First Release Candidate of Linux 6.1 Kernel Announced
The development cycle for the 6.1 Linux kernel is off and running with the availability of the first Release Candidate.
The 6.1 kernel has hit the RC stage. Although this won't bring about any massive or deal-making changes to Linux, there are still a few features to get excited about. Most important is the first inclusion of Rust, which will be greatly expanded over the coming years.
Other notable features include support for the new Intel Arc and AMD RDNA3 graphics, Multi-Gen LUR VM series (which will give the kernel a significant performance boost on memory-constrained systems), and the new Kernel Memory Sanitizer.
In addition, the x86_64 version will warn over W+X mappings, the AMD Platform Management Framework has been merged, five vulnerabilities with Wi-Fi handling – CVE-2022-41674 (kernels up to 5.19), CVE-2022-42719 (5.2 to 5.19), CVE-2022-42720 and CVE-2022-42721 (both 5.1 to 5.19), and CVE-2022-42722 (5.8 to 5.19) – have been fixed.
This release also has better support for Intel's new Gaudi2 AI accelerator chip, EUFI support for LoongArch CPUs, and more.
However, Linus Torvalds hasn't been 100% happy with how things have been going. Prior to the RC release, he made a very pointed statement about developers pulling all-nighters to meet deadlines.
On that issue, Torvalds said, "that should have gone out the window after high school. Not for kernel development."
Read more about the announcement in a message from Linus Torvalds on the Linux Kernel mailing list.
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