What+is+Ubuntu?

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Michaelall of this in blue would work well on a page of its own. Perhaps, this page could be titled "What is Ubuntu?" or "A Brief History of Ubuntu?"

With an estimated global usage of more than 12 million users, Ubuntu is designed primarily for desktop use, although [|netbook] and[|server] editions exist as well. Web statistics suggest that Ubuntu's share of [|Linux desktop] usage is about 50%, and indicate upward trending usage as a web server. Ubuntu is sponsored by the UK-based company [|Canonical Ltd.], owned by [|South African] entrepreneur [|Mark Shuttleworth]. Canonical creates revenue by selling [|technical support] and services tied to Ubuntu, while the OS itself is entirely free. \ \ \ \ \ \ - System requirements The desktop version of Ubuntu currently supports the [|Intel x86] and [|AMD64] architectures. Unofficial support is available for the [|PowerPC],[|[29]] [|IA-64 (Itanium)] and [|PlayStation 3] architectures (note however that [|Sony] officially removed support for [|OtherOS] on the PS3 with firmware 3.21, released on April 1, 2010).[|[30]] A supported [|GPU] is required to enable [|desktop visual effects].
 * 1) Ubuntu pronounced [|ubuntu] is a computer [|operating system] based on the [|Debian GNU/Linux] [|distribution] and distributed as[|free and open source software] . It is named after the [|Southern African] philosophy of <span style="background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|Ubuntu] ("humanity towards others").


 * ~ Current Minimum Requirements[|[31]][|[32]][|[33]] ||~ [|Server] ||~ [|Desktop] ||
 * ~ [|Processor] ([|x86]) with the i686 instruction set[|[34]] || 300 MHz || 1 GHz ||
 * ~ [|Memory] || 128 [|MB] || 512 MB ||
 * ~ [|Hard Drive] (free space) || 1 [|GB] || 5 GB ||
 * ~ [|Monitor] [|Resolution] || 640×480 || 1024×768 ||

\ \ \ \ \ \ \- Installation Ubuntu Desktop 10.10 Live CD Installation of Ubuntu is generally performed with the [|Live CD]. The Ubuntu OS can be run directly from the CD (albeit with a significant performance loss), allowing a user to "test-drive" the OS for hardware compatibility and driver support. The CD also contains the [|Ubiquity installer],[|[35]] which then can guide the user through the permanent installation process. [|CD images] of all current and past versions are available for download at the Ubuntu web site.[|[36]] Installing from the CD requires a minimum of 256 [|MiB] of [|RAM]. Users can download a disk image (.iso) of the CD, which can then either be written to a physical medium (CD or DVD), or optionally run directly from a hard drive (via [|UNetbootin] or [|GRUB]). Ubuntu is also available on [|ARM], [|PowerPC], [|SPARC], and [|IA-64] platforms, although none are officially supported.[|[37]] Canonical offers Ubuntu[|[38]] and Kubuntu[|[39]] LIVE installation CDs at no cost, including paid postage for destinations in most countries around the world (via a service called ShipIt). Various third-party programs such as [|remastersys] and [|Reconstructor] are available to create customised copies of the Ubuntu Live CDs. A [|Microsoft Windows] migration tool, called Migration Assistant (introduced in April 2007),[|[40]] can be used to import bookmarks, [|desktop background] (wallpaper), and various settings from an existing MS Windows installation into a new Ubuntu installation.[|[41]] Ubuntu and Kubuntu can be booted and run from a [|USB Flash drive][|[42]] (as long as the [|BIOS] supports booting from USB), with the option of saving settings to the flashdrive. This allows a portable installation that can be run on any PC which is capable of booting from a USB drive.[|[43]] In newer versions of Ubuntu, the [|USB creator] program is available to install Ubuntu on a [|USB drive] (with or without a LiveCD disc). [|Wubi], which is included as an option on the Live CD,[|[44]] allows Ubuntu to be installed and run from within a virtual Windows [|loop device] (as a large image file that is managed like any other Windows program via the [|Windows Control Panel]). This method requires no [|partitioning] of a Windows user's [|hard drive]. Wubi also makes use of the Migration Assistant to import users' settings. It is only useful for Windows users and it also incurs a slight performance loss.

-[[|edit]] Package classification and support
Ubuntu divides all software into four domains to reflect differences in licensing and the degree of support available.[|[45]] Some unsupported applications receive updates from community members, but not from [|Canonical Ltd.]


