October 31, 2023
The Linux kernel has received a major update with the release of version 6.6.
One of the most notable new features in Linux 6.6 is the EEVDF (Earliest Eligible Virtual Deadline First) scheduler. EEVDF replaces the CFS (Completely Fair Scheduler) scheduler, which has been in use for over a decade.
EEVDF is designed to be more efficient and responsive, particularly for workloads with high latency requirements. Another new feature is support for KSMBD (Kernel-based Server for SMB). KSMBD is an in-kernel SMB server that provides a number of advantages over traditional SMB implementations, including improved performance, scalability, and security.
Linux 6.6 also includes support for Intel’s Shadow Stack technology, a hardware security feature that helps to protect against return-oriented programming (ROP) attacks.
xROP attacks are a type of malware attack that exploits vulnerabilities in software to gain control of a system. Shadow Stack makes it more difficult for attackers to carry out ROP attacks by creating a separate stack area that is protected from memory corruption.
In addition to these, Linux 6.6 also supports AMD’s Dynamic Boost Control technology, which allows users to tune Ryzen CPUs for optimal performance, RISC-V guests in the KVM hypervisor, driver for HP laptops that allows BIOS tweaks to be made from Linux, and further temperature and voltage sensor support for desktop motherboards.
The sources for this piece include an article in TheRegister.
