Download Edubuntu

The fastest way for most people to get Edubuntu is by downloading the CD Installer. This is a copy of the CD that you burn to a blank disk. Please note, however, that you require two Installer CDs, which are nearly 700 MB and 430 MB, so if you don't have a fast Internet connection, you may want to request a free CD, see below. Here are instructions on how to burn the CD to a blank disk

Ubuntu Education Edition 8.04.1 : Edubuntu

The 8.04.1 release brings a restructure of Edubuntu into the Ubuntu Education Edition. The education desktop and application bundle now install as an add-on to a standard Ubuntu desktop.

The Release CDs

Ubuntu 8.04.1 educational add-on CD

To install from the add-on CD you require an existing Ubuntu desktop system as as a base.

You can use the Ubuntu Education Edition CD to either install the full Edubuntu education environment and desktop as a single process, or select individual Education applications from the bundle for install onto your Ubuntu desktop environment direct from CD.

The other CDs: Changes from 7.10 to 8.04.1 Release

In versions prior to 8.04.1 Edubuntu was released as a distinct variant with its own separate Installer CDs. With the restructure you now start with the installation of an Ubuntu desktop base onto your machine, and once complete you then insert the Ubuntu Education CD. A dialogue box will load automatically offering you a choice of "start package manager" or "start add-on installer".

Select the "add-on installer" option to install the full education environment, including the Edubuntu default application packages and Edubuntu desktop as a single process.

The following table provides an overview about the changes.

Previous Release Current Release
Edubuntu 7.10 Desktop CD Ubuntu 8.04.1 Desktop CD
Edubuntu 7.10 Classroom Server CD Ubuntu 8.04.1 Alternate CD
Edubuntu 7.10 Classroom Server Add-on CD Ubuntu 8.04.1 educational add-on CD

Choosing the correct Installation Type

Edubuntu can be installed and configured in two forms:

  • Edubuntu Desktop (aka Workstation or Stand-Alone), just like an ordinary desktop PC fine-tuned for educational purposes.
  • Edubuntu Classroom Server, which has a configured thin client environment by default. The terminal server runs all the applications and contains all the data. The thin clients are connected to the server and only take care of display, keyboard, mouse and sound.

Install Edubuntu

Install Edubuntu Desktop

In order to install Edubuntu 8.04.1 Desktop permanently on a computer, you will need the following two CDs

  1. Get the Ubuntu 8.04.1 Desktop CD - You are free to choose the Alternate CD, if you prefer a text-based installer.
  2. Get the Ubuntu 8.04.1 educational add-on CD

Install Edubuntu Classroom Server (thin client)

In order to install an Edubuntu 8.04.1 Classroom Server, you will need the following two CDs

  1. Get the Ubuntu 8.04.1 Alternate CD - Don't forget to select the "Desktop Edition" release and tick the checkbox for the alternate desktop CD on the download page!
  2. Get the Ubuntu 8.04.1 educational add-on CD

See the detailed installation instructions for Edubuntu 8.04.1 LTSP Classroom Server.

Available Architectures

Two architectures are provided and formally supported:

  • PC (Intel x86)
  • 64-bit PC (AMD64)

For other community supported architectures you can go to:

Ubuntu Education Edition 8.04.1, the Newest Edubuntu Release

Ubuntu Education Edition 8.04.1 (the Hardy Heron release) is supported for 18 months on both desktops and servers.

Because Ubuntu is so popular, we've distributed the downloadable files to several locations around the globe. In order to make your download go faster, please choose a location near you from the list below.

Please refer to the release notes for known issues:

Ubuntu 8.04.1 educational add-on CD

DVD Releases

Ubuntu 8.04.1 DVD's are available from the following link:

The DVD image contains the Desktop and Server ISO's, as well as all of the officially supported packages for the Ubuntu environment.

Older Releases

Edubuntu 6.06.1, the Dapper Drake release, supported until 2009.

BitTorrent Users

BitTorrent is a tool that eases large file downloads by distributing the download among many different peers. It has built in support for checking the file to ensure it has downloaded completely and acurately. You will see an option for a torrent file.

How to install Edubuntu

How to install Ubuntu Education Edition 8.04.1 Classroom Server

Installation instructions for Ubuntu Education Edition 8.04.1 can be found here: How to install an Edubuntu 8.04.1 LTSP Classroom Server.

How to install Edubuntu 6.06 LTS

Installation instructions for Edubuntu 6.06 LTS can be found on the Getting Started with 6.06 LTS page.

When you can't download

Ordering pressed CDs

If you don't have enough bandwidth to download Edubuntu, or would simply like more attractive official CDs, we can send them to you free of charge. Linux User Groups and others interested in handing out extra CDs to friends and others are welcome to order a few extra to share.

You may place your order in Shipit - the Edubuntu CD Distribution System. Please note that Shipit only provides the CDs for a Desktop installation (Ubuntu Desktop 8.04.1 CD plus Ubuntu 8.04.1 educational add-on CD). Expect CD delivery to be approximately 4-6 weeks after you have placed your order.

The URL for Shipit is: http://shipit.edubuntu.org

For a Classroom Server installation, you will need to download the CD image files yourself, as outlined above.