[ubuntu-za] Ubuntu on ARM (was: UbuntuGlobalJam - Ubuntu Wiki)

[Stefano Rivera]

Hi Nico (2013.03.05_15:35:37_+0200)
> Are there plans for Ubuntu to work on the Raspberry Pi and other ARM
> machines ?

Ubuntu works just fine on ARM machines, but only supports ARMv7 and
later. Obviously, ARM is a very important platform, with Ubuntu's recent
focus on the Phone and Tablet. But ARM is also moving forward fast, and
Ubuntu wants to support the full potential of the newer hardware that
actually stands a chance of running an Unity UI.

The Raspberry PI is ARMv6.

We briefly considered rebuilding part of the archive (at least main) for
ARMv6, in Ubuntu's "armel" port, before we abandoned it in favour of
"armhf". But we abandoned that effort, at least in part because it
looked like Raspbian would be better for Raspberry PI users (it's
hard-float).

> Or do we have to use Raspbian or Fedora on our Raspberry Pi's

You can also use plain Debian. Raspbian is just Debian, built for ARMv6
+ HF (and a few extra packages, I think).

Personally, I have a Raspberry PI running Debian, and a Chromebook
running Ubuntu raring (very decent ARM machine, if you can get your
hands on one).

SR

PS: Please don't hijack threads, rather start a new one, with a new
    subject :)

-- 
Stefano Rivera
  http://tumbleweed.org.za/
  H: +27 21 461 1230 C: +27 72 419 8559