HWE kernels¶
This document provides some reference information about Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernels: the support life cycle, 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 life cycle 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).
Example of HWE kernel release cycle for Jammy Jellyfish¶
The table below summarizes the support life cycle, development and release schedule, end-of-life (EOL) and Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) dates for supported and upcoming HWE kernels.
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 |
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¶
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:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-24.04
Server:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-24.04
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:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04
Server:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04
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:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-20.04
Server:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-20.04
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:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-18.04
Server:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04
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:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-16.04
Server:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04
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:
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:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-lts-xenial
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 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:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04-edge
For more information, see edge kernel for more information.
Reporting bugs on HWE kernels¶
There are two recommended approaches to report a bug against a HWE kernel package.
Using the
apport-bugcommand.apport-bug linuxThrough the “Report a bug” form for the
linuxpackage in Launchpad: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+filebug.