Linux Kernel 7.3-rc7 has been released by Linus Torvalds, albeit six hours late due to a mix-up in scheduling after attending conferences. This version focuses on fixes, particularly in mount-namespace hardening, with significant contributions from VFS maintainer Christian Brauner. Notably, the ext4's data=journal mode has been deprecated, set for removal in 2028, while an AMD TLBI Erratum workaround has also been included. The stable version of Linux 7.3 is expected to be released around October 18, 2026, unless unforeseen issues arise
Linux Kernel 7.3-rc7 Released: Mount Hardening, ext4 Deprecation and AMD Errata Workaround
Linus Torvalds released Linux 7.3-rc7 on Sunday, admitting it arrived about six hours late because he mixed up the day after traveling to the Kernel Maintainer Summit and Linux Plumbers Conference. It's a fixes-only snapshot that leans heavily on VFS maintainer Christian Brauner's mount-namespace hardening, credited with 58 entries. The cycle also deprecates ext4's data=journal mode for removal in 2028 and pulls in an AMD TLBI Erratum #1718 workaround. Stable Linux 7.3 is still on track for next weekend, around 18 October 2026.
