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.