TechnicalOverview
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← Revision 197 as of 2008-10-30 04:02:17 ⇥
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## When adding features to this page, please add credits for the relevant upstream developers where appropriate. | |
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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 6 come some new features as well as lots of bug fixes. | The Ubuntu team is happy to bring you the latest and greatest software the open source community has to offer. This is their latest result: Ubuntu 8.10. |
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'''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 LTS = |
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== Upgrading from Ubuntu 8.04 == | If you are upgrading from Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, we have easy-to-follow [[http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/upgrading|upgrade instructions]]. |
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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 since Ubuntu 8.04 LTS = |
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= New Features in Intrepid = | == GNOME 2.24 == |
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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 [[http://live.gnome.org/TwoPointTwentythree/|GNOME 2.23.91]] desktop environment with tons of bug-fixes and new features, some of which include: |
Ubuntu brings you the newest [[http://library.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/2.24/|GNOME 2.24]] desktop environment with tons of bug-fixes and new features, some of which include: |
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== X.Org server 7.4 == | == X.Org 7.4 == |
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[[http://www.x.org/wiki/Releases/7.4|X.Org 7.4]], the latest stable version of [[http://www.x.org/wiki/|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. | [[http://www.x.org/wiki/Releases/7.4|X.Org 7.4]], the latest stable version of [[http://www.x.org/wiki/|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. A new failsafe X is introduced, to give better tools for troubleshooting X startup failures. Two of the older nvidia binary drivers are not available for X.Org 7.4 yet, so users of these drivers will be automatically switched to the corresponding open source drivers. |
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The kernel team is evaluating use of Linux kernel 2.6.27 for Ubuntu 8.10, which is included in Intrepid Alpha 6 as part of this evaluation process. This is a significant release with better hardware and numerous bug-fixes which is believed will provide overall improvement for Ubuntu 8.10. Regressions in 2.6.27 should be reported to the Ubuntu kernel team via [[https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux]]. | Ubuntu 8.10 includes Linux kernel 2.6.27, a significant release with better hardware support and numerous bug-fixes. |
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The {{{ecryptfs-utils}}} package was recently promoted to Ubuntu main, with support for an [[EncryptedPrivateDirectory|secret encrypted folder]] in your Home Folder. | The {{{ecryptfs-utils}}} package was recently promoted to Ubuntu main, with support for a [[https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EncryptedPrivateDirectory|secret encrypted folder]] in your Home Folder (by Michael Halcrow, Dustin Kirkland, and Daniel Baumann). |
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You can help test this new feature, by going {{{Applications → Accessories → Terminal}}} and typing: | You can help test this new feature by going to {{{Applications → Accessories → Terminal}}} and typing: |
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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. | The {{{User Switcher}}} panel applet (package {{{fast-user-switch-applet}}}) now provides an extra entry for starting a Guest session (by Martin Pitt). 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. |
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Intrepid Ibex ships Network Manager 0.7, which comes with long-expected features, such as: * system wide settings (i.e., no need to log in in order to get a connection) |
Ubuntu 8.10 includes Network Manager 0.7 (by Dan Williams and others), with long-awaited features such as: * system-wide settings (no need to log in to get a connection) |
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== "Last successful boot" recovery entry == On each successful boot, Intrepid will retain a copy of your running kernel and make it available from the boot loader as a "Last successful boot" option. This makes it possible for old kernel packages to be safely auto-removed by the package manager, instead of being kept indefinitely. |
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[[http://linux.dell.com/dkms|DKMS]] is included in Alpha 6, allowing kernel drivers to be automatically rebuilt when new kernels are released. This makes it possible for kernel package updates to be made available immediately without waiting for rebuilds of driver packages, and without third-party driver packages becoming out of date when installing these kernel updates. | [[http://linux.dell.com/dkms|DKMS]] (by Dell) is included in Ubuntu 8.10, allowing kernel drivers to be automatically rebuilt when new kernels are released. This makes it possible for kernel package updates to be made available immediately without waiting for rebuilds of driver packages, and without third-party driver packages becoming out of date when installing these kernel updates. |
