Kernel: New Maintainer for x86 Branch
Back at the Kernel Summit in September Andi Kleen announced that he would no longer be maintaining the i386 and x86_64 branches if they were merged in the new x86 branch. A new patch shows that Kleen has kept his promise.
The patch changes the x86 architecture maintainer, making it obvious that Andi Kleen is no longer in charge.
At the Kernel Summit 2007, Kleen crticized Linus Torvalds who was still officially the maintainer of the i386 branch for not putting enough effort into maintaining the code. Torvalds referred to i386 as obsolete in five years and proposed merging it with the "x86 Architecture" branch. From now on, Thomas Gleixner, Ingo Molnar and H. Peter Anvin will be maintaining the code which now includes both the i386 and x86_64 architectures.
The proposal to merge these two kernel branches was made by Thomas Gleixner on the Linux Kernel Mailing List in July. This step is likely to facilitate troubleshooting and debugging in future. At the same time, it will make it easier and faster to implement new features.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.