The Linux Kernel 6.9 has been officially released, introducing several new features and improved hardware support. This release includes Rust support on AArch64 (ARM64) architectures and support for the Intel FRED mechanism. It also adds support for AMD SNP guests, a new dm-vdo target in device mapper, support for Named Address Spaces in GCC, FUSE passthrough support, dynamic Energy Model updates, and a new LPA2 mode for ARM 64-bit processors. Furthermore, the release features updates to the Rust language, improvements to the GPIO subsystem, kernel live patching for the LoongArch architecture, and mitigation for the RFDS vulnerability affecting Intel Atom processors. Various enhancements and new features in file systems, memory management, networking, and drivers are also included. Notably, the Linux Kernel 6.9 marks the deprecation of the EXT2 file system and the removal of the old NTFS filesystem implementation. It is available for download now and will be supported for a couple of months before being succeeded by Linux Kernel 6.10.
In a significant development, on October 22, 2024, several Russian developers were removed from the Linux kernel maintainership list during the 6.12-rc4 development cycle. This decision, executed by Greg Kroah-Hartman, was communicated via the patches@lists.linux.dev mailing list. The removals were attributed to compliance with US sanctions against Russia, particularly following its invasion of Ukraine. Developers associated with Baikal, a bankrupt chipmaker, were among those affected. James Bottomley noted that contributions from individuals connected to the OFAC SDN list are restricted. Linus Torvalds defended the decision, dismissing criticisms as stemming from 'Russian trolls' and emphasizing the legal basis for the removals. Serge Semin, one of the removed developers, expressed his disappointment in a farewell note. This action has ignited discussions about the implications of US government policies on international open-source projects, raising concerns about the potential for 'balkanization' of the Linux community and the impact on future contributions from developers in sanctioned countries. [d2eed376][2d6285b9][1a5bd2d8]