Linux Kernel 5.6 Released, with WireGuard support

Editorial Staff

March 29, Linus Torvalds announced the latest release of Linux Kernel “Linux Kernel 5.6”.

Linux Kernel 5.6 is the successor of Linux Kernel 5.5, released at the end of January 2020. After this new 7th release candidate (RC), Linux 5.6 becomes the latest version available for download.

As Open-source VPN protocol WireGuard is supported at the kernel level, it can now be used without having to rely on external kernel module. Network related updates include support of AQM algorithm FQ-PIE (Flow Queue PIE), which is a combination of already existing PIE and packet scheduler FE, and Intel Virtual Bus support.

Asynchronous high-performance interface io_uring, introduced in v5.1, has been improved. Although still being experimental, USB4 support has been added as well. There are some improvements added in regards to Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF); for example, it allows implementing TCP congestion control algorithm.

Linux 5.6 comes with an almost complete fix for the Year 2038 problem, the possible erroneous behaviors that could occur after 03:14:07 UTC, 2038 January 19. It also comes with the support for Time Namespce, which offsets system clock for each namespace, and it is added with new system calls openat2() and pidfd_getfd().

Regarding the file system, it introduces ZoneFS file system for zoned block devises. With improved Ext4 performance, there are other small feature improvements to highlight, such as the experimental support for F2FS data compression.

In regards to the impact of the Novel Coronavirus, Linus Torvalds said in his message that announced this release, “I haven’t really seen any real sign of kernel development being impacted by all the coronavirus activity – I suspect a lot of us work from home even normally.” He even revealed that his daughter even gave him the title of “Social Distancing Champion”. As to the upcoming 5.7, he said, “I’m currently going by the assumption that we’ll have a fairly normal 5.7 release,” but he also added, “Let me know if you know of some subsystems that ends up being affected.”

kernel.org
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