The Automatic Linux + ARB Installation DVD: ARBuntu

With the new ARBuntu 3.0 system there are coming two major changes:

The first one is quite basic ...

• ARBuntu is now an installation DVD and not a CD anymore

In the past, we have tried to squeeze everything on a CD to assure maximum hardware compatibility. Now, severe space limitations caused by the new Linux systems have forced us to switch to a DVD-based system. However, this should be no problem because DVD drives must be regarded as hardware standard meanwhile.

The second relates to the ARB memory requirements and is of increasing importance ...

• The new ARB, and with this ARBuntu, is available in two versions - 32bit and 64bit

ARB is a very memory(=RAM)-intensive application - at least if very large databases such as the current rRNA data sets are underlying. So far, 32bit operating systems and software have been dominated the end-user computer world. One characteristic of a 32bit system is that it can only address a maximum of 4GB of RAM. If an ARB database requires more, it is not working anymore. This has become a severe problem with the fast growing rRNA databases during the last months.

This limitation can be resolved by using a 64bit system. Such systems are already available since several years. However, also the application itself must come in a 64bit version to be able to use more than 4GB of RAM (if available). This has been realized for the new ARB 5.x release which is now offered in both versions. With this, we also provide two versions of ARBuntu: One system with (i) 32bit Linux and ARB, and one system with (ii) 64bit Linux and ARB. The features are identical, your decision finally depends on your hardware and of course on your application.

To bring some light into the dark, we have compiled a table which shows you the ARB Memory (RAM) Requirements for the recent SILVA rRNA databases.

November 19, 2009

Finally, it's done! After extensive optimization and testing we have a fully operational ARBuntu 3.0 system available. It is based on the recent stable ARB release 5.1 from October 2009 and an updated Linux system (Kubuntu 9.04) to assure maximum hardware compatibility. The new ARBuntu system comes as a DVD and not a CD anymore and will be offered in multiple flavours. At the moment, you can order the standard 32bit edition but also a 64bit version is in preparation. It will be released until end of this year. Both system will also become available as an extended pro version including the SILVA Aligner (called "SINA") integrated into ARB for unlimited local usage.

July 9, 2009

Many of you are waiting for the new ARBuntu release. The current one is based on a 2 year old Ubuntu and an update is required to assure compatibility with also recent computer hardware. In fact, everything is prepared. But we still hope for a brandnew ARB release within the next weeks. In this context, it would make no sense to just update the Linux of the CD now and to release another ARBuntu version (including a new ARB) few weeks later. We will keep you informed! Thanks for your understanding and sorry for the inconveniences!

March 20, 2009

We have started to plan a new ARBuntu release based on the next Kubuntu Linux release 9.04. The Kubuntu release is expected for end of April this year. Hopefully, the tests of the corresponding new ARBuntu CD will be finished in early June 2009. The new ARBuntu CD will be announced in the News block of the Ribocon mainpage!

January 18, 2008

Today, we have released the new version 2.0 of our Automatic Linux + ARB Installation CD ARBuntu. It is based on the new ARB release from December 2007 and fully compatible to the SILVA ribosomal RNA databases.

December 12, 2007

On December 7, 2007, finally the new ARB version was released by the development team at the TU in Munich. Today we have started to build the new ARBuntu CD version 2.0 which will hopefully become available latest in January 2008. We also have decided to use the latest Ubuntu/Kubuntu release 7.10 from October 2007 to assure maximum hardware compatibility. First test are looking quite promising!

• Genomics
• Diagnostics
• ARB/SILVA
  • Installation DVD 3.0
    • Purchasing ARBuntu
    • ARBuntu Information
  • Alignment Services
  • Preconfigured Hardware
  • Workshops
• Training