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Linux 3.8 Released

Posted by Unknown on from the busy-kernel-hackers dept.

diegocg writes "Linux kernel 3.8 has been released. This release includes support in Ext4 for embedding very small files in the inode, which greatly improves the performance for these files and saves some disk space. There is also a new Btrfs feature that allows for quick disk replacement, a new filesystem F2FS optimized for SSDs; support for filesystem mount, UTS, IPC, PID, and network namespaces for unprivileged users; accounting of kernel memory in the memory resource controller; journal checksums in XFS; an improved NUMA policy redesign; and, of course, the removal of support for 386 processors. Many small features and new drivers and fixes are also available. Here's the full list of changes."

14 of 120 comments (clear)

  1. I'm confused by SimonTheSoundMan · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought we were on 2.6 for eternity. Where did 3.8 come from all of a sudden?

    1. Re:I'm confused by neonsignal · · Score: 5, Funny

      let me guess, you're running Debian stable?

    2. Re:I'm confused by SJHillman · · Score: 4, Informative

      0.01 - 1991
      1.0 - 1994
      1.2 - 1955
      1.3 - 1995
      2.0 - 1996
      2.1 - 1996
      2.2 - 1999
      2.3 - 1999
      2.4 - 2001
      2.5 - 2001
      2.6 - 2003
      3.0 - 2011
      3.2 - 2012

      Of course, there were many smaller version numbers released in the meantime - 2.4.37.11 was released in 2011, ten years after 2.4.0.

    3. Re:I'm confused by SJHillman · · Score: 5, Funny

      You'll notice version 1.2 included the short-lived Typo Flux Capacitor, causing it to go back in time to prevent the birth of Bill Gates (Oct 28, 1955) but was ultimately unsuccessful.

    4. Re:I'm confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Transtemporal Agent Gates has done sterling work preventing the monolithic IBM from utterly dominating the computing world with VT52 terminals connected to reel-to-reel storage mainframes. Whilst he has failed to facilitate the development of the desired Quantum Hurd Desktop the situation could have been much, much worse. Unfortunately the Balminator droid appears to be defective - it should be running Symbian, not something simian.

  2. Re:still supports 32-bit Intel binaries by SimonTheSoundMan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Intel's latest generation of desktop i5/i7 CPUs appear to be buggy. People I know working in CFD are finding all sorts of quirks so have gone back to older and slower Xeons. Nothing for the desktop series is documented for bugs as far as I'm aware, I don't think Intel test them as much in design as workstation grade CPUs, and published bugs for Xeons you're not allowed to talk about them.

  3. Just a worry by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ext4 has been altered with added functionalities - I will wait some time before applying the upgrade, just to be sure ext4 is stable again...

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
    1. Re:Just a worry by msauve · · Score: 5, Funny

      Linux is a crock of salad. Pass it on.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    2. Re:Just a worry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Linus got a rock and sold it. Passion on.

    3. Re:Just a worry by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 4, Funny

      My hovercraft is full of eels. Purple monkey dishwasher.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  4. Re:still supports 32-bit Intel binaries by serviscope_minor · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Intel's latest generation of desktop i5/i7 CPUs appear to be buggy. People I know working in CFD are finding all sorts of quirks so have gone back to older and slower Xeons.

    One difference is that the intel desktop CPUs generally don't have ECC whereas the Xeon ones do.

    Do the new i7s produce consistent results each time? If so, then lack ECC isn't the problem.

    There could also be some subtle difference in IEEE modes.

    You could try dumping everything from every stage of the algorithm out and seeing when two runs start to differ.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  5. Re:still supports 32-bit Intel binaries by peppepz · · Score: 4, Informative

    Isn't it normal for any processor to have errata? There are currently 95 bugs listed for Ivy Bridge on Intel's site. There are 120 for Sandy Bridge.

  6. Re:still supports 32-bit Intel binaries by Pharmboy · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Can you provide some kind of information on this? I would really like to know what CPUs to avoid.

    If you are looking to avoid all errata, then buy an abacus. All CPUs have bugs.

    --
    Tequila: It's not just for breakfast anymore!
  7. Re:Use inode space for 1st part of large files? by crow · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They probably store the file data in the same part of the inode that is otherwise used for the block list or extent list. So larger files must use that same space to tell the file system where the rest of the data is on the disk, which makes it difficult to also store data in the same location.

    Also, putting a small amount of data into the inode would then mean that the rest of the file would no longer be neatly aligned on block boundaries, which makes doing a memmap of the file painful.