 * ~  ||~ Free software ||~ Non-free software ||
 * **Supported** || Main || Restricted ||
 * **Unsupported** || Universe || Multiverse ||

Free software includes only software that has met the Ubuntu licensing requirements,[|[46]] which roughly correspond to the [|Debian Free Software Guidelines]. Exceptions, however, include [|firmware] and [|fonts], in the Main category, because although they are not allowed to be modified, their distribution is otherwise unencumbered. [//[|citation needed]//] Non-free software is usually unsupported (Multiverse), but some exceptions (Restricted) are made for important non-free software. Supported non-free software includes device drivers that can be used to run Ubuntu on some current hardware, such as binary-only [|graphics card] [|drivers]. The level of support in the Restricted category is more limited than that of Main, because the developers may not have access to the [|source code]. It is intended that Main and Restricted should contain all software needed for a general-use GNU/Linux system. [//[|citation needed]//] Alternative programs for the same tasks and programs for specialized applications are placed in the Universe and Multiverse categories. In addition to the above, in which the software does not receive [|new features] after an initial release, //Ubuntu Backports// is an officially recognized repository for [|backporting] newer software from later versions of Ubuntu.[|[47]] The repository is not comprehensive; it consists primarily of user-requested packages, which are approved if they meet quality guidelines. Backports receives no support at all from Canonical, and is entirely community-maintained. The //-updates// repository provides updates to stable releases of Ubuntu and are generally installed through update-manager. Each release is given its own -updates repository (e.g. intrepid-updates). The repository is supported by [|Canonical Ltd.] for packages in main and restricted, and by the community for packages in universe and multiverse. All updates to the repository must meet certain requirements and go through the //-proposed// repository before being made available to the public.[|[48]] Updates will continue to be available until the end of life for the release. In addition to the -updates repository, the unstable //-proposed// repository contains uploads which must be confirmed before being copied into -updates. All updates must go through this process to ensure that the patch does truly fix the bug and there is no risk of [|regression].[|[49]] Updates in -proposed are confirmed by either Canonical or members of the community. Canonical's //partner// repository lets vendors of proprietary software deliver their products to Ubuntu users at no cost through the same familiar tools for installing and upgrading software.[|[50]] The software in the partner repository is officially supported with security and other important updates by its respective vendors. Canonical supports the packaging of the software for Ubuntu[|[50]][|[51]][|[52]] and provides guidance to vendors.[|[50]] The partner repository is disabled by default and can be enabled by the user.[|[53]] Some popular products distributed via the partner repository as of August 2010 [|[update]] are [|Adobe Flash Player], [|Adobe Reader], [|Skype] and [|Sun Java]. \ \ \ \ \ ﻿ \ \ =How can it be free?=

Ubuntu is brilliant. It's no wonder our users ask how all this can be free. The answer is simple.
1. It's open source. Everybody's doing it – from IBM to Google, Firefox to Wikipedia – some of today's best software is based on open-source technologies. Shared code, shared efforts, shared principles. No cost. \ Originally coined in 1998, the term open source came out of the free software movement, a collaborative force going strong since the dawn of computing in the 1950s. This early community was responsible for the development of many of the first operating systems, software and, in 1969, the Internet itself. The open source community is thriving and today boasts some of the best brains in the business. The aim has not changed: free systems and software should be available to everybody, wherever they are. Without open source, many of the systems and applications we take for granted simply would not exist. All the big players in computing come from, or owe a huge creative debt to, the open source community, and continue to rely on its talent and expertise when developing new products. 2. It's managed and funded by Canonical. Canonical is the number-one Ubuntu services provider. Companies can choose to receive expert training, support or consultancy for a fee that goes towards the continued development of Ubuntu. Canonical and Ubuntu =Canonical and Ubuntu=
 * **What is open source?**



As the leader of the Ubuntu Project, Canonical knows Ubuntu inside out.
Working with a close-knit team from the open-source community, Canonical is responsible for delivering six-monthly releases, as well as co-ordinating security, trouble-shooting and providing an online platform for community interaction. The number-one provider of Ubuntu services, Canonical works closely with businesses and individuals alike. Canonical also develops bespoke systems, provides comprehensive support and all the training that’s necessary to get everybody up and running. With more than 300 employees in over 18 countries, the company continues expanding to support the millions of Ubuntu users around the world.