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# Systemd-Free Debian, Devuan Version 6.0 "Excalibur" is Available Now
- URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/devuan-6-release/
- Published: 2025-11-04T12:00:49.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-04T12:00:49.000Z
- Description: The systemd-free distro is now powered by Debian 13.
- Author: Sourav Rudra
- Tags: Distribution Releases, News, #Import 2025-11-08 21:15

[Devuan](https://www.devuan.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) is a Linux distribution that takes a different approach from most popular distros in the market. It is based on Debian but offers users [complete freedom from systemd](https://itsfoss.com/systemd-free-distros/).

The project emerged in 2014 when a group of developers decided to offer [init freedom](https://www.devuan.org/os/init-freedom?ref=itsfoss.com). Devuan maintains compatibility with Debian packages while providing alternative init systems like SysVinit and OpenRC.

With a [recent announcement](https://www.devuan.org/os/announce/excalibur-release-announce-2025-11-02?ref=itsfoss.com), a new Devuan release has arrived with some important quality of life upgrades.

## ⭐ Devuan 6.0: What's New?

![the screenshot here shows a devuan 6.0 live system running on a virtual machine, with the about dialog of xfce open on the left, showing key system details, and a terminal window open on the right, showing apt version info (3.0.3devuan1) and the sudo apt update command output](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2025/11/devuan-6-0-about-dialog-apt-version.png)

Codenamed "*Excalibur*", this release arives after extensive testing by the Devuan community. It is based on [Debian 13 "Trixie"](https://itsfoss.com/debian-13-release/) and inherits most of its improvements and package upgrades.

Devuan 6.0 ships with [Linux kernel 6.12](https://itsfoss.com/linux-kernel-6-12/), an LTS kernel that brings real-time PREEMPT\_RT support for time-critical applications and improved hardware compatibility.

On the desktop environment side of things, [Xfce 4.20](https://itsfoss.com/xfce-4-20-release/) is offered as the default one for the live desktop image, with additional options like KDE Plasma, MATE, Cinnamon, LXQt, and LXDE.

The package management system gets a major upgrade with [APT 3.0](https://itsfoss.com/apt-3-release/) and its new Solver3 dependency resolver. This backtracking algorithm handles complex package installations more efficiently than previous versions. Combined with the color-coded output, the package management experience is more intuitive now.

This Devuan release also **makes the merged-/usr filesystem layout compulsory** for all installations. Users upgrading from Daedalus (Devuan 5.0) must install the `usrmerge` package before attempting the upgrade.

Similarly, new installations [now use tmpfs](https://itsfoss.com/debian-13-tmp-mounting/) for the `/tmp` directory, storing temporary files in RAM instead of on disk. This improves performance through faster read and write operations.

And, following Debian's lead, **Devuan 6.0 does not include an i386 installer ISO**. The shift away from 32-bit support is now pretty much standard across major distributions. That said, i386 packages are still available in the repositories.

The next release, Devuan 7, is codenamed "***Freia***". Repositories are already available for those adventurous enough to be early testers.

## 📥 Download Devuan 6.0

This release supports multiple CPU architectures, including **amd64**, **arm64**, **armhf**, **armel**, and **ppc64el**. You will find the relevant installation media on the [official website](https://www.devuan.org/get-devuan?ref=itsfoss.com), which lists HTTP mirrors and torrents.

Existing Devuan 5.0 "Daedalus" users can follow the [official upgrade guide](https://www.devuan.org/os/documentation/install-guides/excalibur/upgrade-to-excalibur?ref=itsfoss.com).

[Devuan 6.0](https://www.devuan.org/get-devuan?ref=itsfoss.com)

**Suggested Read** 📖

[Debian 13 “Trixie” Released: What’s New in the Latest Version?A packed release you can’t miss!![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-192x192-318.png)It's FOSS NewsSourav Rudra![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/debian-13-release-banner-4.png)](https://itsfoss.com/debian-13-release/)