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1 | 1 | # Ubuntu platform reference table |
2 | | -Ubuntu is available on multiple platforms. Relevant features, use cases and documentation is summarised below. |
| 2 | +Ubuntu is available on multiple platforms. Relevant features, use cases, and documentation are summarised below. |
3 | 3 |
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4 | | -| **Name** | **Target Platform** | **Features** | **Official Docs / Links** | **Example Use Cases** | |
5 | | -| --------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | |
6 | | -| **Ubuntu Desktop** | Personal computers (laptops, desktops) | <ul><li>GNOME-based GUI by default</li><li>Optimized for everyday computing</li><li>Extensive range of software applications</li></ul> | <ul><li>**Product page**: [ubuntu.com/desktop](https://ubuntu.com/desktop)</li></ul> | <ul><li>General-purpose personal computing</li><li>Office productivity, browsing, media consumption</li></ul> | |
7 | | -| **Ubuntu Server** | Physical or virtual servers, HPC clusters | <ul><li>No GUI installed by default</li><li>Focus on stability and security</li><li>Long-term support releases available</li></ul> | <ul><li>**Product page:** [ubuntu.com/server](https://ubuntu.com/server)</li><li>**Docs**: [documentation.ubuntu.com/server/](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/server/)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Hosting web services, databases, or enterprise software</li><li>Infrastructure management</li></ul> | |
| 4 | +> **Universal features (apply to *all* Ubuntu editions below)** |
| 5 | +> |
| 6 | +> - **Long-Term Support (LTS)** releases every two years, maintained for **5 years** (extendable to 10 years with Ubuntu Pro). |
| 7 | +> - Common **security-update infrastructure** (Livepatch, ESM, unattended-upgrades, CVE tracker). |
| 8 | +> - Access to the **Snap** packaging ecosystem alongside traditional **.deb** packages where relevant. |
| 9 | +> - A predictable release cadence (interim releases every six months). |
| 10 | +> - Optional enterprise support via **Ubuntu Pro / Canonical Advantage**. |
8 | 11 |
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9 | | -Try to be consistent with how links are used (others in the table have the https removed". |
10 | | -| **Ubuntu Cloud** | Public, Private, Multi, & Hybrid clouds | <ul><li>Preconfigured cloud images</li><li>Optimized for scalability and quick boot times</li><li>Integration with cloud services</li></ul> | <ul><li>**Product page:** [ubuntu.com/cloud](https://ubuntu.com/cloud)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Rapid deployment of VMs in AWS, Azure, GCP</li><li>Large-scale automated infrastructure</li></ul> | |
11 | | -| **Ubuntu Core** | IoT devices, embedded systems, robotics | <ul><li>Entirely snap-based (transactional updates)</li><li>Minimal, lightweight OS</li><li>Automatic security patches</li></ul> | <ul><li>**Product page**: [ubuntu.com/core](https://ubuntu.com/core)</li><li>**Docs:** [https://ubuntu.com/core/docs](https://ubuntu.com/core/docs)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Industrial automation</li><li>Smart appliances, kiosks, edge computing</li><li>Robotics applications</li></ul> | |
12 | | -| **Ubuntu on WSL** | Machines running the Windows OS | <ul><li>Run Ubuntu inside Windows</li><li>Command-line tools and utilities available natively</li><li>Seamless developer workflow</li></ul> | <ul><li>**Product page**: [ubuntu.com/wsl](https://ubuntu.com/wsl)</li><li>**Docs:** [https://documentation.ubuntu.com/wsl/en/stable/](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/wsl/en/stable/)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Development on Windows with Linux toolchains</li><li>Mixed environment scripting and testing</li></ul> | |
13 | | -| **Ubuntu Pro** | Enterprise, production environments requiring compliance | <ul><li>Extended security maintenance (ESM)</li><li>10 years of security updates</li><li>FIPS 140-2 certified components</li></ul> | <ul><li>**Product page**: [ubuntu.com/pro](https://ubuntu.com/pro)</li><li>**Docs:** [https://documentation.ubuntu.com/pro/](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/pro/)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Regulated industries: finance, healthcare</li><li>Long-term, secure deployments</li></ul> | |
14 | | -| **Real-time Ubuntu** | Industrial, robotics, automotive, and other latency-sensitive environments | <ul><li>Real-time PREEMPT_RT kernel</li><li>Minimal latency, deterministic performance</li><li>Integration with Ubuntu security and updates</li></ul> | <ul><li>**Product page**: [https://ubuntu.com/real-time](https://ubuntu.com/real-time)</li><li>**Docs**: [https://documentation.ubuntu.com/real-time/en/latest/](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/real-time/en/latest/)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Robotics and industrial automation</li><li>Automotive control systems</li><li>High-performance audio production</li><li>Medical devices</li></ul> | |
