Ubuntu 23.10 “Mantic Minotaur” Brings Linux Kernel 6.5

Rohan Timalsina

September 29, 2023 - TuxCare expert team

As expected, Ubuntu 23.10 “Manitic Minotaur” now features the latest kernel series Linux 6.5. It will also be the default kernel on the final release.

At first, the development for Ubuntu 23.10 began with Linux kernel 6.2, which was also backported to the Ubuntu 22.04 LTS “Jammy Jellyfish” with the release of 22.04.3 LTS. Later, the kernel for Ubuntu 23.10 was upgraded to Linux 6.3 during development.

But now, Ubuntu 23.10 welcomes the Linux kernel 6.5, and the latest daily build ISO images are already available for download. Existing users can upgrade to the new kernel directly.

Linux kernel 6.5 ushers in a trove of thrilling features, including support for Wi-Fi 7, MIDI 2.0 support in ALSA, ACPI compatibility for the RISC-V architecture, Landlock support for UML (User-Mode Linux), a new TPMI interface driver for Intel RAPL, and an array of fresh and enhanced drivers to bolster top-tier hardware compatibility.

Ubuntu 23.10: Other Updates

ZFS on Root Installation

Ubuntu 23.10 also endeavors to reintroduce the ZFS on Root installation choice, which was conspicuously absent in the preceding Ubuntu 23.04 release due to the transition to the new Ubuntu Desktop installer crafted in Flutter.

Nonetheless, as previously noted earlier this week, the OpenZFS file system and volume manager, instrumental in enabling ZFS on Root support in Ubuntu Linux, is presently not in harmony with Linux kernel 6.5.

We can most likely anticipate Linux 6.5 compatibility to be seamlessly integrated into OpenZFS with the imminent OpenZFS 2.2 release, which is poised to grace us in the forthcoming weeks, hopefully preceding the grand unveiling of Ubuntu 23.10 on October 12th. However, it’s prudent to bear in mind that the ZFS on Root installation option in Mantic Minotaur will be provided as an experimental feature.

Firefox’s Native Wayland Support

In the most recent Ubuntu update, the Firefox Snap package now automatically utilizes the XWayland implementation when running in Ubuntu’s Wayland session. However, beginning with the forthcoming Ubuntu 23.10 release scheduled for October 12th, 2023, Firefox’s native Wayland mode will replace the XWayland support.

Conclusion

The development journey of Ubuntu 23.10 began shortly after the release of Ubuntu 23.04 (Lunar Lobster), initially featuring the Linux 6.2 kernel, which has since been backported to the long-term supported Ubuntu 22.04 LTS series. The kernel was upgraded to Linux 6.3 throughout its development cycle and has now settled on Linux 6.5. With the latest Linux 6.5 kernel series, this release offers users enhanced capabilities and support for cutting-edge technologies.

The sources for this article include a story from 9to5Linux.

Summary