The Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS update has already been released, know its news

As part of the update cycle that the long-supported version of Ubuntu is receiving, Canonical announced the release of the fourth update of the Ubuntu 18.04 LTS version which includes changes related to improving hardware support, updating the Linux kernel and graphics stack, fixing bugs in the installer and bootloader.

Besides that the composition also includes updates for several hundred packages related to fixing vulnerabilities and issues that affect stability. Along with this update, those corresponding to their official flavors are also presented at the same time, which are: Kubuntu 18.04.4 LTS, Ubuntu Budgie 18.04.4 LTS, Ubuntu MATE 18.04.4 LTS, Lubuntu 18.04.4 LTS, Ubuntu Kylin 18.04.4. 18.04.4 LTS and Xubuntu XNUMX LTS.

What's new in Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS?

With the release of this update, an update of the packages with the kernel 5.3, along with updated graphics stack components, including new versions of Table 19.2, X.Org Server 1.20.5, and libdrm 2.44.99, which were tested on Ubuntu 19.10.

Also also new video drivers for Intel, AMD and NVIDIA chips have been added (including NVIDIA 435 proprietary driver), updated packages Open JDK 11 (OpenJDK 8 moved to universe repository), Open SSL 1.1.1 (Open SSL 1.0.2n), thunderbird 68.2.2, dpdk 17.11.6, snapd 2.42, cloud-init 19.4.33, open -vm-tools 11.0, openvswitch 2.9.5.

Another change mentioned in this update is that added support for retrying boot attempts in the event of a failure in the plugin tool and also added the wslu package with configurations and utilities to integrate Ubuntu with the WSL environment (Windows Subsystem for Linux).

While for Gnome, the categories of applications available through the package directory were updated in instant format.

In desktop builds, the new kernel and graphics stack are proposed by default. For server systems (Ubuntu Server), a new kernel is added as an option in the installer.

Of the other changes that stand out from Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS:

• The final service has been added to the composition, allowing the contents of the / run / initramfs directory to be generated, which will be used in systemd-shutdown at the system shutdown stage when the root partition is already unmounted;
• In shiftfs, a virtual FS for mapping user namespace mount points received support for direct I / O (O_DIRECT, work without buffering and bypass cache).
• The ubuntu-web-launchers package has been removed from the list of recommended applications;
• In Thunderbird, for exchanging files in FileLink mode, where the attachment is saved to external services with only links being transferred to external storage as part of the message, the WeTransfer service is used by default.

The delivery of these new versions kernel and graphics stack, used in a continuous update support model according to which, the ported kernels and drivers will be supported only until the next corrective update of the Ubuntu 18.04 LTS branch.

For example, the proposed Linux 5.3 kernel in the current version will be compatible up to Ubuntu 18.04.5 version (which will offer an Ubuntu 20.04 kernel). While the main Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Kernel (4.15) delivered initially will be supported throughout the maintenance cycle.

Support for the LTS version of Ubuntu 18.04 will last until April 2023, after which another 5-year updates will be generated as part of a separate paid support (ESM, Extended Security Maintenance).

How to upgrade to Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS?

For those who are interested in being able to obtain the updates of this new version, they can transfer their existing installations to the new versions of the kernel and the graphics stack by executing the following command:

sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-18.04

If you do not have a previous installation of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, you can obtain the system image by going to the official Ubuntu website.