Xubuntu

Revision 89 as of 2008-09-04 08:22:27

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Introduction

The Ubuntu developers are moving very quickly to bring you the latest and greatest software the Open Source community has to offer. With "Intrepid Ibex" Alpha 5 come some new features as well as lots of bug fixes.

This is still an alpha release. Do not install it on production machines. The final stable version will be released on October 30th, 2008.

Upgrading from Ubuntu 8.04

To upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04, press Alt+F2 and type in "update-manager -d" (without the quotes) into the command box. Update Manager should open up and tell you: New distribution release '8.10' is available. Click Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions.

New Features in Intrepid

These features are showcased for your attention. Please test them and report any bugs you find on Launchpad: http://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu .

GNOME 2.23.91

Ubuntu brings you the newest GNOME 2.23.91 desktop environment with tons of bug-fixes and new features, some of which include:

  • Nautilus file manager has tab support and Eject icons for removable drives in Places sidebar.

  • File Roller archive manager now supports ALZ, RZIP, CAB, TAR.7Z file types also.

X.Org server 7.4

X.Org 7.4, the latest stable version of X.Org, is available in Intrepid. This release brings much better support for hot-pluggable input devices such as tablets, keyboards, and mice. At the same time this will allow the great majority of users to run without a /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

Linux kernel 2.6.27

The kernel team has agreed to ship 8.10 with the Linux kernel 2.6.27, currently in development at RC4. This is a significant release with better hardware and numerous bug-fixes; it will surely help improve Ubuntu Intrepid.

Encrypted private directory

The ecryptfs-utils package was recently promoted to Ubuntu main, with support for an secret encrypted folder in your Home Folder.

You can help test this new feature, by going Applications → Accessories → Terminal and typing:

  • sudo aptitude install ecryptfs-utils

  • ecryptfs-setup-private

Guest session

The User Switcher panel applet (package fast-user-switch-applet) now provides an extra entry for starting a Guest session. This creates a temporary password-less user account with restricted privileges: the account cannot access any users' home directories, nor permanently store data. This is sufficiently safe to lend your laptop to someone else for a quick email check, or to use it as a surf station for guests in your house.

Network Manager 0.7

Intrepid Ibex ships Network Manager 0.7, which comes with long-expected features, some of which are:

  • Ability to manage system wide settings (Ex. No need to log in in order to get a connection.)
  • Ability to manage 3G connections (GSM/CDMA.)
  • Ability to manage multiple active devices at once.
  • Ability to manage PPP and PPPOE connections.
  • Ability to manage devices with static IP configurations.
  • Ability to manage routes for devices.

More information can be found on the Network Manager wiki.

Testing 8.10

Known issues

It should come as no surprise that this alpha release of Intrepid Ibex contains bugs. Your comments, bug reports, patches and suggestions will help fix bugs and improve future releases. Please report bugs through the Ubuntu bug-tracker. Also see the Ubuntu Bug Squad.

Here are known issues with Ubuntu 8.10, please do not report them again:

  • When using manual partitioning and configuring crypt+LVM, the partitioning will fail in certain configurations. As a workaround, you can use the "Entire disk with encryption" install option. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/251640

  • The Intrepid 2.6.26-5 kernel fails to boot as a Guest under VirtualBox. Investigation of this issue is ongoing. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/246067

  • Resume from Suspend with the 2.6.27-1 and 2.6.27-2 kernel will cause the system to reboot/shutdown. This issue should be resolved with the 2.6.27-3 kernel which will be uploaded post Alpha5. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/262423

  • A list of known regressions regarding the 2.6.27 kernel has been assembled at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bugs?field.tag=regression-2.6.27

  • On Ubuntu systems, the "Shutdown" button in the Quit... menu does not shut down the system, but instead logs the user out. Investigation of this issue is ongoing. For now, please shut down from the log-in menu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/250506

  • On Ubuntu systems, the default desktop theme is wrong. As a workaround, please select "Human-Murrine" (or another theme of your choice) in System → Preferences → Appearance. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/256972

  • The X.Org configuration file (/etc/X11/xorg.conf) still has InputDevice entries for the mouse and keyboard, but they are ignored now because input-hotplug is used. The keyboard settings come from /etc/default/console-setup, and to change them please use "sudo dpkg-reconfigure console-setup". After that, HAL and X need to restart.

  • After upgrading to this version, some keys might misbehave in X. Please make sure you have set the keyboard model as Generic Evdev-managed keyboard in System → Preferences → Keyboard, in the tab Layouts. If some keys still have problems, please file a bug against xkeyboard-config, and provide the output of setxkbmap -print and xkbcomp :0 - both run in the Terminal.

  • The OEM mode on both Desktop and Alternate CDs gets stuck in a loop. Alpha 4 is thus not suitable for doing installations in OEM mode. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/257590

  • The Print server mode of the server CDs does not install the CUPS printing system. You can fix that after installation with "sudo aptitude install cups." https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/257780

  • Memtest86+, accessible via the boot menu, falsely reports some memory as failing the test. Investigation of this issue is ongoing. http://launchpad.net/bugs/246412

Download Alpha 5

From here you can get the ISO CD images or TORRENT BitTorrent CD images:

See BurningIsoHowto for instructions, then re-insert CD/DVD and reboot.

More Information

You can find out more about Ubuntu on the Ubuntu website and Ubuntu wiki:

  • If you want to see what the developers have cooking for the next alpha release, feel free to take a look through the Intrepid Ibex blueprint page.

  • If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, please take a look at the Ubuntu Get Involved page.

  • To have future Ubuntu development announcements emailed to you, please go to the ubuntu-devel-announce page and subscribe with your email address.

  • To have future Ubuntu package updates emailed to you, please go to the intrepid-changes page and subscribe with your email address.