Critical.
Authoritative.
Strategic.
Subscribe to CIO Magazine »

Linux adds driver support for raft of devices

In addition to improved hardware support, Linux version 2.6.37 sheds Big Kernel Lock, boosts performance, tightens security.

While much of the world's focus was on the Consumer Electronics Show Wednesday, Linux creator Linus Torvalds quietly released the next version of the Linux kernel.

Included among the improvements in Linux 2.6.37 are better symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) scalability, an option to compile the kernel with the Big Kernel Lock disabled, improved security, and many new drivers for better hardware support.

The new release is an update to Linux 2.6.36, which was released in October. Since it will soon be making its way into many popular Linux distributions, here's a look at some of the latest version's most notable features.

No More Big Kernel Lock

The Big Kernel Lock dates back to Linux 2.0, when SMP support was added for the first time, and has since offered some necessary concurrency control. All the critical Linux code paths have been BKL-free for some time, however, and it is now possible to compile a kernel completely free of BKL support in noncritical places as well, which should improve performance. More efficient locking mechanisms are now used for kernel processes instead.

Better SMP Scalability

In the new version, the Ext4 file system uses the "bio" layer directly instead of the intermediate "buffer" layer, solving numerous performance and SMP scalability issues. In fact, a Flexible Filesystem Benchmark (FFSB) in a 48-core AMD box using a 24 SAS-disk hardware RAID array with 192 simultaneous FFSB threads shows a speed improvement of 300 per cent while reducing CPU usage by a factor of three or four, according to the version's changelog.

XFS Scalability Improvements

Scalability of metadata-intensive workloads has been improved in Linux 2.6.37, and with visible results. Specifically, an 8-way machine running an fs_mark benchmark instance of 50 million files was improved by more than 15 per cent; removal of those files was improved by over 100 per cent. More such improvements are expected in version 2.6.38, which is due later this year.

I/O Throttling Support

Version 2.6.37 adds support for I/O throttling, which makes it possible to set upper read/write limits on a group of processes. This is another feature that should improve performance.

Power Management

Several features have been added to improve Linux's power management, including delayed device autosuspend, which improves runtime power management. Also new to the version is LZO hibernation compression.

Security

Multiple updates to Security Enhanced Linux (SELinux) are designed to enhance security, including a new fast status update interface.

Drivers

Thanks to the inclusion of virtually countless new drivers, meanwhile, Linux 2.6.37 promises to take hardware compatibility to new levels. Included among the new additions are drivers for support of i915, Nouveau and Radeon chips in the video realm and carl9170 for Atheros AR9170 802.11n devices in the networking world along with a Gigabit Ethernet driver for Topcliff PCH and a driver for the Brocade BNA 10GB Ethernet.

Version 2.6.38 of the Linux kernel is expected in late March or early April. In the meantime, there's plenty to celebrate in these new features.

Follow Katherine Noyes on Twitter: @Noyesk.

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

More about: AMD, Broadcom, Brocade, Consumer Electronics, Linux, SAS
References show all

Comments

Post new comment

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Users posting comments agree to the CIO comments policy.
Login or register to link comments to your user profile, or you may also post a comment without being logged in.
Related Coverage
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Tags: linus torvalds, Linux, non-Windows, open source, operating systems, software, unix
Latest Blog Posts
Whitepapers
  • Look both ways - Protecting your data with content inspection
    Today’s threat environment is as dynamic as the business world in which we operate. As the communications channels we use continue to proliferate and evolve, so too have the vulnerabilities. Finding the right balance between ensuring the security of sensitive data, enabling the free flow of information and making full use of the latest web-based technologies can be a challenge. Deep content inspection is a vital layer in any unified information security strategy, helping organisations to take control over their information assets while proactively protecting against malware and data leakage. Read on.
    Learn more »
  • Workshifting: a global market research report
    New business requirements are transforming the demands placed on IT. To operate effectively in today’s fast-paced global environment, organisations need to be able to get work done anywhere, anytime, by any type of worker to achieve the best results. This is the context for the rise of workshifting—the practice of moving work to the most optimal location, time and resources. As one of the most comprehensive reports ever conducted into the role of desktop virtualisation in enabling workplace flexibility and mobility, it reflects the growing consensus of those using technology to improve the performance of their organisation.
    Learn more »
  • Government Communications 2.0
    The problem with data is that it’s only useful if you share and use it. Equally, the more data we share electronically, the greater the risk of it falling into the wrong hands. Public sector organisations can’t function without legitimately gathering and using personal information about the citizens they are mandated to serve. Technology has made a significant contribution to that process, but has also brought new risks. Read on.
    Learn more »
All whitepapers
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis.
Recent comments