Canonical Prepares Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud Training for VARs
As Canonical prepares for Ubuntu 9.10’s October 29 launch, the company’s channel and partner management team is developing an Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud training course for VARs, partners and IT managers. Here’s the scoop.
First, let’s rewind a bit. Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth on Oct. 26 offered his views on the Ubuntu 9.10 launch. Many of his statements involved pushing Ubuntu beyond the desktop. Two keys to that effort are Ubuntu Server Edition 9.10 as well as Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud.
To succeed, Canonical knows it needs to get partners and customers trained on the cloud effort. Notes Billy Cina, Canonical’s Training Programmes Manager:
“With all the excitement around Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud, we are in the final stages of launching a 2-day course which will be available through training partners and through our online classrooms. More news on that will be released over the next few days. This course is based on Ubuntu 9.10 and will be updated again for 10.04 release.”
According to Cina, the enterprise cloud training course will show VARs and administrators how to:
- Install, set up and configure a private Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud
- Create and destroy virtual machines
- Set up user accounts
- Perform maintenance on an Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud
- Move data between clouds, including moving virtual machines (VMs) between public and private clouds
- Troubleshoot common problems with configuration management
Also of note: Bridge Education and Fast Lane — two major Ubuntu training centers — in November 2009 will offer an Accelerated Deploying Ubuntu server course. According to Cina, it’s a condensed, 2-day version of the 5-day server course and is specifically designed for highly experienced system administrators, proficient with RPM systems and wanting to get up to speed quickly on how to deploy the Ubuntu 8.04 LTS server edition.
And in April 2010, Canonical expects to update its training programs to reflect the anticipated Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx release, which is a Long Term Support (LTS) release, Cina adds.
Server and Cloud Ambitions
No doubt, Canonical will need plenty of channel partners if Ubuntu Server Edition is to compete effectively with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Novell SUSE Linux and Microsoft Windows Server. “We are always on the look out to bring on board strong channel partners,” says Cina. “We are inundated with online applications monthly and evaluate each one individually.”
If you’re partnering up with Canonical let The VAR Guy know. Our resident blogger would like to hear how the channel efforts are shaping up.
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