Linux 2.6.27 Kernel Released

Just three days after the release of Linux 2.6.27-rc9, Linus Torvalds has announced the final release of Linux 2.6.27. There aren't many changes between the previous release candidate and this shipping version. The release announcement can be read on the kernel mailing list.

Some of the major changes in the Linux 2.6.27 kernel include the new UBIFS flash-oriented file-system, improved direct I/O scalability and performance, the Nouveau-spawned MMIO tracer, improved Xen support, Intel 5000 Wireless support, the new Atheros driver, and plenty of other changes. More on the interesting changes can be found at KernelNewbies.org.

Now that the Linux 2.6.27 kernel is out the door, it's time to look forward to the Linux 2.6.28 merge window. We'll hopefully see Intel's GEM merged (the Graphics Execution Manager) for a kernel-based GPU memory manager as well as kernel-based mode-setting and many other features to look forward to in early 2009.