First release candidate of the Linux 3.2 kernel is released

Linus Torvalds has released the first release candidate of Linux kernel 3.2 released. The kernel provides support for Hexagon-based processors from Qualcomm, adjustments in respect of the tcp stack, and new or improved drivers.

The developers have in kernel 3.2 the tcp stack quite a taken in hand. The proportional rate reduction algorithm, that is written by a Google employee, must ensure that the operating system is the network connection faster can resume if the connection is lost.

With the inclusion of a new version of the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau, the kernel can now with more gpus of the latest GeForce generation handle. In addition, as in every new kernel-release, various drivers updated and optimized. Furthermore, the developers have adjustments made to the btrfs and ext4 filesystem, and provides the kernel edac support on Sandy Bridge processors from Intel. Also the sha1 implementation for encrypting data on x86-cpu’s would be improved. New is also the ability to be a system administrator with the Completely Fair Scheduler, the cpu usage of users limit.

The final release should be around the turn of the year. Until that time, the developers will only focus on bug fixes. A user says among other things on the new Linuxpagina on Google+ that the kernel can lead to a higher use of energy, kritiekpunt at the last kernelreleases increasingly pops up.