On October 29, 2023, Linus Torvalds presented the Linux Kernel release 6.6.
Linux 6.6 is to be a long-term support (LTS) Kernel release.
The release of the new stable version of the Linux kernel came out as scheduled, two months after the release of the previous stable version of Linux 6.5 at the end of August.
Linux 6.6 source code is available for download from kernel.org.
The new version of the Linux kernel contains a large number of changes, updates and improvements, as well as fixes for previously discovered bugs (Linux 6.6 changelog).
Among the major changes in the Linux 6.6 kernel:
- implementation of the KSMBD server into the kernel for the SMB protocol, improving file sharing and interprocess communication to speed up I/O operations;
- adding support for Shadow Stack technology from Intel, designed to protect against return-oriented programming attacks (ROP attack), which also protects AMD processors;
- inclusion of the Earliest Eligible Virtual Deadline First (EEVDF) scheduler, which provides significant performance gains for multi-core AMD Bergamo processors and Intel processors;
- support for AMD’s Dynamic Boost Control technology, which allows you to configure Ryzen processors for optimal performance, useful for some Lenovo laptops with Linux;
- expansion of KVM hypervisor support for guests on RISC-V architecture;
- implementation of a driver for HP laptops that allows you to change BIOS settings directly from Linux;
- introduction of additional temperature and voltage sensors for desktop motherboards;
- removal of references to the US NSA in the context of the Security-Enhanced Linux module, now referred to simply as SELinux. The NSA developed the Security-Enhanced Linux module, which was previously referred to as NSA SELinux.
Previously, Linux kernel build 6.6-rc6 fixed the problem of the Linux kernel crashing when disconnecting Logitech USB receivers as part of the release of the necessary patches and bug fixes in the HID subsystem.
At the end of October, Linux kernel network maintainers presented a plan to remove old Wi-Fi drivers for a future build of the Linux kernel 6.8, including support for PCMCIA wireless adapters.
Source:
Lunux 6.6 release [Ru]
Useful information
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