Zen Kernel News

Updates to Zen Release Cycle

As if we really had one.

Greetings everyone! With the month of leap years just around the corner, Zen has also taken its own leap to the future by taking a stab at modern release philosophies; the art of rolling code.

I read an article on slashdot.org about the last version of HTML 5. Of course, that's just a play on words and we're always going to be progressing forward with new HTML standards. But the way that HTML will be developed requires two parts to the puzzle. The standards development from WHATWG will continue and they'll organically improve HTML as demand needs them to and the W3C will essentially "tag" certain versions of their standards document with a number. Basically, WHATWG can do what they do best and improve HTML while the W3C determines when the HTML standard is good and significantly different enough to release that as the next version of HTML for web browsers and web developers to standardize against.

If you take the skeleton of this whole methodology and place it on top of Zen's current reality, there isn't much different. We still have packagers who take snapshots of Zen that they use and build a kernel for their users. The users that build kernels purely for self interest grab the newest code and avoid the tags. Then there's the small minority who do use the Zen tag, probably because they don't know any better (sorry guys).

I hope that making these changes will also close an important feedback loop that I feel is missing. When everyone is encouraged to run the newest version, there are less opportunities for bugs to creep in from features and patches that don't exactly behave the way the author of the new code intended them to. This also gives kernel developers opportunities to test their patches that improve the behavior of the Linux kernel (things I'm sure all Zen users are all happy about) on a wider audience.

If you need more evidence of this new process working in the longterm, watch a lecture from Theo de Raadt and his success story on his release process that is currently used in OpenBSD: youtube.com. The only difference with Zen is the lack of a version every 6 months since we strictly depend on the next version of the Linux kernel.

Remember, if you do not want to clone the Zen repository, you can always download the daily snapshots that patch directly against Linus's vanilla kernel here: downloads.zen-kernel.org.

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.36-zen1 "Aufs Revenge"

This is the first news article following the tagging and new features for 2.6.36. I won't go into the details but below are some highlights about special code commits to zen-stable.

"IO-Less dirty throttling v2" patches from Wu Fengguang
"sched: Improve desktop interactivity: Implement automated per session task groups" patch from Mike Galbraith
AUFS 2.1 - 2.6.36 support
Many CFS backports from 2.6.37 to compliment Mike Galbraith's autogrouping patches
Lots of miscellaneous writeback and mm/vmscan patches from 2.6.37 and a special fix from Minchan Kim to fix disk thrashing when under loads comparable to rsync backups.
Late reiser4 support (due to late patch release on behalf of namesys)

The newest source can be downloaded downloads.zen-kernel.org: 2.6.36-zen1.patch.lzma

Everything else can be examined through our extensive and often confusing git log!

EDIT: Replaced download link with kernel patch.

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.35-zen2 "Get the fuck out"

Kind of a skip due to technical issues, but here's the latest 2.6.35 zen release. Also tagged in git ;)

v2.6.35-zen2 "Get the fuck out"

- 2.6.35.4

- Added cfs low latency features

- Replaced upstream compcache with released one (testing sake)

- Reverted rt2x00 branch

- Updated tuxonice, aufs, etc.

v2.6.35-zen1

- Initial release based on 2.6.35.2 release

- 2.6.35-ck1/bfs 323 w/ zen-tune

- Vhba + Scholastic blue (not related, but new)

- rt2x00 git tree merged

- BFQ i/o scheduler

- The usuals

Please share your results ;)

download: downloads.zen-kernel.org/2.6.35/2.6.35-zen2.patch.lzma

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.34-zen1 "Back in the Saddle"

First 2.6.34-zen1 release

* zen-tune on top of 2.6.34-ck1

* Some tweaks to zen-tune over previous releases

* As usual, Latest btrfs (btrfs-unstable.git), aufs, tuxonice, reiser4, etc

* misc-2.6.34 branch containing tweaks and fixes for writeback, cpuidle, cfs, and some others.

* SLQB, classic rcu ported

Please share your results ;)

download: downloads.zen-kernel.org/2.6.34/2.6.34-zen1.patch.lzma

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.33-zen3 "The Unsane Uterus"

- 2.6.33.5

- bfs v0.318

- updated tuxonice

- writeback and ext4 fixes

Download it here (2.6.33-zen3.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.33-zen2 "Bist du noch fertig?"

Another zen-stable release.

- 2.6.33.3
- BFS v0.316
- updated btrfs
- updated tuxonice
- added some io performance tweaks from .34 and bugzilla

Patch against 2.6.33 can be downloaded here.

