Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux kernel 6.8. This latest stable version introduces a range of new features and enhancements.
Notable aspects of Linux kernel 6.8 include Linear Address Masking (LAM) virtualization and guest-first memory support for KVM. It presents a basic online filesystem check and repair function for Bcachefs file system, a feature that debuted in Linux kernel 6.7. Additionally, it includes support for the Broadcom BCM2712 processor in Raspberry Pi 5, AMD ACPI-based Wi-Fi band RFI mitigation feature (WBRF), a mechanism to disable zswap writeback, and CephFS support for fscrypt. There’s also a new sysfs interface for multi-size Transparent Huge Pages (THP) and a fresh Intel Xe DRM driver.
Further additions include an initial Rust support for LoongArch architecture, an operation that allows pages relocation within a virtual address space (UFFDIO_MOVE uABI), and the KSM advisor feature that autonomously manages the kernel samepage merging subsystem. Support for creating block and character special files in the SMB file system, and Rust-enabled network PHY drivers creation are also part of the new features.
Finally, the timing for fscrypt keyring destruction has been adjusted in Linux kernel 6.8 to make way for Btrfs’s fscrypt support. It provides several networking upgrades for improved cache efficiency, updates the perf tool with support for data-type profiling. Moreover, it integrates SBI-based suspend to RAM support and enabling the V extension in kernel code for the RISC-V architecture. Host-side support for Intel’s Trust Domain Extensions (TDX) is another enhancement introduced.
Additionally, Linux 6.8 introduces CSI-2 and MIPI DisCo for Imaging support to the ACPI device enumeration. This allows MIPI cameras to be recognized through the platform firmware on ACPI based systems. It also optimizes NUMA balancing and Deadline Scheduler. The update introduces support for threaded interrupt handlers for the ACPI SCI and dedicated EC interrupt when the former isn’t in use. This allows all ACPI code to run with local interrupts enabled.
The update features Intel Sierra Forest and Grand Ridge intel/cstate PMU support, as well as Intel Granite Rapids, Sierra Forest, and Grand Ridge uncore PMU support. It introduces support for the zswap subsystem to minimize the zswap pool according to memory pressure. There’s LPA2 support for KVM on AArch64 (ARM64), and a goal-driven feedback quota auto-tuning mechanism is introduced for the DAMON memory management facility.
Hardware support enhancements include IRQ override quirks for ASUS ExpertBook B1502CGA and ASUS Vivobook E1504GA/E1504GAB laptops. Some TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro laptops and other TongFang GMxXGxx models now also have support. Added support for the Acer Predator PHN16-71 laptop is another update. There’s the addition of a new driver for Silicom network appliance EC LEDs and GPIOs. A host of improvements and new platform support additions have been made for AMD PMC/PMF and Intel PMC/PMT/TPMI/uncore-freq/vsec.
Furthermore, the WMI bus driver sees enhancements, the intel_pstate cpufreq driver obtained Emerald Rapids support in no-HWP mode, the ACPI thermal zone driver gained Thermal Fast Sampling Period (_TFP) support, and the AMDGPU driver acquired color management support for the Steam Deck. There’s the introduction of a new driver to support the Adafruit Seesaw gamepad device and several improvements for Android devices are to be found in the update as well.
There are also new drivers to support MPS Multi-phase mp2856/mp2857 controllers, MPS Multi-phase mp5990, Gigabyte AORUS Waterforce AIO coolers, AMS AS6200 temperature sensors, AMD Family 19h Model 8h, Dell Optiplex 7000 Tower Desktop, Ilitek ili2901 touchscreens, Nintendo NSO controllers (SNES, Genesis, and N64), as well as lot of networking and sound-related devices (see the full list here and here).
Linux kernel 6.8 will be a short-lived branch supported for only a couple of months. It will be succeeded by Linux kernel 6.9, whose merge window has now been officially opened by Linus Torvalds. Linux kernel 6.9 is expected to be released in mid-May 2024. Meanwhile, you can download Linux kernel 6.8 right now from Linus Torvalds’ git tree or the kernel.org website.
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