Powered by the latest and greatest Linux kernel 6.11 (more on that here), Canonical has unveiled the beta release of the upcoming Ubuntu 24.10 (Oracular Oriole), slated for release on October 10, allowing users to try out what will largely resonate in the final stable version.
It brings many updates, new features, and performance enhancements designed to improve user experience across the board. Here they are.
Ubuntu 24.10 Beta: Key Updates and New Features
Firstly, it’s important to note that Ubuntu 24.10 is a short-term release. This means it will be supported for nine months, with updates and security patches available until July 2025.
For users requiring long-term support, Ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS remains the recommended choice, offering support until at least 2029.
OpenSSL 3.3
One of the significant updates in this release is the inclusion of OpenSSL version 3.3. This upgrade brings substantial performance and scalability improvements over the previous version. Additionally, OpenSSL now loads configuration drop-ins from “/etc/ssl/openssl.conf.d,” simplifying the customization process.
Systemd v256.5
The init system has been updated to systemd version 256.5, introducing several noteworthy changes:
- Cgroup v1 Support Deprecated: Support for cgroup v1 hierarchies is now considered obsolete. By default, systemd will not boot under cgroup v1. To force enable cgroup v1 support, you must set “SYSTEMD_CGROUP_ENABLE_LEGACY_FORCE=1” in the kernel command line.
- System V Service Scripts: Support for System V service scripts is deprecated and will be removed in future releases. Users are encouraged to update their software to include native systemd unit files to maintain compatibility.
- SSH Generator: A new systemd generator called “systemd-ssh-generator” has been introduced. When SSH is installed, it binds a socket-activated SSH server to local AF_VSOCK and AF_UNIX sockets under certain conditions. This feature is different from the “sshd-socket-generator” included in Ubuntu’s “openssh-server” package.
- /tmp Mounted as tmpfs: Ubuntu now includes systemd’s “tmp.mount” by default, meaning that the “/tmp” directory is mounted as a tmpfs.
Netplan 1.1
Netplan, a utility for easily configuring networking, has been updated to version 1.1, featuring a custom “systemd-networkd-wait-online” logic. This update ensures the system waits for link-local addresses and at least one routable interface, aligning with the definition of an “online” system.
Other improvements include enhancements to the “embedded-switch-mode” setting for SR-IOV devices and fixes related to ProtonVPN and Microsoft Azure Linux.
Toolchain Upgrades
Developers will find several toolchain updates in this release:
- GCC and Binutils: GCC is updated to version 14.2, binutils to 2.43.1, and glibc to 2.40.
- LLVM: The default LLVM version is now 19.
- Rust: The Rust toolchain defaults to version 1.80.
- Golang: Go programming language is updated to version 1.23.
- .NET: .NET 8 is now the default version included.
Ubuntu 24.10 Desktop Enhancements
Let’s start with the installer, which now supports local file paths for autoinstall imports, offering more installation flexibility.
Moreover, the Power Profiles Manager has been improved to support newer hardware features better, particularly for AMD systems. It now supports multiple optimization drivers and is battery-aware, automatically adjusting optimization levels when running on battery power.
On top of that, the new version also sees updates to fprintd and libfprint. This means broader support for fingerprint readers, thus enhancing biometric authentication capabilities across more devices.
Ubuntu 24.10 (Oracular Oriole) will introduce a new Security Center, allowing users to easily enable or disable experimental permissions prompting feature for Home directory access. This is the first step toward a more comprehensive security suite, with additional features expected in future releases.
Regarding managing apps, the App Center received several enhancements:
- Manage Page Updates: Improved handling of installs in progress.
- Self-Update Handling: Better management of App Center updates.
- Messaging for Running Snaps: Clearer communication when snaps are running.
- Direct Uninstall: Ability to uninstall applications directly.
- Third-Party Deb Installation: Support for installing third-party “.deb” packages is now included.
And now something very interesting. Celebrating 20 years since the first Ubuntu release (Ubuntu 4.10 “Warty Warthog”), this beta includes some nostalgic touches:
- Anniversary Logo: Special branding to mark the occasion.
- Original Startup Sound: The classic startup sound makes a return and can be disabled via audio settings if desired.
- ‘Warty’ Brown Accent Color: A nod to the original Ubuntu theme.
Another exciting development is that Ubuntu 24.10 will include the latest GNOME 47, bringing new features and fixes. The devs have also added patches to enhance stability and performance, some of which are still pending upstream integration.
For example, the Ubuntu dock now visualizes snap refreshes and offers better handling for Progressive Web Apps installed via the Chromium snap.
Furthermore, many apps have been updated to their latest up-to-date versions, the most important being:
- Sysprof Installed by Default: This system profiling tool helps users identify application performance issues.
- Firefox 130: The latest version of Firefox is included.
- LibreOffice 24.8: The office suite has been updated to the newest version.
- Thunderbird 128 ‘Supernova’: The email client receives a significant update.
On the subsystems side, several of them have been updated for improved performance and compatibility:
- BlueZ 5.77: Updates to Bluetooth support.
- Cairo 1.18.2: Graphics library enhancements.
- NetworkManager 1.48: Improved network management.
- Pipewire 1.2.3: Audio and video processing improvements.
- Poppler 24.08: PDF rendering updates.
- xdg-desktop-portal 1.18: Better integration for desktop environments.
Nvidia Graphics and Wayland
For users with Nvidia graphics cards, Ubuntu 24.10 now defaults to the Wayland display server instead of Xorg. If you prefer to use Xorg, you can select “Ubuntu on Xorg” from the session menu at the login screen.
Download Ubuntu 24.10 Beta
If you can’t wait to try out all the new features in the 24.20 (Oracular Oriole) release, you can download a beta version of the installation ISO image here. The official announcement provides a detailed overview of all the updates in the new release.
