KernelTrap - 2.6.19

Linux: Upcoming 2.6.20 Kernel, Tracking Regressions

Jeremy — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 04:45:50 +0000

Adrian Bunk posted a list of known regressions in the latest 2.6.20-rc4 Linux kernel compared to the previous 2.6.19 stable release [story]. In two emails, he listed six regressions that don't have fixes yet, and six regressions with fixes that haven't been merged yet.

In another email thread, Linux creator Linus Torvalds noted that his goal for 2.6.20 is to focus primarily on stability. He also noted that he intends to release the stable kernel at some point after linux.conf.au which is happening this year in Sydney, Australia between January 15th and 20th. He explains, "hopefully 'final -rc' before LCA, but I'll do the actual 2.6.20 release afterwards. I don't want to have a merge window during LCA, as I and many others will all be out anyway. So it's much better to have LCA happen during the end of the stabilization phase when there's hopefully not a lot going on. (Of course, often at the end of the stabilization phase there is all the 'ok, what about regression XyZ?' panic)"

Linux: 2.6.19 Kernel Released

Jeremy — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 23:58:44 +0000

Linus Torvalds announced the release of the 2.6.19 Linux kernel, following the previous stable kernel release by two months [story]. "It's one of those rare 'perfect' kernels," Linus joked, "so if it doesn't happen to compile with your config (or it does compile, but then does unspeakable acts of perversion with your pet dachshund), you can rest easy knowing that it's all your own d*mn fault, and you should just fix your evil ways." He went on to add, "you could send me and the kernel mailing list a note about it anyway, of course. (And perhaps pictures, if your dachshund is involved. Not that we'd be interested, of course. No. Just so that we'd know to avoid it next time)."

The latest kernel source can be downloaded from your nearest Linux Kernel archive mirror [story]. You can browse through all the changes using the gitweb interface. Kernel Newbiews also maintains a useful summary of all the changes that went into this new version of the Linux kernel, including the inclusion of three new filesystems, GFS2, ext4 [story], and eCryptfs.

Linux: ext4 Merged Into -mm

Jeremy — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 15:50:25 +0000

With the release of the 2.6.19-rc1-mm1 kernel, the ext4 filesystem [story] was merged into Andrew Morton [interview]'s -mm tree for further testing. In the announcement Andrew notes that the new filesystem is compatible with ext3 until you add a file that has extents. He also notes, "when comparing performance with other filesystems, remember that ext3/4 by default offers higher data integrity guarantees than most. So when comparing with a metadata-only journalling filesystem, use `mount -o data=writeback'. (Although this doesn't seem to make much difference with ext3)" The goal is to stabilize the new filesystem within the next six to nine months, and ultimately to replace the ext3 filesystem.