Canonical's Multipass 1.17 adds direct support for non-ubuntu Linux distros. Canonical's Multipass software is used for orchestrating Ubuntu virtual instances with a single command to launch Ubuntu VMs across Windows, macOS, and Linux. Multipass 1.17 was released today and they are now offering direct support for enabling non-Ubuntu Linux distributions as well. New to Multipass 1.17 is" direct support for Linux distributions other than Ubuntu ." Initially focused on for Multipass 1.17 is built-in support for both Debian and Ubuntu Linux. They are opening up other Linux distributions for easier deployment with Multipass and are welcoming user feedback about other Linux distributions worth adding. Multipass 1.17 also allows better simulating cloud environments locally via a new availability zones feature. The availability zones for Multipass allow for organizing VMs into pre-defined zones with isolated subnets and other cloud-like environment features. Multipass 1.17 also brings a redesigned image catalog in the Multipass GUI, a new Host Compute System (HCS) driver on Microsoft Windows as more robust than their prior Hyper-V integration path, and a new Apple virtualization framework back-end for macOS. The Apple Virtualization Framework provides faster startup and native ASIF disk image support on macOS 26. Also new to Multipass 1.17 is POWER PPC64EL and IBM s390x / IBM Z architecture support. The Multipass GUI is also now defaulting to Ubuntu 26.04 LTS along with bringing various bug fixes and other enhancements. Downloads and more details on Multipass 1.17 via GitHub and Ubuntu Discourse.

Ubuntu 26.10 released with GNOME 51, Linux kernel 7.3, and Rust coreutils. Ubuntu 26.10 "Stonking Stingray" is now available, featuring GNOME 51, Linux kernel 7.3, improved App Center, Rust-based coreutils, and nine months of support. Canonical has officially released Ubuntu 26.10, codenamed "Stonking Stingray," the latest version of its popular Linux distribution. As an interim release after Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, it comes with nine months of support until July 2027. Starting with the desktop, Ubuntu 26.10 ships with GNOME 51. Users can expect smoother animations, more responsive interactions, and improved handling of multiple monitors, as GNOME now remembers monitor brightness settings across reboots and HDR changes. At the same time, display arrangement benefits from improved snapping. The Settings app also adds automatic screen rotation for supported devices and an option to disable the touchpad when an external mouse is connected. The Files app has received several refinements, including better file selection, faster operations, and clearer notifications. Calendar is also more responsive, particularly in its monthly view, while the Papers document viewer now supports adding visual signatures to PDFs. Moreover, Ubuntu's App Center now uses a unified details page for both Snap and DEB packages, presenting application versions, permissions, publisher information, screenshots, and package sizes in one place. There's also a dedicated section for managing graphics drivers, making it easier to review and select available NVIDIA driver versions without separate configuration tools. Additionally, the system can now help users install missing multimedia codecs when needed for playback, although some proprietary codecs remain unavailable by default. Under the hood, Ubuntu 26.10 ships with Linux kernel 7.3, offering updated hardware support and improvements across various subsystems. However, the initial Ubuntu kernel package is based on Linux 7.3-rc6 rather than the final upstream release. The graphics stack has been updated to Mesa 26.2, improving support for modern GPUs and adding further Vulkan capabilities. Hardware compatibility improvements also target laptops powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite and X2 Elite processors. One of the more interesting changes in this release is the completion of Ubuntu's transition to Rust-based core utilities. Following the migration of most GNU coreutils commands to the Rust-based uutils implementation in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, Canonical has now switched the remaining commands, including cp, mv, and rm. As a result, Ubuntu 26.10 now uses Rust implementations for its default core command-line utilities. The change is part of Canonical's broader efforts to improve memory safety in fundamental system components without changing how users interact with familiar Linux commands. Another notable change is the replacement of the traditional dbus-daemon with dbus-broker, which offers improved reliability, resource accounting, and scalability. Ubuntu's existing AppArmor restrictions continue to apply to D-Bus communication. The release also upgrades systemd to version 261, removing