The fifth release candidate (RC5) for the upcoming Linux Kernel 6.15 is now available, with a number of stability fixes and performance tweaks.
This update focuses on refining the kernel ahead of its final release, addressing issues across filesystems, networking, drivers, and hardware support.
In the Kernel 6.15-rc5 announcement mail, Linus Torvalds noted that "things are continuing to go well this release", but humorously added, "Let's hope I didn't jinx it by saying so".
Table of Contents
What’s New in Linux Kernel 6.15 RC5?
While RC5 doesn’t introduce major new features, it polishes existing code and resolves bugs reported during testing. Here are the highlights:
1. Filesystem Fixes (Bcachefs & Btrfs)
- Bcachefs received multiple fixes, including better snapshot reconstruction and improved error handling.
- Btrfs saw fixes for COW (Copy-on-Write) operations and inode leaks, ensuring smoother file management.
2. Networking Improvements
- WiFi & Bluetooth: Fixes for Intel’s iwlwifi driver and Bluetooth (BT) stability, including better handling of device disconnections.
- Ethernet & TCP/IP: Patches for MTK Ethernet chips, VMware’s vmxnet3, and IPv6 segmentation with NAT.
- XDP (Express Data Path): Fixed malformed packet sizing in vmxnet3, improving network performance.
3. Hardware & Driver Updates
- GPU & Display: Fixes for AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA GPUs, including HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) issues.
- Storage: NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) fixes for queue management and TLS (Transport Layer Security) support.
- Audio: Better Realtek and USB audio support, including mute LED fixes for HP laptops.
4. Security & Stability
- Memory Management: Fixes for slab allocator and memblock to prevent leaks.
- Kernel Tracing: Patches for oob (out-of-bounds) writes and race conditions in tracing tools.
- Virtualization: Improved IOMMU (Input-Output Memory Management Unit) handling for ARM and Intel systems.
Try Linux Kernel 6.15 RC5
The latest Kernel 6.15-rc5 update can be downloaded from the Kernel.org website or the Linus Torvalds's git tree.
If no major issues arise, the final Linux 6.15 kernel is expected in late May or early June 2025. Until then, testers and developers are encouraged to report bugs to help polish the release.
