Ubuntu 21.04 integrates even better with Microsoft Active Directory
The latest 21.04 version of Canonical's business Ubuntu Linux distribution offers more integration with Microsoft's Active Directory. There are also more optimizations for Microsoft QL Server in this version.
According to enterprise Linux specialist Canonical, the integration of its enterprise Linux distribution Ubuntu with Active Directory and the certification of Microsoft's SQL Server is a high priority these days. Especially because end users are increasingly at the top of their wish list. The now introduced Ubuntu v21.04 should therefore meet this requirement more.
Active Directory integration extension
As for Active Directory, machines running on Ubuntu can now join an Active Directory (AD) domain from installation for a centrally performed configuration. As a result, AD administrators can now manage Ubuntu workstations. According to Canonical, this should facilitate compliance.
Specifically, with Ubuntu 21.04 administrators can set the system settings from the AD domain controller. A Group Policy Client allows them to specify the specific security policies for all connected clients. This includes policies for passwords, user access control and various settings for the desktop environment such as the login screen, the background and the most important applications.
More support MS SQL Server
With further expanded support for MS SQL Server, Ubuntu 21.04 provides end users with an optimized and cost-effective database platform. The performance and scalability for workloads have been ported back to the previous version of the enterprise Linux distribution; Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS.
In addition, the database management system (DMBS) and command-line interface (CLI) are now available through Azure for Ubuntu-optimized images. This gives customers a database platform with high availability and maintenance for security for ten years, Canonical states. Both parties also support Ubuntu with MS SQL Server, which has been rolled out in on-premises environments via the Azure Marketplace.
The joint Ubuntu 21.04 and MS SQL solution offers customers enhanced functionality such as performance improvements such as Force Unit Access (FUA) on XFS file systems for longer data retention. Persistent memory (PMEM) includes high-performance data storage without additional configuration. The entire platform is now highly available, by Coronosync and Pacemaker, to ensure resillience.
Other functionality
Other extra functionality in the latest 21.04 release includes the standard use of Wayland Display Manager which should bring more security. Applications built with Electron or Flutter automatically choose Wayland for better graphics and better fractional scaling.
Flutter has now also taken root in version 21.04 and has now become the default choice for future desktop and mobile applications for Canonical. In this way, the high-quality Flutter applications can soon be brought to Linux easily, according to the business Linux specialist. A final functionality within Ubuntu 21.04 is that a 'dark desktop theme' is now also available.
Not a long life
Ubuntu version 21.04 thus promises a lot of new functionality, but experts expect that this release will not be supported for long. They therefore expect that the LTS version 20.04.2 released in 2020 will remain the main distribution. Until probably version 22 will be presented next year. Ubuntu 21.04 is available immediately.