The basic configuration of the European Spallation Source, ESS, linac has remained fixed since some time concerning, e.g., the type of accelerating cavities to be used. Details are still evolving, and changes during the last year have been influenced by factors like the geometry of the cryomodules, the maximum gradient in the cavities and the choice of phase advance in the superconducting linac. Top-level linac parameters have been decided upon and are under formal change control. Lattice parameters exist in preliminary form with the partners in the Accelerator Design Update Collaboration, and integration into a single end-to-end lattice is foreseen for the autumn of this year. The present paper describes the basic layout of the linac.