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First update maintenance for the distribution of GNU / Linux Ubuntu 8.04 to support long-term. More than 200 upgraded, and therefore bugs and security problems corrected to consider a deployment including more serene.

After the official launch of Ubuntu 8.04 at the end of April, some voices raised to criticize a somewhat hasty exit with a product suffering from several bugs that are not very serious for a distribution due robust as the heron (Hardy Heron) and moreover affublée the label LTS, distinctive sign of its medium to long term. An asset seduction to encourage the establishment of Ubuntu in the workplace.

The sponsor Canonical and has been trapped by a development cycle of 6 months, ignoring lift bugs that have accumulated in April, and Ubuntu 8.04 was the victim without being always the cause (but sometimes all same). Mark Shuttleworth has seemingly drawn the conclusions, declaring war on all the bugs of the free world without exception, and promise a better rebound patches concocted by the Ubuntu community for the whole community of free, - understood that this is not yet the case … This leaves pensive.

But today it is almost a new beginning for Ubuntu 8.04 LTS with the publication of an updated maintenance 8.04.1, always LTS course. More than one update, it is updated several times with those of more than 200 software packages included in the installation media. Indeed, the stability of the product is being increased, as its security.

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS + 1
Among the updates that Firefox with the latest proposed version 3.0 directly instead of the beta version, correcting a problem with the customer Samba to enable new LAN Manager authentication with old versions of Windows servers, or the correction of various problems with the interface FUSE in the new virtual file system that prevented GNOME network access to shared files. More details are available in the official announcement.

Remember that users who have already made Ubuntu 8.04, it does make a new facility. In carrying out regular updates of their system, the latter must be level with Ubuntu 8.04.1, which can be downloaded from this address. The support of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS expires in April 2011 for the Desktop, and April 2013 for the Server version.

The seller of commercial distributions GNU / Linux Xandros bought its competitor Linspire. Given the large number of systems and existing versions, this kind of rapprochement is never easy. However, the two publishers are both based on Debian, using KDE and make ease of use and compatibility with Windows applications part two of their main objectives.

While Linspire was not officially for sale, we learn the takeover of the Californian firm by the Canadian company Xandros Corp.. The principal shareholders of Linspire have indeed decided to sell all possessions Linspire: commercial distribution of the same name but also the community and Freespire installer Click’n Run, appreciated for its simplicity of use . According to Carmony, a former chairman of Linspire party in July 2007, Linspire would have been mismanaged over the past ten months, to the point of being sold off at -80% of its value earlier.

Linspire had previously hit the headlines in his trial facing Microsoft. The Linux distribution at the time, based on Debian, called Lindows and was attacked by the editor of Redmond for a name considered too close to hers. It must be said that the company called the compatibility with various Windows programs, thanks to a program based on Wine. Even if Lindows had won the first trial, the company has preferred to find another name to avoid cumbersome court procedures.

Linspire is a distribution fee GNU / Linux, which focused on ease of use. In 2006, Linspire created the free distribution Freespire, mimicking the model and Community Development with Fedora Red Hat or Novell with openSUSE. In February 2007, Linspire has decided to rely on Ubuntu rather than Debian for its future versions. Finally, in July 2007, Linspire announced that it has signed agreements with Microsoft aimed interoperability but also providing legal protection to users of its products. These agreements are close to those who are still underway between Novell and Microsoft.

If Based on statistics provided by Distrowatch popularity, Linspire has plummeted in recent months from the 62nd spot for the last twelve months the 84th for the last quarter. At the same time, Freespire also saw his popularity drop by the 27th to 48th place. If these statistics are based solely on the number of page views a detailed distribution and do obviously not a perfect indicator, it tends to confirm that the two versions of Linspire failed to attract a critical mass of developers or draw their pins playing in a field in constant evolution.

Xandros
Note that another company has also concluded similar agreements with Microsoft: Xandros Corporation. This company sells GNU / Linux distributions based on the defunct Corel Linux and Debian. Different versions of Xandros Linux are intended for use both family and professional. They are also the ease of use. They include proprietary software, CrossOver, a program based on Wine and offering compatibility with some of the flagship applications for Windows. Xandros has been included in the EeePC of ASUS. Although Xandros is not so far among the first distributors GNU / Linux, its popularity last year remained stable, turning around the 35th spot, according to Distrowatch.

This acquisition seems in any case not against nature insofar as the two companies seem to sell distributions to close objectives. Both are derived distant family Debian and foremost use the KDE desktop. As to what will happen in the name of the new entity, but also the community distribution Freespire, it would require a few weeks of patience.

The deputies of the National Assembly using GNU / Linux for a year now. An initial assessment has been completed and it seems rather positive. This migration will be symbolic provided increased visibility for the operating system and has been an opportunity to test it on an audience of non-scientists.

In November 2006, the National Assembly announced it would increase the posts dedicated to members under the GNU / Linux and other open source software. This decision was taken following an investigation requested by several deputies. It was revealed that the needs of members could be covered by the free migration and that this would lead to significant savings, despite the projected cost of setting up these computers and systems.

After a tender launched in late 2006, Linagora and Unilog had awarded the contract. The system would be installed Ubuntu distribution with the following software: the Firefox browser 2, the email client Thunderbird and its extension agenda Lightning, and OpenOffice.org 2.0. The contract included the installation, technical support, maintenance and training. The introduction was made last July, there is now almost a year.

