Linux NPU Driver v1.38.0
Added 1
- Support for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
From Intel NPU Driver
✨ Highlights
- 🆕 Added support for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
⚙️ Verified Configuration
| Platform | System | Kernel | Firmware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meteor Lake | Ubuntu 24.04 LTSUbuntu 26.04 LTS | 7.0.0-31-generic | 20260820*MTL_CLIENT_SILICON-NVR+NN-deployment*6fc835a192052ac2261c4e1d5da7379ced95ae81*6fc835a192052ac2261c4e1d5da7379ced95ae81*6fc835a1920 |
| Arrow Lake | Ubuntu 24.04 LTSUbuntu 26.04 LTS | 7.0.0-31-generic | 20260820*MTL_CLIENT_SILICON-NVR+NN-deployment*6fc835a192052ac2261c4e1d5da7379ced95ae81*6fc835a192052ac2261c4e1d5da7379ced95ae81*6fc835a1920 |
| Lunar Lake | Ubuntu 24.04 LTSUbuntu 26.04 LTS | 7.0.0-31-generic | Aug 20 2026*NPU40xx*build/ci/npu-fw-ci-ci_branch_UD202638_npu_release_26ww32-20260813_185051-3a5e4dd1cf93522baa79e55a53f2ac7165723cad-1-g6fc835a1920*6fc835a192052ac2261c4e1d5da7379ced95ae81 |
| Panther Lake | Ubuntu 24.04 LTSUbuntu 26.04 LTS | 7.0.0-31-generic | Aug 20 2026*NPU50xx*build/ci/npu-fw-ci-ci_branch_UD202638_npu_release_26ww32-20260813_185051-3a5e4dd1cf93522baa79e55a53f2ac7165723cad-1-g6fc835a1920*6fc835a192052ac2261c4e1d5da7379ced95ae81 |
| Wildcat Lake | Ubuntu 24.04 LTSUbuntu 26.04 LTS | 7.0.0-31-generic | Aug 20 2026*NPU50xx*build/ci/npu-fw-ci-ci_branch_UD202638_npu_release_26ww32-20260813_185051-3a5e4dd1cf93522baa79e55a53f2ac7165723cad-1-g6fc835a1920*6fc835a192052ac2261c4e1d5da7379ced95ae81 |
🧩 Common Components
The following table lists the common software components and their versions used in this configuration:
| Component | Version / Details |
|---|---|
| Level Zero | v1.32.0 |
| OpenVINO | 2026.3.1 |
| NPU Compiler | npu_ud_2026_38_rc1, built using OpenVINO_rev.d8047fb |
| GPU Driver | Intel GPU driver from ppa:kobuk-team/intel-graphics: 26.31.39395.13 (see) |
🛠️ Installation Procedure
- Remove old packages
sudo dpkg --purge --force-remove-reinstreq intel-driver-compiler-npu intel-fw-npu intel-level-zero-npu intel-level-zero-npu-dbgsym
- Download the package archive
- Ubuntu24.04
wget https://github.com/intel/linux-npu-driver/releases/download/v1.38.0/linux-npu-driver-v1.38.0.20260910-34487311128-ubuntu2404.tar.gz
tar -xf linux-npu-driver-v1.38.0.20260910-34487311128-ubuntu2404.tar.gz
- Ubuntu26.04
wget https://github.com/intel/linux-npu-driver/releases/download/v1.38.0/linux-npu-driver-v1.38.0.20260910-34487311128-ubuntu2604.tar.gz
tar -xf linux-npu-driver-v1.38.0.20260910-34487311128-ubuntu2604.tar.gz
- Install libtbb12, which is a dependency for intel-driver-compiler-npu
sudo apt update
sudo apt install libtbb12
- Install all packages
sudo dpkg -i *.deb
- Install the libze1 package
- Ubuntu24.04
wget https://snapshot.ppa.launchpadcontent.net/kobuk-team/intel-graphics/ubuntu/20260830T100000Z/pool/main/l/level-zero-loader/libze1_1.32.0-1~24.04~ppa1_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i libze1_*.deb
- Ubuntu26.04
wget https://snapshot.ppa.launchpadcontent.net/kobuk-team/intel-graphics/ubuntu/20260830T100000Z/pool/main/l/level-zero-loader/libze1_1.32.0-1~26.04~ppa1_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i libze1_*.deb
⚠️ In case of a conflict or error during the libze1 installation, remove the previously installed Level Zero version:
sudo dpkg --purge --force-remove-reinstreq level-zero level-zero-devel
- Optionally, add your user to the
rendergroup
sudo gpasswd -a ${USER} render
newgrp render
- Optionally, reboot the system
sudo reboot
# if everything works, we should see the /dev/accel/accel0 device
ls /dev/accel/accel0
/dev/accel/accel0
# Check intel_vpu kernel messages
sudo dmesg
🛡️ GPG Signing and Verification of Debian Packages
Signing data with a GPG key allows the recipient of the data to check whether any modifications have occurred after the data was signed.
