The Linux kernel is the core of a large and complex operating system, and while it's huge, it is well organized in terms of subsystems and layers. In this article, you explore the general structure of the Linux kernel and get to know its major subsystems and core interfaces. Where possible, you get links to other IBM articles to help you dig deeper.

Linux provides a generic driver for SCSI devices and an application programming interface so users can build applications to send SCSI commands directly to SCSI devices. In this article, the author introduces some of the SCSI commands and methods of executing SCSI commands when using SCSI API in Linux. He also provides background on the SCSI client/server model and the storage SCSI command.

LinuxCertified, Inc. announced its next two day, hands-on course that provides attendees with experience in creating Linux kernel source code within various subsystems of the Linux kernel. This course teaches attendees to acquaints developers with the fundamental subsystems, data structures, and API of the Linux kernel This class is scheduled for March 8th - March 9th, 2010.

The experimental file system Btrfs, billed as the "next generation file system for Linux", should now be even faster. Libata drivers for IDE/PATA adaptors are pushing aside the IDE subsystem.

The kernel development team have enhanced various aspects of Btrfs, one effect of which is to significantly improve the experimental file system's write performance. A number of changes to the block layer promise better data throughputs and reactivity. There are also several new drivers for storage hardware.

At the end of last week, Linus Torvalds released the fifth pre-release version of Linux version 2.6.33, with the final release expected in 4 to 5 weeks time. At this stage in the development cycle, it is usually predominantly more minor changes and fixes which find their way into the main development tree.

A glance at the changed files and code makes it clear how hard the kernel hackers have been working on 2.6.29, with more new lines of code added over the current development cycle than ever before.

As of this writing, the current kernel prepatch is 2.6.34-rc6. A couple more prepatches are most likely due before the final release, but the number of changes to be found there should be small. In other words, 2.6.34 is close to its final form, so it makes sense to take a look at what has gone into this development cycle. In a few ways, 2.6.34 is an unusual kernel.

The Kernel Log is taking the opportunity to continue its series of reports on the major changes in Linux 2.6.31 compared to the current 2.6.30 kernel with an overview of storage and file systems.