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Linux 2.6.0-test11 Kernel Released

An anonymous reader writes "Linus Torvalds has released his final 2.6.0-test kernel, calling it the 'Beaver In Detox'. Following this release, Linus says that 2.6 development will be led by Andrew Morton. The kernel's name refers in jest to the previous release, which Linus had named "Stoned Beaver". It contains a fix for the aic7xxx driver, proper error handling in do_fork(), some firewire fixes, and correction of a few skbuff leakage points. Download it from a kernel.org mirror."

33 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. Fork it all by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    proper error handling in do_fork()

    So you could say the previous version was forked up?

  2. Re:names by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Given the Gnu/Linux philosophy, 2.6.0 should be called Open Beaver.

    Simon

  3. Names make a difference! by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some may scoff at changing a release name to suit customers and corporate supporters, but it is a simple and useful thing to do.

    I suggest the next release should go a step further. Something smooth, something that rolls off of the tongue, something like "Clean Shaven Beaver"

    1. Re:Names make a difference! by Lovepump · · Score: 3, Funny

      I get the impressions most slashdotters would like any old beaver, stoned or not.

    2. Re:Names make a difference! by Saeger · · Score: 3, Funny
      Trying. To. Relax. But. Can't.

      Human Resource #761965B:
      Corporatization of Personality: Complete.
      Humanity Remaining: None.
      Political Correctness Rating: 9.93
      Sphincter Hardness (Mohs Scale): 10.1

      --

      --
      Power to the Peaceful
  4. For those who don't RTFA... by HoldmyCauls · · Score: 3, Informative

    No word on a resolution for the problem with pre-empt, at least none that can be seen with a search for "preempt" in the page. :-P

    --
    Emacs: for people who just never know when to :q!
  5. Re:names by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    Haven't you seen Half Baked? No one needs rehab for getting stoned.

    On a side note, Linus "went on to note that he'll be too busy eating for the next few days to check his email." I know it's Thanksgiving and all, but no one eats a whole weekend away unless they're...

    No way, dude! Far out! Linus has the munchies, man!

  6. Re:Fuck by blixel · · Score: 4, Funny

    I just compiled test10!

    Slacker. I've been running test10 for several day now.

  7. For those who didn't read the parent... by blixel · · Score: 5, Funny

    No word on a resolution for the problem with pre-empt, at least none that can be seen with a search for "preempt" in the page. :-P

  8. Stop this filth by MrEd · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's no wonder that the Linux Kernel development process isn't being taken seriously, what with the childish drug references and sexual innuendo being spouted. We need a wholesome, filth-free name to call the 2.6.0 release. I propose 'squeaky clean beaver'.

    --

    Wah!

  9. Re:Question by grasshoppa · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is it really necessary to have every test release on the front page?

    Yes, as it happens, it is.

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
  10. Newbie comment by Murmer · · Score: 5, Informative
    If you're a new to all this, and you're a little intimidated by all the options you get from running "make menuconfig" or "make xconfig", here's a tip - if you're running Knoppix, or have one of your current kernels around in /usr/src, you can pull over your old configuration files from /usr/src/kernel and just copy them in the new kernel's source directory, if you're willing to compile the source.

    Then run xconfig, make sure you've got console support compiled in (this point is key) and off you go. make, make install.

    It's worth saying again, no matter how many times it's been said, that Linus and his band of merry coders are doing incredible work. On older machines, like my humble P2/266 laptop, a recompile actually feels faster, a lot faster in fact. If you're running older hardware, it's worth it to give these test kernels a try for that alone, if nothing else.

    --
    Mike Hoye
    1. Re:Newbie comment by FueledByRamen · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually, what you really should do, instead of "make xconfig" after pulling over the old config file, is "make oldconfig". It's a version of the (original, text-based) config that only asks you about configuration items that weren't defined in the file - like if a new feature (and thus a configuration item) is present in the newer kernel. BTW, the name for the kernel config file is .config (it's invisible - note the dot)

      --
      Every cloud has a silver lining (except for the mushroom shaped ones, which have a lining of Iridium & Strontium 90)
  11. The pre-empt problem: by ciaran_o_riordan · · Score: 5, Informative

    A full discussion of the pre-empt problem can be found here:
    http://kerneltrap.org/node/view/1679

    This is probably what has been happening to me.
    I tried up to -test9, but after a few (2-10) hours, my cpu and disk access would shoot up and RAM usage would slowly increase. I dropped to a tty, typed the username "root", but the cpu load was so hight that login timed out before I was even prompted for a password!
    So I had to kill the power on my machine while I could hear that my disk was fully active. I was not a happy camper.

    1. Re:The pre-empt problem: by Daniel+Serodio · · Score: 5, Informative

      If you really, absolutely must kill the power, use the "Magic SysRq" key! Alt+PrintScreen+S will sync the filesystems, and Alt+PrintScreen+U will remount them read-only.

      See /usr/src/linux/Documentation/sysrq.txt.

    2. Re:The pre-empt problem: by SpaceLifeForm · · Score: 3, Informative

      It's under the hacking submenu, 'Magic SysRq key'.
      Also known as CONFIG_MAGIC_SYSRQ in your .config.

