Ubuntu 26.04 LTS to Get a Separate HWE Stack for Virtualization

Canonical has long shipped so-called hardware enablement stacks (HWE) for Ubuntu's LTS releases. They bring a newer kernel, Mesa drivers and other components to long-lived releases so the system works better on new hardware without waiting for the next LTS. In Ubuntu 26.04 LTS this approach will be extended to virtualization as well.

Why a second stack was needed

The reason is the rapid development of confidential computing technologies. AMD and Intel keep sending new capabilities of their SEV-SNP and Trust Domain Extensions (TDX) mechanisms, respectively, upstream. A fresh kernel from the ordinary HWE stack alone is not enough for full support: updated user-space components and firmware are required.

That is why future point releases of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS will start shipping newer versions of QEMU, libvirt, EDK2 and SeaBIOS. They will come as separate packages with the -hwe suffix — qemu-hwe, libvirt-hwe, edk2-hwe and seabios-hwe. This set will complement the HWE kernel and provide support for the newest virtualization features from AMD and Intel, primarily on servers and specifically in the area of confidential computing.

How it will work in practice

The virtualization stack is planned to be updated every six months, pulling in the latest upstream versions supported in the current Ubuntu. The scheme is familiar from the ordinary HWE: users get more modern components within a stable LTS release, but pay for it with somewhat less conservatism.

Importantly, the new feature remains optional. Those who value stability and predictability more simply need not install the packages with the -hwe suffix — the system will continue to use the stock versions of QEMU, libvirt and firmware that were frozen at the time the release shipped.

Canonical laid out the details of the plan in a separate announcement timed to the preparation of Ubuntu 26.04 LTS.

Source: Phoronix