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Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Will Use Linux 5.15 Kernel
The upcoming Ubuntu 22.04 LTS will come with the Linux 5.15 kernel by default.
That’s the current plan according to Canonical’s Sebastien Bacher, who says “the plan is
to use 5.15 for the LTS but the oem and hwe variants will get 5.17 as some point”.
Surprised?
Don’t be.
Linux 5.15 is a marginally older kernel version than that currently available, but there is
logic in using it: Linux 5.15 is a long-term support release supported until October 2023.
Ubuntu 22.04 is an LTS, Linux 5.15 is an LTS, so sorta makes sense, doesn’t it?
Still, many had expected Ubuntu 22.04 to ship something new as, based on the past, Ubuntu
LTS releases haven’t always used kernel LTS releases.
Linux 5.15 includes some interesting changes, such as a new NTFS file system driver, an
in-kernel SMB file server, and various enhancements to the EXT4 file system Ubuntu uses by default.
Plus a raft of updated drivers, new hardware support, and performance tuneups.
So don’t gnash your teeth unnecessarily; you’re not stuck on 5.15 for the full five
years Ubuntu 22.04 is supported for.
When you use an Ubuntu LTS release you get access to newer Linux kernel and graphic drivers
periodically through the hardware enablement stack (HWE) updates.
While the Linux 5.16 kernel (and its big gaming improvements) won’t make the cut, the upcoming
Linux 5.17 kernel and several releases beyond it will be back-ported to use in this LTS,
or made available via OEM kernels (which ship preinstalled on laptops from the likes of
Dell and Lenovo).
If you’re an LTS user sporting newer hardware only supported in more recent kernels, will
this decision put you off using Jammy Jellyfish?
Or do you prefer to install third-party or mainline kernel builds on your system anyway?
:: More ::
Ubuntu 22.04 Release Date & New Features
Ubuntu 22.04 is due for release on April 21, 2022.
In this post we look at the various new features and key changes that are planned for the release.
Development of Ubuntu 22.04 is still at a somewhat early stage but we do have a good
idea of what to expect from the update developers have codenamed “Jammy Jellyfish”.
In this video i rundown everything that’s known so far, from the Ubuntu 22.04 release
date to how long it’ll be supported for.
And at the very bottom of this article you will find a link to download the Ubuntu 22.04
daily build to try it out for yourself.
Ubuntu 22.04’s official codename is “Jammy Jellyfish”.
In the UK, where Canonical is based, the term ‘jammy’ is an adjective used to describe
someone or something that is particularly lucky.
A jellyfish shouldn’t need much of an explanation, though!
Is there any subtext we can take from the codename?
Not really, but such a choice codename combo should ensure that the accompanying mascot
art and wallpaper is suitably jubilant!
Fact fans may be interested to know while 22.04 is the 36th Ubuntu release since 2004,
but only the second to use a codename beginning with the letter ‘J’ (the other being Ubuntu
9.04 “Jaunty Jackalope”).
Ubuntu 22.04: Release Schedule Ubuntu 22.04 is a long-term support (LTS)
release.
It will get ongoing app updates and critical security fixes for five years, as well as
periodic new Linux kernels releases and updated graphics drivers.
Long-term support ends in 2027 and, if past releases are a reliable template, continue
into extended support maintenance (ESM) for a further three to five years.
The recommend ‘upgrade’ path from Ubuntu 22.04 LTS will be Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, though
users will be able to upgrade to Ubuntu 22.10 on an opt-in basis.
Key events in Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish release schedule:
Feature Freeze: February 24, 2022 UI Freeze: March 17, 2022
Ubuntu 22.04 Beta: March 31, 2022 Kernel Freeze: April 7, 2022
Release Candidate: April 14, 2022 Followed by the final release of Ubuntu 22.04
LTS on April 21, 2022.
A bit of pedantic trivia: Ubuntu releases are generally referred to using their codename
prior release, not their version number.
This makes sense; until it’s actually released the version number could change (it’s based
on the year and month).
Delays are rare.
It’s only happened once in the past, with Ubuntu 6.06 LTS, which was released two months
later than initially scheduled.
Ubuntu 22.04: New Features
Okay, chances are you came here wanting to out more about the new features Ubuntu 22.04
is going to come with, so I better get on with it!
