Although we are usually used to installing a distribution, all of them are created from the same part: the Linux Kernel. This is the open source operating system, created and maintained by Linus Torvalds, which, every few months, receives a new version that allows it to continue to grow and be ready to work with even the most modern components. After version 5.8, one of the largest in the history of Linux, now it is the turn of the new Kernel 5.9 , a version focused, above all, on compatibility.
What’s New in Linux Kernel 5.9
The most important part of this new version of the Linux Kernel is the new compatibility it offers. The developer community has been working to create initial support for the new pieces of hardware that will hit the market shortly. These are mainly:
- AMD RDNA 2 Graphics Cards
- Intel Rocket Lake Graphics
- Intel Keem Bay SoC
- Sienna cichlid
- Navy Flounder Graphics
It is also important to note that support for 64-bit FSGSBASE instructions has been introduced, which will greatly improve the performance of both Intel and AMD. In terms of storage, important changes have also been made. For example, the compatibility of the Btrfs and F2FS systems has been improved, as well as some bugs fixed in the classic EXT4. Support for the Zoned Namespace (ZNS) of NVMe SSDs has also been introduced. Also beginning to take the first steps in the support of USB 4.0 .
Also, if our computer has RGB LEDs , this new version of the Kernel brings a long-awaited novelty. From now on, we will be able to control the RGB LEDs of our PC thanks to the new framework that has been introduced. With a single file we will be able to adjust the color and brightness of these LEDs.
Other important changes that have come to this new Linux Kernel 5.9 are:
- Elimination of support for multiple floppies.
- Elimination of RISC Unicore 32-bit architecture.
- Sys_sysctl has been removed.
- Added support for the compressed Zstd kernel.
- Improved support for RISC-V.
- Support for the keyboard of the Lenovo ThinkPad 10 Ultrabook.
- Support for IR Droid.
- Improved ARM and ARM64 support.
- Initial support for IBM POWER10.
Now, in two weeks, the development of the next Kernel 5.10 will begin, a version of Linux that, if all goes well, should arrive before the end of the year.
Install Linux Kernel 5.9 on any distribution
The source code of this new version of the Kernel is now available to everyone on its main website . Any user can download this new version and compile it on their distro to start enjoying all its news and improvements right away.
Downloading and compiling the kernel is quite a complicated task, not suitable for inexperienced users. Therefore, we recommend that you use other types of software, such as Ukuu , which allow us to download and install the Kernel in our distribution quickly and easily.
If we use a Rolling Release distribution (something that, if we don’t, we should do), we will receive this new version of the Kernel very soon through its normal updates. Otherwise, if we use a normal distro, like Ubuntu, we will have to wait a long time to have this new Linux kernel by default. We remember that Ubuntu 20.10 comes out next week and it is confirmed that it will not bring the Kernel 5.9.