diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 88e7c40..14b915d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -108,6 +108,8 @@ It has been tested on:
 
 * el5.x
 * el6.x
+* ubuntu 12.04
+* ubuntu 13.04
 
 `$::osfamily == RedHat` and EPEL packages
 -----------------------------------------
diff --git a/manifests/gmetad/service.pp b/manifests/gmetad/service.pp
index e1048a3..7b18115 100644
--- a/manifests/gmetad/service.pp
+++ b/manifests/gmetad/service.pp
@@ -13,10 +13,17 @@
 
 class ganglia::gmetad::service inherits ganglia::gmetad {
 
+  if ($gmetad_status_command) {
+    $hasstatus = false
+  } else {
+    $hasstatus = true
+  }
+
   service { $gmetad_service_name:
-    ensure      => running,
-    hasstatus   => true,
-    hasrestart  => true,
-    enable      => true,
+    ensure     => running,
+    hasstatus  => $hasstatus,
+    hasrestart => true,
+    enable     => true,
+    status     => $gmetad_status_command,
   }
 }
diff --git a/manifests/gmond/service.pp b/manifests/gmond/service.pp
index bb17e5d..5f7dcdc 100644
--- a/manifests/gmond/service.pp
+++ b/manifests/gmond/service.pp
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 # == Class: ganglia::gmond::service
-#
-# enables the gmond service
+# # enables the gmond service
 #
 # === Authors
 #
@@ -13,10 +12,17 @@
 
 class ganglia::gmond::service inherits ganglia::gmond{
 
+  if ($gmond_status_command) {
+    $hasstatus = false
+  } else {
+    $hasstatus = true
+  }
+
   service { $gmond_service_name:
-    ensure      => running,
-    hasstatus   => true,
-    hasrestart  => true,
-    enable      => true,
+    ensure     => running,
+    hasstatus  => $hasstatus,
+    hasrestart => true,
+    enable     => true,
+    status     => $gmond_status_command,
   }
 }
diff --git a/manifests/params.pp b/manifests/params.pp
index 76be5d4..41b95e7 100644
--- a/manifests/params.pp
+++ b/manifests/params.pp
@@ -12,19 +12,23 @@
 #
 
 class ganglia::params {
-  $gmond_package_name   = 'ganglia-gmond'
-  $gmond_service_name   = 'gmond'
 
-  $gmetad_package_name  = 'ganglia-gmetad'
-  $gmetad_service_name  = 'gmetad'
-
-  # paths are the same for el5.x & el6.x
-  $web_package_name     = 'ganglia-web'
-  $web_php_config       = '/etc/ganglia/conf.php'
+  # files are the same for ubuntu and el5/el6
   $web_php_erb          = 'ganglia/conf.php.el6.erb'
 
