Should I add HWE kernel to the Ubuntu server manual installation (not from a hosting provider)?
Manually installing Ubuntu server (not from a hosting provider) -- should I add a HWE kernel?
From the moment I mount the ISO in my VirtualBox and starting the installation process, I am asked for 4 options:
- For a regular Ubuntu server
- For an Ubuntu server that includes HWE
- For MAAS including server
- For another MAAS including server
It is clear to me MAAS is not something I need but I do understand that inclusion of the HWE kernel inside Ubuntu might result in better hardware utilization (I don't know to say exactly way) and I was thinking that if tomorrow I change my PC to a new one there might be software discrepancies which HWE avoid.
Am I right? Should I choose HWE to ensure better software compatibility?
Hardware Enablement (HWE)
Should you use the HWE Kernel in a VM? I wouldn't bother. Unless, for example, you want some feature in the kernel that has received an update and won't be backported to the regular kernel. An example might be some new BTRFS code. The other thing remember is that up-to-date virtio modules already come with the regular kernel, so again it's not important to a vm.
Should I use the HWE Kernel on bare metal? Well, if it's new hardware (hardware released after the release of a kernel), you might not have a choice and you'll need to use it. For 10yr old hardware, just the regular will do fine.
Should I use the HWE Kerrnel on my VM when I passthrough hardware? Wow, now ya taking. An example might be that you just bought a new NVMe card and a new Radeon RX500 and you've passed through the hardware directly to the VM. In this case you will want to run the newer kernel.
I'd like to point out that there won't be any noticeable performance increases for a newer kernel. Not unless it's a bug-fix to a really serious performance issue, and I've only see things like that for Radeon cards and gaming.
Speaking of performance. Don't estimate, but instead use the phoronix-test-suite, it's freakin awesome. Cheers.
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