Ubuntu MATE 18.04.2 HWE packages cancelled?

[jay]

This is really strange, so I'm trying to figure out if maybe I misunderstood the direction for Ubuntu MATE with 18.04.2. My understanding is that 18.04.2 comes with a new hardware enablement stack, but this does not seem to be the case. Vanilla Ubuntu 18.04.2 has the new hardware enablement, but not MATE. Even after all updates have been installed, the features promised for 18.04.2 are missing.

I installed Ubuntu MATE 18.04.1 on my laptop about two weeks ago. I've been upgrading packages regularly since. Currently, I'm on kernel 4.15 still, even after upgrading to 18.04.2 by installing all updates. Ubuntu just announced 18.04.2 being available officially, but it looks like Ubuntu MATE is skipping the HWE portion.

Also, in a blog post on this site posted in October 2018, it mentions that MATE 1.20.3 will be backported to 18.04.2. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that this has happened either.

I'm hoping that perhaps Ubuntu MATE is late getting 18.04.2 out the door and perhaps it will be released later on, but I was really looking forward to using Ubuntu MATE 18.04.2 with newer hardware enablement and all of the bug fixes mentioned for 18.04.2.

Does anyone know if the HWE enablement was cancelled?

[lah7]

@jay

My understanding is that 18.04.2 comes with a new hardware enablement stack, but this does not seem to be the case.

It does, they're just packages featuring a newer kernel that are added to the Ubuntu archive. All flavours can use these packages.

The Hardware Enablement Stack (HWE) isn't installed when upgrading your system from a previous LTS revision, like 18.04 or 18.04.1, but it is for new 18.04.2 installations.

From existing 18.04 installations, you can install from the terminal like so:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install --install-recommends linux-generic-hwe-18.04 xserver-xorg-hwe-18.04

This article describes this too:

Ubuntu 18.04.2 LTS Released, Available to Download Now - OMG! Ubuntu

@jay

Also, in a blog post on this site posted in October 2018, it mentions that MATE 1.20.3 will be backported to 18.04.2. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that this has happened either.

You're right, it hasn't, or at least, it's in a queue, as SRU updates need to be approved by Canonical. See my reply here to another topic here:

Is Mate Dead ? why no 4.18 kernel?

I haven't heard of this - have you got a link to this source? I've always known HWE to be an optional "opt-in" from existing LTS installations. Which kernel version it is based on a timeline. I just updated the links for 18.04.2. Oops, thanks for reminding me! Announcements wise, there isn't usually one for point releases unless there's something significant. We'll need to wait for an update from @Wimpy, our leader. He collaborates with the upstream MATE team and manages the packaging and…

[jay]

Thank you for clearing this up for me.