Linux 7.1 First Release Candidate Available: Significant NTFS Performance Boost, End of i486 Processor Support
Linux founder Linus Torvalds recently announced the release of Linux 7.1-rc1. This release marks the official closing of the merge window, with developers submitting a large number of new features, patches, and items for removal before the deadline. These changes will undergo several months of rigorous testing before being publicly released.
For users still using older hardware, this kernel update is significant as Linux begins to gradually phase out support for i486 processors. Relevant configuration files have been deleted, but the code removal process still needs to proceed cautiously to ensure that it does not affect the stability of other functions. In addition, support for some outdated network hardware is also being cleaned up, and support for some on-chip system platforms that "never actually entered the market" has also been removed.
The termination of i486 support has been a focus of industry attention in recent weeks. However, in terms of actual impact, the number of affected users is expected to be small, after all, the i486 processor was launched in 1989 and discontinued in 2007.
Despite numerous removal projects, the total amount of code in Linux 7.1 has actually increased significantly, as a large number of new features have been added simultaneously. The most notable improvement is the complete restructuring of the NTFS driver program. This new implementation will bring significant file transfer speeds and higher security for users of Windows and Linux dual systems. Because it no longer relies on the FUSE driver mechanism with its large overhead, efficiency will be greatly improved when transferring files between different system partitions.
There are also many highlights in hardware support. Linux 7.1 adds preliminary support for Intel Xe3P_LPG and Nova Lake P graphics architectures, and the Nouveau driver also adds support for NVIDIA GA100 accelerators. For handheld gaming players, the Lenovo Legion Go driver has also been improved, and the gaming experience will be smoother.
Regarding the development pace of this update, Torvalds said that the situation currently looks "quite normal," which is a positive signal for the timely release of the official version in a few months. He pointed out that what often causes delays is the complex and chaotic situation that arises in the later stages of development, but at least from the current stage, the progress of Linux 7.1 remains under control.