Document Actions

Send this

Let's talk about Zen-Stable baby

Let's talk about you and me!

There is some confusion about zen-stable, and we haven't had any regular articles lately - so I figured I'd just write one really quick :D

Nothing major, a few people don't understand some of the things it does and what not, so i'll clear it up in true or false format!

Idea: Zen-Stable release patches apply over the latest upstream stable release!

FALSE! The release patches include the latest upstream stable releases, so they do not apply on top of them. The patches always apply on top of the base kernel version for that release.

For example, 2.6.33-zen2 INCLUDES 2.6.33.1, but the patch is supposed to be applied on top of 2.6.33 :D

Idea: Zen-Stable doesn't keep things i want up to date enough, like BTRFS, aufs, tuxonice, squashfs, BFS

FALSE! Zen stable git trees are frequently updated across the board. Presently the 2.6.31-2.6.33 branches receive all updates, while 2.6.30 receives some updates (basically everything except btrfs and bfs). They also remain updated to the latest upstream stable revisions for that release. So if zen-stable is too outdated for you, you're too new!

Idea: There is basically no difference between zen.git and zen-stable.git!

FALSE! Zen-stable never sees pre-release kernels (-rc kernels), nor does it merge experimental git trees like wireless-testing, drm-next (or any of the other drm-testing branches), sound-2.6, etc. If you desire these things, zen.git is the place for you!

Idea: I don't need to re-clone the tree to switch between zen-stable and zen.git

TRUE! Look in the Documentation->Tutorials section if you don't know how!

Idea: Zen operates on crude oil and raw meat!

FALSE! The zen kernel operates purely on vegetable oil, self-generated electricity, and a little bit of distilled water.

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.33-zen1 "Dust Remover"

First 2.6.33 release from zen-stable.git!

- Initial 2.6.33 base

- Merged branches: zen-tune (merges ck), zen-tag, zen-notes, zen-logo, usb-mouse-polling, ureadahead,

tuxonice-2.6.33, tp_smapi, tmpfs-root, thinkpad-sl, squashfs, slqb, sio-iosched, reiser4, psx2usb,

nr-tty, nconfig, march-native, mactel, lirc, linux-phc, l7filter, ipmi-sensors, githelp, fbcondecor,

fatelf, expose-processor-select, eee900freq, dazukofs, daconfig, compcache, classic-rcu, cko, aufs,

amd-k10, adbsyn, acpi-fixes, acpi-dsdt

- Special notes:

* dm-raid45 not merged, needs a fix

* bfq not merged, awaiting new version before 2.6.33 port

* sreadahead not merged in favor of ureadahead and sreadahead is dead

* lirc it87 disabled, if this is a problem for you file a bug report

* Classic RCU was added

Key Features

1. a branch entitled "zen-tune" was added - this branch implements four tunable profiles, defaulting to desktop - only adjusts 4 things so far

Server Settings: dirty_ratio: 80, dirty_background_ratio: 1 --- BFS rr_interval and iso_cpu are left at default
Default Settings (nothing changed): dirty_ratio: 20, dirty_background_ratio: 10, *BFS ONLY* sched_iso_cpu: 70, rr_interval: 6
Desktop Settings (selected by default): dirt_ratio: 50, dirty_background_ratio: 20, *BFS ONLY* sched_iso_cpu: 25, rr_interval: 3
Custom Settings: Enables another menu which allows for each to be set manually - also has descriptions for each variable from the documentation

2. The "classic-rcu" branch from zen.git was pulled into a new branch, but:

The preempt rcu implementation is dropped totally
The classic rcu implementation is changed to match the implementations of 2.6.33 tree rcu and tiny rcu, instead of 2.6.31 classic rcu
Several compile errors have been fixed, probably due to one or both points mentioned above
Classic RCU will probably replace tree_rcu in the default zen spot after this release (if no bug reports, will become default in zen2)

Download it here (2.6.33-zen1.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.32-zen7 "Gongoozled"

Another 2.6.32 release from zen-stable!

