Discover Ubuntu 21.04 with its new features: native Microsoft Active Directory integration, default Wayland graphics and Flutter SDK. Optimizations for Microsoft SQL Server, improved support for enterprises and a redesigned dark theme for a better user experience.
Today, Canonical released Ubuntu 21.04, a version that brings several major new features, including native Microsoft Active Directory integration, Wayland graphics by default, and a Flutter application development SDK.
Canonical and Microsoft also announced significant performance improvements, as well as joint support for Microsoft SQL Server on Ubuntu. Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth said: “Native Active Directory integration and Microsoft SQL Server certification on Ubuntu are top priorities for our enterprise customers. He also added that Ubuntu 21.04 offers developers and innovators an enhanced experience thanks to Wayland and Flutter, for smoother graphics and cross-platform development.
Ubuntu continues to position itself as the enterprise engineering platform par excellence, used in sectors such as finance, automotive, technology and government. Lieutenant-Colonel Stéphane Dumond of the French Gendarmerie Nationale commented: “For our 100,000 police officers, Ubuntu is user-friendly, reliable and offers the required privacy and security without additional third-party solutions”.
Microsoft SQL Server on Ubuntu delivers an optimized, cost-effective database platform, with enterprise-class performance and enhanced scalability. What's more, this version is backported to Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS. Features such as Force Unit Access (FUA) and persistent memory (PMEM) guarantee improved durability and high data storage performance.
Canonical and Microsoft will also provide integrated support for deployments on site or via Azure Marketplace, offering a highly available platform supported by Corosync and Pacemaker to guarantee resilience.
With Ubuntu 21.04, Ubuntu machines can now join an Active Directory (AD) domain as soon as they are installed, enabling AD administrators to easily manage Ubuntu workstations. This feature enables centralized management and simplifies compliance with corporate security policies.
Ubuntu 21.04 integrates Wayland by default, offering a smoother graphical experience, especially for applications such as Firefox, OBS Studio and those created with Electron and Flutter. The Flutter SDK now enables developers to easily publish cross-platform applications for one-click installation by Linux users.
Chris Sells, product manager at Flutter, praised Canonical's commitment, pointing out that Ubuntu makes it possible to bring high-quality Flutter applications to Linux.
Version 21.04 includes a redesigned dark theme, Yaru, which brings accessibility improvements and new file icons. Yaru is maintained by the community and supported by Canonical, offering an enhanced user experience.
Source : Ubuntu
