Qubes OS 4.1.1-rc1 has been released!
We’re pleased to announce the first release candidate for Qubes 4.1.1! This release aims to consolidate all the security patches, bug fixes, and upstream template OS upgrades that have occurred since the initial Qubes 4.1.0 release in February. Our goal is to provide a secure and convenient way for users to install (or reinstall) the latest stable Qubes release with an up-to-date ISO.
Qubes 4.1.1-rc1 is available on the downloads page.
What is a release candidate?
A release candidate (RC) is a software build that has the potential to become a stable release, unless significant bugs are discovered in testing. Release candidates are intended for more advanced (or adventurous!) users who are comfortable testing early versions of software that are potentially buggier than stable releases. You can read more about the Qubes OS release process in the version scheme documentation.
What is a patch release?
The Qubes OS Project uses the semantic versioning standard. Version numbers are written as ... Hence, we refer to releases that increment the third number as “patch releases.” A patch release does not designate a separate, new major or minor release of Qubes OS. Rather, it designates its respective major or minor release (in this case, 4.1.0) inclusive of all updates up to a certain point. Installing Qubes 4.1.0 and fully updating it results in essentially the same system as installing Qubes 4.1.1. You can learn more about how Qubes release versioning works in the version scheme documentation.
What’s new in Qubes 4.1.1?
Qubes 4.1.1-rc1 includes numerous updates over the initial 4.1.0 release, in particular:
- All 4.1.0 dom0 updates to date
- Fedora 36 template (upgraded from Fedora 34)
- Linux kernel 5.15 (upgraded from 5.10)
How to test Qubes 4.1.1-rc1
If you’re willing to test this release candidate, you can help to improve the eventual stable release by reporting any bugs you encounter. We strongly encourage experience users to join the testing team!
Release candidate planning
If no significant bugs are discovered in 4.1.1-rc1, we expect to announce the stable release of 4.1.1 in two to three weeks.
The release candidate for Qubes OS 4.1.1 has been released for testing. Qubes OS is a free and open-source, security-oriented operating system for single-user desktop computing based on Xen-based virtualization to allow for the creation and management of isolated compartments called qubes.
