Ubuntu 21.04 (Hirsute Hippo)

Ubuntu 21.04, codenamed “Hirsute Hippo”, is here. This release continues
Ubuntu's proud tradition of integrating the latest and greatest open
source technologies into a high-quality, easy-to-use Linux distribution.
The team has been hard at work through this cycle, partnering with the
community and our partners, to introduce new features and fix bugs.

Ubuntu Desktop 21.04 uses Wayland graphics by default, strengthening
security while enhancing performance. 21.04 comes with improved AD
(Active Directory) integration where user authentication, with Group
Policy enabled, works out of the box to allow administrators to manage
Ubuntu workstations and simplify developer compliance with company
policies. Ubuntu 21.04 also adds the ability to configure system
settings from an Active Directory domain controller. Using a Group
Policy Client, system administrators can specify security policies on
all connected clients, such as password policies and user access
control, and Desktop environment settings, such as login screen,
background and favourite apps.

Ubuntu Server 21.04 integrates recent innovations from key open
infrastructure projects like Openstack Wallaby, Rails 6, QEMU 5.2,
libvirt 7.0, Kubernetes, and Ceph with advanced life-cycle management
tools for multi-cloud and on-prem operations from bare metal, VMWare and
Openstack, to every major public cloud.

The Ubuntu Kernel has been updated to the 5.11 based Linux kernel, our
default toolchain has moved to gcc 10.3.0 release with glibc 2.33, and
we’ve also updated to openssl 1.1.1.

The newest Ubuntu Budgie, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Kylin, Ubuntu MATE,
Ubuntu Studio, and Xubuntu are also being released today. More details
can be found for these at their individual release notes under the
Official Flavours section:

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/hirsute-hippo-release-notes/

Maintenance updates will be provided for 9 months for all flavours
releasing with 21.04.