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A lot of new features have been added in Samba 3.2 amongst them: | A lot of new features have been added in Samba 3.2, including: |
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* ipv6 support * better integration with the latest version of Microsoft Windows© clients and servers. |
* IPv6 * better integration with current Microsoft Windows™ clients and servers. |
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It should also be noted that Samba 3.2 is licensed under the GPLv3. | == PAM authentication framework == Ubuntu 8.10 features a new {{{pam-auth-update}}} tool, which allows simple management of PAM authentication configuration for both desktops and servers (by Steve Langasek). Packages providing PAM modules will be configured automatically, and users can adjust their authentication preferences by running {{{sudo pam-auth-update}}}. |
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= Download Alpha 6 = | More information can be found in the [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PAMConfigFrameworkSpec|Ubuntu wiki]]. |
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Get it while it's hot. ISOs and torrents are available at: | == Totem BBC plugin == |
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http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/intrepid/alpha-6/ (Ubuntu) <<BR>> http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/releases/intrepid/alpha-6/ (Ubuntu Education Edition) <<BR>> http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/releases/intrepid/alpha-6/ (Kubuntu) <<BR>> ## http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/jeos/releases/intrepid/alpha-6/ (Ubuntu JeOS) [[BR]] http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/intrepid/alpha-6/ (Xubuntu) <<BR>> ## http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntustudio/releases/intrepid/alpha-6/ (Ubuntu``Studio) |
Ubuntu 8.10 features a new plugin for the Totem movie player that fetches free digital content from the [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/|BBC]]. To enable it, start Totem (Applications -> Sound & Video -> Movie Player), enable the plugin (Edit -> Plugins -> BBC content viewer) and select "BBC" from the drop-down labelled "Playlist". Thanks to the [[http://www.bbc.co.uk/|BBC]] and [[http://www.collabora.co.uk/|Collabora]] for their work developing this feature. == Server Virtualization == === python-vm-builder === This is a complete rewrite of ubuntu-vm-builder featuring a better template system, a plugin architecture allowing support for other distributions, front-ends and additional functionalities such as post install task (--exec, --copy) or first boot (--first-boot, --first-login). It provides a compatibility mode with the previous command-line syntax and adds better reporting. Python-vm-builder allows you to create a new virtual machine in a few minutes without going through the interactive installation process. It can be very useful for developers, software vendors or system administrators. A tutorial is available at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/JeOSVMBuilder === Ubuntu as a Xen guest === Using Ubuntu as a Xen guest is now a supported option included in the standard server kernel and is a choice when building virtual machines with python-vm-builder. === JeOS is now an option in the server installer === In an effort to simplify our build process and avoid confusion when trying to install JeOS on real hardware, JeOS is no longer provided as a separate ISO. Instead, it is an option that is activated on the server installer by pressing F4 on the first screen and selecting the "Install a minimal virtual machine" option. == Notable inclusion in the main repository == The following packages have been included in the main repository and are now supported options that can be of particular interest for server administrators: * Sun's Java OpenJDK 1.6 - an open source implementation of the Java development kit * Apache's Tomcat 6 - A Java servlet container * ClamAV - a virus detection engine that can be coupled to mail servers * Spam``Assassin - A spam detection engine that can be coupled to mail servers == Boot degraded raid setting == Traditionally, booting an Ubuntu installation with the root filesystem on a degraded RAID drops the system into a busybox prompt in the initramfs. This is the safest choice as it will prevent any further possible harm to data and let administrator pick what to do, but was causing issues with server hosted in remote locations. A system administrator can now statically configure their machines to continue on booting even if a disk is bad in the array by issuing the following command: {{{ echo "BOOT_DEGRADED=true" | sudo tee -a /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/mdadm }}} Additionally, this can be specified on the kernel boot line with the {{{bootdegraded=[true|false]}}} parameter. == Service command now supported == Fedora or Red-Hat administrators will now feel a bit more comfortable using Ubuntu as the service command they had been using to manage daemons is now standard on Ubuntu. In addition to the traditional {{{sudo /etc/init.d/<service> [start|stop|restart]}}} way of managing a process, it is now also possible to use {{{sudo service <service> [start|stop|restart]}}}. In addition, numerous standard services now support the ''status'' option so that, e.g., {{{sudo service postfix status}}} will now report if the service is running or not. == OpenLDAP using ''cn=config'' == The default installation of the OpenLDAP server now uses the ''cn=config'' extension, which allows automatic synchronization between LDAP replicas of configuration changes made. == Service-aware Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw) == Common services now