How to Install the Latest Linux Kernel 6.15 on Ubuntu, Debian, and Their Derivatives?

The Linux kernel is the core component of the Linux system, responsible for managing hardware resources and system processes.

Installing the latest Linux kernel 6.15 on Ubuntu and Debian can bring significant improvements in performance, security, and hardware support.

1. New Features of Linux 6.15

1. Technical Highlights

Support for zero-copy reception has been added, improving the performance of high-throughput applications.

A new subsystem has been introduced to standardize communication with device firmware.

A new security hook has been added, allowing tools like SELinux to enforce access control on buffered data.

2. Filesystem Improvements

exFAT file deletion is significantly faster, especially when deleting large files with mount options.

Btrfs now supports faster zstd compression levels and better checksum error handling.

Bcachefs has added scrub functionality and supports block sizes larger than the system page size.

3. Hardware Support

New drivers for Xbox Turtle Beach Recon and Stealth Ultra controllers, as well as PowerA wired Xbox controllers.

Improved support for the Apple MacBook Pro Touch Bar on Intel, M1, and M2 models.

Expanded ARM device support, including Google Pixel 6 Pro (gs101) and Allwinner A523.

New RISC-V support for Milk-V Jupiter ITX boards and extensions like BFloat16, ZBKB, Zaamo, and Zalrsc.

4. Other Notable Changes

Support for hardware-backed encryption keys, enabling disk encryption without storing keys in RAM.

Improvements to the memory allocator with new and optimized buddy allocator behavior.

The subsystem has gained latency analysis capabilities, which are very useful for performance debugging.

2. Installation Method

Check your current kernel version:

Before proceeding with the installation, verify your current kernel version by running the following command:

uname -r

Step 1: Update Your System

Run the following command to ensure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This will update your package list and upgrade all installed packages to the latest version.

Step 2: Download Kernel 6.15 RC6 Packages

Download the necessary kernel packages from the official Ubuntu repository or kernel website:

wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.15/amd64/linux-headers-6.15.0-061500-generic_6.15.0-061500.202505260036_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.15/amd64/linux-headers-6.15.0-061500_6.15.0-061500.202505260036_all.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.15/amd64/linux-image-unsigned-6.15.0-061500-generic_6.15.0-061500.202505260036_amd64.deb
wget -c https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.15/amd64/linux-modules-6.15.0-061500-generic_6.15.0-061500.202505260036_amd64.deb

Step 3: Install the New Kernel

Use the following command to install the downloaded packages:

sudo dpkg -i linux-headers-6.15*.deb linux-modules-6.15*.deb linux-image-6.15*.deb

Step 4: Update GRUB and Reboot

1. Run the following command to update GRUB with the newly installed kernel:

sudo update-grub

2. To confirm that the new kernel has been detected, check the GRUB configuration:

cat /boot/grub/grub.cfg | grep 'menuentry'

This should list all available kernels, including kernel 6.15.

3. Reboot the System

sudo reboot

Select the new kernel. If the system does not automatically boot into the new kernel, you can manually select it.

Press and hold the Shift or Esc key during boot to access the GRUB menu.

Navigate to the advanced options for Ubuntu.

Select the entry with Kernel 6.15.

Press Enter to boot.

4. Verify the Installed Kernel

After rebooting, confirm the new kernel version:

uname -r

5. Roll Back to the Previous Kernel

If you encounter issues with the new kernel, you can revert to the old version:

Reboot and access the GRUB menu – restart the system and hold Shift or Esc to enter the GRUB boot menu.

Select Advanced options for Ubuntu – choose the older kernel version and boot into that version.

Remove Kernel 6.15 – If you wish to permanently remove the new kernel, run:

sudo apt remove linux-headers-6.15* linux-modules-6.15* linux-image-6.15*
sudo update-grub

Conclusion

Upgrading to Linux Kernel 6.15 is a wise choice for users looking for cutting-edge performance, enhanced security, and broader hardware compatibility on Ubuntu, Debian, or any derivative system.

Whether you are a developer seeking performance optimizations, an advanced user interested in enhanced filesystem support, or simply curious about the new features, this release offers substantial improvements.

I am Mingyue,

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