Linus Torvalds has announced the release of the new version of the Linux kernel, version 6.6. Despite the recent reduction in the support period from 6 to 2 years, this release is expected to become a long-term release with support until 2023.
During the development of Linux 6.6-RC7 over the past week, there were concerns about the size of the changes, which were larger than usual for an RC7 version in the 6.X series. However, Torvalds assures that there were no serious problems that could prevent the release.
Here are some of the most important updates in version 6.6:
- Implementation of the KSMBD server in the core for the SMB protocol, improving file exchange and inter-process interaction to accelerate input-output operations.
- Addition of support for the Shadow Stack from Intel, designed to protect against return-oriented programming attacks, which also provides protection for AMD processors.
- Inclusion of the Earliest Eligible Virtual Deadline First (EEVDF) scheduler, which significantly improves performance for AMD Bergamo multi-core processors and Intel processors.
- Support for AMD Dynamic Boost Control technology, allowing users to optimize the performance of Ryzen processors, particularly useful for some Lenovo laptops running Linux.
- Expansion of KVM hypervisor support for guests on the RISC-V architecture.
- Implementation of a driver for HP laptops, enabling users to change BIOS settings directly from Linux.
- Introduction of additional temperature and voltage sensors for desktop motherboards.
- Renaming of the Security-Enhanced Linux module from “NSA SELINUX” to “SELinux” after the US National Security Agency (NSA) developed it previously.
The merge window for the next version, Linux 6.7, will open tomorrow, October 31. The development of the kernel in 2023 has been relatively calm, with five releases already made without any major incidents.
Version 6.7 may be slightly more complicated due to Torvalds’ upcoming travel plans, which usually reduce his productivity. Additionally, the release schedule may be affected by the approach of the Christmas holidays and potential disruptions caused by the United States, which could delay the release until early 2024.