Today, Linus Torvalds announced the release of Linux Kernel 6.15, which introduces several new features and improvements aimed at enhancing performance and hardware support.
One of the major highlights is the addition of Rust support for hrtimer and ARMv7 architectures, along with a new setcpuid= boot parameter for x86 CPUs. The kernel also supports sched_ext, which allows for counting and reporting internal events, and features enhancements for x86 Intel and AMD PMUs. Furthermore, it introduces nested virtualization support for VGICv3 on ARM, and supports emulating FEAT_PMUv3 on Apple Silicon.
Kernel 6.15 also adds a new API for receiving information about filesystem mount and unmount events, hardware-wrapped encryption keys support in the block layer, and 48-bit block addressing in the EROFS file system. Additionally, a new security hook for the io_uring subsystem gives more control to security modules regarding access permissions.
Notably, the FUSE filesystem can now handle file names longer than 1,024 characters, and latency profiling using scheduler information has been added to the perf subsystem. The BPF subsystem now includes improved verification for programs with loops, and OverlayFS has gained a new mount option, override_creds, to modify the credentials used for accessing lower layers.
On the architecture front, support for new RISC-V extensions has been introduced, including the BFloat16 floating-point extension, and updates have been made for zoned devices in the XFS filesystem, as well as network data reception for the io_uring subsystem.
Networking features in 6.15 include a new TCP socket option (TCP_RTO_MAX_MS) for setting maximum retransmit time on IPv4, alongside a fresh set of BPF callbacks for fetching timestamps in the networking stack.
As expected, hardware support has been expanded with updated drivers, covering devices such as the Apple Touch Bar, Google Pixel Pro 6, and various HP laptops. Other updates include improvements to the ACPI fan driver and button driver for better sleep/wake functionalities.
Additionally, Kernel 6.15 has removed support for 32-bit (x86) systems exceeding eight CPUs or 4GB of RAM, and introduced a new auditing mechanism for the Landlock security module. There’s also a new fwctl subsystem for securely constructing RPCs within device firmware, alongside a hardening feature to protect memory mappings against changes, although it is disabled by default to avoid compatibility issues with some applications.
Linux kernel 6.15 is now available for download from Linus Torvalds’ git tree or on the kernel.org website. For those less inclined to compile from source, it is recommended to await the release in your distribution’s package manager.
With the launch of 6.15, the merge window for the upcoming Kernel 6.16 is now open, with the expected release by the end of July or early August 2025. A preliminary Release Candidate (RC) will be made available for public testing on June 8th.
ChicagoVPS is your gateway to unparalleled hosting solutions. Our state-of-the-art datacenters and powerful network ensures lightning-fast speeds and uninterrupted connectivity for your websites and applications. Whether you’re a startup looking for scalable resources or an enterprise in need of enterprise-grade hosting, our range of plans and customizable solutions guarantee a perfect fit. Trust in ChicagoVPS to deliver excellence, combining unmatched reliability and top-tier support.
For Inquiries or to receive a personalized quote, please reach out to us through our contact form here or email us at sales@chicagovps.net.
