Download Linux Kernel 3.17

Version 3.17 of the Linux Kernel has been released. The kernel is the heart of the operating system and, simply put, it sits as a layer between the hardware and the applications. New in version 3.17 includes support for the AMD Radeon R9 290, Xbox One controller and the free-fall in Toshiba laptops. We also see several improvements related to ARM hardware and Intel’s Braswell and Cherry Trail. More information about the improvements in this release can be found at Kernel newbies and Phoronix.

Prominent features in Linux 3.17

• Microsoft Xbox One controller support (without vibration)
• Additional improvements to Sony SIXAXIS support
• Toshiba “Active Protection Sensor” support
• New ARM support includes Rockchip RK3288 and AllWinner A23 SoCs
• “Cross-thread filter setting” for secure computing facility
• Broadcom BCM7XXX-based board support (used in various set-top boxes)
• Enhanced AMD Radeon R9 290 support
• misc. Nouveau driver improvements, including Kepler GPU fixes
• Audio support includes Wildcatpoint Audio DSP on Intel Broadwell Ultrabooks.

Prominent features in Linux 3.16

• Nvidia graphics performance improvements, initial support for GK20A devices and GK110B
• Intel graphic driver allows mapping of user pages into video memory
• Unified Control Group hierarchy
• XFS free inode btree, for faster inode allocation
• Allow booting ARM 64 kernels as EFI stubs
• TCP Fast Open server mode on IPv6 support
• Intel Cherry View graphics support
• Radeon performance improvements through improved APU power management have been enabled in some APUs