   case $::osfamily {
     redhat: {
+      $gmond_package_name   = 'ganglia-gmond'
+      $gmond_service_name   = 'gmond'
+
+      $gmetad_package_name  = 'ganglia-gmetad'
+      $gmetad_service_name  = 'gmetad'
+      $gmetad_user          = 'ganglia'
+
+      # paths are the same for el5.x & el6.x
+      $web_package_name     = 'ganglia-web'
+      $web_php_config       = '/etc/ganglia/conf.php'
+
       case $::operatingsystemmajrelease {
         # the epel packages change uid/gids + install paths between 5 & 6
         5: {
@@ -50,6 +54,39 @@
         }
       }
     }
+    debian: {
+      case $::operatingsystem {
+        ubuntu: {
+          # I use ubuntu 12.04 and 13.04, have not tested others
+          $gmond_package_name    = 'ganglia-monitor'
+          $gmond_service_name    = 'ganglia-monitor'
+
+          $gmetad_package_name   = 'gmetad'
+          $gmetad_service_name   = 'gmetad'
+          $gmetad_user           = 'nobody'
+
+          $web_package_name      = 'ganglia-webfrontend'
+          $web_php_config        = '/usr/share/ganglia-webfrontend/conf.php'
+
+          $gmond_service_config  = '/etc/ganglia/gmond.conf'
+          $gmond_service_erb     = 'ganglia/gmond.conf.ubuntu.erb'
+
+          $gmetad_service_config = '/etc/ganglia/gmetad.conf'
+          # it's the same file as el6 with only the default user comment changed
+          $gmetad_service_erb    = 'ganglia/gmetad.conf.el6.erb'
+
+          # ubuntu 12.10 and below didn't have a status command in the init script
+          if ($::lsbmajdistrelease <= 12) {
+            $gmond_status_command  = 'pgrep -u ganglia -f /usr/sbin/gmond'
+            $gmetad_status_command = 'pgrep -u nobody -f /usr/sbin/gmetad'
+          }
+        }
+        default: {
+          fail("Module ${module_name} is not supported on osfamily/operatingsystem: ${::osfamily}/${::operatingsystem}")
+        }
+      }
+    }
+
     default: {
       fail("Module ${module_name} is not supported on ${::operatingsystem}")
     }
diff --git a/spec/classes/params_spec.rb b/spec/classes/params_spec.rb
index d72bcd9..fd30f25 100644
--- a/spec/classes/params_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/classes/params_spec.rb
@@ -33,17 +33,41 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe 'for osfamily debian' do
+    let :facts do
+      {
+        :osfamily => 'Debian'
+      }
+    end
+
+    describe 'for operatingsystem ubuntu' do
+      before { facts[:operatingsystem] = 'Ubuntu' ; facts[:lsbmajdistrelease] = 12 }
+
+      it { should contain_class('ganglia::params') }
+    end
+
+    describe 'for operatingsystem debian' do
+      before { facts[:operatingsystem] = 'Debian' }
+
+      it 'should fail' do
+        expect { should contain_class('ganglia::params') }.
+          to raise_error(Puppet::Error, /not supported on .*Debian\/Debian/)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+
   describe 'unsupported osfamily' do
     let :facts do 
       {
-        :osfamily        => 'Debian',
-        :operatingsystem => 'Debian',
+        :osfamily        => 'Solaris',
+        :operatingsystem => 'Solaris',
       }
     end
   
