Linux 5.18 brings new Intel drivers, optimized for AMD EPYC, C11 and more

Linux 5.17 is expected to be released on Sunday, and the next kernel contains many exciting features. But while Linux 5.17 is great, I'm already craving a lot of the features of Linux 5.18. Here's a first look at some of the changes expected in the next kernel release.

From my close monitoring of many Linux "-next" branches, there are many (but not all) features here that may be shipped in the Linux 5.18 merge window launched after v5.17 is released . These features work in the -next branch, so should be available in Linux 5.18 unless pulled due to last minute issues, objections from Linus Torvalds, etc.

Linux 5.18 is pretty heavy duty as usual, including new hardware support and feature additions from Intel and AMD, ongoing RISC-V work, the switch from C89 to the C11 standard, and more. On the Intel side, there are software-defined silicon capabilities, HFI is merging, PECI is finally being adopted, and more. AMD continues to work on new hardware support, and kernel scheduler optimizations can significantly benefit specific workloads on AMD EPYC servers.

New hardware support, never-ending software innovation, and performance optimizations always keep us excited about new Linux kernel releases.

Here are some exciting things to know about Linux 5.18, which will officially begin development soon before seeing its stable release in mid-to-late May:

- Intel Software-Defined Silicon A feature that debuted controversially but has yet to become officially announced is the ability to activate additional CPU chip capabilities based on a license.

- More Intel DG2/Alchemist and Xe HP drivers dedicated to making upcoming Intel discrete GPUs ready for the mainstream Linux kernel, including new DG2-G12 subtarget support. It's still a work in progress.

- Intel HFI is being incorporated as a hardware feedback interface that should help address performance/energy efficiency on Intel Alder Lake hybrid processors.

-Intel PECI finally became the mainstream platform environment control interface.

- Intel Alder Lake N graphics support.

- Report Intel PPIN via sysfs.

- Intel ENQCMD support is being re-enabled after being code-disabled in the kernel last year and is now properly improved/fixed.

- Intel Raptor Lake audio support.

- Linux scheduler changes can help AMD EPYC servers improve performance across a variety of workloads.

- AMD has been quietly developing new graphics processor support, although it's currently not too exciting for end users.

- Switch from C89 to C11 as the C language standard.

- Intel's indirect branch tracing support as part of Intel CET looks to be ready for Linux 5.18.

- AMD's HSMP driver is mainstreamed as a host system management port interface for additional system management functionality on AMD EPYC servers.

- Linux 5.18 defaults to AMD FreeSync video mode.

- AMDKFD CRIU support is being enabled.

- RISC-V sv57 supports 5-level page tables.

- Before removing a.out format support completely, stop building a.out on M68k and Alpha and see if anyone notices/cares.

- EXT4 express commit should be faster.

- Brfs encoded I/O support.

- Intel Madison Peak Bluetooth support.

- Intel IDLE driver support for Sapphire Rapids.

-FBDEV performance optimization.

- Audio support for NVIDIA's Orion SoC.

- Linux RNG/random performance improvements.

- Improved support for ASUS MeMO Pad 7 and Nextbook Ares 8 x86 tablets.

- Multiple improvements to the Apple keyboard on Linux.

- Added Razer driver to handle non-HID compliant Razer input hardware.

- AVX accelerated SM3 hashing in kernel encryption code.

- SigmaMicro HID driver for handling weird keyboards with SigmaMicro ICs.

- UDP IPv6 performance optimization.

- Improved ASUS motherboard sensor monitoring with a new driver that is faster and more flexible than the ASUS sensor driver merged in the previous cycle of V5.17.

- Experimental/Development Btrfs scope tree v2 work has been queued for wider testing in the Btrfs -next branch, although still in development.

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