Tag: Linux

  • AMD RDNA 4 GPUs Launch with Exceptional Linux Support

    AMD RDNA 4 GPUs Launch with Exceptional Linux Support

    Support for cutting-edge hardware has often been inconsistent on Linux, but it seems that the new AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT GPUs might be an exception, possibly due to their unusual release timing.

    AMD’s Commitment to Linux

    As reported by Phoronix, AMD’s RADV open-source Vulkan driver for Linux has already been updated to include support for the unreleased AMD RDNA 4 GPUs. This information was shared by Samuel Ptoiset, who is the lead of Valve’s Linux graphic driver team. He assured that the support for RDNA 4 at launch would be “good enough.”

    Ptoiset mentioned, “This initial support should be good enough but it’s missing two features (cooperative matrix and video decode/encode) compared to GFX11 (RDNA3) because lack of time.”

    Ongoing Developments

    While there are still some features missing, such as Delta Colour Compression and Vulkan Video support, work is actively ongoing to address these gaps. Ptoiset expressed optimism that these final details could be completed ahead of the RDNA 4 launch in March. He stated, “DCC is still under active development, but it might be possible to finish it during the RC period.”

    Even if these features are not ready by the time the Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT GPUs are released, they are still expected to be functional. This is a more favorable situation compared to what often occurs with new hardware. After the launch, efforts will likely focus on enhancing support and performance for specific features, while also fixing any bugs that may arise.

    Upcoming Driver Updates

    The new RADV open-source driver will be included in the Mesa 25.0 update, which is anticipated to be available by the end of February, aligning perfectly with the release of the Radeon 9070 series GPUs. These updates will probably require a relatively recent kernel version, and Phoronix estimates that the minimum requirement will be Linux 6.13 or 6.14.

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  • Facebook Bans Linux Posts, Labels FOSS as Cybersecurity Threat

    Facebook Bans Linux Posts, Labels FOSS as Cybersecurity Threat

    With the Valve Steam Deck increasing in popularity, conversations about Linux are booming among PC gamers. However, it seems that Facebook and its parent company, Meta, are not keen on these discussions continuing.

    Ban on Linux Mentions

    DistroWatch, a well-known site that focuses on various Linux topics, has reportedly faced a ban on posts that mention Linux. After DistroWatch appealed to restore its removed content, Facebook reviewed the posts but decided not to reinstate them. Furthermore, a post from Tom’s Hardware suggests that DistroWatch is not the only one experiencing this issue. Other communities and pages have also been shut down, and some users have even had their personal accounts disabled for discussing Linux.

    Reason Behind Removal

    The alleged justification for these removals is that Linux content “may facilitate the sharing, creation or hosting of malicious content.” Initially, it appeared that Linux-related posts would be completely banned. However, posts have been made on DistroWatch’s Facebook page since the ban on January 20. A simple test was conducted by posting a public message containing a DistroWatch link and the word “Linux,” which surprisingly was not taken down. Thus, the exact cause of these bans and removals remains uncertain.

    A Contradictory Situation

    Interestingly, this situation arises just weeks after Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook announced that the platform would ease its content moderation rules to encourage discussions on more “controversial topics.”

    Meta’s community standards outline what constitutes “malicious software” and related issues:

    We prohibit:

    Unauthorized attempts to access accounts, including trying to get into accounts or profiles that don’t belong to you through deceptive means or without permission from the owner.

    Acquiring or asking for another user’s login or sensitive information to gain unauthorized access, which includes tactics like phishing—creating fake communications to trick users into giving private information.

    Attempts to share or create harmful code, which means encouraging users to download files or applications that can compromise their security, like malware, spyware, or ransomware designed to harm systems or steal money.

    Lack of Clarity on Violations

    It’s not clear if DistroWatch’s posts have broken any of these Meta community guidelines, but none of the recent posts appear to be particularly harmful upon initial review.

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  • Linux Update Could Reduce Server Energy Use by 30%

    Linux Update Could Reduce Server Energy Use by 30%

    The shift first highlighted in a study back in December 2023 is quite remarkable. By altering just 30 lines of code, data throughput can see an increase of as much as 45% while not notably extending the processing time for each request.

    Energy Efficiency Gains

    Simultaneously, there is a notable reduction in energy usage. With computing resources being heavily utilized, a decrease of up to 30% is anticipated. Given that a vast majority of servers globally operate on Linux, this could lead to a massive amount of electricity being conserved.

    As it stands, servers and data centers are estimated to consume around 500 terawatt-hours at present, and this figure is expected to double in the coming years. A mere 10% reduction in that consumption would be enough to entirely power a smaller industrial nation, such as Denmark.

    Optimizing Workflows

    Professor Karstens, one of the authors of the study, states that these advancements don’t necessitate any modifications to the Linux kernel. The key lies in optimizing workflows to reduce the number of interrupt requests sent to the processor.

    Interrupt requests (IRQs) serve to halt program execution to redirect resources elsewhere. After that shift, the program resumes from where it was interrupted.

    However, this method proves to be quite inefficient. By adjusting the kernel, the processor’s cache can be utilized more effectively, and the volume of interrupts can be lowered considerably. Therefore, servers can operate quicker and experience fewer interruptions, especially during peak loads.

    Implementation Challenges

    That’s just the theory, of course. It’s understood that applying these changes in actual servers and data centers will require some time. With the release of version 6.13 of the Linux kernel, the anticipated modifications have been integrated and are expected to be realized in future Linux updates.

    University of Waterloo, Proceedings of the ACM on Measurement and Analysis of Computing Systems, linux.org

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