Ubuntu kernel lifecycle and enablement stack
The Ubuntu LTS enablement, or Hardware Enablement (HWE), stack provides the newer kernel and X support for existing Ubuntu LTS releases. That stack can be enabled manually, but may also be pre-enabled with an Ubuntu LTS release.
The HWE stack can be used by desktop and server systems, as well as cloud or virtual images.
Installation
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-xenialServer:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-lts-xenialThe 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:i386Ubuntu 16.04 LTS — Xenial Xerus
Desktop:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-16.04Server:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-16.04The 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-18.04Server:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04The 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-20.04Server:
sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-20.04Desktop 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.
Check your support status
To determine if your install is still supported, use this terminal command:
hwe-support-status --verbose