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For Linux business users, the most important Linux release of 2007 so far is Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. But for most other Linux fans, the upcoming release of Ubuntu Version 7.04 on April 19 demands more attention.
This new v7.04 release encompasses five versions: Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu Desktop, Edubuntu, Kubuntu and Xubuntu. Along with the self-explanatory server and desktop versions, Edubuntu is meant for educational uses; Kubuntu is a desktop platform that uses KDE 3.5.6 for its desktop environment instead of Ubuntus GNOME 2.18; and Xubuntu is a desktop for lower-end PCs and uses the lightweight Xfce 4.4 desktop manager.
The family is built around the new Linux 2.6.20 kernel. As a cutting-edge distribution, Ubuntus developers try to bring together the latest and best of open-source software every six months. Users interested in a more settled, stable distribution with full support can turn to Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Long Term Support).
Ubuntu Server
Ubuntu 7.04 Server Edition adds support for hardware facilities that speeds the use of virtual machines, and boasts improved hardware support and easy upgrades.
On x86 systems with the Intel VT or AMD-V extensions, Ubuntu supports the new KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine support) virtualization, which was first implemented in the Linux 2.60.20 kernel. This enables users to run multiple virtual machines on unmodified Linux. Each virtual machine has private virtualized hardware: a network card, disk, graphics adapter and so on. Canonical Ltd. officials said Ubuntu is the first Linux distribution that supports VMwares VMI (Virtual Machine Interface), which provides optimized performance under VMware.