wikiUbuntu LTS Hardware Enablement Stack information
A so-called Ubuntu LTS (Long Term Support) version of Ubuntu is released every two years in April, for which updates (for the server version) are provided over a period of five years. The LTS version Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, for example, was released in April 2022 and was originally delivered with Linux Kernel 5.15. Via the Ubuntu LTS Hardware Enablement Stack (HWE), it is possible to use a newer Linux kernel that also 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
The following table shows the GA and HWE kernel versions of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, 22.04 LTS, and 20.04 LTS:
| Ubuntu LTS Version | Kernel Version | Kernel Note | Kernel Type | Release | Support until |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | |||||
| 24.04 (RN) | 6.8 | GA Kernel | April 2024 | April 2029 | |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | |||||
| 22.04 (RN) / 22.04.1 (RN) | 5.15 | GA Kernel | April 2022 | April 2027 | |
| 22.04.2 (RN) | 5.19 | (von Ubuntu 22.10) | HWE Kernel | Februar 2023 | August 2023 |
| 22.04.3 (RN) | 6.2 | (von Ubuntu 23.04) | HWE Kernel | August 2023 | Februar 2024 |
| 22.04.4 (RN) | 6.5 | (von Ubuntu 23.10) | HWE Kernel | Februar 2024 | August 2024 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | |||||
| 20.04/20.04.1 (RN) | 5.4 | GA Kernel | April 2020 | April 2025 | |
| 20.04.2 (Changes) | 5.8 | (von Ubuntu 20.10) | HWE Kernel | Februar 2021 | August 2021 |
| 20.04.3 (Changes) | 5.11 | (von Ubuntu 21.04) | HWE Kernel | August 2021 | Februar 2022 |
| 20.04.4 (Changes) | 5.13 | (von Ubuntu 21.10) | HWE Kernel | Februar 2022 | August 2022 |
| 20.04.5 (Changes) | 5.15 | (von Ubuntu 22.04) | HWE Kernel | August 2022 | April 2025 |
Installation of a 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
- LTS Enablement Stacks (wiki.ubuntuusers.de)
References
- ↑ LTS Enablement Stack (wiki.ubuntu.com)
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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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