The Preview Release of Edubuntu 5.10 has been released. Here the announcement:
This is the beta release for the new distro, Edubuntu - code named "Breezy Badger". The Preview Release consists of an Install CD for the PC (Intel x86), 64-bit PC (AMD64) and PowerPC (Apple iBook and Powerbook, G4 and G5) architectures.
Edubuntu is being developed as a version of the Ubuntu operating system, which is suitable for classroom use. The aim is that an educator with limited technical knowledge and skill will be able to set up a computer lab, or establish an on-line learning environment, in an hour or less, and then administer that environment without having to become a fully-fledged Linux geek. This is our first step towards that goal.
Principal design goals of Edubuntu are centralized management of configuration, users, and processes, together with facilities for working collaboratively in a classroom setting. Equally important is the gathering together of the best available free software and digital materials for education.
Basically Edubuntu is built on top of the solid and stable Ubuntu base, and incorporates the LTSP thin client architecture, as well as Educational specific applications, aimed at the 6-18 age group. It also focuses on enabling resource poor environments to maximise their available (older) equipment.
As with Ubuntu, Edubuntu is a Linux distribution for your (education environment) desktop or server, with a fast and easy install, regular releases, a tight selection of excellent packages installed by default, every other package you can imagine available from the network, a commitment to security updates for 18 months after each release. We will also be pursuing establishing a network of professional technical support from many companies around the world.
To Get the Edubuntu 5.10 Preview
--------------------------
Download the Edubuntu 5.10 Preview here (choose the mirror closest to
you):
United States:
http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/edubuntu/5.10/
Europe:
http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/5.10/
United Kingdom:
http://releases.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/5.10/
Rest of the World:
http://releases.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/5.10/
Please download using Bittorrent if possible.
Some of the CD images are larger than 650MB, you will need to ensure you have 700MB blank CDs and a burner capable of using them.
The final version of Edubuntu 5.10 is expected to be released in
October 2005.
About the Edubuntu 5.10 Preview
-------------------------
Highlights of Edubuntu include:
(much of what Ubuntu now offers, with some variations and additions)
On the Desktop
* A set of selected educational apps containing
- most of the kdeedu suite
- gcompris
- scribus desktop publishing
- blender 3D modelling
- dia diagram editing
- and lots more ...
* Fresh, colourful artwork for the desktop
* Full ltsp client functionality by default
On the Server
* Standalone Classroom server installed by default, based on the brand-new Ubuntu thin client infrastructure developed in cooperation with LTSP.
* Simple NFS root setup with automatic hardware detection through initramfs-tools
* Support for up to 4 gigabytes of RAM by default on 32-bit architectures
* Kernel support for cluster filesystems (OCFS2 and GFS)
Hardware Support Improvements
* Linux 2.6.12.5 with many updated drivers from third parties
* Further enhancements to laptop support (hot keys, and working suspend/resume on more models)
* HP all-in-one printer/scanner devices are supported out of the box
* Bluetooth input devices (such as keyboards and mice) are supported out of the box
* Multiple audio devices are handled more gracefully (and one can easily select the default device)
* 64-bit PowerPC kernel available
Installation
* Automated installation of the thin client environment by default
* Easy installation of the ltsp server by default with as less questions as possible
* Optional workstation install for standalone workstations (just type "workstation" at the CD bootprompt)
"Under the hood"
* GCC 4.0.1
* glibc 2.3.5
* New early userspace infrastructure based on initramfs-tools
* More modular X.org packaging
As with Ubuntu, Edubuntu includes the very best of the 100% FREE / LIBRE application software world, and each new release incorporates countless new features and bugfixes from the global development community.
Community Feedback and Participation
------------------------------------
If you would like to help build and shape Edubuntu, or just find out some more about the project, take a look at our site:
http://www.edubuntu.org/
Your comments, suggestions, bug reports, patches and artwork contributions will help us to make Edubuntu the best educational distro
available.
Please report bugs through Bugzilla: http://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/
If you have a question, or if you think you may have found a bug but aren't sure, first try asking on the #edubuntu IRC channel on FreeNode, and /or on our Edubuntu-Devel mailing list:
http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/edubuntu-devel
-------
We'd like to thank everybody who has contributed to getting Edubuntu to this point. Mark Shuttleworth who started everything, Oliver Grawert who has contributed blood, sweat and tears to this project (I know it has not been easy!), Matt Zimmerman for his LTSP magic, Colin Watson for help with cdbuilding and installer changes, Jerome Gotangco for documentation and Jonathan Carter for Skubuntu, the troubleshooting guide and many other things, Jeff Elkner for specing and lots of testing, Paul Flint for - well being Paul Flint!, and indeed everyone else who has played a role.
Our growing community has been full of good suggestions, discussions and criticisms. All of these are valued and appreciated. We couldn't do this with out the community support and feedback. Thanks to those who have been with us since the starts at our Edubuntu Summit in London in early July.
