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Official distributions

These Ubuntu variants simply install a set of packages different from the original Ubuntu, but since they draw additional packages and updates from the same repositories as Ubuntu, all of the same software is available for each of them.

* Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both community and professional support. It is developed by a large and open community.

* Kubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu Linux distribution using the KDE environment instead of the default GNOME environment used by default in Ubuntu. It has a predictable 6 month release cycle and is part of the Ubuntu project.

* Edubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system targeted for primary and secondary education. It is freely available with community based support. The Edubuntu community is built on the ideas enshrined in the Edubuntu Manifesto: that software, especially for education, should be available free of charge and that software tools should be usable by people in their local language and despite any disabilities. Since version 8.04, Edubuntu has now been named Ubuntu Education Edition and has been made as an add-on for the Ubuntu operating system.

* Xubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu open source operating system, using the Xfce desktop environment. Xubuntu is intended for use on less-powerful computers or those who seek a highly efficient desktop environment on faster systems, and uses mostly GTK+ applications.

* Ubuntu Studio is a multimedia creation flavor of Ubuntu. Ubuntu Studio is aimed at the audio, video and graphic enthusiast as well as professional. The project aims to provide a suite of the best open-source applications available for multimedia creation.

* Gobuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system, aiming to provide a distribution consisting entirely of free software, it was officially announced by Mark Shuttleworth on July 10, 2007, and daily builds of Gobuntu 7.10 began to be publicly released.

* Mythbuntu provides an Ubuntu based and MythTV based distribution that is easy to configure, maintain, and use.

* Ubuntu JeOS (pronounced as "juice"), is described as "an efficient variant [...] configured specifically for virtual appliances".

* Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded Edition is an embedded operating system designed for use on mobile devices. The operating system will use Hildon from maemo as its graphical frontend.

* Ubuntu Netbook Remix, to be released later in 2008, is an official derivative of Ubuntu designed for netbooks using the Intel Atom processor.

Unofficial distributions

Unofficial variants and derivatives are not controlled or guided by Canonical and are generally forks with different goals in mind.


* Alinex, a Portuguese distro, developed by the University of Évora.

* andLinux, A Linux distribution running on Microsoft Windows natively.

* Cubuntu, A command line version of Ubuntu

* eeeXubuntu, a variant of Xubuntu for the storage-constrained Asus Eee PC

* Fluxbuntu, light-weight, standards-compliantand featuring the Fluxbox window manager. The project’s primary goal is to develop an operating system that would run on a wide range of mobile devices and computers, both low-end and high-end.

* Freespire incorporates proprietary hardware drivers and software. It also uses the KDE desktop rather than GNOME.

* gNewSense is designed for users who wish to use only free software. It is officially supported and recommended by the Free Software Foundation. The project has also produced a set of scripts that allow anyone to create a free distribution.

* Gnoppix, intended to offer the GNOME desktop environment on a Live CD. Discontinued.

* Goobuntu is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that Google uses internally. It is not released outside Google.

* gOS early versions used the Enlightenment window manager, featuring Google Apps and other web-based applications.

* Greenie is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu and Kiwi and prepared for users in Slovakia and Czech Republic

* Guadalinex, an Ubuntu-based distribution promoted by the local government of Andalucia, Spain, for home users and schools (cf. EduLinux, Skolelinux).
* Impi Linux is South African and focuses on the enterprise and government sector.

* Kanotix is a distribution based on current Debian "stable" aka "Etch", but uses the current "ubuntu" kernel with some patches.. As a result of the cooperation between ubuntu Developers and Kanotix Developer Jörg Schirottke aka "Kano" most of the new patches are implemented in Hardy Heron's kernel, too.

* Linux Mint’s purpose is to produce an elegant, up to date and comfortable Linux desktop based on Ubuntu.

* LinuxMCE (Linux Media Center Edition)is a Kubuntu based distribution that provides in depth HTPC functionality as well as home automation.

* LOUD (LCSEE Optimized Ubuntu Distribution) is an Ubuntu distribution used at West Virginia University. It contains several specialized educational packages as well as its own themes and login manager.

* Maryan Linux Uses the Enlightenment 17 window manager as default window manager, also has Fluxbox and Pekwm ready to use. It is focused on newbies people that come from Windows.

* Molinux is an Ubuntu based initiative to introduce the Castile-La Mancha community in Spain to the information society.

* nUbuntu or Network Ubuntu is a project to take the existing Ubuntu distribution and remaster it as a Live CD and Full Install with tools needed for penetration-testing servers and networks. The main idea is to keep Ubuntu’s ease of use and mix it with popular penetration testing tools. Besides usage for network and server testing, nUbuntu will be made to be a desktop distribution for advanced Linux users.

* OpenGEU is an Ubuntu based distribution with Enlightenment window manager, previously known as Geubuntu.
*
OzOS, Focused on Enlightenment, e17, compiled directly from CVS source. Easy update of e17 is made from CVS updates, by click an icon or from CLI using morlenxus script.

* Protech is a specially designed Linux distribution for security technicians and programmers.

* Ubuntu Eee, a variant of Ubuntu for the storage-constrained Asus Eee PC

Non-Linux distributions

* Nexenta OS is a complete GNU-based open source operating system built on top of the OpenSolaris kernel and runtime