     it 'should fail' do
       expect { should contain_class('ganglia::params') }.
-        to raise_error(Puppet::Error, /not supported on Debian/)
+        to raise_error(Puppet::Error, /not supported on Solaris/)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/templates/gmetad.conf.el6.erb b/templates/gmetad.conf.el6.erb
index bca078e..061ec34 100644
--- a/templates/gmetad.conf.el6.erb
+++ b/templates/gmetad.conf.el6.erb
@@ -99,9 +99,9 @@ gridname "<%= @gridname %>"
 # setuid off
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# User gmetad will setuid to (defaults to "ganglia")
-# default: "ganglia"
-# setuid_username "ganglia"
+# User gmetad will setuid to (defaults to "<%= @gmetad_user %>")
+# default: "<%= @gmetad_user %>"
+# setuid_username "<%= @gmetad_user %>"
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # The port gmetad will answer requests for XML
diff --git a/templates/gmond.conf.ubuntu.erb b/templates/gmond.conf.ubuntu.erb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2937386
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/gmond.conf.ubuntu.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,361 @@
+/* This configuration is as close to 2.5.x default behavior as possible 
+   The values closely match ./gmond/metric.h definitions in 2.5.x */ 
+globals {                    
+  daemonize = yes              
+  setuid = yes             
+  user = ganglia              
+  debug_level = 0               
+  max_udp_msg_len = 1472        
+  mute = no             
+  deaf = no             
+  host_dmax = 0 /*secs */ 
+  cleanup_threshold = 300 /*secs */ 
+  gexec = no             
+  send_metadata_interval = 0     
+} 
+
+/* If a cluster attribute is specified, then all gmond hosts are wrapped inside 
+ * of a <CLUSTER> tag.  If you do not specify a cluster tag, then all <HOSTS> will 
+ * NOT be wrapped inside of a <CLUSTER> tag. */ 
+cluster { 
+  name = "<%= @cluster_name %>"
+  owner = "<%= @cluster_owner %>"
+  latlong = "<%= @cluster_latlong %>"
+  url = "<%= @cluster_url %>"
+} 
+
+/* The host section describes attributes of the host, like the location */ 
+host { 
+  location = "<%= @host_location %>"
+} 
+
+/* Feel free to specify as many udp_send_channels as you like.  Gmond 
+   used to only support having a single channel */ 
+<% @udp_send_channel.each do |channel| -%>
+udp_send_channel { 
+  <%- if channel['mcast_join'] then -%>
+  mcast_join = <%= channel['mcast_join'] %>
+  <%- end -%>
+  <%- if channel['host'] then -%>
+  host       = <%= channel['host'] %>
+  <%- end -%>
+  <%- if channel['port'] then -%>
+  port       = <%= channel['port'] %> 
+  <%- end -%>
+  <%- if channel['ttl'] then -%>
+  ttl        = <%= channel['ttl'] %> 
+  <%- end -%>
+} 
+
+<% end -%>
+/* You can specify as many udp_recv_channels as you like as well. */ 
+<% @udp_recv_channel.each do |channel| -%>
+udp_recv_channel { 
+  <%- if channel['mcast_join'] then -%>
+  mcast_join = <%= channel['mcast_join'] %>
+  <%- end -%>
+  <%- if channel['port'] then -%>
+  port       = <%= channel['port'] %>
+  <%- end -%>
+  <%- if channel['bind'] then -%>
+  bind       = <%= channel['bind'] %> 
+  <%- end -%>
+} 
+
+<% end -%>
+/* You can specify as many tcp_accept_channels as you like to share 
+   an xml description of the state of the cluster */ 
+<% @tcp_accept_channel.each do |channel| -%>
+tcp_accept_channel { 
+  <%- if channel['port'] then -%>
+  port       = <%= channel['port'] %>
+  <%- end -%>
+} 
+
+<% end -%>
+
+/* Each metrics module that is referenced by gmond must be specified and 
+   loaded. If the module has been statically linked with gmond, it does not 
+   require a load path. However all dynamically loadable modules must include 
+   a load path. */ 
+modules { 
+  module { 
+    name = "core_metrics" 
+  } 
+  module { 
+    name = "cpu_module" 
+    path = "/usr/lib/ganglia/modcpu.so" 
+  } 
+  module { 
+    name = "disk_module" 
+    path = "/usr/lib/ganglia/moddisk.so" 
+  } 
+  module { 
+    name = "load_module" 
+    path = "/usr/lib/ganglia/modload.so" 
+  } 
+  module { 
+    name = "mem_module" 
+    path = "/usr/lib/ganglia/modmem.so" 
+  } 
+  module { 
+    name = "net_module" 
+    path = "/usr/lib/ganglia/modnet.so" 
+  } 
+  module { 
+    name = "proc_module" 
+    path = "/usr/lib/ganglia/modproc.so" 
+  } 
+  module { 
+    name = "sys_module" 
+    path = "/usr/lib/ganglia/modsys.so" 
+  } 
+} 
+
+include ('/etc/ganglia/conf.d/*.conf') 
+
+
+/* The old internal 2.5.x metric array has been replaced by the following 
+   collection_group directives.  What follows is the default behavior for 
+   collecting and sending metrics that is as close to 2.5.x behavior as 
+   possible. */
+
+/* This collection group will cause a heartbeat (or beacon) to be sent every 
+   20 seconds.  In the heartbeat is the GMOND_STARTED data which expresses 
+   the age of the running gmond. */ 
+collection_group { 
+  collect_once = yes 
+  time_threshold = 20 
+  metric { 
+    name = "heartbeat" 
+  } 
+} 
+
+/* This collection group will send general info about this host every 1200 secs. 
+   This information doesn't change between reboots and is only collected once. */ 
+collection_group { 
+  collect_once = yes 
+  time_threshold = 1200 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_num" 
+    title = "CPU Count" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_speed" 