Onwards and upwards to the release date!
This is the beta release for the new distro, Edubuntu - code named "Breezy Badger". The Preview Release consists of an Install CD for the PC (Intel x86), 64-bit PC (AMD64) and PowerPC (Apple iBook and Powerbook, G4 and G5) architectures.
Edubuntu is being developed as a version of the Ubuntu operating system, which is suitable for classroom use. The aim is that an educator with limited technical knowledge and skill will be able to set up a computer lab, or establish an on-line learning environment, in an hour or less, and then administer that environment without having to become a fully-fledged Linux geek. This is our first step towards that goal.
Principal design goals of Edubuntu are centralized management of configuration, users, and processes, together with facilities for working collaboratively in a classroom setting. Equally important is the gathering together of the best available free software and digital materials for education.
Basically Edubuntu is built on top of the solid and stable Ubuntu base, and incorporates the LTSP thin client architecture, as well as Educational specific applications, aimed at the 6-18 age group. It also focuses on enabling resource poor environments to maximise their available (older) equipment.
As with Ubuntu, Edubuntu is a Linux distribution for your (education environment) desktop or server, with a fast and easy install, regular releases, a tight selection of excellent packages installed by default, every other package you can imagine available from the network, a commitment to security updates for 18 months after each release. We will also be pursuing establishing a network of professional technical support from many companies around the world.
To Get the Edubuntu 5.10 Preview
--------------------------
Download the Edubuntu 5.10 Preview here (choose the mirror closest to
you):
United States:
http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/edubuntu/5.10/
Europe:
http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/5.10/
United Kingdom:
http://releases.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/5.10/
Rest of the World:
http://releases.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/5.10/
Please download using Bittorrent if possible.
Some of the CD images are larger than 650MB, you will need to ensure you have 700MB blank CDs and a burner capable of using them.
The final version of Edubuntu 5.10 is expected to be released in
October 2005.
About the Edubuntu 5.10 Preview
-------------------------
Highlights of Edubuntu include:
(much of what Ubuntu now offers, with some variations and additions)
On the Desktop
* A set of selected educational apps containing
- most of the kdeedu suite
- gcompris
- scribus desktop publishing
- blender 3D modelling
- dia diagram editing
- and lots more ...
* Fresh, colourful artwork for the desktop
* Full ltsp client functionality by default
On the Server
* Standalone Classroom server installed by default, based on the brand-new Ubuntu thin client infrastructure developed in cooperation with LTSP.
* Simple NFS root setup with automatic hardware detection through initramfs-tools
* Support for up to 4 gigabytes of RAM by default on 32-bit architectures
* Kernel support for cluster filesystems (OCFS2 and GFS)
Hardware Support Improvements
* Linux 2.6.12.5 with many updated drivers from third parties
* Further enhancements to laptop support (hot keys, and working suspend/resume on more models)
* HP all-in-one printer/scanner devices are supported out of the box
* Bluetooth input devices (such as keyboards and mice) are supported out of the box
* Multiple audio devices are handled more gracefully (and one can easily select the default device)
* 64-bit PowerPC kernel available
Installation
* Automated installation of the thin client environment by default
* Easy installation of the ltsp server by default with as less questions as possible
* Optional workstation install for standalone workstations (just type "workstation" at the CD bootprompt)
"Under the hood"
* GCC 4.0.1
* glibc 2.3.5
* New early userspace infrastructure based on initramfs-tools
* More modular X.org packaging
As with Ubuntu, Edubuntu includes the very best of the 100% FREE / LIBRE application software world, and each new release incorporates countless new features and bugfixes from the global development community.
Community Feedback and Participation
------------------------------------
If you would like to help build and shape Edubuntu, or just find out some more about the project, take a look at our site:
http://www.edubuntu.org/
Your comments, suggestions, bug reports, patches and artwork contributions will help us to make Edubuntu the best educational distro
available.
Please report bugs through Bugzilla: http://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/
If you have a question, or if you think you may have found a bug but aren't sure, first try asking on the #edubuntu IRC channel on FreeNode, and /or on our Edubuntu-Devel mailing list:
http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/edubuntu-devel
-------
We'd like to thank everybody who has contributed to getting Edubuntu to this point. Mark Shuttleworth who started everything, Oliver Grawert who has contributed blood, sweat and tears to this project (I know it has not been easy!), Matt Zimmerman for his LTSP magic, Colin Watson for help with cdbuilding and installer changes, Jerome Gotangco for documentation and Jonathan Carter for Skubuntu, the troubleshooting guide and many other things, Jeff Elkner for specing and lots of testing, Paul Flint for - well being Paul Flint!, and indeed everyone else who has played a role.
Our growing community has been full of good suggestions, discussions and criticisms. All of these are valued and appreciated. We couldn't do this with out the community support and feedback. Thanks to those who have been with us since the starts at our Edubuntu Summit in London in early July.
Onwards and upwards to the release date!
