Linux Installation¶
The LattePanda Sigma 2 is based on a standard x86 architecture processor, meaning the Linux installation process is identical to that of a regular laptop or desktop computer. It is fully compatible with most mainstream Linux distributions.
Pre-installed Ubuntu OS
The 1TB SSD that ships with LattePanda Sigma 2 already has Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, GPU/NPU drivers and local AI models pre-installed. You only need this guide if you want to reinstall or install a different Linux distribution.
Kernel Requirement¶
The Panther Lake platform requires a recent Linux kernel:
- Recommended: Linux 7.0 or later — shipped by default with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS, providing the complete support baseline for this platform, including targeted optimizations for the Xe3 integrated graphics and the NPU.
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Minimum: Linux 6.17 — if you must stay on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, use release 24.04.4 or later and install the HWE kernel stack (the factory 6.8 kernel does not properly support this platform); on a fully updated system this currently provides kernel 7.0:
sudo apt update sudo apt install linux-generic-hwe-24.04
General Installation Steps¶
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Download the Linux ISO
Visit the official website of your chosen Linux distribution and download the ISO image file. We recommend Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (Desktop).
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Create a Bootable USB Drive
Burn the downloaded ISO image to a USB flash drive. You can use tools like Rufus for this purpose.
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Boot from the USB Drive
Plug the bootable USB drive into your LattePanda Sigma 2, then power on or reboot. Immediately and repeatedly press the F7 key to enter the Boot Device Selection Menu, select your USB flash drive, and press Enter.
Tip
You can also press Del to enter the BIOS setup and adjust the boot order there.
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Install the Operating System
Follow the on-screen instructions provided by the Linux installer to partition your M.2 SSD and complete the OS installation.
Data Loss Warning
Installing a new OS will erase the pre-installed Ubuntu system and local AI models on the SSD. Please back up any data you need before proceeding.
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Post-Installation & Driver Updates
After the installation is complete, if you find that certain peripherals (such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or audio) are not functioning properly, it is usually due to missing drivers in the default kernel.
- Update the System: Run a full system update to fetch the latest packages.
- Upgrade the Kernel: If issues persist, try upgrading to a newer Linux kernel, which often includes better support for newer hardware.
- Install Proprietary Drivers: Some components may require proprietary drivers. Check your distribution's "Additional Drivers" utility.
Intel GPU Compute Driver¶
Linux's default graphics drivers are only responsible for display output and do not include GPU compute libraries (OpenCL / Level Zero).
If you plan to run large language models locally (such as OpenVINO, llama.cpp) or perform other general-purpose GPU computing (such as PyTorch XPU or AI video processing), you need to install the official Intel compute runtime.