If you are upgrading from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS then the list of ‘what’s new’ is pretty
sizeable!
Ubuntu now uses Wayland as the default display server (yes, even for NVIDIA users); there’s
new horizontal workspace switcher and a horizontal app launcher that lets you rearrange apps;
a slew of new settings; Active Directory support; new firewall backend; and a lot more.
You can see our release recaps for Ubuntu 20.10, 21.04 and 21.10 for more details on
these.
Also, we will prepare a new LTS to LTS spotters guide closer to release, and a new video where
we spotlight all of these (and other) features — so subscribe to the omg!
YouTube channel to get notified when it’s out!
New Features Since Ubuntu 21.10 If you’re upgrading from Ubuntu 21.10 then
things are a little less transformative.
But let’s start with something you WON’T find in the release: GTK4 apps.
Well, that’s not technically true.
There will be some apps using GTK4 but the major top-down rebuilds of core apps like
Nautilus and Settings that are due to ship in GNOME 42 (releasing mid March 2022) are
unlikely to feature in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS by default (at this stage; development is fluid).
Why?
Because this is an LTS release and the focus is squarely on stability and reliability.
Shiny though a revamped file manager is, there simply isn’t enough time to test it thoroughly
enough for inclusion in an LTS release (and supported for five years).
GNOME Shell 42 is planned for inclusion, though at the time of writing the daily builds still
use a mix of GNOME 40 and GNOME 41.
This will change as we get closer to April (and this post will be updated to reflect
it).
An updated version of the Yaru GTK theme has swapped purple accent colours for orange.
The result is a very orange look.
It’s not awful, and in isolation orange accents are fine.
But it can feel overwhelmingly orange in certain apps and tools — you’ve been warned!
GNOME 41 versions of many apps will also be included, giving Ubuntu users the first chance
to test out the many (rather excellent) GNOME 41 features like quick power mode switching,
new ‘multitasking’ options in Settings, lower-power tweaks deigned to prolong battery
life,
These and other proposed changes:
GNOME Shell 42 (but GNOME 41 core apps) New Flutter-based installer
New Flutter-based firmware update tool Linux kernel 5.15 LTS
New multitasking options in Settings Updated Yaru GTK theme using more orange
Major performance improvements to Mutter Additionally, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is designed
to run well on the Raspberry Pi 4 2GB model.
Download Ubuntu 22.04 Daily Build If you want to check in with the current state
of development you can download an Ubuntu 22.04 daily build
Keep in mind that daily builds are not stable and you shouldn’t used them as your main
OS.
That said, they can be used in virtual machines or separate partitions without issue and are
a great way to take the release for a spin ahead of the final release.
:: More ::
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS “Jammy Jellyfish” – New Features and Release Details
The Ubuntu LTS releases are rare, and they are significant.
Because they set the course for next five years for everyone – from you/me to the
enterprises who run thousands of machines/virtual systems with Ubuntu.
The upcoming Ubuntu 22.04 LTS code named Jammy Jellyfish is shaping up to be another big
LTS release, although there will be misses in terms of the latest tech and packages.
As of first writing this post, we have fairly some idea about the new features, updates
and enhancements from several official/unofficial sources.
And we intend to give you a summary of those while keeping this post updated until the
final release.
SO that you get a single source of all the information about Ubuntu 22.04 LTS.
Let’s take a look at the official schedule.
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS – Release Schedule Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish releases
on April 21, 2022.
Before that, the following milestones are to be achieved.
February 24, 2022: Feature Freeze March 17, 2022: UI Freeze
March 31, 2022: Beta Release April 21, 2022: Final Release
This release is supported until April 2025.
Ubuntu 22.04 – New Features Kernel
Linux Kernel 5.15 LTS is going to be the initial Kernel for this long term Ubuntu release.
Released around Halloween 2021 last year, Linux Kernel 5.15 brings several important
improvements.
Usual new driver and hardware updates across processor, GPU, network, file system families.
This Kernel also brings the fast NTFS3 driver from Paragon Software, which was mainlined
in this version.
Other notable benefits of this Kernel are Apple M1 SOC support, in-Kernel SMB driver,
Realtech Wi-Fi driver support for RTL8188EU chipset, etc.
