The Ubuntu team has announced the first release of Ubuntu JeOS, Ubuntu JeOS 7.10. Pronounced "juice", Ubuntu JeOS (Just Enough Operating System) is an efficient variant of Ubuntu configured specifically for virtual appliances.

ISVs looking to develop virtual appliances will have a compelling platform in Ubuntu JeOS, an OS optimised for virtualisation that greatly reduces the complexity and maintenance overhead normally associated with general purpose operating systems. Ubuntu JeOS Edition has been tuned to take advantage of key performance technologies of the latest virtualisation products from VMware. This combination of reduced size and optimized performance ensures that Ubuntu JeOS Edition delivers a highly efficient use of server resources in large virtual deployments.

You can read more about Ubuntu JeOS in the following press release:

http://www.ubuntu.com/news/ubuntu710

The JeOS 7.10 CD image for x86 systems can be found at:

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/jeos/releases/gutsy/release/

Currently JeOS is available as a 32-bit flavor only.