14 DAY TRIAL // Ubuntu 15.04 (Vivid Vervet) is getting close to its launch date and the developers are working to implement all the latest packages, including the Linux kernel. The current daily build is still using the 3.18 branch, but 3.19 is very close.
Linus Torvalds released the stable branch of Linux kernel 3.19 a couple of weeks ago, and that means Ubuntu developers will be quick to integrate this new branch into their operating system, just in time for the launch that is scheduled for April. They still have a lot of work and testing to do, even if the kernel has been deemed stable, but things seem to be going according to plan.
Ubuntu doesn't usually integrate all the latest packages available just before launch. It's not a bleeding edge distro, but the Linux kernel is an exception. For a few years now, Ubuntu has launched with the latest stable kernel available, which means users will be able to get all the benefits such a new piece of software brings.
The switch to Linux kernel 3.19 is imminent
If you are already using the daily build of Ubuntu 15.04, you won't have to do anything extra. Just upgrade your system and the new kernel will be in place, from the official repositories. A reboot of the system will be necessary, and let's hope you didn't install any of the drivers manually. The kernel upgrade can mess things up.
"We are in the process of rebasing our Vivid kernel to v3.18.7 upstream stable. We'll try to get it uploaded today. We would also like to push the v3.19 based kernel we have up to the archive asap. We are still cleaning up some remaining DKMS drivers before we do. For anyone interested in getting an early preview, we have a v3.19 based kernel available for testing in our ckt PPA," wrote Canonical's Joseph Salisbury.
You can download the daily build of Ubuntu 15.04 (Vivid Vervet) right now from Softpedia. It's not stable and it should not be used on production machines.