Even Numbered Kernels

[Gordon Keehn]

Gain Paolo Mureddu wrote:

> Michael Scottaline wrote:
>
>> On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 17:56:58 -0500
>> Steven Pasternak <stevenp500 at bellsouth.net> insightfully noted:
>>
>> SP>How come the big popular kernels are even numbered minor releases?
>> SP>Kernel 2.0,  2.2, 2.4, and 2.6 are the only ones used. Why don't (or
>> SP>didn't) distros ship  with 2.1, 2.3, and 2.5 kernels? I checked 
>> debian,
>> SP>redhat, suse, and mandrake  (with distrowatch.com) and all previous
>> SP>versions had the even kernels only.  Thanks!
>> SP>-Steven
>> SP>
>> =====================
>> Odd numbers were (are) reserved for test, or development, releases. 
>> Linus' decision, I believe.....
>> Mike
>>
>>  
>>
> Yes, if I recall correctly, even numbers, though still improved, are 
> stable releases and may undergo minor testing of features, like the 
> current -rc# releases. I don't know at which point during 2.4 did 
> Linux moved into the 2.5 test branch, but I think he'll wait a little 
> bit longer with the current 2.6 releases before moving to 2.7 (I'm 
> pretty sure I read about this somewhere, but I can't remember if it 
> was on LJ or LM or on-line somewhere).
>
It was (most recently) in the latest issue of Linux Journal, which 
arrived /Chez Moi/ earlier this week.