Google and Canonical release certified Ubuntu images for TPU VMs across all generations

Google, Canonical team up to certify Ubuntu images for TPU VMs

Google Cloud customers spinning up new Tensor Processing Unit VMs for AI workloads will notice something different beginning today, as Canonical has finally released certified Ubuntu images for TPU instances going all the way back to 2023's v5e. Canonical and Google announced the release of certified Ubuntu images for TPU VMs in a press release penned by Canonical's public cloud alliance director Hugo Huang today. Huang noted in the statement that certified Ubuntu images for TPU7x, v6e, v5p, and v5e are now the default whenever a TPU VM is created in Google Compute Engine. If you're wondering what the big change is here, it's basically about how Ubuntu in TPU VMs is supported. Huang told The Register that, prior to today, customers using TPU v5 and v6 were running a custom version of Ubuntu 22.04, but it was one that Google itself modified and managed. As of this announcement, those v5 and v6 instances are now running on Canonical-certified and supported versions of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS that are compatible with existing production environments. That, ideally, means that migrating to the new version should happen without interrupting existing workloads, Huang explained. While this was not specifically mentioned in the announcement, Huang told us that TPU7x instances will be running on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, and noted that both 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS have been tested across all three generations of TPUs to give Google Cloud customers some flexibility in their deployment choices based on workloads. "Ubuntu LTS gives enterprises the stable, secure foundation they need to move AI workloads from experimentation into production on Google's most advanced accelerator hardware," Huang told us in an email. "This launch makes Cloud TPU as accessible as any other VM on Google Cloud -- same console, same experience, backed by up to 15 years of Canonical security maintenance and support commitment." Canonical has worked closely with Google to ensure that certified Ubuntu images work properly with existing machine learning tools found in TPU VMs, like JAX, PyTorch, TensorFlow, and the like, as well as automation and monitoring tools like Kubernetes, and support for Snap packages. As both TPU VM-certified builds are long-term support variants, the pair will get five years of support maintenance, which is typical for Ubuntu LTS builds. In addition to broader support from Canonical, Huang said that TPU VMs will be getting a security boost in the form of access to Ubuntu Pro services that automate security tasks. Ubuntu Pro was already available on Google Cloud, for those wondering, but its presence in Cloud TPU VMs will likely be a welcome addition for the security-conscious enterprise AI customer. Ubuntu Pro includes things like live kernel patching, security support for open-source packages and out-of-the-box hardening. Unlike the rest of today's announcements, however, this one isn't available now: You'll need to wait until Q3 to get access to Ubuntu Pro in TPU VMs - unless you ask, that is. "Customers wanting early access to Ubuntu Pro can reach out to Canonical sales or their Google Cloud account team directly," Huang told us. Otherwise, you'll just have to wait and hope that the existing security offerings in the certified Ubuntu LTS versions rolled out today are sufficient to protect those AI workloads. ®

Canonical announces optimized Ubuntu images for TPU virtual machines by Google Cloud | Ubuntu

This new release brings the stability, security, and expansive ecosystem of Ubuntu to Cloud TPU virtual machines on Google Cloud. May 28, 2026 - Today, Canonical and Google Cloud announced the availability of certified Ubuntu images for Google's Cloud TPU Virtual Machines, which are included by default when setting up the VMs. By combining Google's custom AI accelerators with the reliability and familiarity of Ubuntu, we are providing a streamlined path for developers and enterprises to adopt the newest AI infrastructure on Google Cloud. As AI is entering the Age of Inference, the focus has shifted from training massive models to powering real-time interactions. Agentic workflows require seamless coordination between general-purpose compute and machine learning acceleration, which is why Google Cloud and Canonical are working together to make it easier for organizations to adopt advanced AI infrastructure. With this launch, Cloud TPU VMs offer a simplified user experience, with Ubuntu preinstalled, that mirrors launching any other standard Google Cloud Compute Engine instance. Developers benefit from the stable foundation and broad ecosystem offered by Ubuntu, paired with direct access to Google's seventh-generation custom silicon, Ironwood (TPU 7x). To ensure continuity for existing production environments, Cloud TPU v5 and Trillium (v6) instances are paired with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, allowing teams to maintain their current workflows without disruption. Different AI workloads demand different infrastructure configurations, but they all require a reliable software foundation. Canonical has collaborated closely with Google Cloud to ensure that the Ubuntu-based TPU VM environment provides AI innovators with out-of-the-box readiness and comprehensive support for the machine learning lifecycle. This deep integration includes validation and optimization of: * Open-source AI frameworks: Seamless access and optimized performance for industry-standard frameworks like JAX, PyTorch, and TensorFlow, alongside tools like Ray for scaling ML workloads. * Operational consistency: Platform and MLOps teams can use familiar tooling for monitoring, automation, and configuration management (from Kubernetes to Snap packages), backed by up to five years of standard security maintenance through Ubuntu LTS. * Sustainability and efficiency: Ubuntu's lightweight footprint minimizes system overhead, directing compute resources to the models themselves. Combined with the performance-per-watt efficiency of Cloud TPUs and Google's commitment to 24/7 carbon-free energy, these workloads represent one of the most sustainable ways to run large-scale AI. * Enterprise-grade AI security (coming Q3 2026): Customers will soon have the choice to use Ubuntu Pro for Cloud TPUs, introducing advanced capabilities for mission-critical environments. This will include live kernel patching for security updates on long-running training jobs and Expanded Security Maintenance (ESM) for over 30,000 open-source packages for up to 15 years with the Legacy add-on for Ubuntu Pro. This streamlined foundation ensures that organizations can move from experimentation to production faster than ever before. To get started, simply select your desired Cloud TPU machine type -- including TPU 7x, v6e, v5p, or v5e -- when creating a VM in Compute Engine, and your optimized Ubuntu OS will be automatically provisioned and ready to use out of the box. gcloud compute instances create -image-project=ubuntu-os-accelerator-images -machine-type=[SELECT TPU Machine TYPE] -zone=[SELECT AVAILABLE ZONE] [INSTANCE NAME] Canonical, the publisher of Ubuntu, provides open source security, support and services. Our portfolio covers critical systems, from the smallest devices to the largest clouds, from the kernel to containers, from databases to AI. With customers that include top tech brands, emerging startups, governments and home users, Canonical delivers trusted open source for everyone. Learn more at https://canonical.com/