Linux Kernel 6.18 Released: A Strong Contender for the Next LTS Kernel Series

Linux kernel 6.18 has been officially released, marking a significant update to the system. This version is noteworthy as it completely removes support for the Bcachefs file system, which is now only available as a DKMS module.

The release, announced by Linus Torvalds, brings improved hardware support through the addition of new and updated drivers, enhancements to file systems, networking, and various performance improvements. Key features of Linux 6.18 include:

• The removal of the Bcachefs file system.
• Support for the Rust Binder driver.
• A new dm-pcache device-mapper target for using persistent memory as a cache for slower block devices.
• A new microcode= command-line option to manage the microcode loader’s behavior on x86 systems.

Additionally, the kernel extends file handle support to kernel namespaces, implements initial "block size > page size" support for the Btrfs file system, and integrates support for running the kernel as a guest on FreeBSD’s Bhyve hypervisor.

Further enhancements include:

• PSP encryption support for TCP connections.
• Support for mixed completion queue event sizes in the same ring buffer.
• Improved performance for swap and UDP receive operations.
• A new “sheaves” feature to optimize kernel memory allocation.

The EXT4 file system now accommodates 32-bit reserved user and group IDs and includes a new ioctl() interface for superblock parameter management. Updates also have been made to the TCP stack with initial support for Accurate Explicit Congestion Notification (AccECN) and OverlayFS now provides case-folding support.

Security updates in Linux 6.18 involve enabling the audit subsystem to support multiple Linux security modules simultaneously, signing BPF programs, and the disabling of HMAC-encrypted-transaction support on the TPM bus feature by default.

With the addition of new and updated drivers for enhanced hardware support, users can expect improvements in reporting hardware errors and better compatibility with gaming controllers and touchpads.

Linux kernel 6.18 is currently available for download from the kernel.org website and Linus Torvalds’s git tree for users wishing to compile it for their specific GNU/Linux distribution.

This release could potentially become the next Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel series, slated for support over the coming years. Confirmation of this status by prominent kernel developer Greg Kroah-Hartman is anticipated.

Following this release, the merge window is now open for Linux kernel 6.19, expected in early February 2026, with the first release candidate available for public testing on December 14th.

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