Linux kernel latest version

On February 2, 2025, Linus Torvalds announced the release of the first Release Candidate (RC1) for the upcoming Linux kernel 6.14, marking the beginning of the public testing phase for this new kernel series. This announcement comes two weeks after the release of Linux kernel 6.13, following the standard development cycle.

The final release of Linux kernel 6.14 is anticipated in late March 2025, depending on the number of RCs released during the testing phase. If there are seven RCs, the release is expected on March 23rd; if there are eight, it will likely be on March 30th.

Key features and enhancements in Linux kernel 6.14 include:

• KVM Hypercall Service Support: Introduces support for user-mode Virtual Machine Monitors (VMM) on the LoongArch architecture.
• PCI Error Recovery: Implements a new status mechanism for IBM System/390, enhancing system reliability.
• AMD Hardware Security: Adds SRSO_USER_KERNEL_NO support, bolstering security measures on AMD platforms.
• Raspberry Pi Power Management: Enables power management suspend and resume support, improving energy efficiency.
• Dell XPS 9370 Fan Control: Provides manual fan control support, allowing users to manage system cooling more effectively.
• SoundWire Device Support: Enhances support with deferred read/write capabilities and accommodates a broader range of MBQ access sizes.
• ACPI Support for Rockchip SFC Controllers: Improves compatibility and performance for systems utilizing these controllers.
• Atmel SAM7G5 QuadSPI and KEBA SPI Controller Support: Expands hardware compatibility by adding support for these controllers.

Additionally, Linux kernel 6.14 introduces new and updated drivers to enhance hardware support, including:

• SM8750 Platform Driver: A new driver tailored for the SM8750 platform.
• MT8188 Mali-G57 MC3 Support: Enhancements in the Panfrost driver to support this GPU.
• Loongson SoCs EDAC Driver: A new Error Detection and Correction driver for Loongson Systems on Chips.
• Intel Touch Host Controller Support: Improved support for Intel’s touch host controllers.
• PCI Wacom Device Support: Adds support for Wacom devices connected via PCI.
• SteelSeries Arctis 9 Wireless Gaming Headset Support: Introduces support for this popular gaming headset.
• Intel CRPS185 Power Supply PMBus Client Driver: Enhances power management support for Intel’s CRPS185 power supplies.
• Optional CPU Fan Support on AMD 600 Motherboards: Provides support for optional CPU fans on these motherboards.
• ASUS TUF GAMING X670E PLUS Support: Improves compatibility with this ASUS motherboard model.

In terms of networking, Linux kernel 6.14 offers several notable improvements:

• IPsec Support for IP-TFS/AggFrag Encapsulation: Allows aggregation and fragmentation of inner IP packets, enhancing security and performance.
• Jumbo Data Packet Transmission in RxRPC Sockets: Enables the transmission of larger data packets, improving network efficiency.
• Phylib Support for In-Band Capabilities Negotiation: Enhances the negotiation capabilities of physical layer devices.
• Configurable Header-Data-Split Threshold via Ethtool: Allows users to set a threshold for header-data splitting, optimizing network performance.
• Unified Interface for Reporting PHY Statistics: Provides a structured approach to reporting physical layer statistics.
• Support for IPv4-Mapped IPv6 Address Clients in SMC-R v2: Improves compatibility for clients using IPv4-mapped IPv6 addresses.
• Netlink Notifications for Multicast IPv4 and IPv6 Address Changes: Enhances network monitoring by providing notifications for address changes.

As the development progresses, users and developers are encouraged to test the Release Candidate versions and report any issues to ensure a stable and robust final release. The Linux community’s active participation is crucial in maintaining the kernel’s quality and reliability.