Sleep on my Kubuntu system does not properly restore the displays, so I'm considering hibernation instead. I've read that Linux may require Secure Boot to be disabled for hibernation, but I'm not sure whether that's actually true or what disabling it would affect. I dual-boot with Windows and only use it occasionally for applications such as Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint. I no longer play games that require strict Secure Boot settings. For a private-use computer, is Secure Boot worth keeping enabled, and can Kubuntu support hibernation while Secure Boot remains on?
3 Answers
You can disable Secure Boot if you prefer, and ordinary Windows dual-booting plus applications like Photoshop should continue to work normally. Secure Boot mainly helps protect the boot process from bootkits, so whether it matters depends on your threat model and how much protection you want against someone tampering with the machine.
Before changing firmware settings, check the actual hibernation setup. Kubuntu needs usable swap and the correct resume configuration, including the swap UUID in the boot parameters. The required swap size depends on your memory usage and hibernation setup; simply matching the amount of RAM is a common guideline, not a universal rule.
Secure Boot and hibernation can work together. The issue is usually Linux kernel lockdown: when lockdown is enabled under Secure Boot, hibernation may be disabled because the kernel cannot fully verify the restored system image. With lockdown disabled or with a suitable configuration, hibernation can remain available.
So disabling Secure Boot is optional rather than an absolute requirement? I’ll check the swap and resume settings first.