Main development phase of Linux 2.6.32 completed

With the first release candidate of Linux 2.6.32, last night, Linus Torvalds completed the main development phase of the next version of Linux on the main development branch. As the kernel hackers already integrate most of a new kernel version's major changes into the source code management system during this phase, called the merge window, 2.6.32-rc1 is already a good indicator of the most important new features due for release with Linux 2.6.32 in early December.

For instance, the kernel developers have made several improvements to the kernel's Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) to include 3D support and kernel-based mode setting (KMS) for Radeon series 2000, 3000 and 4000 cards; to access these new features, however, developer versions of Libdrm, Mesa[]3D and the X.org Radeon graphics drivers are required. Several Wi-Fi drivers and Microsoft's Hyper-V driver, which was recently released under the GPL, have moved into the staging area which is intended for drivers that still require further development. The maintainer of the staging branch had earlier threatened to remove the drivers for Microsoft's hypervisor from the kernel with 2.6.33, because the Microsoft developers appeared to have stopped working on the code – but their swift return to visible activity seems to have averted that fate for now. Several other unmaintained staging drivers will be removed in 2.6.32.