Packages in the new Ubuntu "partner" repository

Ubuntu used to a have a “commercial” repository for packages that were commercial software, such as the vmware-server package. Apparently the new plan is to have commercial vendors submit packages for their products to a new “partner” repository that when added to an Ubuntu system will enable easy downloading of those software packages. I wanted to see what was currently being offered in the repository.

Presumably the partner repository can be enabled by doing the following:

• sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list.d/partner.list
• add the line: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu gutsy partner
• Save (Ctrl+O) and Exit (Ctrl+X)
• sudo apt-get update

However upon doing so I had no access to any new packages. I decided to inspect the website directly instead for a list of packages.

• arkeia
• db2exc-amd64
• db2exc
• desktopsecure
• opera
• realplay
• sugarcrm
• vmware-server

I’m sure that many users will find this repository useful once it actually works. I think the only purpose I see is for maintaining machines that are already using vmware-server or migrating clients who use Windows for vmware to Ubuntu. I might want to try Opera again at some point since it’s been a while and I continue to read positive reviews but the more free the software the better and I do not find myself lacking much these days.