The Linux 2.6.36 Kernel Is Now Out There

The Linux 2.6.36 kernel is now out there on the Internet. After an unexpected delay and some other slowdowns in the 2.6.36 development cycle, Linus tagged the 2.6.36 kernel this afternoon.

The Linux 2.6.36 kernel features Fanotiy (a new file notification interface), kernel debuging with KMS support, improved Intel power management for Core i3/i5 CPUs, AppArmor integration, and many other features. A more exhaustive list can be found at KernelNewbies.org.

The Linus Torvalds release announcement for the Linux 2.6.36 kernel can be found at LKML.org. With the Linux Kernel Summit and Linux Plumbers Conference coming up, Linus is wanting the merge window for the Linux 2.6.37 kernel to be open for only ten days rather than a full two weeks. This though would mean that the Linux 2.6.37-rc1 release will come the Sunday before the Linux Kernel Summit.

Fortunately since there were the release setbacks with Linux 2.6.36, there's already a lot queued up for the 2.6.37 kernel including desktop responsiveness patches and more, DisplayLink driver updates, various graphics DRM enhancements (i.e. Evergreen blit support, Intel HDMI / DisplayPort audio, a new Intel Poulsbo driver), gaming mouse drivers, Broadcom's 802.11n open-source driver, and many other new features and driver work.

We continue to benchmark the very latest Linux kernel code on a daily basis at kernel-tracker.phoromatic.com. Right now we are in the process of adding a few more systems to this Phoromatic Tracker too.