New Linux kernel version pumps up virtualization

Linux kernel Version 2.6.21

Linux & Open Source Newsletter  By Phil Hochmuth, Network World, 05/02/07

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Linus Torvalds signed off on the latest Linux kernel version last week - 2.6.21 - with several virtualization- and networking-focused improvements in the mix.

One of the most significant additions to the kernel code is VMWare’s Virtual Machine Interface (VMI) paravirtualization interface technology. This puts into the kernel the communications code for talking to VMWare’s hypervisor - the layer on which guest operating systems run in a virtualized server or PC. Similar hooks for Xen, another popular virtualization technology (included in Novell and Red Hat distributions) is not part of the latest kernel release, but is expected in future versions of the mainline kernel.

Another new feature in the kernel code involves improvements to OS timer mechanisms, which could help machines run more efficiently and save power. Called “dyntics,” this is a method for allowing a CPU running Linux to operate in an idle mode (waiting for instructions) more efficiently, without “ticking” the processor. This could appeal to users interested in running “greener” machines which consume less power.

A series of improvements in networking are also part of the new kernel release. IPv6 support for NFS, as well as IPv4 and IPv6 IPSec tunneling are now included in the code.

According to an e-mail Torvalds sent to the kernel mailing list, getting all these features into the kernel was no small task.

“So it's been over two and a half months, and while it's certainly not the longest release cycle ever, it still dragged out a bit longer than I'd have hoped for and it should have.”

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