Linus Torvalds Unveils the First Release Candidate of Linux Kernel 6.12 

First Release Candidate of Linux Kernel 6.12

Linus Torvalds announced today that the first Release Candidate (RC) development milestone of the forthcoming Linux 6.12 kernel series is now available for public testing.

Linux Kernel 6.12, Today marks the end of two weeks since the merge window for Linux kernel 6.12 opened, coinciding with the release of Linux kernel 6.11. This signals a great opportunity to test the Release Candidate versions of the upcoming Linux 6.12 kernel series, with the first release ready for download from Linus Torvalds’ git tree here.

Key features of Linux kernel 6.12 include support for real-time “PREEMPT_RT”, a new scheduling mechanism known as sched_ext, and Clang support (inclusive of LTO) for nolibc. Also noteworthy is the cpuidle tool’s ability to present residency values of cpuidle states, offering a clearer insight into idle state information, along with support for NVIDIA’s virtual command queue for SMMUv3, QR-coded DRM panic messages, and SWIG bindings for libcpupower to facilitate script writing that utilizes and extends libcpupower’s capabilities.

Additionally, the Linux Kernel 6.12 now supports translating normalized error addresses from an AMD memory controller into physical addresses through a UEFI mechanism known as platform runtime mechanism (PRM). Linux Kernel 6.12, the update also simplifies the loading process for microcode patches on AMD Zen and newer CPUs with an encoding system based on the family, model, and stepping found in the patch revision number. Linux Kernel 6.12 – Moreover, file-backed mount support for the EROFS file system and final adjustments to match the new Intel VFM CPU model are also included.

What are the key features of Linux Kernel 6.12?

The latest kernel introduces an array of enhancements and features that promise to improve system performance, hardware compatibility, and developer tools. Below are some of the highlights:

Performance and Core Features

• Real-time “PREEMPT_RT” support for improved system responsiveness.
• Introduction of sched_ext, a new scheduling mechanism.
• Enhanced Clang support, including LTO for nolibc.
• Updated cpuidle tool to present residency values for idle states.

Hardware and Driver Updates

• AMD Enhancements:
  • Translation of normalized error addresses to physical addresses via the Platform Runtime Mechanism (PRM).
  • Simplified microcode patch loading for AMD Zen and newer CPUs.
• Intel Improvements:
  • Native support for Granite Rapids Xeon processors in the intel_idle driver.
  • Updates to intel_pstate for Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest chips.
• Expanded Device Support:
  • ARM64-based Surface devices.
  • Customizable fan profiles for ASUS Vivobook laptops.
  • LG laptop operational region support.
  • Wi-Fi 6 connectivity support for RTL8852BT and RTL8852BE-VT.

Networking Advancements

• Device Memory TCP support: Enables zero-copy TCP payload reception into DMABUF memory.
• IPv6 enhancements, including IOAM6 for new encapsulation modes and the addition of the PIO p flag.
• Extended support for PTP clocks with MONOTONIC_RAW timestamps.

File System Improvements

• Updates to EXT4, Btrfs, exFAT, FUSE, F2FS, and the experimental Bcachefs.
• Support for file-backed mounts in the EROFS file system.

Developer and Testing Tools

• A new thermal core testing module for creating mock thermal zones.
• Expanded support for Rust within the kernel.
• Enhanced documentation and bug fixes.

The Linux 6.12 release introduces a novel thermal core testing module, enabling the creation and management of mock thermal zones via debugfs to effectively test the thermal core capabilities. It includes ACPI-based enumeration for interrupt controllers on RISC-V, guest PMU support for LoongArch KVM, and the ability to utilize ARM’s “Permission Overlay Extension” with memory protection keys. Additionally, it supports operation as a protected guest on Android and improves performance metrics alongside introducing numerous new interconnect PMUs.

Furthermore, Linux 6.12 enhances hardware support through features such as i.MX95 NETCMIX support in the block control provider, fresh drivers for MSM8976 and MSM8937 platforms, and a new driver for the LC824206XA micro USB switch, including detection capabilities for accessories on the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro-1380. It also integrates hybrid CPU capacity scaling support in the intel_pstate driver.

In addition, the intel_idle driver now offers native support for Granite Rapids Xeon processors, while the intel_rapl driver recognizes the family 1Ah of AMD processors and Intel ArrowLake-U chips. Linux Kernel 6.12, the intel_pstate driver has been updated to manage Granite Rapids and Sierra Forest chips in out-of-band (OOB) mode. Moreover, Linux 6.12 reworks the PCM buffer allocation management and locking optimizations, as well as enhances the USB audio driver.

Lastly, it includes support for various controllers such as Marvell xSPI, Mediatek MTK7981, Microchip PIC64GX, NXP i.MX8ULP, and Rockchip RK3576. The release also brings about a new driver for Realtek automotive PCIe devices (RTL9054, RTL9068, RTL9072, RTL9075, RTL9068, RTL9071), a driver for Microchip LAN8650/1 10BASE-T1S MAC-PHY, support for RTL8126A rev.b, and introduces a new driver for the Rockchip RK3568 CAN-FD controller. Finally, there is support for the Sophgo SG2042 external hardware monitor, the PixArt PS/2 touchpad, and RTL8852BT as well as 8852BE-VT for Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.

The latest hardware support list has expanded further, now including compatibility for ARM64-based Surface devices, operational region support for LG laptops, adjustable battery charge settings for Dell laptops, customizable fan profiles for ASUS Vivobook laptops, enhanced features such as high-resolution wheel scrolling, touch strings with relative motions, and dual touch ring support in the Wacom driver. Linux Kernel 6.12 – Additionally, a new 9p network gadget is included, and Intel Xe2 graphics is enabled by default for Lunar Lake and Battlemage processors.

Linux kernel 6.12 also introduces several notable networking enhancements. These include Device Memory TCP support, which facilitates zero-copy reception of TCP payloads into a DMABUF memory region while packet headers are separated into standard kernel buffers. Furthermore, there is IPv6 IOAM6 support for the new tunsrc encap mode, the addition of the IPv6 PIO p flag within the Prefix Information Option, and the capability to read the PTP PHC (Physical Hardware Clock) alongside MONOTONIC_RAW timestamps using PTP_SYS_OFFSET_EXTENDED.

But that’s not all! The Linux kernel 6.12 also introduces several advancements in the SPI-NAND subsystem, the ability to assign custom names to regmap irqdomains allowing for multiple interrupt controllers linked to a single struct device, as well as configuring the MOSI pin’s state during bus idle periods. Linux Kernel 6.12 – Additionally, ports of vDSO getrandom are now available for the LoongArch64, ARM64 (AArch64), PowerPC, and s390x architectures.

Support for RISC-V includes the use of Zkr to seed KASLR, IPI-triggered CPU backtracking, generic CPU vulnerability reporting to userspace, userspace stack tracing, and the Svvptc extension. Linux 6.12 also sees various enhancements to the EXT4, Btrfs, exFAT, FUSE, F2FS, and Bcachefs filesystems, along with numerous updates in Rust, documentation enhancements, clean-up work, and bug fixes.

The anticipated launch of Linux kernel 6.12 is likely to take place in mid to late November 2024, contingent upon the number of Release Candidate (RC) milestones announced by Linus Torvalds in the meantime. If the development process follows a path with seven RCs, we can expect the arrival of Linux 6.12 on November 17th. However, if eight RCs are released, the expected date could shift to November 24th.

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