Ubuntu 8.10 approaches end-of-life

Ubuntu 8.10 approaches end-of-life - The H Open Source: News and Features

Ubuntu Release Manager Steve Langasek has reminded users that Ubuntu 8.10, code named Intrepid Ibex, will reach its end-of-life on Friday the 30th of April, 2010. Version 8.10 of the Debian-derived Linux distribution was released on the 30th of October, 2008 and was the first to feature an Ubuntu LiveUSB creator and an encrypted private directory for users. The desktop edition included, for example, GNOME 2.24, GIMP 2.6, Firefox 3.0 and OpenOffice 2.4. After the 30th of April, no new updates, including security updates and critical fixes, will be available for Intrepid Ibex.

Intrepid Ibex users are advised to upgrade to one of the current standard releases, Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) or version 9.10 (Karmic Koala), to continue receiving updates. The developers note that users wanting to upgrade to 9.10 from 8.10 will have to upgrade to 9.04 first. The standard releases are supported for 18 months of updates for both the desktop and server versions. 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 10.04 LTS Beta 1, code named "Lucid Lynx", from earlier this month. The final version of Lucid Lynx is scheduled to be released on the 29th of April of 2010. Ubuntu is sponsored by UK based Canonical Ltd.