ubuntu is supporting Amazon web services and open-source
compute cloud formation -

  http://news.cnet.com/8301-19413_3-10168951-240.html

      Ubuntu server will target promoting cloud computing through entirely
open-source software.

      For those wishing to manage clouds, Ubuntu will apparently contain
tools that leverage the Amazon APIs. (I would hope the GoGrid APIs are also
under consideration, considering its apparent consideration by a variety of
Amazon's competitors.)

      Canonical will create standard Amazon Machine Images from Karmic
Koala, essentially creating "ready-to-run" appliances that will serve as
"standard builds" to the Amazon community.

      Don't want to commit to Amazon? Would you rather build a cloud on your
own infrastructure to get a feel for things while the public clouds "cure"?
Starting with Karmic's predecessor, Jaunty Jackalope (soon to go to code
freeze), UC Santa Barbara's open-source cloud project, Eucalyptus, will be
included in every install package.