Since release 1.22.0, each Debian package file (.deb file) has been signed with a GPG key, and the signature is included in the archive.
The Public Key has been uploaded to https://keys.openpgp.org/search?q=EA267657A608300C296B8F8AD52C9665A4077678
To verify the signature:
# Download and import the Public Key
curl https://keys.openpgp.org/vks/v1/by-fingerprint/EA267657A608300C296B8F8AD52C9665A4077678 | gpg --import
# Download the driver package
wget https://github.com/intel/linux-npu-driver/releases/download/v1.38.0/linux-npu-driver-v1.38.0.20260910-34487311128-ubuntu2604.tar.gz
tar -xf linux-npu-driver-v1.38.0.20260910-34487311128-ubuntu2604.tar.gz
# Verify signatures
for PACKAGE in *deb.asc; do gpg --verify $PACKAGE; done
🧪 UMD Test Results
| Platform | OS / Kernel | Command | ALL | PASSED | FAILED | SKIPPED |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTL | Ubuntu 26.04 / 7.0.0-31-generic | npu-umd-test -c none | 346 | ✅ 267 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 79 |
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c none | 4 | ✅ 4 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c extend.yaml | 5 | ✅ 5 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c none | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c extend.yaml | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c none | 3 | ✅ 2 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 1 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c extend.yaml | 3 | ✅ 2 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 1 | ||
npu-umd-test -c extend.yaml | 386 | ✅ 320 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 66 | ||
| ARL | Ubuntu 26.04 / 7.0.0-31-generic | npu-umd-test -c none | 346 | ✅ 267 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 79 |
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c none | 4 | ✅ 4 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c extend.yaml | 5 | ✅ 5 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c none | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c extend.yaml | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c none | 3 | ✅ 2 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 1 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c extend.yaml | 3 | ✅ 2 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 1 | ||
npu-umd-test -c extend.yaml | 386 | ✅ 320 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 66 | ||
| LNL | Ubuntu 26.04 / 7.0.0-31-generic | npu-umd-test -c none | 346 | ✅ 322 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 24 |
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c none | 4 | ✅ 4 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c extend.yaml | 5 | ✅ 5 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c none | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c extend.yaml | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c none | 3 | ✅ 3 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c extend.yaml | 3 | ✅ 3 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test -c extend.yaml | 386 | ✅ 377 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 9 | ||
| PTL | Ubuntu 26.04 / 7.0.0-31-generic | npu-umd-test -c none | 346 | ✅ 322 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 24 |
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c none | 4 | ✅ 4 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c extend.yaml | 5 | ✅ 5 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c none | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c extend.yaml | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c none | 3 | ✅ 3 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c extend.yaml | 3 | ✅ 3 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test -c extend.yaml | 386 | ✅ 377 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 9 | ||
| WCL | Ubuntu 26.04 / 7.0.0-31-generic | npu-umd-test -c none | 346 | ✅ 322 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 24 |
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c none | 4 | ✅ 4 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
sudo npu-umd-test --dma-heap -c extend.yaml | 5 | ✅ 5 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c none | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --ze-init-tests -c extend.yaml | 6 | ✅ 6 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c none | 3 | ✅ 3 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test --gpu -c extend.yaml | 3 | ✅ 3 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 0 | ||
npu-umd-test -c extend.yaml | 386 | ✅ 377 | ❌ 0 | ⚠️ 9 |
For the
-coption ofnpu-umd-test, theextend.yamlconfiguration file was used. It can be obtained from the UMD testing documentation and examples provided in the Intel NPU driver repository (umd-testing.md). The tests were run with the following YAML configuration:# filename: extend.yaml model_dir: models/ image_dir: images/ graph_execution: - path: add_abc/add_abc.xml - path: resnet50.xml name: resnet50 in: [ dog.bmp ] class_index: [ 258 ] - path: yolov8s.xml name: yolov8s image_classification_imagenet: - path: resnet50.xml name: resnet50 in: [ dog.bmp ] class_index: [ 258 ] driver_cache: - path: add_abc/add_abc.xml - path: resnet50.xml - path: yolov8s.xml multi_inference: - name: "ObjectRecognitionPipeline" pipeline: - path: resnet50.xml target_fps: 60 exec_time_in_secs: 10 - path: yolov8s.xml target_fps: 30 exec_time_in_secs: 10
🔍 Driver Overview
[!IMPORTANT]
For more information check README.md