Linux Kernel 5.6 Released With Mainline Support For WireGuard, Amazon Echo, And More
Following the tradition of shipping a new kernel version every two months, Torvalds has released Linux Kernel 5.6. The latest release includes all the changes pulled out during the kernel 5.6 merge window.
Linux Kernel 5.6: New Features
Starting with the most prominent change, Linux 5.6 is the first kernel to resolve the Year 2038 Problem. You can now run your 32-bit system beyond Jan 19, 2038, without resetting the clock.
Other important changes include mainline and initial support for WireGuard VPN, Qualcomm, USB4, and Amazon Echo speaker. Furthermore, v5.6 also includes the code for Zen 3 to add the Family 19h processor support.
Here are the highlights of some other key features:
- VirtualBox Guest Support for Shared Folder
- Intel Virtual Bus Support
- Logitech input device improvements
- New AMD TEE driver
- Adding Time Namespace
- AMD Pollock support
- Nouveau driver accelerated NVIDIA RTX 2000 “Turing” support
- Server-to-server copy for NFSD
- Experimental F2FS file compression support
- Overheating fix for ASUS laptop with AMD Ryzen processor
If you want to read more about the changes, I would suggest you visit Michael Larabel’s blog Phoronix for a complete feature overview of kernel 5.6.
A Way Ahead For Linux Kernel 5.7
Lastly, Torvalds also announced the opening of the Linux Kernel 5.7 merge window, which is already shaping up to be a big release with various enhancements. To name a few changes coming along with it, there will be more AMD zen 3 code, USB fast-charge for Apple iOS devices, and floppy disk drivers.
Linux 5.7 is also likely to add mainline support for the $199 Pinebook Pro ARM-based Linux laptop. If you want more information about the Pinebook Pro, read our latest article here and pre-order as soon as possible.
