Linus Torvalds has released Linux 6.11-rc3, the latest weekly release candidate for the upcoming Linux 6.11 kernel. This release is a crucial step as the kernel heads towards its mid-September official launch. While this release candidate doesn’t feature any major surprises, it includes several important updates and fixes.
What’s New in Linux 6.11-rc3?
Torvalds mentions that this release continues on a steady path, with most changes focusing on various drivers and system components. He notes:
“Nothing particularly strange or interesting going on, things look normal.”
Driver and System Improvements
The majority of updates in this release candidate target drivers. Significant improvements span across sound, GPU, networking, USB, and other miscellaneous drivers, ensuring compatibility and enhanced performance across a wide range of hardware.
Additionally, the release addresses various filesystem issues, including fixes for bcachefs, btrfs, and SMB. It also brings updates to architecture fixes for arm64, loongarch, and x86 systems. Moreover, it includes enhancements in documentation, networking, and some core kernel tools.
Notable Fixes and Enhancements
Among the notable changes:
- AMD Zen 5 CPU IDs: The kernel now supports AMD Zen 5 CPUs, improving compatibility with the latest AMD hardware.
- ASUS ROG Ally X: It includes a specific quirk fix for the ASUS ROG Ally X gaming handheld.
- Intel P-State EPP Update: This update boosts the performance and power efficiency of Intel Xeon Scalable “Emerald Rapids” CPUs.
A significant fix in this release candidate addresses a recently discovered issue with the 32-bit x86 Page Table Isolation (PTI) code, which is crucial for mitigating the Meltdown security vulnerability. The fix resolves an issue where the PTI code was not functioning correctly due to inconsistencies in the PMD mapping:
“Fix 32-bit PTI for real. pti_clone_entry_text() is called twice—once before initcalls to allow the user-mode helper and then again after text is set read-only. Setting read-only on 32-bit might break up the PMD mapping, causing the second pti_clone_entry_text() call to find the mappings out of sync and fail. This fix allows the second call to split the existing PMDs in the user mapping and synchronize with the kernel mapping.”
Looking Ahead
With Linux 6.11-rc3 now available, developers will continue testing and benchmarking as they work towards the final release. Users and developers are encouraged to test this release candidate to identify any remaining issues before the official launch.
As the Linux 6.11 kernel approaches its stable release, it promises to deliver enhanced performance, better hardware support, and critical security fixes. Stay tuned for further updates as development progresses.
