Linux Kernel 3.1 RC version released: optimizing Virtualization (1)

Linus Torvalds launched Linux 3.0-RC1 in August 8 17 days after the release date of Linux 3.1. The final improved version is expected to be available in late September this year or early October. That is to say, the current Linux development cycle is extended by three days as usual. Actually, Torvalds himself is on vacation in Hawaii, and he confirmed this statement on his Google +.

Torvalds's kernel development work with its partners is now on track, with only a few bugs to be fixed. The repair process generally does not bring major changes to the program itself, therefore, the key advances in Linux 3.1 are now generally known to us. For example, soft array code (in some RAID levels) can now handle content in some defect blocks.

The virtualization field has also ushered in a lot of exciting improvements. For example, KVM now has basic functions to enable the client system to start from another intel processor-Based Client System (embedded virtualization. The XEN Dom0 code is also supported to output text through the VGA console, and can pass the result to the client through the PCI device. The zero copy of macvtap and vhost-net makes the network performance in the virtual environment better.

As usual, developers have integrated hundreds of changes and improvement projects to further improve the hardware support performance of the kernel; new projects include the new RTL8192DE and RTL8188DE PCIe Wi-Fi chip rtl8192de Wi-Fi driver. The Fermi video card chips widely used in the GeForce 400 and 500 series also obtain the auxiliary firmware required for performance improvement from the latest drivers with the most timeliness; at present, this new driver has been integrated with the Mesa 3D and X.org drivers, which makes the 3D processing performance of some such graphics cards finally available.

The "Local KVM tool" widely advertised by developers last spring is no longer available, but it may also appear in Linux 3.2. On the other hand, the CPU performance diagnostic tools in the Consolidation list are also listed.

Several days ago, Andi Kleen released the long-term kernel version 2.6.35.14. Greg Kroah-Harman immediately followed the launch of the stable kernel version 2.6.39.4, and claimed in the mail that this was the last version based on Linux 2.6.39; he also suggested that users move their business positions to Linux 3.0 as soon as possible. When asked whether 2.6.39 will become a persistent kernel version, Kroah-Harman responded that there are no such plans. The developer believes that 2.6.39 kernel has not yet been transformed into a long-term version, and upgrading to version 3.0 does not bring about a completely different application concept transformation from 2.6.39.

In August 5, the first stable Kernel Based on Linux 3.0 was released, namely Linux 3.0.1.

There are about one hundred changes. The release notes still follow the common new version change statements and do not provide any specific special prompts.