# Ubuntu to split linux-firmware into per-vendor packages, add HWE firmware option

> **Key takeaway:** Ubuntu 27.04 will introduce granular linux-firmware packages and a linux-firmware-hwe stack to deliver updated firmware blobs alongside HWE kernels, with planned backports to 26.10 and 26.04 LTS.

**Published:** 2026-11-06T11:19:09+00:00 
**Source:** Phoronix Benchmarks & Drivers 
**Category:** kernel-os 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/ubuntu-to-split-linux-firmware-into-per-vendor-packages-add-.html 

## Summary
Ubuntu is advancing two long-discussed changes to its firmware packaging: splitting the monolithic linux-firmware package into vendor-specific subpackages and creating a linux-firmware-hwe variant tied to the hardware enablement kernel track. These changes missed the Ubuntu 26.10 release window but are now targeted for Ubuntu 27.04 'Tenacious T-Rex,' with stable release updates planned for 26.10 and likely 26.04 LTS once the 26.10-based HWE stack arrives there.

The split creates nineteen discrete packages covering AMD, Intel, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Marvell, Mediatek, Mellanox, Realtek, and other hardware categories. The linux-firmware-hwe package bundles updated firmware assets intended to pair with HWE kernels on LTS releases, reducing the manual work of identifying individual firmware files for backporting and mitigating kernel-firmware version mismatches.

## Firmware packaging architecture and HWE integration
- **Per-vendor package split:** The monolithic linux-firmware package divides into nineteen targeted packages including linux-firmware-amd-graphics, linux-firmware-intel-graphics, linux-firmware-nvidia-graphics, linux-firmware-qualcomm-graphics, and linux-firmware-realtek, allowing selective installation and updates.
- **HWE firmware stack:** The new linux-firmware-hwe package carries updated firmware blobs synchronized with HWE kernel releases, specifically designed for Ubuntu LTS users running hardware enablement kernels.
- **Backport pathway:** The changes will debut in Ubuntu 27.04, then SRU to Ubuntu 26.10, with subsequent inclusion in Ubuntu 26.04 LTS when that release adopts the 26.10-based HWE stack.
- **Developer workload reduction:** The split eliminates the need for maintainers to manually identify and extract individual firmware files for backporting to stable releases.
- **Vendor coverage:** Bundled packages span AMD (graphics and misc), Intel (graphics, misc, wireless), NVIDIA graphics, Qualcomm (graphics, misc, wireless), plus Broadcom, Marvell, Mediatek, Mellanox, Netronome, and QLogic hardware.

## Why it matters
For Ubuntu LTS users relying on HWE kernels for newer hardware support, the firmware-hwe package closes a gap where updated kernels could ship with stale firmware, previously risking device initialization failures or missing features. The granular packaging also benefits disk-space-constrained deployments and container builds by allowing precise firmware selection rather than installing hundreds of megabytes of unused blobs.