Ubuntu QA:
BlogBrainstormPackage status
Log in
Ubuntu QA
The Ubuntu community has contributed 22700 ideas, 138270 comments, 2629576 votes
Idea sandbox Idea sandbox
Popular ideas Popular ideas
Ideas in development Ideas in development
Implemented ideas Implemented ideas

Contributor Ansible on the Installation category

Servers are overwhelmed during each release   forum
Written by FranciscoPadillaGarcia the 22 Apr 08 at 08:00. Related project: ubuntu.com. Implemented
When Hardy Heron was released, the Ubuntu servers became overloaded with thousands of people trying to download it. Downloading rates of repositories and updates were so slow that some people had to leave the computer on at night only to find connection errors the next morning.

Developer comments
We do actually have a BitTorrent tracker and support BitTorrent downloads; you can see the .torrent files on releases.ubuntu.com, and every release features people eager to provide seeding.

I think the reason the torrents aren't prominent on getubuntu/download is that there are a lot of problems with the server-side tracker software; particularly around release time, it has to be restarted manually rather a lot as new files are made available, taking ages to reinitialise each time, and this makes our sysadmins unhappy. Our webmaster also wants the download page to be as simple as possible, and each option does add a level of complexity to the process.

That said, BitTorrent certainly can help to scale back server load (although so can using mirrors other than Canonical's - there's a reason there's a period before release when the images are available on our servers but we ask people to restrain themselves from posting links to them, and that's to give mirrors a chance to fetch the images first).

On 3 June, our webmaster added a note to the bottom of http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download on how to retrieve images by BitTorrent, which I believe was in response to this item. This ultimately takes you through to the releases.ubuntu.com page from which you can get the .torrent files.

Bearing in mind some of the constraints involved that lead to something of a compromise, I'm interested in whether that resolves this item.
1726
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #7390
Written by FranciscoPadillaGarcia the 22 Apr 08 at 08:00.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #7390 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
186
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#2): Use BitTorrent
Written by CRAY4 the 19 Oct 09 at 17:29.
Users should have the option of using BitTorrent for distribution updates since thousands if not more people will be seeding plus the Ubuntu server which would result in an incredibly fast Download, and if you have less than x seeders then it can download the conventional way
63
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#3): Propose to use a different "source"
Written by Rodrigo the 19 Oct 09 at 21:20.
When the system "fells" that it has to download a large amount of data, it should propose to look for the best server. It takes a little bit of time, but it can be good in the long run, specially if the update is a big one.
46
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#4): similar to #1 but extendet
Written by Tellur the 24 Oct 09 at 20:09.
The used system should be similar to the Blizzard Downloader used by Blizzard to fast distribute updates and videos.
It essentially builds upon BitTorrent but integrated into a lightweight standalone application which also makes use of traditional server downloads which now act as one of many peers. This way you have always both options on and get the benefits of both. Plus since the classic server still communicates via port 80 (or something like it) you evade possibly fatal port restrictions altogether.

It should furthermore be selectable if someone wants to contribute as a seeder or as an active peer in general, since some users have limited bandwidth and/or data limits.
43
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#5): Use MetaLink
Written by Shnatsel the 25 Oct 09 at 07:54.
Use several download sources (and maybe BitTorrent) in parallel. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalink
24
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#6): aptitude install debtorrent apt-transport-debtorrent
Written by z3non the 27 Oct 09 at 11:07.
solution exists (BitTorrent protocol slightly modified). make it configurable via the software sources tool. warn users about risks (upstream bandwidth, disk consumption), inform about advantages (higher speeds at peak times). allow to configure a different debtorrent-client than localhost for LANs.

http://debtorrent.alioth.debian.org/

http://wiki.debian.org/DebTorrent
13
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#7): Distribute Packages via RRD Pools.
Written by xeniac the 27 Oct 09 at 18:32.
Still many People have Download/Upload Limits and P2P is no option for those.