| 12 | +| **Name** | **Target platform** | **Features** | **Docs / links** | **Example use-cases** | |
| 13 | +|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |
| 14 | +| **Ubuntu Desktop** | Personal computers (laptops, desktops) | <ul><li>GNOME-based GUI by default</li><li>Optimised for everyday computing</li><li>Extensive range of desktop applications</li></ul> | <ul><li>[ubuntu.com/desktop](https://ubuntu.com/desktop)</li></ul> | <ul><li>General-purpose personal computing</li><li>Office productivity, browsing, media consumption</li></ul> | |
| 15 | +| **Ubuntu Server** | Physical or virtual servers, HPC clusters | <ul><li>No GUI installed by default</li><li>Security-hardened, stable platform</li><li>Headless and cloud-friendly</li></ul> | <ul><li>[ubuntu.com/server](https://ubuntu.com/server)</li><li>[documentation.ubuntu.com/server](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/server/)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Hosting web services & databases</li><li>Infrastructure / DevOps automation</li></ul> | |
| 16 | +| **Ubuntu Cloud** | Public, private, multi & hybrid clouds | <ul><li>Pre-built cloud images</li><li>Optimised for fast boot and scale-out</li><li>Cloud-init for first-boot configuration</li></ul> | <ul><li>[ubuntu.com/cloud](https://ubuntu.com/cloud)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Rapid VM provisioning on AWS/Azure/GCP</li><li>Large-scale automated IaaS (OpenStack, MAAS)</li></ul> | |
| 17 | +| **Ubuntu Core** | IoT devices, embedded systems, robotics | <ul><li>Fully snap-based, immutable OS</li><li>Atomic over-the-air updates</li><li>Small footprint & secure boot</li></ul> | <ul><li>[ubuntu.com/core](https://ubuntu.com/core)</li><li>[ubuntu.com/core/docs](https://ubuntu.com/core/docs)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Industrial controllers & gateways</li><li>Smart appliances, kiosks, edge computing</li><li>Robotics platforms</li></ul> | |
| 18 | +| **Ubuntu on WSL** | Windows 10/11 via Windows Subsystem for Linux | <ul><li>Ubuntu userspace inside Windows</li><li>Native command-line tools</li><li>Seamless file-system & networking integration</li></ul> | <ul><li>[ubuntu.com/wsl](https://ubuntu.com/wsl)</li><li>[documentation.ubuntu.com/wsl](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/wsl/en/stable/)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Software development on Windows with Linux toolchains</li><li>Cross-platform scripting & testing</li></ul> | |
| 19 | +| **Ubuntu Pro** | Enterprise & regulated environments | <ul><li>Extended Security Maintenance (10 years)</li><li>FIPS 140-2, CIS, DISA-STIG hardening</li><li>Kernel Livepatch and compliance tooling</li></ul> | <ul><li>[ubuntu.com/pro](https://ubuntu.com/pro)</li><li>[documentation.ubuntu.com/pro](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/pro/)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Finance, healthcare, government deployments</li><li>Long-term, secure production fleets</li></ul> | |
| 20 | +| **Real-time Ubuntu** | Robotics, industrial automation, automotive, low-latency audio | <ul><li>PREEMPT<sub>RT</sub> real-time kernel</li><li>Deterministic scheduling & µs-level latencies</li><li>Delivered as an Ubuntu Pro add-on</li></ul> | <ul><li>[ubuntu.com/real-time](https://ubuntu.com/real-time)</li><li>[documentation.ubuntu.com/real-time](https://documentation.ubuntu.com/real-time/en/latest/)</li></ul> | <ul><li>Robot motion control</li><li>Factory PLC replacement</li><li>High-performance audio production</li><li>Medical devices</li></ul> | |
15 | 21 |
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16 | 22 | ### Notes |
17 | | -- **Ubuntu Pro**: Ubuntu has a pro version known as "Ubuntu Pro" which is supported on many Ubuntu platforms, including Ubuntu server, desktop, cloud and Ubuntu on WSL. It provides [Extended Security Maintenance (ESM)](https://ubuntu.com/esm), live kernel updates, and automation tools for hardening and compliance profiles, including CIS, DISA-STIG, FIPS 140, and Common Criteria. |
18 | 23 |
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19 | | -- **Flavors**: There are also official [Ubuntu flavors](https://ubuntu.com/desktop/flavours) (e.g., Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Studio), each featuring a different desktop environment or specialized toolset. |
| 24 | +- **Ubuntu Pro** is available on Desktop, Server, Cloud images and Ubuntu on WSL, providing [Extended Security Maintenance (ESM)](https://ubuntu.com/esm), Livepatch and automated compliance profiles (CIS, DISA-STIG, FIPS 140, Common Criteria). |
| 25 | +- **Flavours**: Official [Ubuntu flavours](https://ubuntu.com/desktop/flavours) (Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Studio, etc.) offer alternative desktop environments or specialist creative toolsets on the same Ubuntu base. |
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