AerynOS has released a new installation image, AerynOS 2026.08, bringing the distribution’s latest repository, system tooling, filesystem, and desktop updates together in a refreshed ISO.
The release follows the broad unstable stream update, which introduced Linux kernel 7.1.5, COSMIC Desktop 1.5, Mesa 26.1.6, and other package upgrades. The new update goes beyond those versions, detailing important changes to the distribution’s infrastructure and installation experience.
One notable addition is experimental support for OpenZFS drives. AerynOS can now work with OpenZFS alongside Btrfs and Bcachefs for user-managed data drives. The implementation has been tested on limited hardware, so developers ask early adopters to provide real-world feedback.
The project has also completed the second phase of its Versioned Repositories work. Introduced to users through the unstable stream in early July, the new design upgrades the on-disk repository layout and moves Moss configuration to KDL.
More importantly, it allows the Moss package manager to update itself across incompatible repository format changes without manual migration. Users only need to run regular system updates, bringing AerynOS closer to its “install once, update forever” model.
Additionally, Moss has received additional reliability checks for downloaded assets in its content-addressable storage. These checks may temporarily slow some operations but provide stronger guarantees that cached files are downloaded and stored correctly.
Another improvement introduces native reflink handling for users running AerynOS on XFS. Reflinks let multiple files with different names, permissions, and owners point to the same data without creating full copies. Systems using filesystems without reflink support, like ext4 and F2FS, will continue to fall back to hardlinks.
AerynOS has also completed a substantial systemd packaging overhaul, moving from systemd 257.13 through several versions to systemd 261.2. Manually enabled or disabled services should no longer have their state overwritten during Moss package operations.
Users should note that network interface names may change after the next reboot, for example from eth0 to a predictable name like enp12s0. Several systemd components, including systemd-boot, systemd-coredump, systemd-homed, systemd-container, systemd-resolved, and systemd-udev, are now distributed as separate packages.
The refreshed AerynOS 2026.08 ISO includes the latest 7.1-series Linux kernel and an updated GNOME environment for the live installer. Thanks to the distribution’s network-based installation, users can select KDE Plasma 6.7.3 or COSMIC Desktop 1.5 during installation, with the latest packages retrieved from the unstable repository.
NVIDIA driver 610.43.03 has landed in the repositories, with the project seeking NVIDIA hardware owners to test the integration. The driver includes improved DLSS support and fixes for sleep and resume behavior.
At the same time, devs are continuing to evaluate Codeberg as a possible alternative to GitHub. Development of the project’s redesigned Hugo-based website has moved to Codeberg, giving developers a chance to assess the platform’s cooperation and ongoing integration features before any broader migration.
It’s worth also noting that AerynOS plans to replace its current YAML package recipe format with a new KDL-based schema. In light of this, developers have postponed adding further capabilities to the YAML format, which they now regard as transitional.
For additional details, see the announcement.
AerynOS 2026.08 is available from the distribution’s website. Existing installations do not need to be reinstalled and can receive the same software and system changes through the regular Moss update process.
