Overview

Edubuntu is an educationally focused operating system based off Ubuntu. Actually, to me more precise Edubuntu is the loose name given to a group of extensions that can turn a standard Ubuntu installation into much more. Once distributed as a separate distribution (pre 8.04), the project was one of the first to split their architecture to form an ‘add-on’ CD. Some projects like OpenSUSE Education have replicated this approach whilst others such as FedoraEDU prefer to spin the main distro into a completely separate entity. The add-on CD itself is comprised completely of educational applications while the LTSP functionality is included in the main Ubuntu desktop ‘alternative’ install CD [22].

Advantages

• Canonical Developed (support available if necessary)
• Based on Ubuntu Code – Solid base distribution
• Integrating the latest thin client technology from the LTSP team including the latest v5 codebase
• Integrating a great set of Gnome based Educational applications
• Integrating centralised LDAP and management features to ease deployment (Draper, 2007)
• Several ways of rolling out the software
• Great forums and unofficial support channels
• Benefits from speedy patching and development of the core Ubuntu OS
• Also inherits the extensive repositories for easy application installation
• Supports a multitude of languages
• Add-on nature ensures an existing Ubuntu terminal can easily be transformed into an LTSP server
• Focuses more on functionality than on integrating masses of applications
• Benefits from all the core work going into Ubuntu, including the ARM port for example
• Has its own implementation of LTSP labelled Muekow, which improves security and delivery mechanisms
• Has a wealth of LocalApps implementations, not only the official method built into LTSP5

Disadvantages

• As one of the leading Linux distros, Ubuntu (and Debian in general) is more susceptible to being targeted with malicious attacks, although in truth the risk is negligible. This is the old MacOSX adage.
• Has to maintain its own variant of LTSP

An excellent set of introductory videos to Edubuntu and its basic concepts have been compiled by Jim Mann (Computermann on Youtube)

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