Karmic Koala: The best Ubuntu Linux ever?

I’ve looked at hundreds of Linux distributions over the years. Some of them have been awful. Many have been OK. Few have been great. Based on my early look at Karmic Koala, Ubuntu 9.10, I think we’ve got a very strong Linux desktop distribution coming down the way.

Before jumping into my early review, let me say that while I like Ubuntu, I’m not an Ubuntu fanboy. I also like Fedora, openSUSE, Mint, and MEPIS to name a few Linux distributions that I use on a regular basis.

What caught my eye with this version of Ubuntu is that, especially for a beta, it’s a remarkably attractive and smooth-running Linux distribution. I first installed it as a virtual machine with Sun’s VirtualBox on a Gateway DX4710-09. The computer uses an Intel Dual Core 2.5GHz E5200 processor. I have the 64-bit version of the new Ubuntu, 2GBs of RAM and a 10GB virtual drive. In addition, I installed Koala on a Dell Inspiron 530S. This low-end PC is powered by a 2.2-GHz Intel Pentium E2200 dual-core processor with an 800-MHz front-side bus. The test machine had 4GB of RAM, a 500GB SATA (Serial ATA) drive, and an Integrated Intel 3100 GMA (Graphics Media Accelerator) chip set.

On both systems, I was very impressed by installation program. Not only did it look great, but it also automatically detected and set-up all the hardware. Linux distributions, in general, have gotten much better with this kind of thing, but Ubuntu 9.10 worked great both at taking a PC from a lifeless pile of chips to something living and useful, and looking good doing so.

It was also fast. How fast? On both my systems, I went from the hard-drive starting its spin to a working desktop in less than 20 seconds. Let me remind you, this is beta software running in a virtual system on a not especially-fast PC.

The interface itself is the brand-spanking new GNOME 2.28. While generally speaking I prefer KDE, this updated GNOME with Ubuntu has a nice, clean look that I and many others will like.

Along with the update interface, Ubuntu uses GNOME’s vastly improved Empathy IM client and my favorite e-mail/groupware client, Evolution. Those, along with Firefox 3.5.3 for Web browsing, give you all the first class Internet tools you’ll need.

This distributions runs on top of the latest Linux kernel, Linux 2.6.31. This also includes the Ext4 file-system, which delivers excellent hard drive performance.

Another real nice addition to this distribution for new users is the Ubuntu Software Center. This take on an app store makes it mindlessly easy for people to find and install software, though experienced Linux users won’t need it. For them, the Synaptic package manager and all the other usual package installation programs are there. This is a great feature if you have a friend who’s just getting their feet wet in Linux.

Is this edition of Ubuntu going to be the best one ever? Well, this is only a beta, so I can’t say that as a sure thing, but it’s sure looking great so far. Check it out. I think you’ll be happy with what you find.

Ubuntu 9.10 Beta Is Available for Download

The Karmic Koala Chronicles

 

A few minutes ago, the Ubuntu development team unleashed the Beta release of the upcoming Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) operating system, due for launch in late October this year. As usual, we’ve downloaded a copy of it in order to keep you up-to-date with the latest changes in the Ubuntu 9.10 development.
What’s new in Ubuntu 9.10 Beta? Well, as you probably already know, there is now a revamped Human theme, the Humanity icons and lots of wallpapers! Moreover, the Ubuntu Software Store has been renamed to Ubuntu Software Center and updated several times in the last two weeks. And… in order to improve the boot performance, the Ubuntu developers have now transitioned to Upstart.

Ubuntu Software Center

A new security feature included in the 32-bit Linux kernel that Ubuntu uses is Non-eXecutable memory protection, which has been enabled by default for quite a while now on processors that support the NX feature, but it has been useless for systems that have lacked support. From now on, the kernel provides an emulation of the NX feature for all these other processors, potentially blocking many exploits targeting the stack or heap memory.
A lot of the applications in the repository have been compiled using compilation flags that create Position-Independent Executables, which enable them to take advantage of the Address Space Layout Randomization function that is available in the Ubuntu kernel. That way, when the programs load themselves into memory, they don’t always use the same layout, so an attacker can’t redirect the program’s execution in the same way every time to run exploit code.

