A new Linux kernel is now used in Ubuntu

Apr 1, 2015 11:27 GMT  ·  By

Ubuntu 15.04 (Vivid Vervet) is getting closer to the official release, which is scheduled for the end of this month. The developers have just upgraded the Linux kernel, and it looks like this might be the winning version.

Ubuntu developers have a habit of implementing the latest Linux kernel available, before the launch of the stable version of the operating system. They still need to test that particular version for a while, and the kernel freezing point is approaching fast, so this might be last one that gets implemented.

The kernel freeze is scheduled for April 9, so there isn't much time left for testing. Even if by some miracle Linux Torvalds releases Linux Kernel 4.0 just before the kernel freeze, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to integrate it. This is just the way things are, so there is no reason to get upset over this issue.

Ubuntu 15.04 is now using Linux kernel 3.19.3

Ubuntu 15.04 will only be supported for the next nine months, so the Linux kernel is not an issue. It will remain at the 3.19.X branch for the rest of its short life, although it's technically possible (not advisable) to upgrade it to a newer version.

"Our Vivid kernel has been rebased to v3.19.3. We are planning to upload today. We are rapidly approaching kernel freeze for Vivid on Thurs Apr 9. If you have any patches which need to land for 15.04's release, please make sure to submit those asap. Important upcoming dates: Thurs Apr 09 - Kernel Freeze (~1 week away), Thursday, Apr 23 - 15.04 Release (~3 weeks away)," said Canonical's Joseph Salisbury.

You can already test Ubuntu 15.04 Beta 2 if you want to see what it will look and feel like. The feature freeze is in effect for quite some time, so it won't change significantly by the time of the final release, on April 23.