This tarball contains the initial kernel 2.6.16 patches for the Linux on System z9 and zSeries "October 2005 stream".
(Note that the original "October 2005 stream" was based on kernel 2.6.13.)
Kernel 2.6.16 contains a lot of new functionality, of which - from the Linux on System z9 and zSeries perspective - the following items are of special interest:
kernel:
oprofile now supports recording of call graphs for in kernel profiling sessions
In addition to the already existing crypto algorithms, modules that make use of CPACF acceleration for AES-128 and SHA-256 are provided
networking:
"V=V QDIO Pass-thru" exploits z/VM 5.2 "QDIO Enhanced Buffer-State Management" (QEBSM) for OSA, HiperSockets, and FCP on z9-109, z990, and z890 -- allowing a Linux guest to initiate QDIO operations directly to the applicable channel, without interception by z/VM.
Linux QDIO recognizes (and reacts appropriately) when required hardware- and z/VM-support (QEBSM) are available
and enabled.
Support for GuestLAN Sniffer for use with z/VM 5.2 tracing capability on a guest LAN or VSWITCH
The following device drivers are being deprecated (no longer recommended/supported):
CLAW
CTC
IUCV network device -- Note that the IUCV-infrastructure is not being deprecated
common I/O layer (cio):
Multiple Subchannel Sets (MSS) support on z9-109 allows an increased number of subchannels
Storage - ESCON/FICON:
DASD device driver now supports
DIAG250 interface to DASD devices for 64 bit guests (requires z/VM 5.2 support)
special request flag "REQ_FAILFAST" to return requests immediately, in case the device is not operational
Storage - FCP:
zfcp was adapted to exploit the Fibre Channel (FC) transport class with FC specific transport attributes in sysfs for hosts and target ports.
This patch delivers kerntypes for the vanilla kernel 2.6.16 kernel as well as bug-fixes, which make the above mentioned kernel items recommended features of the "October 2005 stream".
Everybody should apply this patch.
To create the complete linux kernel sources, the following
patches need to be applied in sequence:
