content/faq.rst - pub/scm/docs/kernel/website - Git at Google

 Frequently asked questions
 ==========================

 :slug: faq
 :category: FAQ

 If you have questions, comments or concerns about the F.A.Q. please
 contact us at webmaster@kernel.org.

 Is Linux Kernel Free Software?
 ------------------------------
 Linux kernel is released under GNU GPL version 2 and is therefore Free
 Software as defined by the `Free Software Foundation`_. You may read the
 entire copy of the license in the COPYING_ file distributed with each
 release of the Linux kernel.

 .. _`Free Software Foundation`: https://www.fsf.org/
 .. _COPYING: /pub/linux/kernel/COPYING

 What does "stable/EOL" and "longterm" mean?
 -------------------------------------------
 As kernels move from the "mainline" into the "stable" category, two
 things can happen:

 1. They can reach "End of Life" after a few bugfix revisions, which
    means that kernel maintainers will release no more bugfixes for this
    kernel version, or
 2. They can be put into "longterm" maintenance, which means that
    maintainers will provide bugfixes for this kernel revision for a
    much longer period of time.

 If the kernel version you are using is marked "EOL," you should consider
 upgrading to the next major version as there will be no more bugfixes
 provided for the kernel version you are using.

 Please check the Releases_ page for more info.

 .. _Releases: |filename|releases.rst

 Why is an LTS kernel marked as "stable" on the front page?
 ----------------------------------------------------------
 Long-term support ("LTS") kernels announced on the Releases_ page will
 be marked as "stable" on the front page if there are no other current
 stable kernel releases. This is done to avoid breaking automated parsers
 monitoring kernel.org with an expectation that there will always be a
 kernel release marked as "stable."

 Linus has tagged a new release, but it's not listed on the front page!
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Linus Torvalds PGP-signs git repository tags for all new mainline kernel
 releases, however a separate set of PGP signatures needs to be generated
 by the stable release team in order to create downloadable tarballs. Due
 to timezone differences between Linus and the members of the stable
 team, there is usually a delay of several hours between when the new
 mainline release is tagged and when PGP-signed tarballs become
 available. The front page is updated once that process is completed.

 Is there an RSS feed for the latest kernel version?
 ---------------------------------------------------
 Yes, and you can find it at https://www.kernel.org/feeds/kdist.xml.

 We also publish a .json file with the latest release information, which
 you can pull from here: https://www.kernel.org/releases.json.

 Why are there files that are dated tomorrow?
 --------------------------------------------
 All timestamps on kernel.org are in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). If
 you live in the western hemisphere your local time lags behind UTC.
 Under Linux/Unix, type ``date -u`` to get the current time in UTC.

 Can I get an account on kernel.org?
 -----------------------------------
 Kernel.org accounts are usually reserved for subsystem maintainers or
 high-profile developers. It is absolutely not necessary to have an
 account on kernel.org to contribute to the development of the Linux
 kernel, unless you submit pull requests directly to Linus.

 If you are listed in the MAINTAINERS file or have reasons to believe you
 should have an account on kernel.org because of the amount of your
 contributions, please refer to the `accounts wiki page`_ for the
 procedure to follow.

 .. _`accounts wiki page`: https://korg.wiki.kernel.org/userdoc/accounts

 I have cool project X, can you guys mirror it for me?
 -----------------------------------------------------
 Probably not. Kernel.org deals with the Linux kernel, various
 distributions of the kernel and larger repositories of packages. We do
 not mirror individual projects, software, etc as we feel there are
 better places providing mirrors for those kinds of repositories. If you
 feel that kernel.org should mirror your project, please contact
 ftpadmin@kernel.org with the following information:

 - name
 - project name
 - project website
 - detailed project description
 - reason for wanting us to mirror

 The Kernel.org admin team will then review your request and talk to you
 about it. As with any kind of account on kernel.org it's up to the
 discretion of the admin team.

 How does kernel.org provide its users access to the git trees?
 --------------------------------------------------------------
 We are using an access control system called gitolite_, originally
 written and maintained by Sitaram Chamarty. We chose gitolite for a
 number of reasons:

 - Limiting of ssh access to the system
 - Fine grained control over repository access
 - Well maintained and supported code base
 - Responsive development
 - Broad and diverse install base

 As well at the time of deployment the code had undergone an external
 code review.

 .. _gitolite: https://github.com/sitaramc/gitolite/wiki

 How do I create an -rc kernel? I get "Reversed patch detected!"
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
 -rc kernel patches are generated from the base stable release.

