Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizen Big Pharmacist, Coje_He for the clue delivery! CTOnews.com On December 12, Linus Torvalds released the latest Linux 6.1 kernel stable version ahead of the Christmas holidays, opening the Linux 6.2 merge window. You can now find the corresponding file on the kernel website.

The Linux 6.1 kernel family integrates improved multi-generation LRU (MGLRU) of page reclamation code, initial Rust language support (still under construction), a new AMD platform management framework, various open source graphics driver improvements, Btrfs performance optimizations, Kernel Memory Sanitizer, introduction of Maple Tree data structures, and many other hardware driver efforts.

Linus Torvalds says:

So we finally achieved this important milestone, although a week late, but also because of this will do better. I can say the 6.1 was in much better shape than a few weeks ago when there was still a lot of things not settling down.

Of course, this means that just before the holidays (I also have some pre-holiday travel), we have a huge workload hell of a merge window, so while delaying the release by a week is the right thing to do, it does make the timing of the 6.2 merge window awkward.

However, the announcement does not mention whether Linux 6.1 is an LTS release. According to maintainer Greg Kroah-Hartman, Linux kernel LTS usually selects the last kernel version of the year, but now Linux 6.1 happens to be released at the end of the year, so it may be the LTS version according to common sense, but Carl Dasantas has a different opinion.

He stated that Linux 6.0 or 5.19 would be more appropriate as an LTS release because Linux 6.1 has Rust, and many communities are hesitant about Rust, and it would be better to have an LTS that does not support Rust other than 5.15 to make the LTS transition smoother.

But it's unclear which one will be chosen in the end, and the longterm (LTS) version on kernel.org hasn't been updated.

Linux kernel 6.1 features A major upgrade to Linux 6.1 is mainline (experimental) support for Rust. CTOnews.com learned that Rust is a "multi-paradigm, general-purpose programming language" that is snowballing momentum in the open source space.

In addition, another new feature in Linux kernel 6.1 is the Multi-Generational Least-Recently-Used feature (MG-LRU), although it is not enabled by default. According to reports, it can optimize the page recycling mechanism and improve performance under heavy memory load conditions.

Linux 6.1 also includes a number of performance improvements to Btrfs file system performance, such as additional io_uring integration, tweaking sysfs exports; and "FIEMAP significantly faster."

Elsewhere, the new version also supports cross-file system data sharing for the erofs file system, and a series of fixes, cleanups, and adjustments to the EXT4 file system.

It's worth mentioning that the PinePhone Pro now runs Linux 6.1 kernel as well, just like older phones like the Sony Xperia 1 IV, Samsung Galaxy E5, E7 and Grand Max. In addition, Linux 6.1 now provides an input driver for the PinePhone keyboard.

The new version also refines the Nintendo HID driver so that "cheap handles are compatible with it," the Logitech driver now supports HID++ for all Bluetooth devices, and also automatically detects high-resolution scrolling capabilities.

Linux 6.1 will also provide a range of new audio hardware support, including initial support for Apple Silicon, support for AMD Rembrandt Open Firmware (SOF), and support for MediaTek's MT8186 SoC, which is expected to be available in the new ChromeBook.

The new version also brings support from the XPad kernel input driver to a number of devices, including the Xbox One Elite controller on the original Elite and Elite Series 2, as well as the Hori Fighting Commander ONE controller (including Xbox mode), the 8BitDo Pro 2 wired controller, and a range of Wooting keyboards, including Wooting ONE, Two, Two HE, and 60HE.

In addition, version 6.1 includes basic support for next-generation CPUs and GPUs, including new driver code for the future Ryzen platform management framework, and plumbing for Intel's "Meteor Lake" chips; and continues efforts to adapt Intel Arc Graphics DG2 / Alchemist.

Other changes:

Kernel Address Disinfectant (KMSAN) has been merged

Support more Loongson LoongArch CPU

Kernel can be decompressed + booted in an architecture-independent manner on EFI systems

Intel Memory Error Decoding Faster with EDAC Driver

Maple data structure support

New security controls on the ability to create user namespaces

Kernel prints CPU kernel with split error

Overall, Linux kernel 6.1 provides a host of new features and improvements, while also enhancing the performance and security of Linux-based systems. These improvements will make Linux a more complete and flexible operating system that can meet the needs of more users.

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