Ubuntu’s most recent release offers numerous improvements over an already solid OS. In fact, Jack Wallen says it could be the best overall release of a Linux distribution he’s ever seen.

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Ubuntu has brought Linux to the masses better than any other Linux distribution. And with its recent 9.04 release, Ubuntu has not only continued to create one of the most user-friendly operating systems available, it has made it faster and more reliable. Let’s take a look to see if there is one (or 10) reasons to entice you to install Ubuntu 9.04. The following are in no certain order.

Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.

1: Ext 4 file system

Yes, it’s still in development, and it’s probably not wise to use on production systems, but what ext4 promises will be a real boon to enterprise-level computing (especially on the server end). With the ext4 file system, you will find support for volumes up to 1 exabyte and files sizes up to 16 terabytes. The ext4 file system also replaces traditional block mapping with extents. An extent is a range of single, contiguous physical blocks, which will improve performance for large files as well as reduce fragmentation. Another ext4 feature that will be of interest for enterprise-level needs is that it breaks the 32,000 subdirectory barrier found in ext3. With ext4, a directory can now hold 64,000 subdirectories. Finally, ext4 employs checksums to improve the reliability of journals. Not only will this improve reliability, it will also avoid disk I/O during the journaling process, providing a slight boost to performance.

2: GNOME 2.26.1

This is the first update to the 2.26 release of GNOME, and the bug fixes are aplenty. Most notable fixes for the desktop are for GNOME Desktop Core, Nautilus (file manager), Brasero (CD Burning suite), Evolution (groupware suite), GNOME Panel, Glib, and gtk+. After about a week’s worth of use, I can safely say this is probably the most stable, useful GNOME I have experienced. It was also helpful that Ubuntu did a bit of tweaking to the standard GNOME menu layout. Many of the changes won’t be immediately apparent, but will be noticed over time as you use various features. One nice improvement is placing the logout button outside the menu system and making it a panel button. Now logging out, restarting, or shutting down is as simple as a button click. Another outstanding new feature is MAPI support in Evolution.

3: Speed

Ubuntu 9.04 shows a marked improvement in both the boot process and the desktop. The biggest improvement is with the boot process. I have noticed the boot process of machines running 9.04 cut at least in half. The desktop has also enjoyed a boost in speed, with applications starting up in a fraction of their usual times. Most notable are startup times for OpenOffice and Firefox.

4: Cleanup Janitor

This new feature allows users to remove junk from their system to save space. Cleanup Janitor cleans up packages that were installed to meet dependencies but that are no longer needed, packages that are no longer supported, and configuration tweaks that are missing from the system. This utility will automatically find anything on your system that is not needed and give you the option to either remove it or fix it. You will find that a fresh installation won’t have much cruft (if any). But Cleanup Janitor will become useful over time when applications leave enough behind to pile up and take up space.

5: Nautilus encryption

This is one outstanding feature that was built into the Nautilus file manager. From within any directory (that you have permissions to act upon), you can right-click a file (or directory) and you will see two new menu entries: Encrypt and Sign. Of course, you’ll have to have a key generated to use either of these menu entries. Fortunately for those users new to encryption, an outstanding GUI for that very purpose is included with Ubuntu 9.04. Once a key is generated, a user can encrypt and/or sign directories and files with a simple right-click from within Nautilus.

6: Xorg 1.6

With the inclusion of 1.6, more video cards will find support from Ubuntu. ATI video cards will enjoy EXA acceleration by default, R6xx and R7xx cards will have 2D support, R5xx cards will have 3D support, and an updated (albeit proprietary) fglrx driver offers R6xx/R7xx 3D support. NVidia cards will no longer need to install a proprietary driver, thanks to the Nouveau drivers. Much time has been put into reverse engineering these drivers so that users of NVidia can enjoy outstanding performance and features while still enjoying open source drivers. You will also find much improved multi-monitor support.