 For example: to create the 2.6.14-rc5 kernel, you must:

 - download 2.6.13 (not 2.6.13.4)
 - and then apply the 2.6.14-rc5 patch.

 Yes, you want 2.6.13, not 2.6.14. Remember, that's an -rc kernel, as in, 2.6.14 doesn't exist yet. :)

 Where can I find kernel 2.4.20-3.16?
 ------------------------------------
 Kernel version numbers of this form are distribution kernels, meaning
 they are modified kernels produced by distributions. Please contact the
 relevant distributor; or check out https://mirrors.kernel.org/.

 See the Releases_ page for more info on distribution kernels.

 .. _Releases: |filename|releases.rst

 I need help building/patching/fixing Linux kernel/modules/drivers!
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
 Please see the `Kernel Newbies`_ website.

 There is also a wealth of knowledge on many topics involving Linux at
 The Linux Documentation Project (http://www.tldp.org)

 For finding or reporting bugs, look through the archives for the various
 Linux mailing lists, and if no specific list seems appropriate, try the
 browsing the Linux Kernel Mailing List.

 .. _`Kernel Newbies`: http://kernelnewbies.org/

 What happened to ftp.kernel.org?
 --------------------------------
 FTP service was terminated on March 1, 2017. All content that used to be
 available via ftp.kernel.org can be accessed by browsing
 https://www.kernel.org/pub/. If you would like to use a command-line
 tool for accessing these files, you can do so with lftp:

     lftp https://www.kernel.org/pub

 When will the next kernel be released?
 --------------------------------------
 The next kernel will be released when it is ready. There is no strict
 timeline for making releases, but if you really need an educated guess,
 visit the Linux kernel `PHB Crystal Ball`_ -- it tries to provide a
 ballpark guess based on previous kernel release schedule.

 .. _`PHB Crystal Ball`: http://phb-crystal-ball.org/

 What will go into the next release?
 -----------------------------------
 It is hard to predict with certainty, but you can either take a peek at
 `linux-next`_ or read the `Linux Weather Forecast`_, where Jonathan
 Corbet provides a broad forecast of what will likely be included into
 the next mainline release.

 .. _`linux-next`: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/next/linux-next.git/
 .. _`Linux Weather Forecast`: https://www.linux.com/news/2017/7/linux-weather-forecast
	Frequently asked questions
	==========================

	:slug: faq
	:category: FAQ

	If you have questions, comments or concerns about the F.A.Q. please
	contact us at webmaster@kernel.org.

	Is Linux Kernel Free Software?
	------------------------------
	Linux kernel is released under GNU GPL version 2 and is therefore Free
	Software as defined by the `Free Software Foundation`_. You may read the
	entire copy of the license in the COPYING_ file distributed with each
	release of the Linux kernel.

	.. _`Free Software Foundation`: https://www.fsf.org/
	.. _COPYING: /pub/linux/kernel/COPYING

	What does "stable/EOL" and "longterm" mean?
	-------------------------------------------
	As kernels move from the "mainline" into the "stable" category, two
	things can happen:

	1. They can reach "End of Life" after a few bugfix revisions, which
	means that kernel maintainers will release no more bugfixes for this
	kernel version, or
	2. They can be put into "longterm" maintenance, which means that
	maintainers will provide bugfixes for this kernel revision for a
	much longer period of time.

	If the kernel version you are using is marked "EOL," you should consider
	upgrading to the next major version as there will be no more bugfixes
	provided for the kernel version you are using.

	Please check the Releases_ page for more info.

	.. _Releases: \|filename\|releases.rst

	Why is an LTS kernel marked as "stable" on the front page?
	----------------------------------------------------------
	Long-term support ("LTS") kernels announced on the Releases_ page will
	be marked as "stable" on the front page if there are no other current
	stable kernel releases. This is done to avoid breaking automated parsers
	monitoring kernel.org with an expectation that there will always be a
	kernel release marked as "stable."

	Linus has tagged a new release, but it's not listed on the front page!
	----------------------------------------------------------------------
	Linus Torvalds PGP-signs git repository tags for all new mainline kernel
	releases, however a separate set of PGP signatures needs to be generated
	by the stable release team in order to create downloadable tarballs. Due
	to timezone differences between Linus and the members of the stable
	team, there is usually a delay of several hours between when the new
	mainline release is tagged and when PGP-signed tarballs become
	available. The front page is updated once that process is completed.

	Is there an RSS feed for the latest kernel version?
	---------------------------------------------------
	Yes, and you can find it at https://www.kernel.org/feeds/kdist.xml.

