Ubuntu 11.10 arrives with ARM support

Canonical is claiming to have released the first general-purpose server platform to run on ARM architecture chips with Ubuntu 11.10, which also introduces a service orchestration framework and updated support for the OpenStack cloud platform.

Available from 13 October, Ubuntu 11.10 targets the desktop, server and cloud with its Linux-based open platform, and debuts technologies that will feature in the next Long Term Support (LTS) release, due in April next year.

"We're thrilled to deliver multiple firsts with this release: a technology preview for the ARM architecture on servers, cloud infrastructure and Juju service orchestration in the box," said Jane Silber, chief executive of Ubuntu developer Canonical.

ARM support is included in the server version of Ubuntu 11.10 as a technology preview in addition to x86 support, according to Canonical. The company also said it has done "significant work" in porting key server applications such as the LAMP stack, widely used for web servers.

On the cloud side, Ubuntu Cloud Infrastructure now features OpenStack as its infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) framework, while Ubuntu Server 11.10 now includes new tools for provisioning and deploying the operating system across multiple physical servers.

Ubuntu 11.10 also introduces Juju, a framework for service deployment and orchestration in cloud infrastructures, as well as workstation-based development environments.

Previously codenamed Ensemble, Juju enables developers and systems administrators to describe the deployment and scaling requirements of their applications, reducing the task of provisioning and deploying services in the cloud down to seconds, according to Canonical.

For the desktop, Ubuntu adds improvements to the Unity user interface introduced earlier this year, including support for machines with less powerful graphics hardware.

Unity is also fully supported on the ARM architecture, which should prove useful in building low-power and low-cost thin client devices, Canonical said.

Ubuntu 11.10 will be available to download from the Ubuntu web site.