7: Notifications and system messages

One of the nits to be picked in past releases was that notifications and system messages seemed to be done by many people, which lead to an inconsistent feel. Ubuntu now has a unified notification system. This system combines the notifications of all applications into a single interface. This also includes new, unified icons for notifications. This will keep the notification area much cleaner than prior releases.

8: Native ARM support

This is going to be a real boon for those who own or plan to release mid to low-end ARM-based netbooks. It’s especially interesting since Freescale is planning the release of an ARM-based sub-$200 netbook within the year. You may have an ARM-based PC or netbook lying around just waiting to be given new life. If so, Ubuntu 9.04 is what you need. If you don’t have an ARM-based netbook handy, rest assured that soon, ARM-based netbooks will hit the shelves. When they do, you’ll be ready with Ubuntu.

9: Better menu layout

I mentioned this briefly, but it deserves much more attention. One of the issues that can hinder a good user experience on a desktop is intuitive menus. GNOME has come a long way with this, but it needed a little help from Ubuntu. Now the default GNOME menu system makes perfect sense. Everything is not only where you think it should be, it’s all easy to navigate. Even some of the OpenOffice components are split out of the Office menu (one example is OpenOffice Draw, now on the Graphics menu.) I was never a huge GNOME fan, but I have to say with regard to menu layout, it’s the best of the best.

10: Better wireless support

Much of this comes thanks to the 2.6.28 kernel, where a more feature-rich wireless stack has been worked in. The wireless in the kernel also has a farther reaching support for wireless devices. Thankfully, this will translate to fewer users having to install drivers to get their wireless NICs and cards to work.

Reason enough…

Those are 10 solid reasons to give Ubuntu 9.04 a try. Is it perfect? No, but what operating system is? I can happily say, however, that 9.04 might be the strongest overall release of a Linux distribution I have seen to date.

Have you experienced 9.04? If so, share what you have found with your fellow TechRepublic readers.

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Setting Up An NFS Server And Client On Debian Lenny

This guide explains how to set up an NFS server and an NFS client on Debian Lenny. NFS stands for Network File System; through NFS, a client can access (read, write) a remote share on an NFS server as if it was on the local hard disk.

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As the economy worsens, more companies are making deep cuts in personnel — and many IT workers are bracing for the axe to fall. But it may not come to that, especially if you take steps now to increase your value to the organization.

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When the economy is bad, we worry about our jobs. And although most of us would like to think we’re indispensable, our employers may disagree. Here are 10 strategies to put you in control of your career and help you avoid becoming a downsizing target.

Note: This article is also available as a PDF download.

1: Show value

Let’s face it: If you are not adding value to your employer or your clients, there is little reason to keep you around. To put it another way, not adding value to the company is one of the fastest ways onto the layoff short list. Since this is what you’re trading for a paycheck, constantly be asking yourself if what you are doing is adding value –and if it isn’t, what you can do to begin adding value.

2: Stay current

Just because technology may become obsolete, that doesn’t mean you have to go with it. Even if your job is the support of legacy systems, staying (or getting) current with newer technology increases the options your employer may have when it comes to leveraging your abilities. Besides, being stuck with legacy support is generally not a great long-term career strategy, and should the worst happen, the newer skills may help you land another job more quickly.

3: Network internally

People think about networking when looking for a new job, but don’t forget to network within your current place of employment. It is a great way to find out about, and get a lead into, opportunities in other areas of the company.

It can also be a more subtle way of making the right people aware of skills you can or would like to offer the company. Suppose you’re an operator who also knows Web development. If you, or a friend, can put a bug in the right person’s ear, you might be able to trade handling backup tapes for cascading style sheets.

4: Sell your company or department

It doesn’t matter how well you do your job if the company (or your department) lacks customer business. Become an advocate for your place of work. While your opportunities to do hardcore selling may be limited, that doesn’t mean you can’t contribute. If you’re working on the front lines, you’re in the perfect position to spot new opportunities you can then pass on to the appropriate person for sales follow-up. Everyone will benefit from having more business.

