview in April of Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC), an open-source system that enables organisations to build their own clouds that match the interface of Amazon EC2. UEC is now available as part of the Ubuntu Server Edition technology stack.
By creating private clouds with UEC, organisations can optimise server use and increase data-centre efficiencies, while lowering costs and providing end users with self-service IT. Ubuntu is the first Linux distribution to provide such a system and now Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud Services from Canonical help businesses build these environments with optimal efficiency.
“Enterprises are realising that building 'private clouds' enables them to better manage variable workloads, while reducing the waste of idle servers. Building on open-source technology also avoids the issue of vendor lock-in,” said Mark Shuttleworth, CEO of Canonical. “Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud enables businesses to do this - and the addition of these services helps them to do it with confidence.”
Canonical has partnered with Eucalyptus, whose eponymous product forms the base of UEC, to jointly provide the service but with a single interface for the customer through the Canonical support team.
“While the IT industry talks of future strategies and releases vapour ware, UEC today allows businesses to deploy and now support a 'private cloud' on open source technologies from a renowned Linux provider,” said Woody Rollins, CEO of Eucalyptus. “We are very excited to lend our expertise to building the type of professional services that will help more businesses discover the benefits of private clouds built on open technologies.”
[source :ubuntu news]01.07.2009. 15:05