Linux Mint: Version 22.3 "Zena" with a long support period
The Linux distribution Linux Mint has been released in version 22.3, codename "Zena". It will receive security updates until 2029.
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The maintainers of the popular Linux distribution Linux Mint have released version 22.3, codenamed “Zena.” The new version of the Ubuntu-based Linux updates software and improvements and aims to make the Linux desktop experience more comfortable.
In the release notes for Linux Mint 22.3, the developers primarily discuss issues and offer solutions. The overview of new features, on the other hand, lists the smaller improvements of the updated distribution. According to this, the developers provide support with security updates until April 2029. Many small optimizations are intended to provide necessary information more easily in case of problems. The “System Report” tool is now called “System Information.” In addition to “System Information,” “System Reports,” and “Crash Reports,” four other pages provide information about connected USB devices, the graphics card and its support with hardware acceleration, PCI devices, and the BIOS.
Linux Mint with New Tools
Furthermore, the visually similar tool “System Administration” is newly included. It runs with administrator privileges and is intended for corresponding configuration tasks. Initially, it only offers a dialog page with which the boot menu can be set. If users have missed a notification from an app, a small number icon now indicates this with the specific number of missed messages.
XApps receive new default icons and symbols, which are simple and monochrome. Previously missing icons have now been added by the programmers. These are intended to scale to different sizes without loss. In general, XApps have received improvements, so Timeshift can now pause or resume during snapshots, and Warpinator can now send not only files but also text messages over the network – also via IPv6.
The Cinnamon desktop in version 6.6 has received improved support for keyboard layouts and input methods. Traditional layouts and IBus input methods are now displayed side-by-side in the keyboard settings, “as if they were the same.” This is intended to allow Cinnamon to support layouts other than English (US) under Wayland. The Cinnamon application menu has also been revised by the programmers; it now has a sidebar for the avatar, locations, and preferred apps.
Problems and Solutions
Problems might affect users of the HWE kernel 6.14, which Linux Mint 22.3 ships with and which comes from Ubuntu. It is characterized by extended hardware support and is necessary for supporting newer AMD processors, for example. However, it clashes with Virtualbox and old Nvidia graphics cards. Those affected should switch to Linux Mint 22.1, which comes with the LTS kernel 6.8. The shutdown time has been reduced to ten seconds by the programmers for convenience.
Anyone who wants to test Linux Mint 22.3 in Virtualbox should disable 3D acceleration in the VM settings and enable Nested Paging. However, Xorg crashes in VMs because 3D acceleration is necessary for using multimedia codecs with gstreamer-1.0-vaapi. Removing the package should help. This is done with the command apt remove gstreamer1.0-vaapi – optionally preceded by sudo. Solutions are also available if there is no audio output with the new Pipewire sound server; in that case, users should switch to PulseAudio with a few commands.
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Anyone who wants to try out the new Linux Mint 22.3 can find installation images to download on the download page of the Linux Mint project. Versions with Cinnamon, Xfce, and MATE desktops are available.
Most recently, the Linux Mint project released version 22.2 in September, named “Zara.” There, too, the maintainers updated the software but also added biometrics and gave Libadwaita programs their look.
(dmk)