support for legacy System V service scripts. On the security side, Ubuntu 26.10 introduces OpenSSL 4, with support for Encrypted Client Hello, expanded QUIC functionality, and further improvements related to post-quantum cryptography. Additionally, the Rust-based Sequoia PGP implementation is now available in Ubuntu's main repository, although traditional GnuPG tools remain available. Canonical has also expanded TPM-backed full-disk encryption options and introduced additional Secure Boot protections intended to reduce the attack surface during system startup. On the desktop side, another interesting addition is Myna, an experimental speech-to-text tool that allows users to dictate text directly into applications using a configurable keyboard shortcut. Unlike cloud-based alternatives, Myna processes speech locally without sending recorded audio to external servers. For now, it remains a technology preview and isn't installed by default. Ubuntu 26.10 also adds the ability to check hardware certification status directly from Settings. Enterprise users get authentication improvements, including Microsoft password and multi-factor authentication support through Ubuntu's authd service. Developers will find an updated collection of programming languages and tools, including Rust 1.97.1 and OpenJDK 27. And, as usual, there's a new selection of wallpapers, including community-created designs featuring the release's stingray mascot. Finally, keep in mind that Ubuntu 26.10 is a short-term release supported for nine months, until July 2027. Users who prioritize stability and longer maintenance periods may prefer to remain on Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. Ubuntu 26.10 is available for download from the official Ubuntu servers as desktop and server installation images. For additional information and upgrade instructions, refer to the release notes. Tell others: Bobby borisov. Bobby, an editor-in-chief at Linuxiac, is a Linux professional with over 20 years of experience. With a strong focus on Linux and open-source software, he has worked as a Senior Linux System Administrator, Software Developer, and DevOps Engineer for small and large multinational companies.

Canonical releases Ubuntu 26.10 Stonking Stingray. The latest interim release of Ubuntu previews privacy conscious speech-to-text, enables post-quantum package signing, completes the rollout of Rust coreutils, and improves enterprise identity integration. October 15, 2026 Today Canonical announced the release of Ubuntu 26.10, codenamed "Stonking Stingray," available to download and install from ubuntu.com/download. Building on previous releases, Ubuntu 26.10 advances enterprise security features, completes the rollout of the Rust-based uutils coreutils, and strengthens integrations for user authentication using Microsoft Entra ID. Ubuntu 26.10 also introduces post-quantum package signing, demonstrating that interim releases both build on established ground, and look towards the future. Earlier this year, Canonical Ltd. set out a roadmap for AI on Ubuntu. Stonking Stingray delivers the first milestone through the integration of Myna: a speech-to-text agent that utilizes on-device LLMs. Canonical Ltd. has led Ubuntu's first AI integration with accessibility to ensure that cutting-edge features are available to all users from day one. Users will also benefit from enhanced security features. Ubuntu 26.10 completes the migration to Rust-based coreutils, and broadens device support for TPM-backed FDE. Stonking Stingray is symbolic of Ubuntu's journey to not just build up, but also build out. Jon Seager, VP of Ubuntu Engineering at Canonical Elegance and accessibility with new speech-to-text agent. Stonking Stingray brings Canonical Ltd. the debut of Myna: Ubuntu's speech-to-text agent. Named after the Myna bird (known for its ability to mimic human speech), Myna is an opt-in feature in Ubuntu 26.10, designed to provide speech recognition with clear visual feedback while you speak. Based on local models, Myna offers speech-to-text, without sacrificing privacy. Myna will continue to evolve and as Ubuntu 28.04 LTS approaches, it will be included by default with Ubuntu. Myna marks the first step towards a more natural, intent-driven Ubuntu Desktop experience that will enable users to express what they want to achieve, rather than manually navigate applications and settings. For example, a developer could simply say, "Help me investigate why my tests are failing," and Ubuntu could analyze test results, locate relevant code, and prepare a workspace with the tools and information needed to troubleshoot the issue. Ubuntu 26.10 also ships with GNOME 51, bringing a smoother, more responsive desktop, better display handling, improved accessibility, and refinements across core applications. In addition, the Ubuntu App Center