      --
      You are being MICROattacked, from various angles, in a SOFT manner.
  12. Re:More Information by golan · · Score: 5, Informative

    Also check out this to see stats about the different 2.6.0-testX versions compile warnings and errors by John Cherry from the OSDL.

  13. Re:Question by marauder404 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I agree. Announcing minor and test versions is only news worthy to the people that are following progress closely, who are likely to know about it anyway. And those people that don't follow it closely are only interested in hearing about major changes since the last time they checked up on a project.

    For example, the launch of Windows 2000 didn't even make a story on Slashdot when it launched in February 2000 even though a development kernel release did. I realize a large portion of Slashdot doesn't use Windows, but it's still significant news for every nerd.

    C'mon Slashdot ... get back to you roots. Show me stuff that matters.

  14. Clean Shaven Beaver by Tumbleweed · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now _that's_ a smooth name that just rolls off the tongue... :)

  15. Sorry Tux, Here comes Bux. by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 4, Funny

    Looks like Tux has been replaced in Linus' heart. Thats Great! I've always prefered Beaver meat to Penguin. Plus, you can make the coolest hats out of Beaver pelts. Now we just need a name for the little fellow. How about Bux?

    --
    Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    1. Re:Sorry Tux, Here comes Bux. by kinnell · · Score: 4, Funny

      Wouldn't Fux be a better name for a beaver mascot?

      --
      If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
  16. Re:Question by unixbob · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The reason that this made the front page is that it's the test release prior to the first "production" release of the 2.6 kernel which we have waited 2years + for. Seems only right that this should be on the homepage. Same as todays earlier story on FreeBSD 5.2.

    --
    The Romans didn't find algebra very challenging, because X was always 10
  17. At least Linus by Nonillion · · Score: 4, Funny

    At least Linus didn't call it the "SCO, fuck your mama" build ;)

    --
    "I bow to no man" - Riddick
  18. Re:Question by Nucleon500 · · Score: 3, Informative

    You wouldn't think so, but there is a good reason for it. To make a sweeping generalization, Slashdotters want to see Linux succeed, and we have the technical knowledge to compile kernels and make informative bug reports if needs be. Publishing this story on Slashdot will entice more people to test the new kernel, thus ensuring that the 2.6.0 release will be Bug-free(tm).

  19. Re:names by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Open Beaver? Longhorn? could a merge be possible here?

  20. Re:Fuck by fiftyLou · · Score: 5, Funny

    # times i have recompiled the kernel in the last week - 3
    # times i have gotten busy with the girlfriend in the last week - 0


    Huh. How ironic is this.
    Number of times I have recompiled the kernel in the last week - 0
    Number of times I have gotten busy with your girlfriend in the last week - 3

    ;-)

  21. Re:Question by gid · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Indeed, unfortunately, this article is cluttered up with people saying slashdot != freshmeat (as usual), and lame beaver jokes.

    I think there's one discussion about the pre-empt stuff being fubarred, but that's about it, kinda disappointing there aren't more people taking about the kernel itself. I'm still running test9 on my main box, was gonna compile test10 today, good thing I didn't, or else I'd be one of those ever popular "dang I just compiled version x - 1 an hour ago" people.

  22. The importance of publishing test releases by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    When you put 1 milion monkeys with keyboards in a room, open source occurs (taken from the Bazaar and the Cathedral), or a result of similar quality.

    Since most open source development is not done by professionals nor professional organizations, there is no formal QA process. As such, Linux is in dire need of testing. Especially with all the unproven claims of stability made in its regard.

    It is therefore very important that as wide a variety of people as possible download it and hose their systems so that bugs get reported in newsgroups where people will get laughed at for not reading every bit of manual out there.

    I think that the people posting complaints about this story were either ignorant of the open source development process, or just trolling.

    Thank you.

  23. Re:ACPI? by Nucleon500 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Unless one of the people working on the ACPI subsystem have your laptop, they have no way of knowing about the problem. So submit a bug report - if the fix is a one-liner, it might still go in.

  24. this test goes to 11? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    why don't they just make the tests bigger and make the highest one 10?

  25. Re:Hmmm.... by fishbowl · · Score: 5, Interesting

    You are correct. I've given up, and now I assume that FB consoles are something that nobody but me wants or uses. Others are happy with 80x25 consoles and use some sort of XTerm. I prefer 160 column framebuffer consoles, and this is in fact one of the main reasons I run linux.

    I thought it was only broken for my radeon card though. I also thought I was the only person still using a radeon 8500LE who wants to use consoles at fbset 1280x1024-75. This has not worked in any 2.6 kernel, whereas it does work well on 2.4. I've reported it. I've tried the patches that were posted, but it doesn't fix the problem I've reported. I gave up.

    --
    -fb Everything not expressly forbidden is now mandatory.
  26. Re:non-patched distro kernel by Azar · · Score: 3, Informative

    Slackware is a completely vanilla kernel. Most others (but not all) tweak the kernel one way or another.

  27. Torrent by teoruiz · · Score: 5, Informative

    As usual, I set a torrent here.

    --
    "Res publica non dominetur"