After multiple setbacks and consecutive delays, the latest Linux kernel, slated for release mid last year, has finally hit the Internet.
Linux version 2.4.0 went live just five hours ago and can now be downloaded free-of-charge at www.au.kernel.org.
"Because it's an open source project it doesn't run to deadlines," Linux Australia's Anand Kumria told ZDNet. "However, over the past couple of months pressure has been mounting as fewer bugs have been found," he added.
Improvements on the server side of things mean that servers with multiple network cards will see a networking benefit of 20 to 30 percent, according to Anand.
Version 2.4.0 also has supports for 64-bit memory on Intel architecture - which only Microsoft has supported previously - and refinements made to the virtual memory make the system more stable.
On the desktop side improvements to Linux mean hardware accelerates all 3D cards, the latest version provides support for every portable bus - including Bluetooth - and again virtual memory seems to respond faster.
The latest Linux kernel can be imported to the new Intel Itanium chip, Hewlett Packard precision architecture risk chip, IBM's S390 mainframe and also the Compac iPac.
"Now, rather than 100,000 users we have a million or two. Very few products get that kind of testing coverage," Anand said.
"It means fewer problems at the end of the day."
