Useful innovations in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS: The Long Haul

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS features an updated Linux kernel, numerous programming language updates, and improved virtualization and container tools, making it useful for developers and admins.

- Kristian Kißling

Calling Ubuntu 22.04 LTS a COVID-19 release would be bad public relations, but it's not completely untrue because its predecessor 20.04 was released more or less at the onset of the pandemic. For companies using Ubuntu Desktop, Ubuntu Server, Ubuntu Cloud, and Ubuntu Core, the upgrade to "Jammy Jellyfish" (Figure 1) is well worthwhile, but there is no rush. Officially, the preceeding Ubuntu 20.04 LTS will still be supported until April 2025, with Extended Security Maintenance (ESM) for five additional years, assuming that you make an appropriate donation to Canonical.

However, users of other Ubuntu flavors, such as Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu, and the like, can only count on official support until April 2023. Without ESM, admins will need to assess the consequences of the upgrade and compatibility issues at a somewhat less leisurely pace. If you switch to Ubuntu 22.04, the support period is extended to 2027 (or 2025 for the other flavors).

Kernel Support

By default, Ubuntu 20.04 used Linux kernel version 5.4.0, while Ubuntu 22.04 has kernel version 5.15 (linux-generic). Canonical even uses kernel 5.17 (linuxoem-22.04) on certified devices. If you want, you can also use the rolling Hardware Enablement (HWE) kernel [1] (linuxhwe-22.04) with the LTS versions, whichs updates the distribution with the regular point releases and kernel versions.

According to Kernel.org [2], Linux kernel 5.15 will receive support for longer than other versions - specifically, until October 2023 (Figure 2). Presumably, the Ubuntu developers hope that another kernel with long-term support will have arrived on the scene by then. Otherwise, they will have to continue maintaining the kernel themselves after its shelf life expires [3].