Linux Kernel 3.3 Tracking

Linux 3.3 has now been released. For details, read "What's new in Linux 3.3".

Previous coverage of the development of Linux 3.3 is listed below:

• Kernel Log: Linux 3.3 goes into testing
  Linux 3.3 can change the size of ext4 filesystems faster and supports ACPI 5.0, LPAE for ARM processors, Ethernet teaming and hot replace for software RAID. Meanwhile, Linux 3.1 has reached the end of the line, and the Linux Ate My RAM web site explains why Linux often appears to use all of the RAM.

• Kernel Log: Coming in 3.3 (Part 1) - Networking
  Version 3.3 of the Linux kernel offers another way to team multiple Ethernet devices. Support for "Open vSwitch", a virtual network switch that was specifically developed for virtualised environments, has also been added. Byte Queue Limits are designed to reduce the latencies that cause the much-discussed "buffer bloat".

• Kernel Log: Coming in 3.3 (Part 2) - Filesystems and storage
  The Btrfs and MD code offers new ways to change RAIDs while keeping data intact. Ext4 filesystems can now be expanded more quickly. The kernel also gained a driver for an upcoming storage device interface.

• Kernel Log: Coming in 3.3 (Part 3) – Architecture and infrastructure
  A long line-up of changes to the code for memory management will fix problems and improve performance in some areas. The kernel now supports the Large Physical Address Extension (LPAE) and boots on X86 EFI systems even without a boot loader.

• Kernel Log: Coming in 3.3 (Part 4) – Drivers
  From Linux 3.3, the nouveau driver will support newer GeForce chips and Intel's RC6 GPU power saving technology should finally work properly. The Poulsbo graphics driver and some Hyper-V drivers have left the staging area, while drivers for Android have entered it.