Chimera Linux Ships 20261103 Snapshot
The independent Linux distribution releases a snapshot with new networking defaults and updated desktop environments.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Computers
Chimera Linux released snapshot 20261103, built on kernel 7.3, GNOME 51, and Plasma 6.8. The base image now uses NetworkManager in place of iwd.
Why it matters
The switch to NetworkManager simplifies network setup on base systems without a graphical interface and prepares the distribution for the removal of AF_ALG. The release images had not been refreshed for about a year before this snapshot.
The 20261103 snapshot ships with Linux kernel 7.3, GNOME 51 and Plasma 6.8, with live images of 2,828MB (Plasma), 1,872MB (GNOME) and 1,144MB (base). None of the desktop images include the X.org server, and the release images had gone roughly a year without a refresh.
The players
Chimera Linux
Chimera Linux is an independently developed Linux distribution that publishes periodic snapshots of its base, GNOME and Plasma images.
The details
The base image replaces iwd with NetworkManager to simplify network configuration. Images ship with SHA256 checksums, signatures and package lists for verification.
Timeline
• November 3, 2026: Chimera Linux 20261103 snapshot released.
The Tech Race
The move to NetworkManager places Chimera Linux alongside mainstream distributions that rely on the same network manager for configuration on systems without a graphical interface. The snapshot also positions the project ahead of the planned removal of AF_ALG, a kernel crypto interface its earlier network setup depended on.
Users installing the base image will get NetworkManager rather than iwd, which makes network setup on systems without a desktop environment more straightforward. Desktop users can choose among the Plasma, GNOME and base live images based on the size and environment they prefer.
The takeaway
Users planning a fresh install should check the snapshot's checksums and signatures before booting the image, and expect NetworkManager as the default on the base system.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in the Computers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by DistroWatch.