Today Ubuntu uses country based APT-Mirrors. (at.archive.ubuntu.com for example), but country borders do not exist for the internet. Many times a Czech Server is
faster for me, then an Server in Austria

Canonical could setup a DNS based load balancing system for their APT-Repositories with different pools for every continent.This solution could distribute the demand more equally to all mirrors, which results in better performance for users.

It also raises the availability. For example: Sometimes my old Debian Mirror was simply not reachable, this can not happen with load balancing.

This solution is also total transparent and needs no modification on the client side.
-23
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#8): Use Ubuntu One as mirror
Written by afunix the 4 Nov 09 at 08:50.
DebTorrent and Apt-Torrent are good but still completely unstable, so can we use Ubuntu One as ubuntu mirror?
Maybe there should be some system user for Ubuntu One if user does not have account.
And, of course, this feature should be configurable, as user should have good internet connection to use Ubuntu One.

Pros:
Lots of peers, so downloading should be really fast.
Easy configuration for sources.list.

Cons:
User should have good internet connection (all solutions require that).
Needs some fixes for apt to make it ignore unreachable mirrors and try another configured mirror.
-9
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#9): Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network)
Written by bvidulich the 7 Nov 09 at 23:39.
Content delivery networks such as Akamai have inter-connected servers right across the world and can deliver content quickly to users. They also take care of distributing their content to all of their servers.

If a CDN is added to the list of package sources or Ubuntu mirrors then users would be dynamically redirected to a server that can deliver the packages a fast as possible for that user.

This may be expensive for Canonical, however, since CDN's charge to distribute content and Ubuntu is free.
12
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#10): Have Graphical Option for Upgrading Via ISO
Written by bgrohe the 2 May 10 at 22:35.
If there was a Graphical option to update most of parts from an ISO file (and other components could be updated from the central servers) then people could download from a torrent or the could download once and use it on many computers. This would lesson the demand on the servers, making a better upgrade experience.
18
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#11): Integrate bittorrent protocol support into the updater
Written by genbattle the 3 May 10 at 01:38.
One way to speed up the updating process, especially during rushes is to use the Bittorrent protocol. Even having users seed a portion of what they download will make a huge difference in server loading, and will reduce the load on the central servers.

Blizzard Entertainment have implemented a dual HTTP-Bittorrent downloading system to great effect, and it serves to lessen the load on central servers when there is a large spike in traffic on game patch days.
2
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#12): Software repositories: auto-select best mirror at the first run of Synaptic
Written by barinov2000 the 3 May 10 at 09:25.
It would be great to have Synaptic check for the best server automatically at the time of OS installation/configuration, or at it's initial run(it can do it now but only if you ask) so more computers pint to different repository mirrors, therefore taking the load off the Main Server mirror.

Note: some people have custom settings for that and it would be nice not to overwrite their settings silently but ask something like "would you like your computer to find the fastest server for upstates and downloads" or something of that sort; and if the click yes remind them that if they have custom repositories then they will be saved so users can go back to their settings if they wish.

Does this make sense?

Peace =)
10
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#13): More Canonical Servers
Written by artir the 26 Apr 08 at 11:57.
To solve this one solution is to purchase more servers

See the 35 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 7 Jul 11 at 04:23) >>

List of installed kernels should not grow   forum
Written by probono the 1 Mar 08 at 17:31. Global category: Installation. Implemented
Ubuntu currently doesn't upgrade the kernel, it just keeps adding newer and newer kernels to the system.

Currently, the list of kernels installed on a Ubuntu system grows over time. This takes up additional disk space and adds clutter to the boot loader.

Ideally, older kernels should be removed automatically.

Maybe leave current and current-1, but not _all_ of them...

Developer comments
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelTeam/removing-old-kernels
This is done for Intrepid, with the package "system-cleaner" installed by default.
1039
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #2236
Written by probono the 1 Mar 08 at 17:31.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #2236 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 32 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 24 Jul 10 at 16:45) >>

first ask all questions - then install - don`t ask in the middle  
Written by Theodore the 3 Apr 08 at 20:19. Global category: Installation. New
This is concerning the graphical and the text based installer.

