=== zkriesse_ is now known as zkriesse === The_MEk_ is now known as The_MEk === The_MEk__ is now known as The_MEk === Laci is now known as Guest74026 === yofel_ is now known as yofel === gord_ is now known as gord === xindz`off is now known as xindz === TheUni is now known as Guest3491 === serfus is now known as Guest42543 === AndrewMC` is now known as AndrewMC === Guest42543 is now known as serfus === 13WAA4PTR is now known as kim0|Celebrating [16:17] hello [16:20] b [16:26] hey [17:29] o/ [17:29] don't want to be "tardy for the party" [17:31] hi everyone! [17:31] alrighty, I think we are nearly ready for the Q+A [17:31] today we have an awesome guest [17:31] he is Robbie Williamson who leads the Ubuntu Server Team === ChanServ changed the topic of #ubuntu-classroom to: Sessions in #ubuntu-classroom, chat and questions releated to sessions here || Upcoming Schedule in #ubuntu-classroom: https://is.gd/8rtIi || Preface questions with QUESTION: Current Session: Q and A with Robbie Williamson, Server Engineering Manager - Instructors: robbiew [17:31] * robbiew also leads Foundations ;) [17:31] so today feel free to ask all your questions about Ubuntu Server, the cloud, and the future :-) [17:32] Logs for this session will be available at http://irclogs.ubuntu.com/2011/02/11/%23ubuntu-classroom.html following the conclusion of the session. [17:32] ahhh [17:32] couldnt speak for a second there :-) [17:32] asking a question is simple: [17:32] ask your questions in #ubuntu-classroom-chat and prefix every questions with 'QUESTION' [17:32] e.g.: [17:33] QUESTION: What new features are coming in Ubuntu Server in 11.04? [17:33] I will cut and paste the questions in here for robbiew [17:33] alrighty, let's give it a few minutes for you folks to add some questions and then lets get going [17:35] come on folks, feel free to add your questions in #ubuntu-classroom-chat :-) [17:36] Question: Any statistics of what % of EC2 instances run Ubuntu server? [17:36] robbiew, ^ [17:36] a lot [17:36] :) [17:36] all joking aside [17:37] Amazon doesn't reveal those numbers [17:37] so it's hard for us to really say [17:37] there are other organizations out there who attempt to count [17:37] and we typically lead the pack [17:38] * robbiew will look for a juicy link [17:39] jono: go ahead with the next question and I'll post the link when I find it [17:39] Question: What in Ubuntu server differentiates it from other server distros? [17:40] good question [17:40] so for one, I'd point to the cloud infrastructure integration [17:40] i.e. eucalyptus and soon-to-be openstack [17:41] beyond that...we've recently started working on an infrastructure service suite [17:41] called orchestra [17:41] with the aim of making a sysadmins life easier [17:41] in terms of everything he/she needs to do to get servers and services up and running fast [17:41] across multiple machines [17:41] http://launchpad.net/orchestra [17:42] up until recently, we were focused on being Debian + security updates and regular cadence [17:42] as Debian itself is a rock sold server platform [17:42] but with the emergence of cloud, we've seen an opportunity [17:43] beyond that, we are also looking at other architectures besides x86 and amd64 === JU is now known as Guest68045 [17:43] where we feel a strong server presence helps us [17:43] ARM for example is VERY interesting [17:43] and we hope to partner with Linaro and the Ubuntu on ARM team to deliver something soon [17:43] * robbiew needs hardware first ;) [17:48] robbiew, still there? [17:49] question: any new cloudy things coming down the pipe? [17:51] * robbiew thinks [17:51] we also have some suite tools, like byobu [17:51] but I'd be happy if other distros picked that up too [17:51] and we have work on power management tools for servers...like PowerNap [17:51] I could go on and on...feel free to email me and I can point you to a few places [17:51] jono: next? [17:51] jono: hello? is this thing on :P [17:51] I think we are having a few freenode server issues [17:52] a lot of scrollback just appeared [17:52] question: any new cloudy things coming down the pipe? === ghostcube_ is now known as ghostcube [17:52] "cloudy things" [17:52] :-) [17:53] well...zul [17:53] that's an excellent question === mfraz74_ is now known as mfraz74 [17:54] the easiest answer is "yes"...better integration with openstack....making sure folks can deploy clouds on their choice of infrastructure [17:54] eucalyptus or openstack [17:54] in term of running IN the cloud [17:55] smoser has done some very cool things with cloud-init [17:55] (I'm sure you can talk to him about this) [17:55] given zul is on the Ubuntu Server team...I'll end there [17:55] ;) === i is now known as Guest69931 [17:56] if he doesn't know...we have a problem :P [17:56] jono: next [17:56] Question: Isn't 6 months release cycles for a server version just too fast? 3 years support and 5 yrs LTS