LTSEnablementStack

Revision 22 as of 2013-05-14 21:40:35

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LTS Enablement Stacks

In an effort to support a wider variety of hardware on an existing LTS release, the 12.04.2 and newer point releases will ship with an updated kernel and X stack by default. These newer hardware enablement stacks will be comprised of the newer kernel and X stacks from Quantal, Raring, and S (name TBD). These enablement stacks are only intended for use on x86 hardware at this time. Those running virtual or cloud images should not need these newer enablement stacks and are thus recommended to remain on the original Precise stack. To remain on the original Precise stack there are a few options:

  • Install from a previous 12.04.0 or 12.04.1 point release and update. The previous 12.04.0 and 12.04.1 releases are archived at http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/

  • Perform an update or upgrade to Precise from a previous release. Only those installing from the 12.04.2 or newer point release media will automatically receive a newer enablement stack by default.
  • Perform a network install using the netboot images rather than the new <release>-netboot images, eg. quantal-netboot images.

Anyone wishing to opt into the hardware enablement stack for Precise may do so by installing the linux-generic-lts-<release> and xserver-xorg-lts-<release> packages. For example to install the Quantal hardware enablement packages in Precise, please run the following command:

 sudo apt-get install --install-recommends linux-generic-lts-quantal xserver-xorg-lts-quantal libgl1-mesa-glx-lts-quantal

Below contains additional specifics regarding the exact policies and procedures regarding the support, maintenance, and upgrade paths for these hardware enablement stacks.

12.04.2 + 12.10 Hardware Enablement Stack Policies and Procedures

  1. For the 12.04.2 CDs, we will default to the new Quantal enablement stack. Due to size limitations we are unable to provide options for both the Quantal enablement stack and the original Precise stack.
  2. For the 12.04.2 DVDs, we will default to the new Quantal enablement stack as well.
  3. The 12.04.0 and 12.04.1 point releases will be archived and available at old-releases.ubuntu.com.
  4. For the 12.04.2 CDs and DVDs, we will document that anyone installing and wishing to remain on the original 12.04 stack to please install from the 12.04.0 or 12.04.1 media and update.
    1. For the 12.04.2 point release, https://help.ubuntu.com/ and http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop should be updated to notify users that they do have the option to install with the 12.04.1 media as an alternative to remain on the original Precise stack. A link to the 12.04.1 media which will be archived at old-releases.ubuntu.com should also be referenced in this message.

  5. We only intend to support enablement stack package combinations in 12.04 which are derived from the same release, eg. the 12.10 X.org must be used in conjunction with the 12.10 kernel and vice versa. Intermixing a 12.10 enablement kernel with the 12.04 X.org stack or a 12.10 enablement X.org stack with a 12.04 kernel will not be officially tested nor supported.
  6. Anyone running with the original Precise stack will not be automatically updated to the new Quantal enablement stack. Users can electively choose to install the Quantal (or newer) enablement stack meta package if they wish to do so.
  7. Additionally, anyone upgrading to Precise will not be automatically upgraded to the new Quantal enablement stack. Again, they can electively choose to do so by manually installing the appropriate meta package.
  8. The original 12.04 stack in Precise will remain supported for the usual 5yr life cycle of the LTS release.
  9. We will also deliver a 14.04 LTS HWE stack back into 12.04. This 14.04 HWE stack will remain supported in 12.04 for the life of the 12.04 LTS release.
  10. Anyone running with the newer Quantal enablement stack will remain on that stack. Users will NOT be automatically rolled forward to newer HWE stacks or releases.

    1. If anyone is interested in updating to newer enablement stack offerings in Precise as they become available, we will provide series specific meta packages which they can manually choose to install.
  11. The 12.10 enablement stack will only be supported in Precise from the time it appears in the 12.04.2 point release until the 14.04.1 time frame.
  12. When the 12.10 enablement stack reaches its EOL, 12.10 enablement stack users will NOT be automatically upgraded to the 14.04 enablement stack in Precise. Users will need to manually upgrade to the 14.04 enablement stack in order to continue receiving official support (ie security updates and bug fixes). We will aggressively message (ie MOTD, USN, update-manager, etc.) when the 12.10 enablement stack is reaching it's EOL and provide instructions on updating to the 14.04 enablement stack.

