Ubuntu 8.10 To Use Linux 2.6.27 Kernel?

Generating buzz this morning with the release of the Linux 2.6.27-rc4 kernel is word that Ubuntu may switch to the Linux 2.6.27 kernel for their forthcoming 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex" release. Canonical's Ben Collins has proposed on the Ubuntu development mailing list that Intrepid be switched to using the Linux 2.6.27 kernel instead of using 2.6.26.

The reasons for this expected switch so late in the development cycle is the updated mac80211, updated to ALSA 1.0.17 codecs, obtain Xen 64 para-virtualization, and use an updated version of the Kernel-based Virtual Machine. Of course, the Linux 2.6.27 kernel has quite a few other updates and features too.

The upstream Linux 2.6.27 kernel has already been stabilized in the ubuntu-next branch, but a decision needs to be reached next week before the 8.10 feature freeze goes into effect. Hopefully though Ubuntu 8.10 will ship with the Linux 2.6.27 kernel.