Linus Torvalds Unveils First Release Candidate for Linux Kernel 6.13
Linus Torvalds has announced the availability of the first Release Candidate (RC) for the upcoming Linux 6.13 kernel series, marking the beginning of public testing for this version. The announcement comes two weeks after the merge window for Linux 6.13 opened, coinciding with the release of Linux kernel 6.12.
The initial Release Candidate can be downloaded from Torvalds’ git repository or from the Kernel.org website. Several key features included in this kernel series are noteworthy. This release adds the ability to run Linux in protected virtual machines under Arm CCA, introduces user Guarded Control Stack (GCS) support, and facilitates 6-node sub-NUMA clustering on Intel hardware. Additionally, it addresses various hardware compatibility issues, like adding an ACPI backlight option for MacbookPro models and enhancements in the character device user-space notification system.
The kernel changes extend to the management of AMD processors, enforcing the amd-pstate cpufreq driver by default for newer AMD Epyc processors, and enabling thermal threshold support via user space. Support for new Intel ArrowLake-H CPUs is also included, alongside the implementation of the MIPI DisCo 2.0 specification within the SoundWire subsystem.
Other performance and functionality enhancements include enabling a “Lazy preemption” model across multiple architectures, improvements to the F2FS file system with device aliasing features, and various fixes to the EXT4 and Btrfs file systems. New hardware support has been extended to devices such as the Vexia EDU ATLA 10 tablet and the Surface Pro 9 5G.
The final release of the Linux kernel 6.13 is set for late January 2025, contingent on the number of Release Candidate milestones that will be declared in the lead-up to the final version. If only seven RCs are released, the final version is expected to launch on January 19; with eight RCs, the release date would shift to January 26.
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