Kernel 6.12.81 with CONFIG_USB4

Up until now, the Linux kernel has been configured with CONFIG_USB4 disabled. The reason is reported here:

https://bkhome.org/news/202507/kernel-61235-freeze.html

...it caused the 'blkid' utility in the initrd to freeze.

This problem was also reported in the forum, for Easy version 6.101 (V7-alpha):

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?p=151635#p151635

Well, well, the problem has gone away. Have compiled the 6.12.81 kernel, with CONFIG_USB4 enabled, builtin, and no problem. Gentoo recommends it to be builtin, but I have read that some other mainstream distros configure it as a module.

Note, I now only have three computers to test on, two laptops, one desktop. The desktop will be going soon. Having less computers to test on is a problem, could miss compatibility issues, especially as no longer have very old computers.

What motivated me to try this, is a report by bradhamilton1 that hotplugging a usb drive isn't working:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=16711

...I wonder if enabling CONFIG_USB4 will make any difference? Maybe:

https://cateee.net/lkddb/web-lkddb/USB4.html

USB4 and Thunderbolt driver. USB4 is the public specification based on the Thunderbolt 3 protocol. This driver is required if you want to hotplug Thunderbolt and USB4 compliant devices on Apple hardware or on PCs with Intel Falcon Ridge or newer.

Anyway, CONFIG_USB4 looks good, so going with that for the next release of Easy. Any of you guys with old computers can test that it still boots ok and hotplugging usb still works.  

Tags: easy