Ubuntu LTS Hardware Enablement Stack information

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Every two years in April Ubuntu publishes a so-called Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Support) version, for which updates are provided over a period of five years (for the server version). The LTS version Ubuntu 18.04 LTS was released in April 2018 and was originally shipped with Linux Kernel 4.15. Via the Ubuntu LTS Hardware Enablement Stack (HWE) it is possible to use a newer Linux kernel that supports newer hardware.[1]

Differences GA / HWE Kernel

The Ubuntu LTS kernel versions distinguish between GA and HWE kernels:

  • GA Kernel with five years security updates: The GA (General Availability) Kernel version is the kernel version included with the first release of a Ubuntu LTS version. For Ubuntu 18.04, for example, this is the Linux Kernel 4.15. Security updates are provided for this kernel version for a period of five years.
  • HWE Kernel with six months security updates: A HWE (Hardware Enablement) kernel version is a newer kernel version than a GA kernel. For a HWE kernel version, security updates are provided only six months after release. The next HWE Kernel version will then be automatically upgraded. The latest HWE Kernel version is the GA Kernel version of the next LTS major release. It will therefore be provided with security updates for a longer time.

Kernel Versions

GA Kernel versions receive security updates for five years. HWE Kernel receive security updates for 6 months, followed by a change to the next HWE kernel version

The following table shows the GA and HWE kernel versions of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 20.04 LTS and 18.04 LTS:

Ubuntu LTS Version Kernel Version Kernel Note Kernel Type Release Support until
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
22.04 (RN) / 22.04.1 (RN) 5.15[2][3] GA Kernel April 2022 April 2027
22.04.2 (in Entwicklung) 5.19 (Ubuntu 22.10) HWE Kernel 23. February 2023[4] August 2023
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
20.04/20.04.1 (RN) 5.4 GA Kernel April 2020 April 2025
20.04.2 (Changes) 5.8 (Ubuntu 20.10) HWE Kernel February 2021 August 2021
20.04.3 (Changes) 5.11 (Ubuntu 21.04) HWE Kernel August 2021 February 2022
20.04.4 (Changes) 5.13 (Ubuntu 21.10) HWE Kernel February 2022 August 2022
20.04.5 (Changes) 5.15 (Ubuntu 22.04) HWE Kernel August 2022 February 2023
Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
18.04 (RN) / 18.04.1 (RN) 4.15 GA Kernel April 2018 April 2023
18.04.2 (RN) 4.18 (Ubuntu 18.10) HWE Kernel February 2019 August 2019
18.04.3 (RN) 5.0 (Ubuntu 19.04) HWE Kernel August 2019 April 2020
18.04.4 (RN) 5.3 (Ubuntu 19.10) HWE Kernel February 2020 August 2020
18.04.5 5.4 (Ubuntu 20.04) HWE Kernel August 2020 April 2023

Installation of a HWE Kernel

When installing Ubuntu Server 18.04.2 or later, you can choose whether to install the GA Kernel or the HWE Kernel.

When reinstalling Ubuntu Server 18.04.2 or later, you can choose at the beginning of the installation whether the GA Kernel 4.15 ("Install Ubuntu Server") or the newer HWE Kernel ("Boot and Install with the HWE Kernel") should be installed.

The HWE Kernel can also be installed later on a system that was originally installed with the GA Kernel. Under Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Server the current HWE kernel is installed with the following command:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04  

Further information

References


Foto Werner Fischer.jpg

Author: Werner Fischer

Werner Fischer, working in the Knowledge Transfer team at Thomas-Krenn, completed his studies of Computer and Media Security at FH Hagenberg in Austria. He is a regular speaker at many conferences like LinuxTag, OSMC, OSDC, LinuxCon, and author for various IT magazines. In his spare time he enjoys playing the piano and training for a good result at the annual Linz marathon relay.


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