5: Sell yourself

Adding value is good. Having the right people know that you’re adding value is even better. Do not be shy. Document your accomplishments and pass the information up the ladder. If your clients/customers are pleased with your work, remind them to inform your supervisor about it. Most clients are more than happy to sing the praises of someone who deserves it.

6: Do not be a whiner (show good attitude)

The squeaky wheel isn’t the one that gets the attention– it’s the one that gets fired. No one likes a complainer, and being one is another quick way onto the next-to-go list. You may think others care about the injustices the company is perpetrating on you, but guess what? They probably don’t. They have their own problems to deal with.

Instead, show a positive attitude. After all, you have a regular paycheck at a time when many do not. Stop comparing things to what you would like them to be like and consider what things could be like in an even less desirable environment. If you have a constructive idea, share it through the proper channels. Be a team player. It’s more productive and won’t mark you as a downsizing target.

7: Assess you role

You may find this to be harder than it sounds. What do you really bring to the table, from the company’s point of view? You can’t sell your value to the company if you don’t know what it is. Be objective and try to find the things you do that really help the company. Then, try to find the things that are uniquely you. If you can get through this introspection, you will discover one of the most important keys to your career. If you really can’t come up with anything, you may want to put extra effort into the “stay current” point mentioned above.

8: Show flexibility

If you have multiple skills that you’re willing to provide to your company, you will be much more valuable than a one-trick pony. Companies want to be efficient with their money. If they can keep one multi-functional, multi-talented person and have coverage for multiple areas of responsibility, that’s a smart business decision. Be the one they want to keep by showing a willingness to be utilized in ways that benefit the company.

9: Build respect

You want people to have a favorable impression of you. You want them to respect your abilities as well as respect you as a person. It’s more than simply being liked — respect runs a little deeper, and it leaves a more lasting impression. Do your work well and do the right things, and people will not only want you around, they may even seek you out. At a time when companies are looking for ways to make cuts, being a sought-after resource is about as good as it gets.

10: Have a plan

You’re busy enough without having to worry about all the tasks that may keep you employed through this economy. Come up with a plan on how you will implement the tips mentioned here. What new things will you add to your skill set and how will you acquire them? Where will you begin your networking efforts? You get the idea.

Besides your plan for staying, it’s probably a good idea to have a plan should the worst case come about. The plan does not need to be overly detailed, but it should contain enough information to get you started right away if you lose your job. Who will you use for references? Is their contact information current? What are your most marketable skills? Where will you begin networking outside the company? The first reason for this worst-case plan comes from my belief that if you make a plan for it, you will not need it. The second is that if you have a plan, you will be less likely to worry about that scenario and can therefore focus on providing the kind of high-value work that will keep you employed.

Weathering the storm

When the economy is bad, and the job market is tough, it is easy to think about how you will find your next job. But if you are still employed, there are many advantages to keeping the work you already have. Of course, if your entire company is about to fold, there isn’t much you can do about it. If, on the other hand, downsizing is the order of the day, the suggestions above may make the difference between continued cash flow and an unwanted extended unpaid vacation. Good luck.

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Finally: 10 Things… the newsletter!

Get the key facts on a wide range of technologies, techniques, strategies, and skills with the help of the concise need-to-know lists featured in TechRepublic’s 10 Things newsletter, delivered every Friday. Automatically sign up today.

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JavaScript contains code to make parsing XML returned from the server in order to make it easier to add it into your page.

One common way to get the information passed…

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The Perfect Desktop – Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope)

This tutorial shows how you can set up an Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope)
desktop that is a full-fledged replacement for a Windows desktop, i.e.
that has all the software that people need to do the things they do on
their Windows desktops. The advantages are clear: you get a secure
system without DRM restrictions that works even on old hardware, and
the best thing is: all software comes free of charge.

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