+    title = "CPU Speed" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "mem_total" 
+    title = "Memory Total" 
+  } 
+  /* Should this be here? Swap can be added/removed between reboots. */ 
+  metric { 
+    name = "swap_total" 
+    title = "Swap Space Total" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "boottime" 
+    title = "Last Boot Time" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "machine_type" 
+    title = "Machine Type" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "os_name" 
+    title = "Operating System" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "os_release" 
+    title = "Operating System Release" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "location" 
+    title = "Location" 
+  } 
+} 
+
+/* This collection group will send the status of gexecd for this host every 300 secs */
+/* Unlike 2.5.x the default behavior is to report gexecd OFF.  */ 
+collection_group { 
+  collect_once = yes 
+  time_threshold = 300 
+  metric { 
+    name = "gexec" 
+    title = "Gexec Status" 
+  } 
+} 
+
+/* This collection group will collect the CPU status info every 20 secs. 
+   The time threshold is set to 90 seconds.  In honesty, this time_threshold could be 
+   set significantly higher to reduce unneccessary network chatter. */ 
+collection_group { 
+  collect_every = 20 
+  time_threshold = 90 
+  /* CPU status */ 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_user"  
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "CPU User" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_system"   
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "CPU System" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_idle"  
+    value_threshold = "5.0" 
+    title = "CPU Idle" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_nice"  
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "CPU Nice" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_aidle" 
+    value_threshold = "5.0" 
+    title = "CPU aidle" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_wio" 
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "CPU wio" 
+  } 
+  /* The next two metrics are optional if you want more detail... 
+     ... since they are accounted for in cpu_system.  
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_intr" 
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "CPU intr" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "cpu_sintr" 
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "CPU sintr" 
+  } 
+  */ 
+} 
+
+collection_group { 
+  collect_every = 20 
+  time_threshold = 90 
+  /* Load Averages */ 
+  metric { 
+    name = "load_one" 
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "One Minute Load Average" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "load_five" 
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "Five Minute Load Average" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "load_fifteen" 
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "Fifteen Minute Load Average" 
+  }
+} 
+
+/* This group collects the number of running and total processes */ 
+collection_group { 
+  collect_every = 80 
+  time_threshold = 950 
+  metric { 
+    name = "proc_run" 
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "Total Running Processes" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "proc_total" 
+    value_threshold = "1.0" 
+    title = "Total Processes" 
+  } 
+}
+
+/* This collection group grabs the volatile memory metrics every 40 secs and 
+   sends them at least every 180 secs.  This time_threshold can be increased 
+   significantly to reduce unneeded network traffic. */ 
+collection_group { 
+  collect_every = 40 
+  time_threshold = 180 
+  metric { 
+    name = "mem_free" 
+    value_threshold = "1024.0" 
+    title = "Free Memory" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "mem_shared" 
+    value_threshold = "1024.0" 
+    title = "Shared Memory" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "mem_buffers" 
+    value_threshold = "1024.0" 
+    title = "Memory Buffers" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "mem_cached" 
+    value_threshold = "1024.0" 
+    title = "Cached Memory" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "swap_free" 
+    value_threshold = "1024.0" 
+    title = "Free Swap Space" 
+  } 
+} 
+
+collection_group { 
+  collect_every = 40 
+  time_threshold = 300 
+  metric { 
+    name = "bytes_out" 
+    value_threshold = 4096 
+    title = "Bytes Sent" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "bytes_in" 
+    value_threshold = 4096 
+    title = "Bytes Received" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "pkts_in" 
+    value_threshold = 256 
+    title = "Packets Received" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "pkts_out" 
+    value_threshold = 256 
+    title = "Packets Sent" 
+  } 
+}
+
+/* Different than 2.5.x default since the old config made no sense */ 
+collection_group { 
+  collect_every = 1800 
+  time_threshold = 3600 
+  metric { 
+    name = "disk_total" 
+    value_threshold = 1.0 
+    title = "Total Disk Space" 
+  } 
+}
+
+collection_group { 
+  collect_every = 40 
+  time_threshold = 180 
+  metric { 
+    name = "disk_free" 
+    value_threshold = 1.0 
+    title = "Disk Space Available" 
+  } 
+  metric { 
+    name = "part_max_used" 
+    value_threshold = 1.0 
+    title = "Maximum Disk Space Used" 
+  } 
+}
+