Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver is a long-term support release of the Ubuntu operating system, designed to provide a stable and secure environment for a wide range of applications. Released on April 26, 2018, it offers five years of standard support, with extended security maintenance available through Ubuntu Pro until April 2028. This release is optimized for cloud deployments, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), and is well-suited for enterprise workloads, development environments, and cloud-native applications.
Key Features and Functionality:
- Enhanced Security: Incorporates improved UEFI Secure Boot and broader Kernel Livepatch coverage, allowing critical kernel patches to be applied without system downtime.
- Cloud Optimization: Features an AWS-optimized kernel and userspace components, ensuring faster instance starts and better runtime performance for workloads on AWS.
- Comprehensive Package Support: Provides access to a vast repository of open-source applications and development tools, including runtimes like Python, Node.js, and Go, as well as server components like Apache Kafka, NGINX, MongoDB, Redis, and PostgreSQL.
- Long-Term Support: Offers five years of standard support, with the option to extend security maintenance through Ubuntu Pro, ensuring system stability and security updates until April 2028.
Primary Value and User Solutions:
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS delivers a reliable and secure operating system tailored for cloud environments, particularly AWS. Its long-term support and extended security maintenance options provide organizations with a dependable platform for deploying and managing applications over extended periods. The inclusion of Kernel Livepatching minimizes downtime by allowing critical updates without rebooting, enhancing system availability. Additionally, the extensive package repository and cloud optimizations enable developers and enterprises to build, deploy, and scale applications efficiently, addressing the needs of modern cloud computing and enterprise workloads.