How to test kernels in -proposed¶

Ubuntu kernels are uploaded to the -proposed pocket for testing before being published to -updates and -security. You can download these pre-release kernels to install and test them before a stable release, but you must opt in to package from -proposed as they are not enabled by default.

Enable the -proposed pocket to software sources¶

To install packages from -proposed, you need to enable the relevant source repositories on your Ubuntu machine.

Enable the -proposed pocket via GUI¶

Open “Software & Updates”.
Go to the “Developer Options” tab.
Enable the Pre-released updates (<series>-proposed) option.

Enable the -proposed pocket via CLI¶

Noble Numbat 24.04 (and newer)

Add “<series>-proposed” (e.g. “noble-proposed”) to the Suites: line in the /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources file.

Types: deb
URIs: http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu
Suites: noble noble-updates noble-backports <series>-proposed
Components: main universe restricted multiverse
Signed-By: /usr/share/keyrings/ubuntu-archive-keyring.gpg

Mantic Minotaur 23.10 (and older)

Add “<series>-proposed” (e.g. “jammy-proposed”) to the following line in:

/etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ <series>-proposed restricted main multiverse universe

/etc/apt/sources.list (for non-x86 architectures):

deb http://ports.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-ports <series>-proposed restricted main multiverse universe

Install the pre-release kernel¶

First, update the sources cache:

sudo apt update

Then proceed to install the kernel using either a metapackage or a specific ABI-named image.

Install via kernel metapackage¶

Use this approach if you want to receive automatic updates for the latest version of the kernel in that series.

If the kernel version in -proposed is the highest in any pocket, run:

sudo apt install linux-<flavor>

If you want a specific (earlier) version of a metapackage, include the version in the command:

sudo apt install linux-<flavor>=<version>

Install via ABI-named kernel image¶

Use this method to install a specific kernel version without being tied to the kernel series metapackage.

sudo apt install linux-image-<abi>-<flavor>

Boot into the new kernel¶

After installing the kernel, reboot your machine. After booting up again, verify that the correct kernel is loaded with:

uname -r

This should print the correct kernel version and flavor.

Test the kernel¶

Once you have the new kernel installed, testing can begin.

If you do not have your own test suite and need an example workload, you can start with the built-in Linux selftests. To run these selftests, download the kernel source and compile the tests.

apt source linux-image-unsigned-$(uname -r)
cd <kernel_source_working_directory>
sudo make -C tools/testing/selftests run_tests

For other examples of kernel testing projects, see:

Linux Test Project
[stress-ng]

Report regression bugs¶

If you encounter a regression or bug while testing the kernel, please file a bug report on Launchpad. You can submit your report using any of the following methods:

Run the ubuntu-bug tool on the system with the newly installed kernel.
```
ubuntu-bug
```
Manually file a bug online at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug. Make sure to target the correct kernel source package and Ubuntu series.

For more information on Ubuntu bug reporting, see Reporting Bugs.