Feedback on the Dell Precision T3600

> My goal is to install Ubuntu and install Oracle VM Virtualbox manager to run Oracle Software Products.

The stock version of Ubuntu 12.04 is not the same version that was tested and certified on this system. Thus, we can't guarantee it will work, as the pre-installed version that we certified contains some modifications to enable this system to work properly.

If you didn't buy this system with Ubuntu preinstalled, I suggest you instead try to download and run the latest version of Ubuntu, 14.04 which released a few days ago. This is much more likely to have been updated to support this system and is a long-term support release which will be supported until 2019 and updated with new drivers until 2016. Do note, however, that we can't guarantee the system will work until we have tested/certified it; and even then, we'll only certify it with the specific condiguration we test (so no guarantees it would work with your amount of RAM, although I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work).

That's definitely what I'd do. Now, to answer your specific questions:

>1. The only certified version on Dell Precision T3600 is Ubuntu 12.04 Desktop version. Does it mean I can't even upgrade it to 13.x ?

The T3600 is certified for the pre-installed version of Ubuntu only. This means we only certify it will work with the exact configuration shown on the page (http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201109-9788/), and only with the version of Ubuntu provided by Dell. The "stock" version of 12.04 that you can download from ubuntu.com is not guaranteed to work, and neither is 13.04 or 13.10, as the system wasn't certified for stock Ubuntu with those versions.

>2. Are Ubuntu 13.04 and 13.10 patch sets or full installers ?. If they are full installers, I can't find it on Ubuntu website. Could you provide download links of Ubuntu 13.x desktop versions?

They are full installers; you could upgrade from 12.10 to 13.04 and from there to 13.10, but since 13.04 and 13.10 reached end of life, they are no longer supported and not recommended to install. Since they reached end of life, I unfortunately can't provide download links for them, nor do I suggest you install unsupported software.

> 3. Based on requirement above, which type of Ubuntu do you suggest ? Ubuntu Desktop or Ubuntu Server.

I'd start with Ubuntu Desktop, you can install all server packages you need on top of that. This is easier than starting with Ubuntu Server and installing the desktop environment and components. As mentioned above, I suggest 14.04 over any older version, unless you have the preinstalled ubuntu image for the T3600.

> 4. Can I install Ubuntu Server version on Dell Precision T3600 ? Is it tested or certified ?

You may be able to install it, but it was not tested or certified so we can't guarantee it will work.

Daniel,

Awesome. Thanks a lot.
I really appreciate your patience and time to answer all my questions.

Based on your analysis/suggestions, it looks like I should go for Ubuntu desktop version 14.04.

One final question, Do you suggest any modifications or packages to be installed on top of 14.04 to make it more compatible/tuned version on Dell T3600.

Thanks,
GK Goalla

Daniel,

Awesome. Thanks a lot.
I really appreciate your patience and time to answer all my questions.

Based on your analysis/suggestions, it looks like I should go for Ubuntu desktop version 14.04.

One final question, Do you suggest any modifications or packages to be installed on top of 14.04 to make it more compatible/tuned version on Dell T3600.

Thanks,
GK Goalla

Hello,

Unfortunately I can't really say yet, as we haven't tested the T3600 for 14.04 compatibility. Once we do, assuming it passes all required tests, a certification entry will be added in the site, and we will note any issues we may have found while testing it.

Optionally, you can ask around in community sites like askubuntu.com or use Google to see if other people have run into issues with 14.04 on this system, and how to get around them.