I'm building a new gaming PC and plan to use Ubuntu for most tasks, with Windows exclusively for some games that don't support Linux, like Battlefield 6. I'm considering using two separate NVMe drives, one for Windows and another for Ubuntu. My main question is: if I enable Secure Boot in the BIOS for Windows, does that affect Ubuntu? I've heard some conflicting info about Ubuntu's compatibility with Secure Boot. Can I still run Ubuntu smoothly with Secure Boot enabled, or is it too problematic?
3 Answers
I've seen people stir up confusion about Ubuntu and Secure Boot. It's actually a myth that Ubuntu can't handle Secure Boot. Sure, Secure Boot affects the entire system since it's a UEFI setting, but you can enable it and still have Ubuntu working fine. Just be ready to do some setup with the command line for it to play nice!
Secure Boot is not specific to a single NVMe; it applies to your whole system. That said, certain Linux distros handle Secure Boot better than others, and Ubuntu is one of them. You might need to dive into some command-line magic, though. Keep an eye on the documentation for Ubuntu about Secure Boot—it can provide you with the right steps!
I’d love to see a straightforward guide on that! Can you recommend a good place with easy-to-follow instructions?
If you're looking for proof, just check the official Ubuntu wiki. It explains how most x86 hardware ships with Microsoft’s keys, which makes Secure Boot work with Ubuntu. All the system binaries are signed by Canonical’s keys, so it’s totally doable. Just read through their guide, it might seem complex but it’s not impossible!
I saw that, but the technical jargon is overwhelming to me. Any suggestions on user-friendly resources that break it down easily?
Thanks for clearing that up! So, I can go ahead and set up Secure Boot without worrying about Ubuntu messing up. That’s good to know!