inform ufw of the ports that are recommended for their proper enabling, so the administrator can open them in a single simple command {{{ufw allow <service>}}}. == Compiler security-hardening features by default == The gcc compiler now defaults to enabling several [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CompilerFlags|security hardening features and warnings]]. This stops many undiscovered security vulnerabilities, rendering them unexploitable. == Network services compiled as position-independent executables == To take advantage of the kernel's ability to randomize the in-memory location of executables, many network services were compiled as position-independent executables (PIE), including: apache2, bind9, openldap, postfix, cups, openssh, postgresql-8.3, samba, dovecot, dhcp3. This makes certain kinds of security vulnerabilities even harder to exploit. |
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As is to be expected at this stage of the release process, there are several known bugs that users are likely to run into with Intrepid Alpha 6. We have documented them here for your convenience along with any known workarounds, so that you don't need to spend time reporting these bugs 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]] * 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]] * 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 [[https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xkeyboard-config/+bugs|xkeyboard-config]], and provide the output of {{{setxkbmap -print}}} and {{{xkbcomp :0 -}}} both run in the Terminal. * The gvfsd-trash daemon sometimes crashes on shutdown. Investigation of this issue is ongoing, however the bug is not believed to have practical impact for users beyond the apport crash reports themselves. Apport will be disabled prior to the final release. [[https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/252174]] = Reporting Bugs = It should come as no surprise that this alpha release of Intrepid Ibex contains other bugs. Your comments, bug reports, patches and suggestions will help fix bugs and improve future releases. Please report bugs through [[https://bugs.launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+bugs|the Ubuntu bugtracker]] If you want to help out with bugs, the [[http://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad|Bug Squad]] is always looking for help. = Participate in Ubuntu = If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, take a look at the list of ways you can participate at http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/ = More Information = You can find out more about Ubuntu on the [[http://www.ubuntu.com|Ubuntu website]] and [[http://wiki.ubuntu.com|Ubuntu wiki]]. To sign up for future Ubuntu development announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu's development announcement list at: http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-announce = Credits = The Alpha 6 technical overview is brought to you by: * Dustin Kirkland * Martin Pitt * Alexander Sack * Steve Langasek |
For a full list of errata for Ubuntu 8.10, please see the [[http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/810|Ubuntu 8.10 release notes]]. |
Introduction
The Ubuntu team is happy to bring you the latest and greatest software the open source community has to offer. This is their latest result: Ubuntu 8.10.
Upgrading from Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
If you are upgrading from Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, we have easy-to-follow upgrade instructions.
New Features since Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
GNOME 2.24
Ubuntu brings you the newest GNOME 2.24 desktop environment with tons of bug-fixes and new features, some of which include:
Nautilus file manager has tab support (by Christian Neumair) and Eject icons for removable drives in Places sidebar (by Stefano Teso, Cosimo Cecchi, Christian Neumair, and others).
File Roller archive manager now supports ALZ, RZIP, CAB, TAR.7Z file types also (by Paolo Bacchilega and Changwoo Ryu).
X.Org 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. A new failsafe X is introduced, to give better tools for troubleshooting X startup failures.
Two of the older nvidia binary drivers are not available for X.Org 7.4 yet, so users of these drivers will be automatically switched to the corresponding open source drivers.
Linux kernel 2.6.27
Ubuntu 8.10 includes Linux kernel 2.6.27, a significant release with better hardware support and numerous bug-fixes.
Encrypted private directory
The ecryptfs-utils package was recently promoted to Ubuntu main, with support for a secret encrypted folder in your Home Folder (by Michael Halcrow, Dustin Kirkland, and Daniel Baumann).
You can help test this new feature by going to 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 (by Martin Pitt). 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.
Network Manager 0.7
Ubuntu 8.10 includes Network Manager 0.7 (by Dan Williams and others), with long-awaited features such as:
- system-wide settings (no need to log in to get a connection)
- management of 3G connections (GSM/CDMA)
- management of multiple active devices at once
- management of PPP and PPPOE connections
- management of devices with static IP configurations
- route management for devices
More information can be found on the Network Manager wiki.
DKMS
DKMS (by Dell) is included in Ubuntu 8.10, allowing kernel drivers to be automatically rebuilt when new kernels are released. This makes it possible for kernel package updates to be made available immediately without waiting for rebuilds of driver packages, and without third-party driver packages becoming out of date when installing these kernel updates.
