OK, I’m a bit confused at the moment. I was ware that Ubuntu is selling subscriptions. I was aware that some security updates required subscription plans; BUT I was under the impression this was for extended support (i.e. after 5 years for a LTS version) or maybe for less frequently used packages beyond what the core distribution ships with.
Now, i get a pop up that looks like the regular update screen, but lists updates I cannot install. So, essentially a sales pitch for Pro. This sounds like exactly the reason, why I’m no longer on Windows.
Can I securely run Ubuntu Desktop and Server, current LTS, without paying?
(crosspost: https://discuss.tchncs.de/post/10654646)
My understanding (and I’m happy to be corrected) is that feature and security updates will continue to be provided for Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Pro’s update badgering seems to allow for updates to be provided for packages that aren’t part of the base distro makeup - like packages that are held in non-Canonical repos.
For home users, Ubuntu Pro is free… for now.
I don’t think it’s anything horrendously bad, but the way it’s been rolled out is pretty fuckin’ far from good too.
This is correct. There’s no need for Ubuntu Pro to get the updates you used to get prior to Ubuntu Pro’s introduction. Ubuntu Pro gives additional updates that were not available before and the community does not provide. It’s free for up to 5 machines so you should register and enable it. There’s no downside for now.
OK, but still annoying.
Are those updates available on Debian, Fedora, …?
On Debian they’re not. I’ve no idea how community support works on Fedora. I don’t think there’s corp support of any kind on Fedora.
Well, the list looked like those packages should most definitely in the core Canonical repos. Pretty standard libraries.
Ubuntu Pro is free.
Then, what’s the point? APT worked perfectly well for decades without creating accounts.
It’s not free for commercial use. It’s a paywall for companies
Ubuntu Pro only provides additional updates, it still provides updates for the APT software you already have. From what I could gather, all it adds is longer LTS support and a few antivirus packages. So no need to worry- for now at least.
