kernel versions

[CTho9305]

Can anyone explain the order from oldest to newest? The x.y.z is easy to get, but the "-prex.y" and "test" ones don't make sense. "-acx" is Alan Cox's, but how do the versions compare? Also, why did I recently read about a new 2.2.something kernel? Do the older versions get worked on too?

thanks

 

[Damaged]

Well, hmm. The first number refers to the series version. Hence we're using series 2 kernels right now. The second number determines whether you're using stable or unstable (development) kernels. If the second number is even it's a stable tree, if it's odd it's a development tree. Hence 2.4 is the latest stable, and 2.5 will be the next development in the 2 series.

Finally the last set of numbers has refers to the revision number. So, if I'm correct, the latest stable kernel is 2.4.2.

Since the 2.4 stuff is just out as stable there's probably still some last minute work going on on the 2.2 series stuff yet. I would think shortly that that will get "frozen" so to speak. It's not uncommon to see some revisions appear in the last stable tree shortly after the latest one comes out.

Does that help?

 

[CTho9305]

Thanks. I think I get it now. So you're saying 2.3 was a devel kernel, 2.2 was the last stable. Since 2.4.x is new, they're still keeping the 2.2.x's secure/stable/etc while working on the 2.4.x's? and 2.3.x is just gone.

 

[Damaged]

Pretty much, yes. 2.3 isn't gone actually, it's just that you probably won't see any new revisions in there anymore as that was the development tree leading up to 2.4. So any new work for that is now in the 2.4 tree.

If you go to kernel.org you can look at all those versions. They always keep them around. Heck you can go back and look at the version 1 stuff if you like.

 

[Soybomb]

Think of the odd numbers like a betas

2.2 was teh next to last stable kernel
2.3 was a development series, it gets refined until its stable and then is known as 2.4
2.4 is the current series, with 2.4.2 being the latest revision
next they will work on 2.5, which will be unstable, but will develop into 2.6, or they will start work on 3......