You can read the details about what this Kernel has to offer in our Linux Kernel 5.15 coverage.
GNOME Desktop Version There are still discussion going on the actual
version of GNOME in this LTS release.
However, it is confirmed that GNOME 42 will be the default gnome-shell version.
But there is a catch.
You must have heard that GNOME 42 is bringing updated version of GTK4 applications with
libadwaita library port for those apps.
The Ubuntu desktop team plans for GNOME 42, but the default installed applications remains
in GTK3.
This is a sensible decision from the desktop team in my opinion.
Because moving to GNOME 42 + GTK4 + libadwaita ports – all of these requires a lot of regression
tests.
Not to mention the risk of breaking things here and there.
This is too much of an overhead for LTS release, which is a default choice for most of the
user base and arguably most downloaded/upgraded version.
GNOME 42 also bringing system-wide dark style preference, which can be adopted automatically
by the applications.
Now, Ubuntu already have a dark theme in its settings.
How this both these pan out – is still under discussion at the moment.
Look and Feel On the look-n-feel side, there is a change
in the Yaru GTK theme base color, which is the default theme for Ubuntu.
The usual Purple accent color is changing to Orange.
Now, be cautious that it may feel like staggering orange shades.
Look at this screenshot.
New Installer The default installer of Ubuntu haven’t
changed much since, like, forever.
So, with that in mind, the team was working on the new Flutter based installer to replace
the old one.
Now, it has been in the works for the last couple of months and hasn’t made it to final
release.
Hopefully, the new installer can make it to this LTS release.
But it is still not arrived in daily-build.
And when I tried this in Canary .ISO – it crashes even before starts to install.
Let’s keep the finger crossed, and we hope to see in action in the final release.
Packages and Application Updates Other than above changes, core packages, default
applications are expected to see their latest stable version.
Here’s quick list.
Python 3.10 Php8.1
Ruby 3.0 Thunderbird 91.5
Firefox 96.0 LibreOffice 7.2.5
PulseAudio 15.0 NetworkManager 1.32
And, the new Yaru icon theme in LibreOffice looks stunning, though.
Updating from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS?
In general, if you are planning to switch to this LTS version from Ubuntu 21.10, then
a few items of change you should notice.
But if you are planning to upgrade from prior Ubuntu 20.04 LTS – then a lot for you to
experience.
For example, you get a horizontal workspace, horizontal app launcher, those introduced
since GNOME 40.
Also, other notable differences or rather new features are power profiles menu in top
bar, multitasking option in settings and performance improvements of GNOME Shell and Mutter.
Ubuntu Official Flavors Alongside the base version, the official Ubuntu
flavors are getting their latest versions of their respective desktop environments in
this LTS version.
Here’s a quick summary of what is expected.
Apart from KDE Plasma, most of the desktop remained with their last stable release for
more than a year.
So, you may not experience much of a difference.
Kubuntu 22.04 with KDE Plasma 5.24 Xubuntu 22.04 with Xfce 4.16
Lubuntu 22.04 with LxQt 1.0 Ubuntu Budgie with Budgie version 10.5.3
Ubuntu Mate with MATE 1.26 Download
This version of Ubuntu is under development at the moment.
If you want to give it for a quick spin in your favorite VM, then grab the daily build
copy .ISO
Remember, this copy may be unstable and contain bugs.
So, you have been warned.
If you want a super-unstable copy of Canary Build, you can get it from the below link.
I would not recommend using this Canary .ISO at all, unless you have plenty of time to
play.
Oh, just so you know, this Canary copy .ISO have the new Flutter-based installer.
Although, I tried to use this new installer, but it crashes every time.
The LTS releases are conservative in terms of new tech adaptation and other long term
impacts.
Many organizations, business opt for LTS because of more than 5 years support window and stability.
When you are running thousands of machines critical to your businesses, stability is
more important than new technology.
So, that said, many new features or packages may not make to the final release, but eventually
this release set the course for next LTS.
One step at a time.
So, what is the feature or package you are expecting in Ubuntu 22.04 and hoping for it?
Let me know in the comment section below.
Thanks for watching,
I hope you enjoyed this video,
If you did hit that thumbs up button, it helps me to make good content for you, other then
that, I will see you in tomorrow's video, peace out.