Canonical unveiled Few days ago releases for updates the different LTS versions of its operating system "Ubuntu" and in this being the case of the first version update for Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS, while for the version 18.04 is the remove update received and for 16.04 is the seventh.
In the case of the last two, various updates are presented of the packages that make up the system, as well as the inclusion of new versions of the Linux kernel, graphics stack and moreWhile for version 16.04 only bug fixes are included and solutions to problems classified as serious.
Ubuntu 20.04.1
The new update includes updates to several hundred packages to address vulnerabilities and stability issues. The new version also fixes bugs in the installer and bootloader.
The Ubuntu 20.04.1 release marked the baseline stabilization of the LTS release.
The most significant changes include:
- Performance optimizations made. AES-GCM hardware acceleration support has been updated to zfs-linux.
- The GNOME Control Center has a redesigned fingerprint authentication dialog.
- Added VPN Wireguard support.
- The Linux kernel for OEM shipments has been updated to 5.6 (Ubuntu 20.04 ships with 5.4).
- Added support for muting the LED for newer HP notebooks.
- Added support for NVIDIA's proprietary driver server series.
- The installer includes support for ZFS autotrim. Live-build adds riscv64 support.
- Updated versions of libreoffice (6.4.4), GNOME (3.36.2), snapd, evince, golang-1.14, curtin, nautilus, gedit, gnome-control-center, evolution-data-server, mutter, gnome-software packages , shotwell, netplan.io, OpenStack Ussuri, cloud-init, open-vm-tools, gtk + 3.0, ceph, sosreport, libgphoto2.
- The integration of the new kernel, drivers, and graphics stack components is expected in February 20.04.2 release, as these components will be imported from Ubuntu 20.10 release, which will not be available until fall and will require additional testing time. .
Ubuntu LTS 18.04.5
For this version, this is the final update that includes changes to improve hardware support, update Linux kernel and graphics stack and fix installer and bootloader errors.
Since in the future, updates for branch 18.04 will be limited to removing vulnerabilities and problems affecting stability. At the same time, similar updates are introduced for Kubuntu 18.04.5 LTS, Ubuntu Budgie 18.04.5 LTS, Ubuntu MATE 18.04.5 LTS, Lubuntu 18.04.5 LTS, Ubuntu Kylin 18.04.5 LTS, and Xubuntu 18.04.5 LTS.
The new version offers package updates with kernel 5.4 (Ubuntu 18.04 used kernel 4.15 and Ubuntu 18.04.4 used kernel 5.3).
Graphics stack components updated, including new versions of Mesa 20.0, X.Org Server ported from Ubuntu 20.04 and video drivers for Intel, AMD and NVIDIA chips.
Added support for Raspberry Pi 4 board variant with 8GB RAM. Updated versions of snapd, curtin, ceph, cloud-init packages.
The Ubuntu 18.04.5 release is marketed as a transition release and includes components to upgrade to Ubuntu 20.04.1.
It makes sense to use the new version presented only for new installations, but for new systems the release of Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS is more relevant, which has already passed the first stage of stabilization after the launch of the new LTS branch.
Previously installed systems can receive all the changes present in Ubuntu 18.04.5 through the standard update installation system.
Support for the release of updates and security fixes for the server and desktop editions of Ubuntu 18.04 LTS will last until April 2023, after which updates will be formed in the framework of separate paid support (ESM, extended security maintenance) for another 5 years.
Ubuntu LTS 16.04.7
Finally for this branch, is an update that includes only the cumulative package updates related to vulnerability removal and problems affecting stability.
The main purpose of the new version is to update the installation images. As in the previous version, Linux kernels 4.15 and 4.4 are offered, as well as Mesa, X.Org Server ported from Ubuntu 18.04 and video drivers for Intel, AMD and NVIDIA chips.
Support for the release of updates and security fixes for the desktop and server editions of Ubuntu 16.04 LTS will last until April 2021.
16.04 seems nonsense to me, since it will soon be without support ..
It must be taken into account that there are schools, offices, companies (s) that for x or reason cannot update or migrate to a new version (say costs, data movement, etc.) and take advantage of this Ubuntu feature to avoid having to migrate every 2 years.