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LKML discussions

Various readers – including some kernel hackers – have asked the Kernel Log author to mention, and link to, important discussions on the Linux kernel developers' mailing list more often. Readers have indicated that they have trouble following the LKML due to the large volume of emails; however, they said that they would like to know about interesting issues so they can then look them up themselves, and that a summary of the discussion isn't really required. The next few issues of the Kernel Log will therefore contain several short references to important messages and discussions to test whether this format appeals to readers.

  • A long LKML discussion developed around the idea to ignore fsync requests in laptop mode so that hard disks can remain in power saving mode for longer (for example 1, 2). In response, various well-known kernel hackers such as Linux veteran Theodore 'tytso' Tso have taken the opportunity to explain why this is a bad idea. In the medium term, the discussion could lead to a solution that is reasonably satisfactory for everyone involved.

In brief

Kernel
  • Luis R. Rodriguez has made the final version of compat-wireless 2.6.39 available to download. It allows the Linux 2.6.39 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth drivers to be used with Linux kernels from version 2.6.26.
  • Rodriguez, who works for Atheros, has released several YouTube videos offering information on the development of Wi-Fi drivers for Linux.
  • On his blog, RCU kernel maintainer Paul E. McKenney has announced an updated version of his ongoing book project on parallel programming; among the additions included in this update is an appendix that describes the development of RCU (Read-Copy Update) in the kernel.
Graphics hardware support
  • Jeremy Huddleston has released X Server 1.10.2 to fix various bugs.
  • The recently released xf86-video-ati 6.14.2 driver package fixes several bugs – including some issues in the tiling code for Fusion GPUs. The new version of the open source graphics driver for Radeon GPUs supports some of the acceleration features of Cayman GPUs, which are used on series 6900 Radeon HD graphics cards. To use these features, it may be necessary to run a current developer version of the Linux kernel. The Mesa 3D development branch now includes the first components of the code that is required to provide 3D support with Cayman GPUs; however, the shader compiler is still incapable of handling the shader hardware of these GPUs. Alex Deucher has submitted for inspection several patches that enable the DRM subsystem to support AMD's Llano APUs, which are to become available in the coming weeks.
Kernel environment ("plumbing layer"), userland drivers, developer tools, etc
  • The Free Electrons web pages offer various video clips from the Embedded Linux Conference (ELC) 2011 and the Embedded track at FOSDEM 2011. Contributions include several general presentations by well-known developers: "Really fast x86 boot" by Coreboot developer Rudolf Marek, the "Kernel Shark Tutorial" by Steven Rostedt, "Becoming part of the Linux kernel community" by Arnd Bergmann, and "RT-Preempt: what’s the state and why there is no roadmap" by Thomas Gleixner.
  • In parallel with his "Systemd for Administrators" series of blog postings, which now comprises eight parts, Lennart Poettering has started a "Systemd for Developers" series to give developers systemd usage tips. In the recently released Fedora 15, it is the default system start-up component and OpenSuse apparently plans to switch in the near future.
  • Junio C Hamano has released Git 1.7.5.3.
  • The developers of the hplip (Hewlett-Packard's Linux Imaging and Printing Software) project have released version 3.11.5 of their identically named driver for printer and multi-function devices by HP. In the release notes, they provide a detailed overview of the most important advancements – such as the support for several LEDM scanners as well as various Designjet and LaserJet printers.

For other articles on Linux 3.0 and links to the rest of the "Coming in 3.0" series, see The H's Kernel Log Linux 3.0 Tracking page. New editions of Kernel Logs are also mentioned on Identi.ca and Twitter by @kernellog2. The Kernel Log author also posts updates about various topics on Identi.ca and Twitter as @kernellogauthor.

(djwm)

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