Ubuntu Desktop 8.04 LTS approaches end of life

In a post on the project's security announce mailing list, Ubuntu Release Manager Kate Stewart has reminded users that the desktop version of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, code named Hardy Heron, will reach its end of life in May. Version 8.04 of the Debian-derived Linux distribution was released on 24 April 2008.

Based on the 2.6.24 Linux kernel, it placed a stronger focus on stability and ease of use, rather than on new features, and included the GNOME 2.22 desktop environment, as well as a new installer that allowed Ubuntu to be installed directly under Windows without having to boot from CD or re-partition the hard disk. Built-in applications included version 2.4 of the OpenOffice.org office suite, Firefox 3.0 Beta 5, the F-Spot photo manager and the GIMP image editor. After 12 May 2011, no new updates, including security updates and critical fixes, will be available. The server edition of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS will continue to be supported until May 2013.

The Ubuntu 8.04 LTS desktop. Hardy Heron users are advised to upgrade to a later release to continue receiving updates. The developers note that users wanting to upgrade to 10.10 from 8.04 will first have to upgrade to 10.04 LTS. Standard releases of Ubuntu are supported for 18 months of updates for both the desktop and server versions, while Long Term Support (LTS) versions of Ubuntu are supported for three years for the desktop releases and five years for server releases.

The current development release is Ubuntu 11.04 Beta 1, code named "Natty Narwhal", from the end of March. The final version of Natty Narwhal is scheduled to be released on 28 April 2011. The latest stable release is version 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat", while the current Long Term Support version is Ubuntu 10.04.2 LTS "Lucid Lynx". Ubuntu is sponsored by UK based Canonical Ltd.

See also:

• Canonical releases Ubuntu 11.04 Beta 1, a report from The H.
• Ubuntu 11.10 to be an "Oneiric Ocelot", a report from The H.

(crve)