← Blog · 03 Sep 2026

What Is New in Recent Ubuntu Releases for Server Users

Every new Ubuntu release brings changes that touch hosting. These are the areas to watch.

Newer kernel and hardware support

Better NVMe, networking and CPU support, plus security fixes. LTS servers also get hardware enablement kernels later.

Newer PHP, MySQL/MariaDB and OpenSSL

Old PHP versions stop getting security fixes. A newer Ubuntu means you can run a supported PHP, but old plugins may break, so test first.

Security defaults

Stricter AppArmor profiles, newer OpenSSH defaults and removal of weak algorithms. Very old SSH clients or old TLS versions may stop connecting.

Netplan and systemd changes

Network configuration is done in /etc/netplan. Always keep console access (the JryHost VNC console) before changing network settings.

Our advice

• Use LTS releases on production servers.
• Test upgrades on a clone.
• Read the release notes for removed packages.

Ask our support if you want us to check your site for compatibility before you upgrade.