DRM Graphics Updates Sent In For Linux 3.12

For those monitoring the daily advancements to the open-source DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) kernel graphics driver, the big feature pull request has been sent in for the Linux 3.12 kernel merge window.

We have covered many of the DRM graphics driver enhancements individually that have been aligned for entrance into the Linux 3.12 kernel, but to recap:

- The Snapdragon MSM KMS/DRM driver will be introduced. This is the Qualcomm Snapdragon/Adreno driver that was developed not by Qualcomm but rather Rob Clark of the Freedreno project. Qualcom has had an out-of-tree open-source kernel driver for Android, but for Rob's 3D driver reverse-engineering and Gallium3D driver writing, he ended up making his own DRM/KMS driver that is now in a readied state for some hardware using these ARM SoCs.

- There is GPU run-time power management so now secondary GPUs (e.g. in Optimus laptops) can be dynamically powered on/off when needed. This rsecondary GPU power-off support required changes to VGA Switcheroo and the HDMI audio driver in particular.

- DRM render/mode-set nodes will be introduced by David Herrmann along with his VMA manager for TTM and GEM memory management methods.

- Support for HDMI 4k modes within DRM core.

- Lots of Intel driver changes from supporting the Haswell eLLC cache (dedicated RAM) on Iris Pro graphics to various Haswell fixes and better power management.

- Continued work on Radeon power management so Radeon HD 8000 series hardware now has ASPM (PCI Express Active State Power Management) and DPM (Dynamic Power Management). There's also AMD "Berlin" APU support and other changes.

- Nouveau VP3 video engine support and other smaller changes/fixes for this reverse-engineered NVIDIA graphics driver.

- Various other smaller changes to the less prominent mainline open-source DRM graphics drivers.

More information on the DRM changes for Linux 3.12 can be found via the pull request by Red Hat's David Airlie.