Future Ubuntu Releases Will Ship with the Latest and Greatest Linux Kernel
Ubuntu is probably the only distribution out there that doesn’t offer users access to the very latest kernels, at least not officially and not in an easy manner. Shipping a new Ubuntu release with the latest and greatest Linux kernel was probably one of the most requested features of the Ubuntu community.
New Ubuntu releases always shipped with a kernel that was about to reach the end of its supported life soon after the release or it was already EOL. Canonical always had a conservative “wait and see” approach to choosing a Linux kernel version for upcoming Ubuntu releases, but this is finally about to change.
It's FOSS News:
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Wow! Ubuntu Will Include The Latest Linux Kernel Version in Future Releases
When it comes to the Linux kernel, staying up to date with a recent LTS release is generally a good idea, if you take security and stability into consideration. For older hardware, things can be different. And, if you are on bleeding edge hardware, you will need the latest Linux kernel (even if it's non-LTS).
But, those get outdated very soon, thanks to the fast release cycle of the Linux kernel.
If you are working with a rolling release distro, then you are just about on the bleeding edge of what the Linux kernel has to offer. But, with Ubuntu, they have always taken the safe route to include a stable kernel release, even if a newer version is available at the time.
Now, Canonical has announced some changes to how they will be handling Linux kernels going forward, and it's a good surprise.
Linux Magazine:
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Ubuntu 24.10 will Include the Latest Linux Kernel » Linux Magazine
Canonical announced that Ubuntu 24.10 will be the first release to ship with the latest upstream kernel.
That means "Oracular Oriole" will come with Linux kernel version 6.11. Previously, Ubuntu shipped with kernels that would soon reach EOL, which was driven by Canonical's need to always ship what they knew would work and had been sufficiently tested, vetted, and updated.
According to Brett Grandbois (Ubuntu Kernel Engineering Director), the old policy was a conservative "wait and see" approach, which guaranteed stability on the appointed release day but proved unpopular with consumers looking for the latest features and hardware support.
The new policy, Grandois states, "Ubuntu will now ship the absolute latest available version of the upstream Linux kernel at the specified Ubuntu release freeze date, even if upstream is still in Release Candidate (RC) status."
This will, of course, bring about a few complications, such as kernel variants, dependent components, a tighter release, possible unstable releases, and late releases.
WebProNews:
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Ubuntu Changes Kernel Strategy, Will Release With The Latest Version
Canonical, the maker of Ubuntu Linux, is making a major change to its kernel strategy, with plans to use the latest version available at the time of a new release.
Canonical’s Brett Grandbois pointed out that Ubuntu and the Linux kernel’s developers follow two different release schedules. As a general rule, the Canonical Kernel Team (CKT) likes to have a month from the time the kernel developers release a new version to when they view it stable enough to incorporate it into Ubuntu.
TechSpot:
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Ubuntu will use the latest version of the Linux kernel for new releases moving forward | TechSpot
Canonical recently announced a significant policy change regarding Linux adoption in the Ubuntu operating system. The Canonical Kernel Team (CKT), responsible for handling kernel-related issues for any Ubuntu release, will soon begin integrating the latest version of the Linux kernel, even if there is no final stable build out in the wild yet.
As the British company explains, Ubuntu follows a strict, time-based release schedule. Release dates are set six months in advance, and only in "extreme" circumstances can a delay occur. The most recent long-term support version of Ubuntu, 24.04 "Noble Numbat," was released in April 2024.
Meanwhile, developers working on the Linux kernel follow a "loosely time-based release process," with a new major kernel release occurring every two to three months. The actual release date for each new version is described as "fluid," meaning that project leader Linus Torvalds may adjust the upstream development process if a significant bug is discovered.
The Register:
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Ubuntu 24.04.1 will be late, but fresher kernels are coming
The launch date for the next Ubuntu point release is being pushed back, but there's a silver lining: Canonical is promising fresher kernels in future builds.
The latest news coming out of Canonical is mixed. On one hand, it is delaying the release of 24.04.1, the first point-release of the current long-term supported version, April's Noble Numbat. However, the company is changing its kernel version policy to favor newer kernel releases for both interim and future LTS versions of Ubuntu.
Tackling the less pleasant news first, although the bulletin seems to mangle its dates a little, Ubuntu 24.04.1 was planned to be released last week, but it's been postponed by two weeks and is now expected on August 29. The company says that "a few high-impact upgrade bugs have been brought to our attention."
This isn't the first delay to hit the Noble release cycle. The beta version was two weeks late too. Also, for those bolder folks who eschew the every-even-numbered-year LTS releases and prefer the faster-moving, six-monthly "interim" releases, the option to update from 23.10 "Mantic" to "Noble" was similarly delayed back in May.
More here:
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Canonical's Shifts to Up-to-Date Linux Kernels in Ubuntu
Canonical, the company behind the popular Linux distribution Ubuntu, has announced a significant change in its approach to integrating Linux kernels into its operating system. Moving forward with the forthcoming Ubuntu 24.10, Oracular Oriole release, Canonical will be using more up-to-date Linux kernels.
Traditionally, Ubuntu has opted for stability by including the most recent stable Linux kernel available at the time of the release freeze. This approach, while ensuring reliability, often meant that Ubuntu releases did not feature the very latest kernel versions, sometimes missing out on new features and hardware support that newer kernels provide. Other popular distros, such as Fedora, opted for cutting-edge kernels.
Canonical's new strategy involves shipping the latest upstream Linux kernel available at the time of the Ubuntu release freeze date, even if the kernel is still in a Release Candidate (RC) status.
This shift is expected to make dissatisfied users who want the latest features and hardware compatibility happier. By adopting newer kernels, Ubuntu aims to better support bleeding-edge hardware and align more closely with the rapid development pace of the Linux kernel itself.
Caught late:
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Future Ubuntu Releases Will Ship with the Latest and Greatest Linux Kernel
Ubuntu’s Canonical Kernel Team (CKT) is updating its kernel version selection policy. The new approach aims to provide users with the latest upstream Linux kernel at the Ubuntu release freeze date, even if the kernel is still in Release Candidate (RC) status.