support is also fine, but 6 months cycle sounds fast for server markets [17:56] not if you run in the cloud [17:56] were you could care less about what hardware you run on [17:57] and you want the latest php or mysql support [17:57] the way I see it, for server, we should build towards an LTS [17:57] knowing most users will prefer an LTS, we should plan accordingly [17:57] with each non-LTS being stable to stand-alone, but used as ways to introduce new features [17:58] that can be tested for robustness with each successive release [17:58] leading up to LTS [17:58] so we should strive to push the newest stuff LTS+1 and gradually reduce the "riskiness" as we get closer to the LTS [17:59] with the LTS dev cycle having most of its' focus on stabilizing what we have [17:59] jono: next [17:59] QUESTION: How does Canonical's interest and commitment differ from the server flavour? [17:59] another Ubuntu Team question..nice [17:59] will make this short [18:00] Canonical is a business, and this aims to make money using Ubuntu Server as the core of it's service offerings around Server [18:00] Ubuntu Server is a distro [18:00] and aims to provide the best opensource has to offer for a server os [18:00] free of charge [18:00] ;) [18:00] jono: next [18:00] QUESTION: What are you doing to get applications like SAP certified on Ubuntu Server? Right now I have to use RedHat or SuSe. [18:01] oh man...good one [18:01] so this is where having Canonical as a backer of Ubuntu Server helps [18:01] in order to be a REAL player in linux server, you need strong relationships with hardware providers [18:01] like Dell, HP, IBM, etc [18:02] ISVs support what the OEM's ship [18:02] pretty simple [18:02] so, that's why we were excited about Dell's recent announcement regarding the shipment of servers with Ubuntu installed [18:03] targeted at cloud of course [18:03] but to be the best cloud os, we need top notch hardware support [18:03] I think the ISVs will begin to come soon...as Ubuntu grows in popularity in the cloud [18:03] and more businesses start trusting their workloads in the cloud [18:04] and more try to find cheaper ways to run...which means not wanting to pay license fees for every instance in the cloud === a is now known as Guest30664 [18:04] Canonical is working VERY hard to partner with ISVs [18:04] to help all this along [18:04] jono: next [18:04] QUESTION: Question: Are there plans to make landscape more affordable or open source. Or is there a good alternative? [18:05] I don't no, as Landscape is a Canonical product developed outside my team [18:06] depending on what your needs are, I think orchestra can be an alternative at some degree [18:06] jono: next [18:06] question: With the instability with Novel and SUSE, is there any plans to aggresively go after current potentially dissilusioned users? [18:06] * robbiew rushes a bit to answer as many ?s as possible [18:07] absolutely [18:07] I think we should at least try to support the same architectures [18:07] to allow those users to migrate [18:08] but that will take time [18:08] re: architectres, specifically speaking about ppc and s390 [18:08] IBM platforms traditionally supported by SUSE (and RHEL) [18:09] but we still need to stay focused on cloud...where I feel things are transitioning to [18:09] where the hardware becomes more of a commodity [18:09] so I guess it's a balancing act [18:09] to keep one eye on current landscape and the other on where we think it's moving to [18:10] and choosing our features and strategic direction appropriately [18:10] jono: next [18:10] QUESTION: People ask me (surprisingly often) 'Why run Ubuntu when I can run Debian server?'. What's the 'Caononical' answer to that? [18:10] heh [18:11] I asked the same thing [18:11] well for one, security updates [18:11] now we do try to keep Debian updated with our updates...but we can't force them to [18:12] and to be honest, the cloud integration, but for some...Debian is the answer [18:12] now if you need support [18:12] well...then I suggest Ubuntu Server, where you can get email and phone support from Canonical [18:12] as well as engineering assistance to in deploying customized solutions [18:12] Canonical sells a "service"...not a Server [18:12] ;) [18:13] jono: next [18:13] QUESTION: People like Turnkey Linux are making lots of applicances based on Ubuntu Server. Is this something Canonical have considered, given a brand new server is [18:13] somewhat unexciting on its own? [18:14] * robbiew clearly needs to setup an interview with popey :P [18:14] so, yes [18:14] but I'm not the right person to ask [18:15] Nick Barcet is the man you want to talk to ;) [18:15] nijaba on IRC [18:15] jono: next [18:15] QUESTION: I am often asked for a webmin like system (but not webmin for historical reasons) for administering servers, to bring the admin overhead down and comparable with MS SBS. Something you're looking at? [18:16] yup...orchestra