Ubuntu kernel lifecycle
and enablement stack

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS — Trusty Tahr

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

The 14.04.2 and newer point releases ship with an updated kernel and X stack by default. If you have installed with older media, you can use these instructions to install the newer HWE kernel derived from 16.04 (Xenial).

If you run a multiarch desktop (for example, i386 and amd64 on amd64, for gaming or Wine), you may find you need a slightly more involved command:

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 libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-xenial libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-xenial:i386 libglapi-mesa-lts-xenial:i386

Ubuntu 16.04 LTS — Xenial Xerus

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

The 16.04.2 and newer point releases ship with an updated kernel and X stack by default for the desktop. Server installations default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.

The 16.04 HWE stacks follow the Rolling Update Model.

Ubuntu 18.04 LTS — Bionic Beaver

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

The 18.04.2 and newer point releases will ship with an updated kernel and X stack by default for the desktop. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.

The 18.04 HWE stacks follow the Rolling Update Model.

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS — Focal Fossa

Desktop:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-20.04

Server:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-20.04

Desktop installations of 20.04 default to tracking the HWE stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.

Note that certain desktop machines may be on a separate "OEM" track. To determine if the machine is eligible for this, run the command ubuntu-drivers list-oem from a terminal. If this is non-empty, the machine is running the OEM cadence instead of HWE.

The 20.04 HWE stack follows the Rolling Update Model.

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS — Jammy Jellyfish

Desktop:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04

Server:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-22.04

Desktop installations of 22.04 default to tracking the HWE stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.

Note that certain desktop machines may be on a separate “OEM” track. To determine if the machine is eligible for this, run the command ubuntu-drivers list-oem from a terminal. If this is non-empty, the machine is running the OEM cadence instead of HWE.

The 22.04 HWE stack follows the Rolling Update Model.

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS — Noble Numbat

Desktop:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-24.04

Server:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-24.04

Desktop installations of 24.04 default to tracking the HWE stack. Server installations will default to the GA kernel and provide the enablement kernel as optional.

Note that certain desktop machines may be on a separate “OEM” track. To determine if the machine is eligible for this, run the command ubuntu-drivers list-oem from a terminal. If this is non-empty, the machine is running the OEM cadence instead of HWE.

The 24.04 HWE stack follows the Rolling Update Model.