The Linux 7.0 networking pull request showcases two extremes and the diversity and robustness of the open-source kernel ecosystem. Linux 7.0 is laying the groundwork for WiFi 8 Ultra-High Reliability (UHR) support while this kernel version is also bidding farewell to the last Ethernet driver for use over parallel printer ports.
The big networking subsystem pull request was sent out and merged yesterday for Linux 7.0. The networking highlights in Linux 7.0 include:
– The Linux core networking code has seen a significant effort for helping guide the compiler to make the right choice when inlining code. The end result is better and faster code with minimal to no text size increases.
– Adding CAKE_MQ as a multi-queue aware sch_cake for better multi CPU scaling.
– Netconsole added support for the new buffer console “NCON” for lock-free, priority-based console operations.
– Netconsole automatic target recovery support.
– Improving the TCP IPv6 output path to cache the flow information for lower CPU cycles and less cache line misses and reducing stack use.
– Reducing the TCP socket size by one cache line.
– Initial WiFi 8 Ultra-High Reliability “UHR” support in cfg80211 and mac80211 code.
– The Atheros Ath12k driver added support for the Qualcomm QCC2072 chipset. The Ath12k driver has also been refactored to prepare for next-gen hardware support.
– The Realtek R8169 drivern ow supports the RTL8127ATF 10G Fiber SFP.
– Airoha AN8811HB 2.5 Gbps PHY support.
– Adding the Huawei Hinic3 PF Ethernet driver.
– A new Ethernet driver for MaxLinear MxL862xx switches.
– The Intel ICE driver added Synchronous Ethernet “SyncE” support.
– The Intel IWLWIFI driver now has initial support for Neighbor Awareness Networking (NAN) and U-NII-9 and IEEE 802.11bn (WiFi 8).
– The Realtek RTW89 driver is preparing for RTL8922DE chipset support.
– The Bluetooth USB “BTUSB” driver added support for the MediaTek7920, Realtek RTL8761BU and 8851BE hardware.
– Dropping the parallel port Ethernet driver. Yes, the last parallel port Ethernet adapter being removed… For the AT-LAN-TEC/RealTek pocket adapter support. Other parallel port Ethernet drivers were removed back in 2013 but this “ATP” driver remained until now on the basis of networking over parallel printer ports being long obsolete and presumably unused anywhere.
See this pull request for the full list of now-merged networking patches for Linux 7.0.
