Ubuntu Linux 7.10 – what is all the fuss?

Ubuntu Linux is to the Desktop Market what Red Hat is to the Server Market. Ubuntu is designed for ease of use and maintenance. Ubuntu begins with the Desktop user and is now extending to the Server Market with its for-profit arm , the exact opposite approach that Red Hat took by focusing first on the Server Market. In October 2007, Ubuntu released its latest version – version 7.10 the Gusty Gibbon.

Popularity
Ubuntu is the #1 Linux distribution by download

http://distrowatch.com/dwres.php?resource=major

Dell Computers offers Ubuntu as its Desktop Linux Choice
http://www.dell.com/linux – (this occurred several months ago )
And discussed in today’s ZDnet: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=7404&tag=nl.e539

Security
Ubuntu approaches security in multiple ways:

1. Clean Installation
The installation is very austere in that you get one of each type of application needed for a typical desktop user (for example, OpenOffice instead of StarOffice and OpenOffice). You do not get unneeded applications, so there is less to secure to the point where no firewall is needed because there is nothing to connect to or exploit. This is unlike Windows or Red Hat, which often install many unneeded packages in their base OS installs.

As a result of its simplicity, Ubuntu’s version of Gnome Desktop is clean and elegant.

2. Frequent package updates.
Ubuntu “Software Updates” – package security releases and upgrades – are released continously. Ubuntu uses the Debian package management Advanced Package Tool (APT) to distribute its software. It has easy to use gui interfaces to administter this in Gnome – Synaptic Package Manager and Update Manager. Update Manager posts an alert icon on your desktop when Software Updates are available – about 1-2 times a week for my installation on this v. 7.10 – I have a lot of different software installed on this machine, though.

All popular Linux software is available through this Update Manager, so keeping software patched and up to date is no longer a worry. The Update Manager keeps track of what needs to be updated. This is unlike Windows – where if you install additional software and it is your responsibility to keep it up to date. Red Hat does offer similar array of software, though it may not be as current as Ubuntu (see Firefox example below).

Ubuntu can upgrade entire versions of its OS and affiliated software – and I have done so for upgrade to this latest 7.10 – via this Software Update tool (and a good broadband connection!). This is the equivalent of downloading and upgrading from Windows 98 to Windows XP – all without having to do any work.

3. Additional security available
Virus Scanner – To help protect against Windows viruses, ClamTK is available for download and installation via the package manager.

Firewall – there are several GUI firewall options available to help you manage iptables and netfilter – all available via the package manager.

Firefox comparison as example of package availability/currentness
The most current version at date of publication of Firefox available on RHEL 5 is v. 1.5.0.12. On Ubuntu 7.10 Firefox runs at version 2.0.0.11

My 2 cents
With this latest version of Ubuntu – version 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon – and its driver support and ease of installation, I can see a day when paying for an Operating System will no longer seem sensible.

Get Ubuntu

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 19th, 2007 at 1:32 pm and is filed under Linux. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.