Linux kernel 6.18 has been officially released, marking it as a significant update in the Linux series. One of the notable changes in this version is the complete removal of support for the Bcachefs file system, which is now accessible only as a DKMS module.
Linus Torvalds announced that this iteration comes with enhanced hardware support through updated drivers, improvements to file systems, networking capabilities, and several new features. Key highlights include:
- Introduction of the Rust Binder driver.
- A new dm-pcache device-mapper target that enables persistent memory caching for slower block devices.
- A
microcode=command-line option to manage microcode loader behavior on x86 systems. - Extended file handles support within kernel namespaces.
- Initial support for ‘block size > page size’ in the Btrfs file system.
- Support for LoongArch KVM hardware, enabling detection of PTW features.
- Compatibility for running the kernel as a guest on FreeBSD’s Bhyve hypervisor.
The update also includes support for TCP connections with PSP encryption, mixed completion queue event sizes, and improved performance across various systems. Notably, enhancements in the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) allow virtualization of control-flow enforcement technologies for both Intel and AMD systems.
There have been significant improvements to the EXT4 file system and the TCP stack, including features to handle superblock parameters and support for Accurate Explicit Congestion Notification. Additionally, security-related updates introduce features like multi-module handling in the audit subsystem and program signing for BPF.
With 6.18 now available, users can download it from kernel.org or through Linus Torvalds’ git tree if they wish to compile the kernel manually. However, it is advised to wait for the new kernel to become available in stable software repositories of various distributions before upgrading.
This release may be the last kernel of the year and could potentially be designated as the next Long-Term Support (LTS) kernel, pending confirmation from Greg Kroah-Hartman. The merge window for the upcoming Linux 6.19 branch has opened, with a release expected in early February 2026 and a public testing release candidate set for December 14.
For more information and further releases, check out the announcements on the official Linux Kernel Mailing List.