Linux 6.2 removes opt-in for Intel DG2 graphics

Linus Torvalds released Linux 6.2 on 19 February 2023. He said the final week brought small fixes and that remaining minor regressions would be handled through stable updates.

Tux: Larry Ewing, Garrett LeSage, IFo Hancroft.

DG2 clears an enablement hurdle

The i915 graphics driver drops the force_probe requirement for Intel DG2 graphics. Previously, users needed an explicit override to make the driver probe that platform. The change by Intel developer Matt Roper enables it by default, citing settled user-facing kernel interfaces and healthy continuous-integration results.

The change is present in the released 6.2 source; the corresponding DG2 configuration in 6.1 still carries the opt-in flag. This is a kernel-driver enablement change. It does not establish application performance or certify every graphics configuration.

A new route around congestion

Linux 6.2 also adds TCP Protective Load Balancing, or PLB. With compatible congestion control and suitable network switches, it can react to sustained congestion by changing an outgoing IPv6 flow label. That can send the connection along a different network path.

PLB is disabled by default and needs a congestion signal. The documented mechanism has no effect on IPv4 headers without further changes. Operators therefore get a configurable mechanism rather than an automatic improvement for every connection.

Earlier coverage: Linux 6.1 adds Rust foundations.