- v2.6.32.9

- Updated tuxonice

- Updated aufs

- Updated btrfs

- Added zen-tune profiles

- Fixed gentoo logo white border

Download it here (2.6.32-zen7.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.33-rc7-zen1 "noname"

Another zen.git release, based on -rc7

* latest linus tree
* updated tuxonice
* updated aufs
* reiser4 should work now (yay!)

download it here (2.6.33-rc7-zen1.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.32-zen6 "Forever and never"

- v2.6.32.7

- Updated tuxonice

- Updated btrfs

- Updated compcache (0.6.2)

- Added Simple I/O Scheduler 0.2

- Added ureadahead (0.100.0)

- Removed sreadahead

- Made reiser4 depend on BROKEN

Download it here (2.6.32-zen6.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.31-zen12 "Y-O-Y"

- Updated tuxonice

- Updated btrfs

- Updated compcache (0.6.2)

- Added ureadahead (0.100.0)

- Added Simple I/O Scheduler v0.2

Download it here (2.6.31-zen12.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.33-rc5-zen1 "Jizzed in my pants"

* updated compcache to 0.6.1 (in staging now)
* aufs updated
* got rid of alsa from -next as it was causing problems
* got rid of bfq as it's unmaintained and broken now,
cfq should work just as well now
* tuxonice updated
* latest drm

Download it here (2.6.33-rc5-zen1.patch.lzma)

Download hotfix1 here (2.6.33-rc5-zen1-hotfix1.patch)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.32-zen5 "Omfg 2010?"

New zen-stable.git release.

Changelog: 

- v2.6.32.4
- Updated aufs
- Updated tuxonice
- Reverted loop-aes
- Added a btrfs fix (69924)

Download it here (2.6.32-zen5.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.31-zen11 "Shawty"

Another 2.6.31 kernel zen release.

Changelog:

   1 - 2.6.31.12

   2 - Updated aufs

   3 - Updatd tuxonice

   4 - Updated BFS (v313)

   5 - Swap prefetch is broken, we've known that

Download it here (2.6.31-zen11.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.33-rc4-zen1 "ENGAGE!"

Applies to 2.6.33-rc4 kernel

* latest linus tree

* bfs fixes

* updated aufs2

* latest alsa from -next

* fixed LIRC

* linux-phc added

* updated alsa

* loads more

Download it here (2.6.33-rc4-zen1.patch.lzma)

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.32-zen4 "Maggie"

Changes:

- Updated bfs to v313

- Adjust cpu scheduler kconfig (bfs is defaulted a little better)

- Added nconfig v7

- Added a new "zen" default menuconfig theme

- Turned sched_child_runs_first on for CFS

- Updated tuxonice

- Fixed a compilation problem when SCHED_CFS_BOOST=y

- Reverted aufs to december 10th, due to a few reported problems with latest upstream

- Added bootsplash 3.1.6 (ported and cleaned up the implementation to match closer to fbcondecor)

WARNING:

- Reiser4 has known problems across all 2.6.32 kernel due to upstream problems that have yet to have been fixed, use at your own risk!

Notes:

- "drm-linus", which contains 2.6.33 drm which includes nouveau can be found on GIT ONLY on the "master-drm" branch, problems when using that branch are not supported. Use master-drm at your own risk!

Download:

2.6.32-zen4.patch.lzma

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.33-rc2-zen1 "Blue Chair"

First zen release for 2.6.33-rcX series from zen.git tree.

* latest linus tree

* updated drm

* latest alsa

* latest aufs

* updated compcache

* updated tuxonice

* bfs 312

* much more

Patch available here.

Document Actions

Send this

2.6.32-zen3 "Hot Tea?"

Changes:

- 2.6.32.2

Personal tools

Sections

Zen Kernel News

Updates to Zen Release Cycle

Document Actions

2.6.36-zen1 "Aufs Revenge"

Document Actions

2.6.35-zen2 "Get the fuck out"

Document Actions

2.6.34-zen1 "Back in the Saddle"

Document Actions

2.6.33-zen3 "The Unsane Uterus"

Document Actions

2.6.33-zen2 "Bist du noch fertig?"

Document Actions

Let's talk about Zen-Stable baby

Document Actions

2.6.33-zen1 "Dust Remover"

Document Actions

2.6.32-zen7 "Gongoozled"

Document Actions

2.6.33-rc7-zen1 "noname"

Document Actions

2.6.32-zen6 "Forever and never"

Document Actions

2.6.31-zen12 "Y-O-Y"

Document Actions

2.6.33-rc5-zen1 "Jizzed in my pants"

Document Actions

2.6.32-zen5 "Omfg 2010?"

Document Actions

2.6.31-zen11 "Shawty"

Document Actions

2.6.33-rc4-zen1 "ENGAGE!"

Document Actions

2.6.32-zen4 "Maggie"

Document Actions

2.6.33-rc2-zen1 "Blue Chair"

Document Actions

2.6.32-zen3 "Hot Tea?"