Linux 2.6.36

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Summary: Linux 2.6.36 includes support AppArmor, fanotify, new out-of-memory killer, and concurrency-managed workqueues.

(Note: Details on architecture-specific and driver changes have been moved to this page: [wiki:Linux_2_6_36-DriversArch Linux_2_6_36-DriversArch])

TableOfContents()

1. Prominent features (the cool stuff)

1.1. AppArmor

The AppArmor security module. AppArmor provides pathname-based mandatory access control; it was initially championed by Novell some years ago. Novell has moved on, but Canonical has picked this code up, integrated it into the Ubuntu distribution, and (now) merged it into the mainline kernel.

1.2. fanotify

fanotify - a mechanism allowing anti-malware scanning software to intercept file-oriented system calls and optionally block access to undesireable data.

1.3. New suspend mechanism

A new suspend mechanism intended to address the needs of the Android project (but which Android has not committed to using).

1.4. New infrared controller drivers

A number of infrared controller drivers from the LIRC project; these drivers have long been shipped by distributions despite their out-of-tree status, so this is a good development.

1.5. New out-of-memory killer

A new out-of-memory killer which, with luck, will improve the kernel's response when it runs completely out of RAM.

1.6. Concurrency-managed workqueues

Concurrency-managed workqueues have been merged; this is an important scalability patch which should reduce kernel threads and reduce CPU contention on larger systems.

1.7. Graphic improvements

Kernel mode-setting support (but no form of 2D/3D/video acceleration) for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 400 "Fermi" graphics cards via the Nouveau DRM driver
R300 through R500 Hyper-Z support for ATI graphics cards
R600 through R700 tiling support for ATI hardware
Intel driver has more Embedded DisplayPort enhancements
Support for reading thermal sensors on most R600 ASIC
R600 kernel bit state emission minimization
Improved suspend-and-resume support for the NV10 through NV40 GPUs
Improved NV50 DisplayPort along with hot-plug support

2. Various core changes

BKL removal
Non-PCI DRM layer support
Memory leak fixes
Support for vblank tracepoints
VFS patches

3. Security

AppArmor merged