The kernel packages contain the Linux kernel, the core of any Linux operating system. Security Fixes: * the exit_notify function in the Linux kernel did not properly reset the exit signal if a process executed a set user ID application before exiting. This could allow a local, unprivileged user to elevate their privileges. * the Linux kernel implementation of the Network File System did not properly initialize the file name limit in the nfs_server data structure. This flaw could possibly lead to a denial of service on a client mounting an NFS share. Bug Fixes and Enhancements: Kernel Feature Support: * added a new allowable value to "/proc/sys/kernel/wake_balance" to allow the scheduler to run the thread on any available CPU rather than scheduling it on the optimal CPU. * added "max_writeback_pages" tunable parameter to /proc/sys/vm/ to allow the maximum number of modified pages kupdate writes to disk, per iteration per run. * added "swap_token_timeout" tunable parameter to /proc/sys/vm/ to provide a valid hold time for the swap out protection token. * added diskdump support to sata_svw driver. * limited physical memory to 64GB for 32-bit kernels running on systems with more than 64GB of physical memory to prevent boot failures. * improved reliability of autofs. * added support for "rdattr_error" in NFSv4 readdir requests. * fixed various short packet handling issues for NFSv4 readdir and sunrpc. * fixed several CIFS bugs. Networking and IPv6 Enablement: * added router solicitation support. * enforced sg requires tx csum in ethtool. Platform Support: x86, AMD64, Intel 64, IBM System z * added support for a new Intel chipset. * added initialization vendor info in boot_cpu_data. * added support for N_Port ID Virtualization for IBM System z guests using zFCP. * added HDMI support for some AMD and ATI chipsets. * updated HDA driver in ALSA to latest upstream as of 2008-07-22. * added support for affected_cpus for cpufreq. * removed polling timer from i8042. * fixed PM-Timer when using the ASUS A8V Deluxe motherboard. * backported usbfs_mutex in usbfs. 64-bit PowerPC: * updated eHEA driver from version 0078-04 to 0078-08. * updated logging of checksum errors in the eHEA driver. Network Driver Updates: * updated forcedeth driver to latest upstream version 0.61. * fixed various e1000 issues when using Intel ESB2 hardware. * updated e1000e driver to upstream version 0.3.3.3-k6. * updated igb to upstream version 1.2.45-k2. * updated tg3 to upstream version 3.96. * updated ixgbe to upstream version 1.3.18-k4. * updated bnx2 to upstream version 1.7.9. * updated bnx2x to upstream version 1.45.23. * fixed bugs and added enhancements for the NetXen NX2031 and NX3031 products. * updated Realtek r8169 driver to support newer network chipsets. All variants of RTL810x/RTL8168 are now supported. Storage Driver Updates: * fixed various SCSI issues. Also, the SCSI sd driver now calls the revalidate_disk wrapper. * fixed a dmraid reduced I/O delay bug in certain configurations. * removed quirk aac_quirk_scsi_32 for some aacraid controllers. * updated FCP driver on IBM System z systems with support for point-to-point connections. * updated lpfc to version 8.0.16.46. * updated megaraid_sas to version 4.01-RH1. * updated MPT Fusion driver to version 3.12.29.00rh. * updated qla2xxx firmware to 4.06.01 for 4GB/s and 8GB/s adapters. * updated qla2xxx driver to version 8.02.09.00.04.08-d. * fixed sata_nv in libsata to disable ADMA mode by default. Miscellaneous Updates: * upgraded OpenFabrics Alliance Enterprise Distribution to version 1.4. * added driver support and fixes for various Wacom tablets. Users should install this update, which resolves these issues and adds these enhancements.