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Hardware certification

Canonical's certification service helps manufacturers to advertise their compatibility with Ubuntu and ensures that the hardware benefits from Ubuntu's features. Whether you manufacture components or systems we'll help you to attain compatibility and communicate your commitment to Ubuntu's users. Canonical's Linux expertise and unique certification features ensure that you get the most return from your investment in certification.

A growing community of users want to find and buy hardware that works with Ubuntu. Systems and components may not have been designed with Linux in mind and may not be compatible. Even if hardware claims general Linux compatibility it isn't guaranteed to work fully with Ubuntu.

Certified hardware helps consumers find and purchase hardware that is guaranteed to work with Ubuntu. Ubuntu certification is an opportunity for a manufacturer to stand out from the crowd and clearly label compatibility to prospective customers. Canonical provides a public seal of approval that tells Ubuntu users about your commitment to working us.

Ubuntu's success is built on making Linux easy to use, featureful and with the latest innovations from the Free Software community. This can pose a challenge to manufacturers as they seek to ensure their hardware remains functional and takes full advantage of Ubuntu as it develops. A unique feature of our certification service is that enables a hardware manufacturer to guarantee that compatibility will remain in place for future release of Ubuntu.

Certification Features

Key features of the hardware certification service are:

Continuous testing

Canonical carries out continuous testing as Ubuntu is developed so that the certification remains valid for successive releases. As Ubuntu is developed any risks to your certification being lost are caught early and dealt with before release. Hardware will continue to take advantage of Ubuntu's features.

Development priority

Any issues or regressions that risks your hardware's certification are given priority by Canonical's Ubuntu developers. Our certification staff collaborate with your engineers to identify where the issue resides so that together we can resolve any them. Canonical guarantees that certified hardware will not suffer any regressions between Ubuntu releases.

Full compatibility testing

Our extensive set of hardware and operating system tests ensures that your hardware is fully compatible with Ubuntu. Canonical's certification engineers work with the manufacturer to resolve any issues discovered and ensure that the testing is representative of in field use. This ensures that certification is a collaborative process reducing the time taken.

Public certification

Canonical publicly certifies your hardware and supports your commitment to working with the Ubuntu community. We provide you with materials to use on your hardware and publish your certification on the Ubuntu web site. You'll benefit from clear communication with Ubuntu users.

Hardware coverage

Specific certification testing is undertaken for servers and desktops. Canonical's certification team will test hardware and operating features that users commonly expect from each platform type. Hardware manufacturers benefit from Ubuntu taking advantage of the full power of their components.

Extensive user testing

Ubuntu is known for it's speed of innovation and it's regular six month releases. Certifying with Ubuntu ensures that your technology will reach a wide base of users who value innovation. Through our open development process and public platforms you can take an active part in the community conversation. You benefit from quickly reaching key sections of the Linux market who value innovation and influence other markets.


If you're a component or system manufacturer you can find more information about our programme in the hardware vendors section. If you're a system builder there's more information in our system builder section.