Canonical has officially released the fourth revision of the Noble Numbat series, focused on improving the stability and compatibility of the operating system with newer equipment. The new version, identified as 24.04.4 LTS, consolidates hundreds of security fixes and performance adjustments accumulated in recent months, offering a renewed installation media that eliminates extensive downloads right after the initial configuration.
The main technical highlight of this compilation lies in the adoption of the Linux 6.17 kernel, coming from the company’s most up-to-date hardware enablement stack. Essa implementation allows the system to recognize and operate natively with processors and peripherals released after the debut of the original version, ensuring longevity for modern machines without compromising the robustness characteristic of long-support versions.
Users who work with visually intensive applications or games also directly benefit from the inclusion of the Mesa 25.2 graphics library. The update brings significant optimizations to open source drivers, resulting in more fluid and efficient rendering, especially on computers equipped with graphics chips from manufacturers AMD and Intel.
Main new features of the version:
– Integração native to kernel Linux 6.17;
– Atualização of the graphics stack for Mesa 25.2;
– Correções accumulated security and stability;
– Compatibilidade expanded for new devices.
Advances in hardware compatibility
The backport strategy used by Canonical in this specific update ensures that the system’s stable base can communicate with state-of-the-art components. Kernel 6.17 resolves previous connectivity limitations by offering improved support for newly released Wi-Fi network cards and Bluetooth modules, eliminating the need for complex manual end-user configuration.
In the graphics processing segment, the combination of the new kernel with Mesa 25.2 delivers superior results in power management and frame rate. Testes indicate that laptops with fourteenth generation Intel processors and recent AMD Ryzen chips exhibit better battery life and performance in multimedia tasks when operating under this new software configuration.
Update and installation methods
The new ISO images are now being distributed through official channels, allowing new installations to start directly with the improvements package applied. Para For those who already use the 24.04 series, the migration process is simplified and offered through the system update manager, which automatically detects the availability of the new point version and applies the necessary changes while preserving personal files.
System administrators and advanced users can choose to upgrade via the terminal, using standard upgrade commands. It is important to note that the transition to the new HWE kernel is optional on existing installations, allowing critical environments to maintain the original 6.8 version if absolute stability is the top priority over new hardware support.
Security and lifecycle
Maintaining system integrity remains a central focus, with the application of patches that close vulnerabilities in essential libraries such as OpenSSL and GNU C Library. Aplicações popular desktop environments, including browsers and email clients, have also been updated to their most secure versions, protecting users’ data against known digital threats.
Official support for the LTS edition remains guaranteed until mid-2029 in the main repositories, with the possibility of extension to ten years through corporate services. Canonical maintains the timely launch schedule, with the next major maintenance review scheduled to take place in the second half of the year, ensuring the continued evolution of the platform.