	We also publish a .json file with the latest release information, which
	you can pull from here: https://www.kernel.org/releases.json.

	Why are there files that are dated tomorrow?
	--------------------------------------------
	All timestamps on kernel.org are in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). If
	you live in the western hemisphere your local time lags behind UTC.
	Under Linux/Unix, type ``date -u`` to get the current time in UTC.

	Can I get an account on kernel.org?
	-----------------------------------
	Kernel.org accounts are usually reserved for subsystem maintainers or
	high-profile developers. It is absolutely not necessary to have an
	account on kernel.org to contribute to the development of the Linux
	kernel, unless you submit pull requests directly to Linus.

	If you are listed in the MAINTAINERS file or have reasons to believe you
	should have an account on kernel.org because of the amount of your
	contributions, please refer to the `accounts wiki page`_ for the
	procedure to follow.

	.. _`accounts wiki page`: https://korg.wiki.kernel.org/userdoc/accounts

	I have cool project X, can you guys mirror it for me?
	-----------------------------------------------------
	Probably not. Kernel.org deals with the Linux kernel, various
	distributions of the kernel and larger repositories of packages. We do
	not mirror individual projects, software, etc as we feel there are
	better places providing mirrors for those kinds of repositories. If you
	feel that kernel.org should mirror your project, please contact
	ftpadmin@kernel.org with the following information:

	- name
	- project name
	- project website
	- detailed project description
	- reason for wanting us to mirror

	The Kernel.org admin team will then review your request and talk to you
	about it. As with any kind of account on kernel.org it's up to the
	discretion of the admin team.

	How does kernel.org provide its users access to the git trees?
	--------------------------------------------------------------
	We are using an access control system called gitolite_, originally
	written and maintained by Sitaram Chamarty. We chose gitolite for a
	number of reasons:

	- Limiting of ssh access to the system
	- Fine grained control over repository access
	- Well maintained and supported code base
	- Responsive development
	- Broad and diverse install base

	As well at the time of deployment the code had undergone an external
	code review.

	.. _gitolite: https://github.com/sitaramc/gitolite/wiki

	How do I create an -rc kernel? I get "Reversed patch detected!"
	---------------------------------------------------------------
	-rc kernel patches are generated from the base stable release.

	For example: to create the 2.6.14-rc5 kernel, you must:

	- download 2.6.13 (not 2.6.13.4)
	- and then apply the 2.6.14-rc5 patch.

	Yes, you want 2.6.13, not 2.6.14. Remember, that's an -rc kernel, as in, 2.6.14 doesn't exist yet. :)

	Where can I find kernel 2.4.20-3.16?
	------------------------------------
	Kernel version numbers of this form are distribution kernels, meaning
	they are modified kernels produced by distributions. Please contact the
	relevant distributor; or check out https://mirrors.kernel.org/.

	See the Releases_ page for more info on distribution kernels.

	.. _Releases: \|filename\|releases.rst

	I need help building/patching/fixing Linux kernel/modules/drivers!
	------------------------------------------------------------------
	Please see the `Kernel Newbies`_ website.

	There is also a wealth of knowledge on many topics involving Linux at
	The Linux Documentation Project (http://www.tldp.org)

	For finding or reporting bugs, look through the archives for the various
	Linux mailing lists, and if no specific list seems appropriate, try the
	browsing the Linux Kernel Mailing List.

	.. _`Kernel Newbies`: http://kernelnewbies.org/

	What happened to ftp.kernel.org?
	--------------------------------
	FTP service was terminated on March 1, 2017. All content that used to be
	available via ftp.kernel.org can be accessed by browsing
	https://www.kernel.org/pub/. If you would like to use a command-line
	tool for accessing these files, you can do so with lftp:

	lftp https://www.kernel.org/pub

	When will the next kernel be released?
	--------------------------------------
	The next kernel will be released when it is ready. There is no strict
	timeline for making releases, but if you really need an educated guess,
	visit the Linux kernel `PHB Crystal Ball`_ -- it tries to provide a
	ballpark guess based on previous kernel release schedule.

	.. _`PHB Crystal Ball`: http://phb-crystal-ball.org/

	What will go into the next release?
	-----------------------------------
	It is hard to predict with certainty, but you can either take a peek at
	`linux-next`_ or read the `Linux Weather Forecast`_, where Jonathan
	Corbet provides a broad forecast of what will likely be included into
	the next mainline release.

	.. _`linux-next`: https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/next/linux-next.git/
	.. _`Linux Weather Forecast`: https://www.linux.com/news/2017/7/linux-weather-forecast