• TheUbuntu 24.04.4 LTS hardware enablement stack(HWE) has finally hit the updates repo, bringing Linux kernel 6.17 and Mesa 25.2.7 to users on the current long-term support release. • All users on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS can install this newer kernel version and updated GPU driver set as a regular software update. • The stack will also be baked into the Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS ISO when released on February 12, 2026. • I covered the HWE update (and the reason why they exist) back in January, when the key pieces began to arrive in theproposedrepository. • For those who missed it, here’s the gist: Linux 6.17 kernelbrings better power management for newer Intel CPUs, SmartMux support for AMD hybrid laptops, initial RDNA 4 support, various Framework laptop improvements and improved stability for Wi-Fi 7. • What’s new in Linux 6.17?
Article Summaries:
- Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS has received its hardware‑enablement (HWE) update, adding Linux kernel 6.17 and Mesa 25.2.7 to the LTS release. The new kernel improves power management for Intel CPUs, adds SmartMux for AMD hybrid laptops, supports RDNA 4, and enhances Wi‑Fi 7 stability. Mesa brings a production‑ready NVK Vulkan driver, Rusticl for OpenCL, full Vulkan 1.4 compliance on Intel and AMD, and game‑specific fixes. Wayland Protocols 1.45, offering new staging protocols, is also included. Users can install the update via Software Updater or apt, and the stack will ship in the February 12, 2026 ISO. Canonical will continue to patch kernel 6.17 until December 2026, with a follow‑up HWE in August 2026.
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