-Everything you ever wanted to know about Linux -stable releases.
+Everything you ever wanted to know about Linux -stable releases
+===============================================================
Rules on what kind of patches are accepted, and which ones are not, into the
"-stable" tree:
- It or an equivalent fix must already exist in Linus' tree (upstream).
-Procedure for submitting patches to the -stable tree:
+Procedure for submitting patches to the -stable tree
+----------------------------------------------------
- If the patch covers files in net/ or drivers/net please follow netdev stable
submission guidelines as described in
- Security patches should not be handled (solely) by the -stable review
process but should follow the procedures in Documentation/SecurityBugs.
-For all other submissions, choose one of the following procedures:
+For all other submissions, choose one of the following procedures
+-----------------------------------------------------------------
- --- Option 1 ---
+.. _option_1:
+
+Option 1
+********
+
+To have the patch automatically included in the stable tree, add the tag
+
+.. code-block:: none
- To have the patch automatically included in the stable tree, add the tag
Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org
- in the sign-off area. Once the patch is merged it will be applied to
- the stable tree without anything else needing to be done by the author
- or subsystem maintainer.
- --- Option 2 ---
+in the sign-off area. Once the patch is merged it will be applied to
+the stable tree without anything else needing to be done by the author
+or subsystem maintainer.
+
+.. _option_2:
- After the patch has been merged to Linus' tree, send an email to
- stable@vger.kernel.org containing the subject of the patch, the commit ID,
- why you think it should be applied, and what kernel version you wish it to
- be applied to.
+Option 2
+********
- --- Option 3 ---
+After the patch has been merged to Linus' tree, send an email to
+stable@vger.kernel.org containing the subject of the patch, the commit ID,
+why you think it should be applied, and what kernel version you wish it to
+be applied to.
- Send the patch, after verifying that it follows the above rules, to
- stable@vger.kernel.org. You must note the upstream commit ID in the
- changelog of your submission, as well as the kernel version you wish
- it to be applied to.
+.. _option_3:
-Option 1 is *strongly* preferred, is the easiest and most common. Options 2 and
-3 are more useful if the patch isn't deemed worthy at the time it is applied to
-a public git tree (for instance, because it deserves more regression testing
-first). Option 3 is especially useful if the patch needs some special handling
-to apply to an older kernel (e.g., if API's have changed in the meantime).
+Option 3
+********
-Note that for Option 3, if the patch deviates from the original upstream patch
-(for example because it had to be backported) this must be very clearly
-documented and justified in the patch description.
+Send the patch, after verifying that it follows the above rules, to
+stable@vger.kernel.org. You must note the upstream commit ID in the
+changelog of your submission, as well as the kernel version you wish
+it to be applied to.
+
+:ref:`option_1` is **strongly** preferred, is the easiest and most common.
+:ref:`option_2` and :ref:`option_3` are more useful if the patch isn't deemed
+worthy at the time it is applied to a public git tree (for instance, because
+it deserves more regression testing first). :ref:`option_3` is especially
+useful if the patch needs some special handling to apply to an older kernel
+(e.g., if API's have changed in the meantime).
+
+Note that for :ref:`option_3`, if the patch deviates from the original
+upstream patch (for example because it had to be backported) this must be very
+clearly documented and justified in the patch description.
The upstream commit ID must be specified with a separate line above the commit
text, like this:
+.. code-block:: none
+
commit <sha1> upstream.
Additionally, some patches submitted via Option 1 may have additional patch
prerequisites which can be cherry-picked. This can be specified in the following
format in the sign-off area:
+.. code-block:: none
+
Cc: <stable@vger.kernel.org> # 3.3.x: a1f84a3: sched: Check for idle
Cc: <stable@vger.kernel.org> # 3.3.x: 1b9508f: sched: Rate-limit newidle
Cc: <stable@vger.kernel.org> # 3.3.x: fd21073: sched: Fix affinity logic
Cc: <stable@vger.kernel.org> # 3.3.x
- Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar <mingo@elte.hu>
+ Signed-off-by: Ingo Molnar <mingo@elte.hu>
+
+The tag sequence has the meaning of:
+
+.. code-block:: none
- The tag sequence has the meaning of:
git cherry-pick a1f84a3
git cherry-pick 1b9508f
git cherry-pick fd21073
Also, some patches may have kernel version prerequisites. This can be
specified in the following format in the sign-off area:
+.. code-block:: none
+
Cc: <stable@vger.kernel.org> # 3.3.x-
- The tag has the meaning of:
+The tag has the meaning of:
+
+.. code-block:: none
+
git cherry-pick <this commit>
- For each "-stable" tree starting with the specified version.
+For each "-stable" tree starting with the specified version.
Following the submission:
other developers and by the relevant subsystem maintainer.
-Review cycle:
+Review cycle
+------------
- When the -stable maintainers decide for a review cycle, the patches will be
sent to the review committee, and the maintainer of the affected area of
security kernel team, and not go through the normal review cycle.
Contact the kernel security team for more details on this procedure.
-Trees:
+Trees
+-----
- The queues of patches, for both completed versions and in progress
versions can be found at:
+
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/stable-queue.git
+
- The finalized and tagged releases of all stable kernels can be found
in separate branches per version at:
+
http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/stable/linux-stable.git
-Review committee:
+Review committee
+----------------
- This is made up of a number of kernel developers who have volunteered for
this task, and a few that haven't.