GNOME 2.28.0

"We’ve done some work on improving the overall look and feel of booting the system. Please open bugs with the tag ‘ubuntu-boot-experience’ on any messages you see flashed after grub loads and before the new Ubuntu Splash screen (xsplash) displays. If you have trouble catching them before the splash screen loads, you can also check vt1 or dmesg output for copies of these messages. We also accept photos or video attachments if that’s easier, however please make sure the text is readable." – was said in the announcement.
The home folder encryption option in the installer is back, and after the installation, when the desktop appears, you will be prompted by a dialog to set up the encryption passphrase, in case you will ever need to recover your data from the encrypted partition. See the picture below…

Other than that, the desktop environment is powered by GNOME 2.28.0, the Linux kernel packages are now at version 2.6.31-11.22 and they are based on the Linux kernel 2.6.31.1. All we can say is, test… test… test and report bugs.

What’s new in Kubuntu and Xubuntu 9.10 Beta? Kubuntu 9.10 Beta is built on top of the KDE 4.3.1 desktop environment and it includes the following applications and features:
· Konqueror Web Browser;
· Amarok 2.2 RC;
· KPackageKit 0.4.2;
· K3b 2 (Alpha 2);
· Userconfig 0.9;
· QtCurve 0.68.0;
· kcm-gtk 0.5.2;
· NetworkManager applet improvements;
· KDE microblogging Plasma widget;
· OpenOffice KDE integration;
· Firefox installer;
· Message Indicator.

Kubuntu 9.10 Beta

On the other hand, Xubuntu 9.10 Beta is built on top of the lightweight XFCE 4.6.1 desktop environment and has some updated applications. Moreover, it appears that the user interface is becoming really really ridiculously good looking. We really like the new color scheme and artwork. See the pictures below…

Xubuntu 9.10 Beta

Xubuntu 9.10 Beta

On October 29th, Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) will become the eleventh release of the Ubuntu operating system. See you again in exactly three weeks (October 22nd), for the Release Candidate version of the upcoming Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala).
The Karmic Koala Release Schedule:
May 14th, 2009 – Alpha 1 release
June 11th, 2009 – Alpha 2 release
July 23rd, 2009 – Alpha 3 release
August 13th, 2009 – Alpha 4 release
September 3rd, 2009 – Alpha 5 release
September 17th, 2009 – Alpha 6 release
October 1st, 2009 – Beta release
October 22nd, 2009 – Release Candidate
October 29th, 2009 – Final release of Ubuntu 9.10
Download Ubuntu 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Ubuntu Server 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Kubuntu 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Kubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Xubuntu 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Edubuntu 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Ubuntu Studio 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.
Download Mythbuntu 9.10 Beta (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Remember that this is a beta release and it should NOT be installed on production machines. It is intended to be used for testing purposes only. Please report bugs to the Ubuntu Bug Tracker.

LiveJournal Tags: ubuntu,Karmic Kola,Ubuntu 9.10 Beta Download,Softpedia

How to turn a spare Linux machine into a media server

 

Linux is brilliant at serving files. It’s this ability that keeps the enterprise world turning to Linux for its heavy lifting jobs and that keeps the world Goggling 24/7.

But it’s just as good at serving files from a computer tucked away under the stairs or stuck in the loft, and a server in your house is now becoming an essential accessory.

Mobile phones, games consoles and even televisions are rapidly developing the ability to read, display and play files held on a media centre PC, and Linux is the perfect free software solution. All you need is a relatively low-powered PC, a decent amount of storage and somewhere safe to hide it.

1. Install the software

We’ve chosen to use Ubuntu Server Edition for two reasons. First, it’s the same distribution that most people know and love, only optimized for use on a server. Second, you still have access to exactly the same packages and repositories as you do with with the desktop version, which makes installing and using software easy.

Put the disc into the machine you want to use as the server and select your language followed by ‘Install Ubuntu Server’. Unlike the desktop version, there’s no graphical installer. Instead you’ll need to choose your configuration settings from the pages of options that appear throughout the installer.

Don’t let this put you off; there aren’t any questions that can’t easily be answered, and the installation is effectively no different from a standard desktop installation.

The first question asks you again for the language, the second for your location and the third for your keyboard layout. After a brief pause, you’ll be asked for a hostname. You might want to change this to something like ‘mediaserver’, rather than the default ‘ubuntu’ to avoid confusion with any other Ubuntu installations you may have running on the same network.