• Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) is changing how hardware support updates are handled, splitting its single linux-firmware package into 17 vendor-specific sub-packages. • The new approach aims to reduce the size of routine firmware updates for most users. • Currently, firmware files are contained in a single package, which has grown to more than 500MB in download size in recent releases (and uses as much as 1GB disk space when installed). • For example, if a security fix is added for specialised equipment like Netronome or Mellanox network cards, primarily used in enterprise data centres, all Ubuntu systems have to download the entire linux-firmware package - which is over 600MB in questing. • If you have a speedy, uncapped internet connection, frequent, sizeable updates for packages that don’t directly benefit you aren’t a concern. • But it is ultimately a waste of energy and bandwidth for those with patchy or limited internet access.

Article Summaries:

  • Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Resolute Raccoon) will split its single, 500 MB‑plus linux‑firmware package into 17 vendor‑specific sub‑packages. The change, introduced in development builds, aims to reduce routine firmware update sizes by allowing only the affected sub‑package to be downloaded. This addresses the problem of users downloading large firmware bundles for fixes that do not apply to their hardware, and eases bandwidth and infrastructure strain. A meta‑package will still install all sub‑packages by default, ensuring broad hardware support. The feature is slated for the April 2026 release.

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