It`s a bad habit introduces by microsoft. Do not ask questions in the middle of the installation after you did already started to copy things.

(1) The user starts the installation.
(2) He is asked if he wants to install.
(3) Make as many hardware tests as you need.
(4) Now ask all needed questions.
(5) Install Ubuntu in one run. Tell the user he can no go away for perhaps X minutes.

Otherwise it`s annoying. Input answer, wait a bit, input answer, wait again over and over again. You can improve this!
1707
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #6351
Written by Theodore the 3 Apr 08 at 20:19.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #6351 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
21
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Add 'Remember my selection for future updates'
Written by lavinog the 1 May 09 at 16:56.
Usually during a kernel update I get the 'what should be done about menu.lst'
I choose the same option every time.
A checkbox could be added to remember the choice for future updates.
8
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Allow the process to continue uninterrupted, but still show pop-up messages
Written by sventer the 7 Jun 10 at 15:31.
So my suggestions are:
1. Design those messages so that, when they pop up, they (the messages) can continue to wait for the user's acknowledgement before disappearing again, but let the underlying upgrade process continue past that point without waiting for the user acknowledgement.

2. Similarly, to prevent a delay at the end the "calculating the changes" part of the "Setting new software channels" downloading, is it not possible to provide a check-box or other option, which would allow a user to specify that the upgrade should continue without having the user specifically click to "Start Upgrade".. again, the information in the pop-up windows is useful to see, but I would like to have the option to allow my upgrade to continue on and get done.. I can always come back later and review the details etc.

See the 19 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 23 Oct 09 at 08:08) >>

Do not install gcj/gij (obsolete GNU Java) by default  
Written by jespdj the 14 Mar 08 at 13:08. Global category: Installation. Implemented
Currently, Ubuntu comes with GNU Java (gcj/gij) installed as the default Java. (I'm not sure but I think it is because OpenOffice needs Java).

Unfortunately, this is a very slow and incomplete version of Java 1.4, which does not run many Java programs very well. Because of this, many users get in trouble when they want to use some Java programs - they don't work well and run very slowly. The solution is to install a better Java, such as Sun Java 6. Sun Java 6 is not 100% free and open source software (yet), so it cannot be installed as the default Java with Ubuntu.

There is, however, a much better free alternative implementation of Java than gcj/gij, IcedTea: http://icedtea.classpath.org/

IcedTea is based on the source code of Sun's Java, with the non-free components replaced by open source alternatives.

Proposal: Instead of the obsolete gcj/gij, install IcedTea instead as the default Java. (Fedora 8 does this already).

Developer comments
OpenJDK is now the default Java for Intrepid
270
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #4617
Written by jespdj the 14 Mar 08 at 13:08.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #4617 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 11 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 31 Jul 09 at 19:07) >>

grup in dual/multi boot defaults to 'savedefault' for major OSes installed.  
Written by Ansible the 29 Feb 08 at 00:52. Global category: Installation. New
Currently if you install ubuntu onto a windows machine, the grub menu will forever after default to ubuntu as the first choice at bootup. This is inconvenient for those that spend most of their time in windows, and are test driving ubuntu. If you are a windows user, then from then on you'll always have to watch the grub menu on bootup and change over to windows... again. Yes, you can edit the grub.menu - but we're talking about someone test driving linux maybe for the first time.

It would be very easy to change this so that the default behavior is for grub to remember that it was in windows last time, or in ubuntu last time (savedefault option). Then, if the day comes when the user transitions into booting into ubuntu most of the time, grub will naturally adapt to that use pattern as well as the other way around.
12
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #352
Written by Ansible the 29 Feb 08 at 00:52.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #352 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

See the 4 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 9 Jul 08 at 13:40) >>