The next version of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, code-named Jaunty Jackalope, went into its beta phase late on Thursday.
Ubuntu 9.04, as it is more properly known, includes a range of enhancements over its predecessor, Intrepid Ibex, or Ubuntu 8.10. These include a new notifications system, improvements to the start-up process, and the distribution's first foray into cloud computing.
The new version of the operating system also includes updates to the Gnome interface (now version 2.26, which comes with the Brasero all-in-one CD-burning application and offers improved handling of multiple monitors), the Linux kernel (now version 2.6.28) and the X.Org server (now version 1.6). The ext4 file system is now also supported.
Ubuntu is set to make a major move into cloud computing with its next version but one, Karmic Koala, but the server version of Jackalope takes a step towards this with its technology preview of the Elastic Utility Computing Architecture for Linking Your Programs To Useful Systems (Eucalyptus).
Eucalyptus is an open-source software infrastructure for the deployment of applications into the cloud. Its interface is compatible with the application programming interface (API) for Amazon's EC2 cloud-computing service, and its inclusion in Jackalope means users of the distribution can deploy and test their own private clouds that match the EC2 API.
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According to the feature webpage for Jackalope's beta, users will be able to "dynamically create virtual machines, configure multiple clusters into a single cloud and even provide an EBS (elastic block storage) equivalent and an [Amazon] S3 compatible storage manager".
There are several known issues with the beta — these are listed on the Jackalope page — and Canonical, the company behind the distribution, is inviting users to test the release ahead of 23 April, when the final incarnation of Jaunty Jackalope is due.
Talkback
Good information and good summary David, thanks.
I've installed the Beta release on all three of my laptops (Intel, AMD and VIA CPUs), and all three installed very smoothly, and work very well. I think that the best "immediate gratification" in this release is the dramatically reduced boot time; all three now boot in roughly 30 seconds, compared to roughly 60 seconds for previous Ubuntu releases and other Linux distributions.
I find it very impressive that Ubuntu is able to stick to a very strict schedule of a new release every 6 months, and still produce a solid product with very significant improvements and additions every time. It makes for a rather stark contrast with Microsoft, who take years to produce a new release, charge users a lot of money for it, and produce a product that is so bloated and bug-ridden that vast numbers of users simply refuse to adopt it.
jw 27/3/2009
Glad you liked the piece, Jamie, and thanks for the hands-on update!
David, one more short "hands on" note about the Jaunty Beta release. I'm at home now, and I have installed it on my partner's HP 2133, which is the WSVGA (1024x600) model. It installed just as smoothly and easily as it had on my other three laptops. That is very impressive. I would categorize the HP 2133 in general as moderately difficult for installing Linux, and the WSVGA model in particular as quite difficult, but installing the Jaunty beta on it was absolutely routine.
If this is what the Beta is like, I can't wait to see what the RC and Final releases are like!
jw