Samba 3.2
A lot of new features have been added in Samba 3.2, including:
- clustered file server support
- encrypted network transport
- IPv6
- better integration with current Microsoft Windows™ clients and servers.
PAM authentication framework
Ubuntu 8.10 features a new pam-auth-update tool, which allows simple management of PAM authentication configuration for both desktops and servers (by Steve Langasek). Packages providing PAM modules will be configured automatically, and users can adjust their authentication preferences by running sudo pam-auth-update.
More information can be found in the Ubuntu wiki.
Totem BBC plugin
Ubuntu 8.10 features a new plugin for the Totem movie player that fetches free digital content from the BBC. To enable it, start Totem (Applications -> Sound & Video -> Movie Player), enable the plugin (Edit -> Plugins -> BBC content viewer) and select "BBC" from the drop-down labelled "Playlist".
Thanks to the BBC and Collabora for their work developing this feature.
Server Virtualization
python-vm-builder
This is a complete rewrite of ubuntu-vm-builder featuring a better template system, a plugin architecture allowing support for other distributions, front-ends and additional functionalities such as post install task (--exec, --copy) or first boot (--first-boot, --first-login). It provides a compatibility mode with the previous command-line syntax and adds better reporting.
Python-vm-builder allows you to create a new virtual machine in a few minutes without going through the interactive installation process. It can be very useful for developers, software vendors or system administrators. A tutorial is available at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/JeOSVMBuilder
Ubuntu as a Xen guest
Using Ubuntu as a Xen guest is now a supported option included in the standard server kernel and is a choice when building virtual machines with python-vm-builder.
JeOS is now an option in the server installer
In an effort to simplify our build process and avoid confusion when trying to install JeOS on real hardware, JeOS is no longer provided as a separate ISO. Instead, it is an option that is activated on the server installer by pressing F4 on the first screen and selecting the "Install a minimal virtual machine" option.
Notable inclusion in the main repository
The following packages have been included in the main repository and are now supported options that can be of particular interest for server administrators:
- Sun's Java OpenJDK 1.6 - an open source implementation of the Java development kit
- Apache's Tomcat 6 - A Java servlet container
- ClamAV - a virus detection engine that can be coupled to mail servers
SpamAssassin - A spam detection engine that can be coupled to mail servers
Boot degraded raid setting
Traditionally, booting an Ubuntu installation with the root filesystem on a degraded RAID drops the system into a busybox prompt in the initramfs. This is the safest choice as it will prevent any further possible harm to data and let administrator pick what to do, but was causing issues with server hosted in remote locations. A system administrator can now statically configure their machines to continue on booting even if a disk is bad in the array by issuing the following command:
echo "BOOT_DEGRADED=true" | sudo tee -a /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/mdadm
Additionally, this can be specified on the kernel boot line with the bootdegraded=[true|false] parameter.
Service command now supported
Fedora or Red-Hat administrators will now feel a bit more comfortable using Ubuntu as the service command they had been using to manage daemons is now standard on Ubuntu. In addition to the traditional sudo /etc/init.d/<service> [start|stop|restart] way of managing a process, it is now also possible to use sudo service <service> [start|stop|restart].
In addition, numerous standard services now support the status option so that, e.g., sudo service postfix status will now report if the service is running or not.
OpenLDAP using ''cn=config''
The default installation of the OpenLDAP server now uses the cn=config extension, which allows automatic synchronization between LDAP replicas of configuration changes made.
Service-aware Uncomplicated Firewall (ufw)
Common services now inform ufw of the ports that are recommended for their proper enabling, so the administrator can open them in a single simple command ufw allow <service>.
Compiler security-hardening features by default
The gcc compiler now defaults to enabling several security hardening features and warnings. This stops many undiscovered security vulnerabilities, rendering them unexploitable.
Network services compiled as position-independent executables
To take advantage of the kernel's ability to randomize the in-memory location of executables, many network services were compiled as position-independent executables (PIE), including: apache2, bind9, openldap, postfix, cups, openssh, postgresql-8.3, samba, dovecot, dhcp3. This makes certain kinds of security vulnerabilities even harder to exploit.
Known Issues
For a full list of errata for Ubuntu 8.10, please see the Ubuntu 8.10 release notes.
IntrepidIbex/TechnicalOverview (last edited 2008-10-30 04:02:17 by minbar)