HWE kernels =========== This document provides some reference information about Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernels: the support lifecycle, current kernel in development, the next planned Ubuntu base kernel version, kernel source code, and how to install the HWE kernels for use on your machine. Support lifecycle for HWE kernels --------------------------------- HWE kernels are only enabled on Ubuntu long-term support (LTS) releases, and have similar life cycles as their newer Ubuntu kernel counterparts. They will typically get rolled off to the next HWE kernel once a new Ubuntu series is released (until the next LTS). .. figure:: /_images/ref-hwe-kernel-release-cycle-jammy.svg :alt: Typical HWE kernel release cycle Example of HWE kernel release cycle for Jammy Jellyfish The table below summarises the support lifecycle, development and release schedule, end-of-life (EOL) and Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) dates for supported and upcoming HWE kernels. .. _table-ref-HWE-kernel-lifecycle-package: .. table:: HWE kernel lifecycle and package details :align: center +-----------------+------------------------+----------------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | Ubuntu series | Ubuntu version | Kernel version | Key dates | +=================+========================+================+==========================================+===============+ | Noble Numbat | 24.04.0 LTS | 6.8 | Release | April 2024 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2029 | +-----------------+------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | Jammy Jellyfish | *22.04.5 LTS (HWE)* | *6.8* | :ref:`Edge ` | *June 2024* | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | *Release* | *August 2024* | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | *EOL* | *April 2027* | | +------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | 22.04.4 LTS (HWE) | 6.5 | Release | February 2024 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | August 2024 | | +------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | 22.04.0 LTS | 5.15 | Release | April 2022 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2027 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | ESM | March 2032 | +-----------------+------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | Focal Fossa | 20.04.5 LTS (HWE) | 5.15 | Release | August 2022 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2025 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | ESM | April 2030 | | +------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | 20.04.0 LTS | 5.4 | Release | April 2020 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2025 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | ESM | April 2030 | +-----------------+------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | Bionic Beaver | 18.04.5 LTS (HWE) | 5.4 | Release | August 2020 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2023 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | ESM | April 2028 | | +------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | 18.04.0 LTS | 4.15 | Release | April 2018 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2023 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | ESM | April 2028 | +-----------------+------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | Xenial Xerus | 16.04.5 LTS (HWE) | 4.15 | Release | August 2018 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2021 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | ESM | April 2026 | | +------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | 16.04.0 LTS | 4.4 | Release | April 2016 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2021 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | ESM | April 2026 | +-----------------+------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ | Trusty Tahr | 14.04.5 LTS (HWE) | 4.15 | Release | August 2016 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | EOL | April 2019 | | | | +------------------------------------------+---------------+ | | | | ESM | April 2024 | +-----------------+------------------------+----------------+------------------------------------------+---------------+ .. note:: HWE kernels that have reached EOL and are no longer under the ESM support phase are excluded from the table above. See the `Ubuntu kernel release cycle`_ for information. Installing a HWE kernel ----------------------- .. tabs:: .. group-tab:: 24.04 LTS *Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat)* By default, Ubuntu Desktop installations of 24.04 default to tracking the HWE stack. Server installations will default to the general availability (GA) kernel and provide the HWE kernel as an option. Desktop: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-24.04 Server: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-24.04 .. group-tab:: 22.04 LTS *Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish)* By default, Ubuntu Desktop installations of 22.04 default to tracking the HWE stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the HWE kernel as an option. Desktop: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04 Server: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04 .. group-tab:: 20.04 LTS *Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa)* By default, Ubuntu Desktop installations of 20.04 default to tracking the HWE stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the HWE kernel as an option. Desktop: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-20.04 Server: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-20.04 .. group-tab:: 18.04 LTS *Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver)* By default, Ubuntu Desktop installations of 18.04.2 and newer point releases will ship with an updated kernel and X stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the HWE kernel as an option. Desktop: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-18.04 Server: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04 .. group-tab:: 16.04 LTS *Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus)* By default, Ubuntu Desktop installations of 16.04.2 and newer point releases will ship with an updated kernel and X stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the HWE kernel as an option. Desktop: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-16.04 Server: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04 .. group-tab:: 14.04 LTS *Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr)* By default, Ubuntu Desktop installations of 14.04.2 and newer point releases will ship with an updated kernel and X stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the HWE kernel as an option. Desktop: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-core-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-video-all-lts-xenial xserver-xorg-input-all-lts-xenial libwayland-egl1-mesa-lts-xenial Server: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-lts-xenial .. _ref-about-hwe-install-edge: Installing an edge HWE kernel ----------------------------- .. note:: Edge variants of HWE kernels are considered to be in development mode and are not supported. These edge variants may have missing components, missing :term:`DKMS`, or contain bugs. Edge HWE kernels are not stable releases and should not be used in a production environment. You can get early access to the next HWE kernel - that will be shipped with a newer kernel version - by installing the ``-edge`` variant. To install the latest edge kernel variant for Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, run: .. code:: shell sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04-edge For more information, see :term:`edge kernel` for more information. Reporting bugs on HWE kernels ----------------------------- There are two recommended approaches to report a bug against a HWE kernel package. 1. Using the ``apport-bug`` command. .. code:: bash apport-bug linux #. Through the "Report a bug" form for the ``linux`` package in Launchpad: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+filebug. Related topics -------------- - See the `Stable Updates Cycles`_ for the dates of the last day for kernel patches (for HWE kernels) for each stable update cycle. - See the `Ubuntu kernel release cycle`_ for more details about the kernel support lifecycle, including the ESM support phase. - See the `Ubuntu kernel lifecycle and enablement stack`_ for more details about HWE kernels and their support status. .. LINKS .. _Stable Updates Cycles: https://kernel.ubuntu.com/ .. _Ubuntu kernel release cycle: https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle#ubuntu-kernel-release-cycle .. _Ubuntu kernel lifecycle and enablement stack: https://ubuntu.com/kernel/lifecycle