The latest version of Ubuntu has officially been released.
The release comes shortly after the news that ie.archive.ubuntu.com is now mirrored in Dublin by Heanet
A summary of this release's features:
* Edubuntu A partner distribution based on Ubuntu that is specially focused on the needs of schools. Developed in partnership with the K12-LTSP community, this is a great base distro for people working with FLOSS in schools. Watch for a subsequent announcement with download information for Edubuntu. http://www.edubuntu.org/ * Ubuntu for Servers This is a CD installer specifically optimised for server installation. Watch for a subsequent announcement with download information for the new Server CD. Major new features in Ubuntu 5.10 include: * Thin Client Integration Ubuntu is the first distribution in the world to include deeply-integrated thin client technology. This allows you to deploy Ubuntu in large scale networked environments or, for example, in classrooms, with a lightweight Ubuntu image booting over the network. All Ubuntu management tools work for the thin client image as well as for the server. * OEM Installer Support This release of Ubuntu has special support for OEM hardware vendors. Ubuntu can be pre-installed and tested without configuring end user information. The user will be asked to complete that configuration (name, timezone and password) upon first startup. * Launchpad Integration Launchpad.net is the new infrastructure that Ubuntu and its derivatives use for translation, bug tracking, sharing code patches, fixes and technical support. Users of Ubuntu 5.10 can make technical support requests for any package in Ubuntu, and can help to translate their software, directly from the built-in Help menu in every desktop application.Breezy includes something for everyone. On the desktop there's open office 2 (beta) and X.org 6.8.2: On the Desktop
* GNOME 2.12.1 * OpenOffice.org 2.0 beta 2 * X.org 6.8.2 with wider hardware support * An enhanced tool for easily installing new applications (see "Add Applications" on the Applications menu) * A new tool which makes it easy to install support for multiple languages (Language Selector) * Editable GNOME menus * Applications are now linked into the Launchpad infrastructure (new entries on the Help menus for translation and support) * Support for writing audio CDs (Serpentine) * Graphical startup process with progress bar (USplash) * New documentation (Ubuntu 5.10 Quick Tour and Ubuntu 5.10 FAQ Guide) * Language packs with updates from the Rosetta translation platform, part of Launchpad.net, which makes contributing translations easy for everybody in any language.At the server level there are some nice developments including php5:
* Kernel support for cluster filesystems (OCFS2 and GFS) * Plone 2.1 & Zope 2.8.1 * PHP5 * Support for automatic storage allocation into LVM volumes * Built-in thin client functionality produced in cooperation with the LTSP project (http://wiki.ubuntu.com/ThinClientHowto) * Simple NFS root setup with automatic hardware detection through initramfs-tools * Support for up to 4 gigabytes of RAM by default on 32-bit architecturesI've been running breezy on my desktop for the last couple of months and will look into upgrading sicilia shortly
