Daily update · Aug 25, 2026
Linux 7.3 merge window: FUSE zero-copy, NTFS WOF, and KVM ARM64 updates
A look at the most interesting changes landing in the 7.3 merge window.
In brief
This merge window brings notable filesystem and virtualization work: FUSE io-uring gets zero-copy support, NTFS gains read-only Windows System Compression, and KVM for ARM64 adds PMU and pKVM improvements. Driver subsystems also see new hardware support and removals of obsolete code.
Filesystems
FUSE io-uring transport gets zero-copy and buffer pools
The FUSE merge improves the io-uring transport with buffer pools and zero-copy support, removes the 128k buffered read limit, and includes many bug fixes.
Why it matters: FUSE filesystems using io-uring may see lower overhead; large buffered reads are no longer artificially capped.
NTFS adds read-only Windows System Compression (WOF) support
A new optional config enables reading WOF-compressed files via XPRESS and LZX decompressors, including resident and non-resident metadata handling.
Why it matters: Linux can now read files compressed with Windows System Compression on NTFS volumes, useful for dual-boot and data recovery.
CIFS/SMB client gets security and stability fixes
The merge clears sensitive key material after use, fixes fscache synchronization and truncation handling, prevents out-of-bounds access, and addresses DFS cache and unmount issues.
Why it matters: SMB users should see fewer hangs and crashes, with better handling of POSIX attributes and hard links.
EROFS adds SEEK_HOLE/DATA, splice, and large folios
EROFS in inode_share mode now supports SEEK_HOLE/SEEK_DATA, splice(), and large folios, along with a buffer resizing fix.
Why it matters: Users of EROFS (common in Android and embedded) get better file-seek behavior and potential performance improvements.
Virtualization
KVM ARM64: PMU slot events, pKVM lazy save/restore, nested virt
ARM64 KVM adds slot-based PMU events with new UAPI, lazy save/restore of vCPU state for pKVM, and leverages FEAT_NV2p1/NV3 to reduce traps in nested virtualization.
Why it matters: Virtualization on ARM64 becomes more flexible for performance monitoring and more efficient for protected VMs and nested hypervisors.
Drivers
USB and Thunderbolt driver updates
The USB/Thunderbolt merge brings new device IDs, xhci fixes, and Type-C/gadget updates.
Why it matters: Broader hardware support and improved stability for USB and Thunderbolt devices.
TTY/serial: new 8250_mxpcie driver, ipwireless removal
Adds a new 8250_mxpcie serial driver and removes the obsolete ipwireless driver, along with other serial updates.
Why it matters: New hardware support and cleanup of a legacy driver.
Char/misc: IIO additions and legacy driver removals
Includes many IIO driver updates and additions, binder updates, and removal of the insecure SGI XP/GRU and obsolete ibmasm drivers.
Why it matters: More sensor/industrial I/O support and removal of unused, potentially insecure drivers.
Embedded
Bootconfig supports build-time embedded command line
The bootconfig tooling can now render an embedded bootconfig 'kernel' subtree into a command-line string at build time, and x86 wires it in before early_param parsing.
Why it matters: Embedded systems can bake kernel parameters into the kernel image without a separate bootloader step.
Remoteproc adds AMD MicroBlaze driver and Qualcomm PAS service
A new driver supports AMD MicroBlaze/V soft cores on dual-port BRAM, and Qualcomm remoteproc drivers migrate to a generic PAS service with SCM/OP-TEE backends, plus new SoC support.
Why it matters: More embedded SoCs can manage remote processors, with a unified Qualcomm implementation.
RPMSG fixes GLINK teardown deadlock and races
Fixes a GLINK endpoint teardown deadlock during driver detach, orders SMEM FIFO reads after availability checks, and prevents duplicate char endpoint teardown.
Why it matters: More reliable communication with remote processors on Qualcomm platforms.
Source commits1640 entries +
Merge tag 'cifs-fixes-7.3-rc1' of https://git.manguebit.org/linux
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 22 files
Merge tag 'fuse-update-7.3' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/mszeredi/fuse
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 27 files
Merge tag 'ntfs-for-7.3-rc1' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/linkinjeon/ntfs
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 30 files
Merge tag 'bootconfig-v7.3' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/trace/linux-trace
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 12 files
Merge tag 'char-misc-7.3-rc1' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/gregkh/char-misc
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 764 files
Merge tag 'staging-7.3-rc1' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/gregkh/staging
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 99 files
Merge tag 'usb-7.3-rc1' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/gregkh/usb
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 140 files
Merge tag 'tty-7.3-rc1' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/gregkh/tty
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 81 files
Merge tag 'for-linus' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/virt/kvm/kvm
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 318 files
Merge tag 'erofs-for-7.3-rc1-2' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/xiang/erofs
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 5 files
Merge tag 'rproc-v7.3' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/remoteproc/linux
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 58 files
Merge tag 'rpmsg-v7.3' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/remoteproc/linux
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 6 files
Merge tag 'hwlock-v7.3' of git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/remoteproc/linux
Linus Torvalds · Aug 25, 2026 · 2 files