Ever wondered what it takes to host an Ubuntu mirror? Well, here’s an update from our Swedish friends at UMU’s Academic Computer Club. They operate one of our biggest mirrors, and have the numbers and pretty graphs to show for it:

The 42TB total network traffic over the week around the Breezy release shown in this last graph is equivalent to about 70 thousand cd-images. We estimate that about 10-15 thousand cd-images were downloaded during the first day and about 100 thousand cd-images (60TB) during the week following the release.

Thanks to Mattias and his team for pushing their network to the limit in the name of Free Software!

[Discuss]

Michael Vogt has put in a call for testing for the new upgrade tool for Ubuntu. The general idea is that when a new version of Ubuntu is released, that there should be an easy way to upgrade without manually editing text files. Ruben Vermeersch asked if this tool would be pushed to breezy so that existing users will be able to upgrade to Dapper when it is released; to which Michael replies:

Yes, we plan to make it available in breezy-updates for a breezy->dapper upgrade.

So if you’re planning on upgrading to Dapper during the development cycle, this is a good way to help test a feature that will no doubt make upgrading to the new hotness very easy. Michael has also posted screenshots.

[Discuss]

Ubuntu’s latest Linux distribution, code-named Breezy Badger, is one of the most user-friendly operating systems developed by the open-source community to date. Is it time to make the switch?

Using the OEM installation option, computer resellers can pre-install and verify Ubuntu on machines slated for sale or redistribution, but leave select configuration details, locale and language preferences, and user account creation to the retail purchaser.

Ubuntu 5.10, also known by the code name Breezy Badger, is the third in a line of Ubuntu releases that has grown to become one of the most prominent Linux distributions available on the strength of a solid foundation in Debian GNU/Linux and a tight focus on desktop usability.

SUSE Linux 10.0 doesn’t match the breadth of precompiled software packages that are available for Ubuntu, nor does it equal Ubuntu’s flexible and well-integrated software management tools, but SUSE’s superior overall polish makes it a better option for users unfamiliar with Linux or uninterested in working around Ubuntu’s few rough edges.

Have you ventured beyond Ubuntu’s default GNOME desktop applications? There’s a wealth of great tools available in the Ubuntu repositories. The Universe is a huge place, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of software available. But don’t worry, because Jorge ‘whiprush’ Castro will pilot our guided tour of universe applications that will make you fall in love with Ubuntu all over again. Whether you’re an experienced user or brand new to Linux, there’s always new hidden gems in Ubuntu waiting to be discovered.

Following the slew of new Ubuntu versions released under the Breezy Badger 5.10 banner last week, the Ubuntu team has finalised the server version of the operating system, Ubuntu 5.10 Server.

Ubuntu has seen great success in the Linux desktop environment — a small but growing niche in the IT sphere. While previous Ubuntu versions could be installed and used as servers, Ubuntu never featured strongly in this space, even though it is the traditionally strong sector for Linux.

Matt Zimmerman has announced the release of Ubuntu 5.10 Server. This is the first release of Ubuntu specifically designed for servers, with server-oriented kernels, default packages, no desktop environment by default, and 18 months of security support.

Ubuntu Linux 5.10 is now available and includes a number of enhancements that improve installation, networking and server support, including the Linux 2.6.12.6 kernel and GNOME 2.12.1, among the usual suspects.

As much as I looked around, I could not readily tell why Ubuntu had such a small foot print. But I realized that the clever engineering made Ubuntu a nice fit for older equipment found at schools in developing nations.