Linux kernel 2.6.15 with improved NTFS support
Summary
In January 2006, after seven release candidates, Linus Torvalds released kernel 2.6.15. It brought changes to software RAID, an NTFS driver with limited write support and initial support for the Linksys NSLU2 NAS. The function vm_insert_page() was controversial, as Torvalds also made it available to Nvidia’s proprietary drivers.
Ideas
- The NTFS driver could change file sizes, but not create or delete files.
- With heavily fragmented files, the driver refused write access instead of damaging data.
- Opening a kernel function to binary drivers triggered fundamental debates.
- The new kernel required udev 071.
- The old Bluetooth driver bluetty gave way to the BlueZ stack.
Insights
- With foreign file systems, careful error handling is more important than the range of features.
- Dealing with proprietary drivers remains a permanent conflict in kernel development.
Facts
- 2.6.15 appeared after seven release candidates.
- Support for the Linksys NSLU2 entered the kernel step by step.
References
Critique
- The report presents the debate about binary drivers briefly, without giving Torvalds’ reasoning.
Remarks
- Full NTFS write access first came via ntfs-3g over FUSE; since Linux 5.15 there has been the ntfs3 kernel driver.
Recommendations
- Back up data before writing to foreign file systems such as NTFS under Linux.
- With kernel updates, check the requirements for user space tools such as udev.
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