  13. Anyone running a Raring or Saucy enablement stack in Precise might have an unexpected result if they upgrade their entire system to Quantal. The packages offered in the Raring/Saucy enablement stack would supersede the Quantal packages. The decision was for update-manager to only prompt to upgrade to the next LTS release, which is how it is already. Otherwise, there should be some type of package conflicts/replace in place to prevent this from happening. This is only a real concern for the R and S stacks.
  14. Apport has and will be updated to allow bug reporting in Precise against the enablement stacks. These bugs will also be appropriately tagged to assist in searching.
  15. Only the -generic kernel flavor from Quantal will be supported in Precise.

Proposed 12.04.3 + 13.04 Hardware Enablement Stack Policies and Procedures

  1. For the 12.04.3 CDs, we will default to the new Raring HWE stack. Due to size limitations we are unable to provide options for both the Raring HWE stack and the original Precise stack.
  2. For the 12.04.3 DVDs, we will default to the new Raring HWE stack as well.
  3. The 12.04.0 and 12.04.1 point releases will be archived and available at old-releases.ubuntu.com.
  4. For the 12.04.3 CDs and DVDs, we will document that anyone installing and wishing to remain on the original 12.04 stack to please install from the 12.04.0 or 12.04.1 media and update.
  5. We only intend to support HWE stack package combinations in 12.04 which are derived from the same release, eg. the 13.04 X.org must be used in conjunction with the 13.04 kernel and vice versa. Intermixing a 13.04 enablement kernel with the 12.04 X.org stack or a 13.04 enablement X.org stack with a 12.04 kernel will not be officially tested nor supported.
  6. Anyone running an original Precise stack will NOT be automatically updated to the new Raring HWE stack. Users can electively choose to install the Raring enablement stack meta package if they wish to do so.

  7. Additionally, anyone upgrading to Precise will not be automatically upgraded to the new Raring HWE stack. Again, they can electively choose to do so by manually installing the appropriate meta package.
  8. The original 12.04 stack in Precise will remain supported for the usual 5yr life cycle of the LTS release.
  9. We will also deliver a 14.04 LTS HWE stack back into 12.04. This 14.04 HWE stack will remain supported in 12.04 for the life of the 12.04 LTS release.
  10. The natural support duration for the 13.04 Raring Ringtail release is now 9 months. We will however commit to supporting the Raring HWE stack in 12.04 from the time of the 12.04.3 point release until the 14.04.1 time frame.
  11. Anyone running with the newer Raring HWE stack will remain on that stack. Users will NOT be automatically rolled forward to newer HWE stacks or releases.

    1. If anyone is interested in updating to newer HWE stack offerings in Precise as they become available, we will provide series specific meta packages which they can manually choose to install.
  12. When the Raring HWE stack reaches its EOL, Raring HWE stack users will NOT be automatically upgraded to the 14.04 HWE stack in Precise. Users will need to manually upgrade to the 14.04 HWE stack in order to continue receiving official support (ie security updates and bug fixes). We will aggressively message when the Raring HWE stack is reaching it's EOL (ie MOTD, USN, update-manager, etc.) and provide instructions on updating to the 14.04 HWE stack.

  13. Anyone running a Raring or Saucy HWE stack in 12.04 might have an unexpected result if they upgrade their entire system to the 12.10 Quantal Quetzal release. The packages offered in the Raring/Saucy HWE stack would supersede the 12.10 packages. The decision was for update-manager to only prompt to upgrade to the next LTS release, which is how it is already. Otherwise, there should be some type of package conflicts/replace in place to prevent this from happening. This is only a real concern for the 13.04 and 13.10 stacks.
  14. Apport has and will be updated to allow bug reporting in Precise against the HWE stacks. These bugs will also be appropriately tagged to assist in searching.
  15. Only the -generic x86 kernel flavor from 13.04 will be supported in the Raring HWE stack in Precise.