Linux kernel 6.2 supports Apple’s Arm-based M1 and M2 processors by default. Intel Arc GPUs, Intel Skylake processors and Nvidia RTX 30 Series GPUs are also now better supported.
The new version of the Linux kernel was released on time and only with a few minor fixes, according to Linux guru Linus Torvalds. Version 6.2 is still an experimental build, but experts do expect this version to form the basis for the upcoming Ubuntu Linux distribution, for example.
Support for Apple processors
The main updates in this version concern support for Apple’s Arm-based M1 processors. In the middle of last year, Torvalds announced this sought-after support, but as of now it is available to a wider audience. Until now, Linux fans could only use the Asahi Linux distribution to run the OS on M1 and M2 processors.
Linux 6.2 now offers Mac users with M1 processors support for scaling these processors, devicetree support so that the open-source OS runs as intended on Apple hardware, and Bluetooth driver compatibility for both M1, and M2 processors, among other things.
Support for Apple M2 processors is still limited in Linux 6.2, however, and is still in a development phase.
Intel and Nvidia
In addition to support for Apple processors, Linux 6.2 now offers more support for Intel Arc GPUs. Intel Skylake processors are also now more widely served.
For the latter processors, the support mainly focuses on Intel Call Depth Tracking to improve the performance of older processors. This feature prevents the Retbleed hardware error, in which the root password hash for Linux systems is leaked from Intel and also AMD processors.
Furthermore, Nvidia RTX 30 Series GPUs are also supported. For this, Linux 6.2 provides a new open-source device driver for Nvidia cards.
Other updates
Other updates include the introduction of the new RV (Runtime Verification) tool. This tool allows developers to check the running of the runtime verification system. Furthermore, the Linux 6.2 kernel provides support for the new Rust infrastructure, various storage and security functionality and support for Wi-Fi 7 technology.
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