Oracle Linux Launches UEK-next: Preview and Test the Latest Linux Features
Are you a developer looking to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to Linux kernel updates? Oracle Linux has just announced the launch of UEK-next, a cutting-edge offering that combines upstream Linux kernels with Oracle Linux patches. This allows users to preview and test the latest Linux features and hardware support before they are officially released in Oracle Linux.
Oracle’s Senior Vice President of Linux Kernel Development, Greg Marsden, provided further details about this exciting announcement in a recent blog post. UEK-next is not intended for production use but offers developers the opportunity to explore the latest upstream Linux kernels on their Oracle Linux 9 systems through a dedicated developer yum channel.
One of the key features of UEK-next is the use of the Linux Upstream Continuous Integration (LUCI) system to manage Linux kernel patches. This system ensures that all patches integrated into the UEK are continuously validated against the latest upstream Linux releases, serving as an early warning system for potential conflicts and encouraging developers to stay informed about upstream kernel developments.
In addition, Oracle utilizes LUCI to generate nightly Linux kernel builds, ensuring that patches are applied correctly and alerting developers of any potential disruptions. This process simplifies the identification of upstream issues that could impact UEK and facilitates the testing of upstream features on critical Oracle workloads before integration.
If you’re interested in exploring UEK-next’s kernel configuration, Oracle Linux has published a detailed post on their blog. The post highlights the importance of examining the kernel configuration to uncover the features enabled in a particular kernel. UEK-next kernel configurations are stored in the uek-rpm directory, organized by architectures for Intel, AMD, and ARM platforms.
Oracle believes that enabling customers to test their applications and workloads on the newest Linux versions is key to preventing vendor lock-in with the operating system provider. UEK-next is accessible through Oracle Linux 9 yum repositories, and Oracle Linux VirtualBox images are available for those seeking a virtual machine environment.
So, if you’re a developer looking to stay on the cutting edge of Linux kernel updates, be sure to check out UEK-next from Oracle Linux. With its innovative approach to integrating upstream Linux kernels and Oracle Linux patches, UEK-next offers a valuable opportunity to preview and test the latest Linux features before they are officially released.