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David Ljung Madison Stellar
Asked: 2020-01-23 14:33:18 +0800 CST

Why is my current 18.04.3 system not running the same kernel as a new 18.04.3 system?

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I am running 18.04.3 LTS on my main computer:

# lsb_release -a
LSB Version:    core-9.20170808ubuntu1-noarch:security-9.20170808ubuntu1-noarch
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description:    Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS
Release:        18.04
Codename:       bionic

On a new computer I am installing 18.04.3 LTS and was suprised that it had a different kernel. The new install is using vmlinuz-5.3.0-26-generic, but my (updated/upgraded/etc..) current computer is only on vmlinuz-4.15.0-74-generic.

How can I figure out what is holding my computer back from upgrading?

I don't seem to have anything pinned for the kernel:

# dpkg --get-selections linux
dpkg: no packages found matching linux
upgrade kernel

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Ubuntu 18.04 LTS users have two software stacks to choose from, maximum stability with the original software stack (4.15 kernel), or the moving HWE (hardware enablement stack) which uses the 18.10, then 19.04, 19.10, and eventually settles on 20.04 software stack.

    https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/LTSEnablementStack

    Upgrades from prior releases using the stable option (4.15), as do installs using 18.04, or 18.04.1 media. They can opt to enable HWE though.

    Installs using 18.04.2 or later media start with HWE enabled.

    18.04.2 uses the 18.10 software stack. 18.04.3 uses the 19.04 software stack. 18.04.4 uses the 19.10 software stack (currently in testing). until the stack becomes static using the 20.04 base kernel.

    From the provided link, to enable HWE use

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

SERVER
 sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04
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