Linux 2.6.37-rc1 Kernel Is Here; Can Build Without BKL

As anticipated, the 2.6.37 merge window closed yesterday and the first release candidate for the Linux 2.6.37 kernel is now available. Major changes that were pushed into the Linux 2.6.37 kernel include support for building the kernel without the Big Kernel Lock (BKL), many graphics DRM improvements, and more of the responsiveness patches.

When it comes to the graphics DRM in Linux 2.6.37 there is ATI Evergreen blit support, Intel HDMI / DisplayPort audio, an open-source Intel Poulsbo driver, and TTM memory manager changes.

The Linux 2.6.37 kernel also has Broadcom's new open-source 802.11n WiFi driver and new gaming mouse drivers. But there are a few things missing from the Linux 2.6.37 kernel, including open-source Radeon HD 6000 series support.

While the kernel core can be built without the Big Kernel Lock, there's still some drivers and non-core areas that may require BKL still, including the V4L drivers.

The Linux 2.6.37-rc1 kernel release announcement can be read at LKML.org. Going on this week is the Linux Kernel Summit and Linux Plumbers Conference in Cambridge.

We continue to benchmark the very latest Linux kernel code on a daily basis with three different systems at kernel-tracker.phoromatic.com. On the Phoronix Facebook page we also hinted at a huge article (our biggest in the past six years) relating to the Linux kernel we will be publishing in the coming days.