will solve all your troubles :) [18:16] well...not all [18:16] jono: next [18:16] QUESTION: Are there any plans for better official support for hardware management drivers and software of high-end servers, like IBM? [18:18] yes, there are [18:18] and that's all I can say now ;) [18:18] jono: next [18:18] QUESTION: is it possible to have an UI (gnome or kde) for Ubuntu Server ? [18:19] ahh [18:19] sure sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop [18:19] Server and Desktop share the same archive, so it's possible [18:19] but we don't have any plans (of yet) to roll out a UI specifically for Server [18:19] that of course could change tomorrow [18:20] jono: next [18:20] QUESTION Is ubuntu server good for heavy hosting? [18:20] "heavy hosting" [18:21] you mean like wikipedia or something? [18:21] yes [18:21] jono: next [18:21] QUESTION: What kind of paid Canonical customers tend to use Ubuntu Server and for what? [18:21] There are 10 minutes remaining in the current session. [18:23] typically ones who either can't afford the license fees of other Linux server distros, but want support [18:23] or need an OS that moves at a faster rate to support key hardware/software features they need [18:24] tbh, I'm just an engineering manager...and i try to keep focused there [18:24] jono: next [18:24] QUESTION: Do you think that Ubuntu Server will turn into mainly a cloud distribution? [18:25] no [18:25] jono: next [18:25] QUESTION: Do you have any ideas on how to encourage existing systems administrators to take part in the Ubuntu community and provide ideas and fixes to make servers easier to manage? [18:26] first, as promised, in reference to the first question about EC2 statistics: http://thecloudmarket.com/stats#/by_platform_definition [18:26] There are 5 minutes remaining in the current session. [18:26] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ServerTeam/GettingInvolved [18:27] go there :) [18:27] participate in #ubuntu-server [18:27] join lists [18:27] reach out [18:27] email me...I'll get to it [18:27] pretty good at keeping my email inbox low ;) [18:27] jono: next [18:27] Question: Are there any "products" for lined up for identity management, mangement of many servers (puppet), or other enterprise needs? [18:28] I wouldn't say "product", but orchestra can do some of this [18:28] https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/cloud-server-n-install-service [18:28] describes our work on it [18:28] and any member of the team can provide more details [18:28] jono: next [18:29] QUESTION: How good would Ubuntu Sever be for a cloud based startup company? Would it be a logical choice? Could it scale up well if our traffic gets big? [18:29] last one [18:29] absolutely [18:29] check out www.atlantic.net ;) [18:29] they host with Ubuntu [18:30] jono: one more! [18:30] QUESTION: Are there any plans to release Ubuntu One source code so we can use it on our servers? [18:30] damn [18:30] lol [18:30] should have stopped while I was ahead :P [18:30] so that's a completely different team [18:30] outside of the Platform team even [18:30] so I don't know [18:31] but if they do....we'll pull it in and ship as fast as we can ;) [18:31] promise [18:31] :-) [18:31] thanks robbiew [18:31] ok, I think that is a wrao [18:31] wwrap [18:31] wrap [18:31] erk [18:31] thanks to everyone for your questions [18:31] np [18:31] Logs for this session will be available at http://irclogs.ubuntu.com/2011/02/11/%23ubuntu-classroom.html [18:31] we do have some final outstanding questions === ChanServ changed the topic of #ubuntu-classroom to: Sessions in #ubuntu-classroom, chat and questions releated to sessions here || Upcoming Schedule in #ubuntu-classroom: https://is.gd/8rtIi || Preface questions with QUESTION: [18:32] hmmm [18:32] ahhh I can still speak [18:32] we do have some outstanding questions, robbie will follow up with a blog entry [18:32] thanks, folks! [18:34] jono: Now everyone can speak again. The blog entry will be where? [18:34] sebsebseb, on robbie's blog [18:35] what's the link? [18:35] jono: is it aggregated on planet? [18:35] http://undacuvabrutha.wordpress.com/ [18:35] ok thanks :) [18:35] thanks jono [18:36] :-) === lance_ is now known as Guest95587 === Daniel0108 is now known as Daniel0108_ === Daniel0108_ is now known as Daniel0108 === hi is now known as Guest47268 === xx is now known as Guest40433 [20:12] s [20:26] QUESTION Has there ever been a release with an actual GUI in 32-bit form? I would love to use ubuntu for my server instead of windows xp! === who is now known as Guest74679 [20:57] savage24x: All the desktop edition can be use has a server. Server people just prefer to optimize resources an so tend to operate without a GUI [20:59] savage24x: BTW the GUI can be turn off by default and started only when you need it (try disabling gdm and use startx instead...) === drdanz_ is now known as drdanz