All GNU/Linux distributions should adopt Linux kernel 4.9

Jan 19, 2017 23:59 GMT  ·  By

Linux kernel maintainer Greg Kroah-Hartman has confirmed today, January 19, 2017, in a short message on his Google+ page, that the Linux 4.9 branch is now marked as "longterm," or as some of you know as LTS (Long-Term Support).

The story behind Linux kernel 4.9 becoming the next long-term supported series dates from way before its launch last month, on December 11, when Linus Torvalds officially announced the new branch. It all started back on August 12, 2016, when Greg Kroah-Hartman dropped a quick Google+ post to say "4.9 == next LTS kernel."

Immediately after, the media reporting began, informing the Linux community that Linux kernel 4.9 would become the next long-term supported branch, but it didn't happen because Kroah-Hartman changed his mind a month later, on September 6, when he reserved his right to mark Linux 4.9 as "longterm" on the kernel.org website.

"I reserve the right not to pick 4.9 and support it for two years, if it’s a major pain because people abused this notice. If so, I’ll possibly drop back to 4.8, or just wait for 4.10 to be released. I’ll let everyone know by updating the kernel.org releases page when it’s time," said the developer in a follow-up article published on his personal blog.

Linux kernel 4.9 to be supported for two years, until January 2019

Fast forward to present day, and after Linux kernel 4.9 already received four point releases, the latest being Linux 4.9.4, Greg Kroah-Hartman announced that Linux 4.9 is ready to be marked as "longterm" by saying "Yes, 4.9 is the next longterm kernel. I've been saying that for a while, but somehow if it wasn't on the kernel.org website, no one believed me."

Of course, this comes as great news for most GNU/Linux users because the Linux 4.9 kernel branch adds numerous exciting new features, especially initial support for AMD Radeon GPUs from the GNC 1.0 / Southern Islands family to use the open-source AMDGPU graphics driver, including AMD Radeon HD 7xxx and 8xxx series.

According to Greg Kroah-Hartman, Linux kernel 4.9 will be supported until January 2019, for two years from the moment of writing this article. As such, it is recommended that all GNU/Linux distributions adopt this branch, especially if they're using Linux 4.8, which reached end of life earlier this month.