Ubuntu

ZCP offers maintained Ubuntu Server LTS images across every region. Each image ships with the paravirtual drivers and guest agent for fast I/O and clean management, and sets a unique hostname and administrator credential on first boot. Ubuntu is free and open-source, with no license or activation required.

For how all ZCP images behave on first boot, see Operating System Images.

Available versions

ZCP tracks the Ubuntu Long-Term Support (LTS) releases. Pick the newest version unless an application pins you to an older one. Each LTS gets 5 years of standard security maintenance from Canonical, extendable to 10 years with Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM) under Ubuntu Pro.

Version	Codename	Status	End of standard support
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS	Resolute Raccoon	✅ Available	April 2031 (ESM to 2036)
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS	Noble Numbat	✅ Available	April 2029 (ESM to 2034)
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS	Jammy Jellyfish	✅ Available	April 2027 (ESM to 2032)
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS	Focal Fossa	✅ Available	Ended April 2025 (ESM to 2030)

Caution

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS reached end of standard support in April 2025. It now receives security updates only through Ubuntu Pro ESM. Deploy 22.04 or newer for new workloads. End-of-life dates are set by Canonical. Confirm on the Ubuntu release cycle page.

Use cases

Ubuntu Server is the most widely deployed Linux in the cloud and the default choice for new Linux workloads on ZCP:

• Web and application hosting: Nginx, Apache, Node.js, Python/Django, PHP/Laravel, Ruby on Rails, and Java/Spring application servers.
• Containers and Kubernetes: Docker and containerd hosts, and Kubernetes control-plane or worker nodes. This is the standard base for cloud-native CI/CD runners.
• Databases and data: PostgreSQL, MySQL/MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis/Valkey, and analytics or data-pipeline workloads.
• DevOps and automation: Jenkins, GitLab runners, Ansible/Terraform control nodes, and build and packaging servers.
• AI/ML and GPU workloads: TensorFlow, PyTorch, and CUDA toolchains run on Ubuntu’s well-supported driver stack.
• Edge, IoT, and development: reproducible dev environments, microservices, and lightweight edge gateways.
• One-click apps: Ubuntu is the base for most Marketplace images, so anything deployed there runs on the same OS you get here.

Default login

The default user is ubuntu, with sudo for administration. Sign in over SSH with the key you attached at create time, or with the portal-generated password.

ssh ubuntu@<your-instance-ip>

Deploy an Ubuntu instance

1. Go to Compute → Create Instance (see Create Instance).
2. Choose an Ubuntu image and the version you want.
3. Pick a region and a plan, and attach an SSH key.
4. Attach to a network and create the instance.

Recommended first steps

• Update packages: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y.
• Confirm SSH key access works, then disable password login if you only use keys.
• Lock down access with a firewall rule.

Ubuntu documentation

For administration, packages, and release details, see the official Canonical documentation:

• Ubuntu Server documentation
• Ubuntu releases and lifecycle

Good to know

• Snapshots and backups work with the guest agent installed. See VM Snapshots and Backups.
• Need a different Linux family? See Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, or Oracle Linux.