Phoronix reports that early testing of the Linux 6.6 kernel shows impressive gains for AMD’s high core count server processors, particularly the EPYC 9754 “Bergamo.” The new Linux 6.6 kernel features the Earliest Eligible Virtual Deadline First (EEVDF) scheduler, which is a major improvement over the existing Completely Fair Scheduler (CFS). The EEVDF scheduler has shown to help with latency sensitive tasks and has led to a lot of CFS code being removed. Additionally, the Linux 6.6 workqueue improvements benefit AMD CPUs and other chiplet-based CPUs with multiple L3 caches. In testing, Linux 6.6 has shown dramatic improvements on higher core count processors like the AMD EPYC 9754.

The article discusses the testing of the Linux 6.6 kernel on an AMD EPYC 9754 server configuration with 128 cores and 256 threads per socket. The benchmarks were carried out using Linux 6.5.1 stable and then with Linux 6.6-rc1. The results showed significant performance improvements with the Linux 6.6 kernel.

Source: Phoronix.

A post on Hackaday shows an interactive map of the Linux kernel that has been created by Costa Shulyupin. The map shows the structure of the kernel and includes over 400 prominent functions, each of which is a link to a cross-reference site for further information. The kernel is divided into 7 rows and 7 columns, with domains such as security, debugging, block devices, and address families. The map also includes arrows to show the relationships between different functions.

This interactive map of the Linux kernel is a valuable resource for those interested in understanding the structure and functionality of the kernel. It provides a visual representation of the major levels of abstraction and includes links to definitions and usages of specific functions. By exploring the map, users can gain a deeper understanding of how the kernel operates and how different functions are interconnected. This knowledge can help in troubleshooting, optimizing performance, and developing software that interact with the kernel. Additionally, the map serves as a gateway to further learning, allowing users to delve into specific domains and terms related to the Linux kernel.

If you would like to learn more about the Linux kernel, consider one of these books ☺️

• How Linux Works: What Every Superuser Should Know by Brian Ward
• Linux Kernel Development by Robert Love
• Understanding the Linux Kernel by Daniel Bovet and Marco Cesati

Source: Hackaday.