Firmware updates directly from the system - New AMD Graphics
Driver and encryption for f2fs
Finally, Linus Torvalds has indulged in a little extra
round, now it is so far: A week later than initially expected, has been
released with Linux 4.2, a new version of the free kernels, which brings even
more extensive changes: With almost 15,000 Commits is beaten only by the update
of Version 3.15 in the number of innovations.
Firmware Update
For users, this becomes in a series of improved basic
technologies noticeable: To keep the support for EFI System Resource Table
collection. In this way can be updated directly from a Linux system in future
BIOS / UEFI. However, this requires that the firmware of your own computer at
least supports UEFI 2.5 - which currently do not yet all too many.
GNOME
In Fedora wants to actively use this possibility already
with the upcoming version 23 of the Distribution. The GNOME Software Center is
intended to hold on to another new online service "Linux vendor firmware
service" (LVFS) out for fresh BIOS / UEFI versions. Of course, this
requires the cooperation of the motherboard manufacturers that have deposited
their updates at the appropriate place. If a new version is found, it is first
stored in UEFI memory, the next boot, they will then be installed.
AMD starts again
With the Linux kernel 4.2 AMD lays the foundations for the
future of their own graphics driver development: Should the new amdgpu kernel
component but in the future, both the basis for the proprietary and the free
version of AMD driver form. Currently, its real usefulness, however, is still
very limited, but it supports only the chips of the "Volcanic
Islands" series. And even then there are limitations to note, there are so
far no regulation for the clock or power management.
Virtual Graphic
Significant improvements in graphics performance in virtual
machines on the other hand promises of Virtio GPU driver - at least in
collaboration with qemu 2.4, which was released in early August and will be
used for KVM or Xen virtualization often. However, the full speed benefits will
come only with a later evolution of the driver to bear when it is the VM can
also use the 3D acceleration of the host graphics card is. Until there remains
at least that the Virtio GPU driver high video resolutions and the use of
multiple monitors.
Atomic
With the new kernel version also now the Atomic mode setting
is activated innately. This brings a number of general improvements for the graphics
output under Linux. So say, a change of screen resolution and the multi-monitor
mode are stable. The new approach is more efficient especially in current GPUs
- that promises performance advantages. Until this is really striking, but the
manufacturers still need to customize their graphics drivers accordingly.
Coding
With kernel 4.1, the file system has received ext4 an
integrated encryption function with the new version now also attracts the Flash
file support imaginary f2fs after - and assumes a lot of code development for
ext4. Who uses an SSD as a cache for a classic hard drive, can look forward to
performance gains, thanks to a new caching approach.
File support
In addition, the writeback cache of the Linux kernel has
been optimized, which should lead especially in the use of Control Groups
(cgroups) to better performance. This will benefit not least virtual machines
and containers. Also new is the support for version 3.1.1 of the SMB protocol
from Microsoft in the Network File System CIFS. This is intended mainly copying
files are brisk on a server because of the detour via the client omitted.
Download
Linux 4.2 is available as usual in the form of the sourcecode on the side of the project for download. With the release now even the
approximately two-week period begins will be accepted in the major changes. So
is about the Ext3 code being removed because the Ext4 anyway these components
now completely cover. Unclear, however, once again seems to receive the
much-discussed IPC service kdbus because the developers have after criticism
yet started receiving no further attempt. That made all the resulting Linux 4.3
should then appear in early November.
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