Members generally satisfied
Apart from saving of approximately 500 000 euros, MPs interviewed by IOC Online seem to have adapted well to their new environment. To use that they do, i.e. primarily office and the Internet, they usually find their appropriate posts. Some bring to the forefront of security issues but also interoperability, opening new system.

The record is not entirely positive, since some MPs acknowledge having hardware problems, including synchronization between their PDAs and positions of the Assembly. These have since been resolved but some have had to invest in buying a PDA compatible. Remember that this move was primarily symbolic as pertaining only to a few hundred posts. However, APRIL, an association for the promotion and research in computer science free, welcomed this first review and comments: “They [the members] encourage players french a promising economic sector, promote interoperability and open way for further migration. ”

According to the association, “despite tight deadlines and pace of work, their deputies and assistants are easily adapted to their new environment. This shows that FOSS are undoubtedly ready for the job, both in business that for the general public. ” Several MPs interviewed videos and text transcripts are available on the site of APRIL.

This view from an association in favor of free software seems confirmed by the latest generation of GNU / Linux distributions, such Ubuntu 8.04, Mandriva Spring 2008, OpenSUSE 11 or Fedora 9, which are accessible systems including the beginners.

The last major version of GNU / Linux openSUSE has just been delivered, and the community to detail its schedule for the next milling scheduled at the end of 2008.

With GNU / Linux distributions, it’s always a bit the same story, and for the most popular of them in any case, it never stops with regard to the adoption of a development cycle can usually distribute two versions per year.

Thus, after Mandriva for Mandriva 2009.1, and the Ubuntu community with the publication of the first alpha version of Intrepid Ibex, it is the turn of the community acting under the auspices of Novell announced the color for openSUSE 11.1, finally a little.

Taking logically following openSUSE 11.0, the new version will be based on a Linux kernel 2.6.27, or even more, knowing that the final version 2.6.26 is not yet available. But so, it still provides a wide trusting the work of other communities. As for desktop environments, the time of the GNOME 2.24 will come, while this is the KDE version 4.1.1, which has had time to digest its passage QT 4.4. Nevertheless, KDE 3.5.10 will be offered as an option. For the rest … not much if not efforts that will focus on improving the mechanism for updating packages.

A mark on your calendars
Pending more information, it will be content with the roadmap may hear various changes at the whim of adventures, or more often misadventures. The 2008 calendar of OpenSUSE 11.1 is currently as follows:

* July 24: openSUSE 11.1 Alpha1
* August 21: openSUSE 11.1 Alpha 2
* September 18: openSUSE 11.1 Beta 1
* October 2: openSUSE 11.1 Beta 2
* October 16: openSUSE 11.1 Beta 3
* October 30: openSUSE 11.1 Beta 4
* November 13: openSUSE 11.1 RC1
* November 27: openSUSE 11.1 RC2
* December 18: openSUSE 11.1

Hewlett Packard has just donated his AdvFS file system, inherited from the UNIX operating system Tru64, the Linux community. Under GPLv2 license, it could indeed be included in the kernel. According to HP, AdvFS constitutes a step forward, including in response to future Ext4.

Tru64 is a proprietary operating system UNIX originally developed by the company Digital. First called Digital UNIX, the first version was released in 1995. The company was later bought by Compaq, the system has been renamed Tru64.

HP then having acquired Compaq, Tru64 has become a competitor of HP-UX, UNIX for work stations and servers from HP. If the latter had first had the intention to migrate the most promising to HP-UX, he then abandoned the idea and preferred to use other technologies.

Among the interesting techniques from Tru64, we can see the case file system AdvFS. In addition to logging, AdvFS uses a dynamic system that allows changes to the time (on the fly), without requiring the removal of partitions. Operating on the principle of areas, it allows the creation of kinds of logical partitions, alteration and destruction in real time and, even if volumes and partitions are active. Files can also be transmitted and distributed dynamically on several physical volumes and in a transparent manner. Some catches of any logical pieces can be made. They are called clones and can easily make backups. The system also defragments files automatically, including when volumes are active.

A gift to Linux
HP has decided to leave its file system licensed under the GNU GPLv2, allowing its inclusion in the Linux kernel. According to the company, AdvFS is a breakthrough compared to Ext4, file system currently under development and anticipated to become the new standard under the GNU / Linux. According Bdale Garbee, chief of the section open source and Linux at HP, AdvFS simplify data management, make backups online and in real time, while making hard drives available.

But that’s not all because HP said it would participate actively in the future development of its file system, in order to make it an attractive alternative for individuals and professionals. If AdvFS is a very good system of files according to HP, opening the code was made possible by the migration of customers Tru64 to HP-UX using, meanwhile, a proprietary file system, called Veritas.

If Ext4 is not yet finalized, AdvFS, meanwhile, has at least the advantage of maturity: it was used by some companies for over 16 years. However, we await the opinion of the Linux community and its experts predict before abandoning Ext4!

As a reminder, Ext4 will handle volumes up to 1024 peta-bytes but above all it will take a charge extent. Extent gives the possibility of allocating an area reserved for each file. In a modification or resume writing, the disc continues where it left off. This helps to eliminate or at worst seriously limit the fragmentation of files. Finally, Ext4 and AdvFS are not alone, since among the other contenders in the wake of Ext3 can also include ZFS or Reiser4.