now provides a more consistent experience for managing snaps and debs. Users of assistive technology will benefit from improved support for Flutter applications, with assistive technologies like Orca (screen-reader) now able to better parse and understand the content included in Flutter applications. This release also brings reliability enhancements to the desktop userspace layers. Ubuntu 26.10 adopts dbus-broker as the default D-Bus implementation, replacing legacy message queuing between apps with strict per-app message accounting, ensuring a single app can't stall the desktop. Additionally, desktop OOM (out-of-memory protection) scoring has been adjusted to better manage-memory pressure in userspace. Security for present and future threats. Ubuntu Desktop now integrates more naturally with Microsoft identity services, including password with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and passwordless authentication. This ensures devices can authenticate securely by default, and under the same security umbrella as Windows devices in the same organization. TPM-backed full-disk encryption, which was rolled out in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, has been expanded to encompass hardware models lacking a Hardware Root of Trust, with users being able to require a PIN or passphrase. These features ensure that users can use Ubuntu with best practice security enabled by default. Ubuntu 26.10 delivers post-quantum ready package signing, by replacing GnuPG with Sequoia PGP to verify APT repository signatures. Sequoia brings Rust's memory-safe practices to package signing and acts as a barrier to the threat of quantum cryptographic attack attempts. Ubuntu 26.10 introduces quantum-safe token support via openCryptoki, providing robust PKCS #11 V3.2 coverage across multiple token types, including Soft, EP11, and CCA tokens with ML-DSA and ML-KEM integration. A new kernel. The latest hardware. Ubuntu 26.10 brings Linux kernel 7.3, which facilitates hardware enablement for the latest silicon, such as Intel Xe3P (Nova Lake), AMD Zen 6, and NVIDIA 615. As heterogeneous platforms like these span CPU cores, GPUs, and media decoders, the latest kernel brings the direct rendering management and power management hooks needed for these components to perform. Kernel 7.3 also enhances the way data is handled at the software level, through out-of-the-box support for Lustre, a parallel distributed file system designed to transfer massive datasets simultaneously across thousands of corporate nodes. Ubuntu 26.10 continues the tradition of delivering architecture-focused enhancements. Stonking Stingray will launch with a dedicated installer for amd64v3 hardware, ensuring that users with modern platforms get an optimized experience. For RISC-V users, Ubuntu 26.10 brings desktop images, complementing the work that had already been done to do so with Server images. This includes support for the first RVA23-enabled RISC-V hardware, the SpacemiT K3, ensuring that developers can meet the new standard with confidence on a stable OS. Together, these enhancements streamline setup for developers building on cutting-edge silicon. 2026 is the year of RVA23 silicon, so I'm thrilled to see desktop image support arrive for RISC-V in Ubuntu 26.10. It brings the power of the RVA23 profile to everyday applications including productivity, online meetings, video streaming and software development. Andrea Gallo, CEO of RISC-V International A speedy path to AI and software development. Beyond hardware enablement, Stonking Stingray also delivers enhanced support for running accelerated AI workloads. Ubuntu 26.04 LTS brought ROCm (AMD's AI enablement stack for AMD hardware) into the Ubuntu archive. Ubuntu 26.10 upgrades that to the latest major version with support for ROCm 10.0. ROCm 10.0 adds support for new GPU architectures and serving frameworks like vLLM and SGLang. Ubuntu 26.10 also distributes the latest developer toolchains from upstream, including LLVM 22.1.6, GCC 15.2.0, Python 3.14.7, Rust 1.97.1, Zig 0.16, and Go 1.27. Spring AI is also available on Ubuntu Desktop for the first time, through the devpack for Spring, a snap that bundles the latest features and versions of Spring. For those developing in Rust, Ubuntu 26.10 coincides with the release of the devpack for Rust, bringing a batteries-included setup experience complete with flexible version management and robust IDE support. Get started today. About Canonical. Canonical, the publisher of Ubuntu, provides open source security, support and services. Its portfolio covers critical systems, from the smallest devices to the largest clouds, from the kernel to containers, from databases to AI. With customers that include top tech brands, emerging startups, governments and home users, Canonical delivers trusted open source for everyone.