Ubuntu's Real-Time Kernel Approaching GA Status

[phoronix]

Phoronix: Ubuntu's Real-Time Kernel Approaching GA Status

Last year with the release of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS there was a beta real-time kernel offering from Canonical...

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Ubuntu-RT-Kernel-GA-Coming

[bug77]

So... if the kernel is RT, can you still play TBS games on Linux?

[junkbustr]

So, RIP Xanmod kernel then?

[Vorpal]

So, RIP Xanmod kernel then?

Looking quickly at their website, it seems xammod has a lot of other differences, and it has both a rt and non-rt version available. So I doubt it.

[FPScholten]

If you do not know what RT kernels do, what they can be used for and how certain software will definitely not work on them, you should not even think about installing an RT kernel. RT kernels do not magically boost performance, on the contrary for many applications it will even cause hangs or stuttering performance.
If you need low latency, go ahead and use the software designed for that. If you want performance an high data throughput, by all means stay away from RT kernels.

[timofonic]

If Canonical offers Linux Real Time and promote it, they should contribute developers to the patchset instead just repackaging work from others. Redhat is very far from perfect, but at least actively contributes back to many major areas with full time developers.

Any news? What about RT on Linux? Whay about Intel? What about Linutronix? What about PREEMPT_RT?

[uid313]

If you do not know what RT kernels do, what they can be used for and how certain software will definitely not work on them, you should not even think about installing an RT kernel. RT kernels do not magically boost performance, on the contrary for many applications it will even cause hangs or stuttering performance.
If you need low latency, go ahead and use the software designed for that. If you want performance an high data throughput, by all means stay away from RT kernels.

Can't you get the best of both worlds?
Get great performance for non-realtime stuff like games, listening music, watching movies, etc but get benefits of real-time for audio production, etc?

Maybe with a multi-core system? Like if you have 8 CPU cores then maybe one can be real-time and the rest not?
What about on system with multiple CPUs?
Or maybe off-load the real-time stuff on the GPU?

[stormcrow]

Can't you get the best of both worlds?
Get great performance for non-realtime stuff like games, listening music, watching movies, etc but get benefits of real-time for audio production, etc?

Maybe with a multi-core system? Like if you have 8 CPU cores then maybe one can be real-time and the rest not?
What about on system with multiple CPUs?
Or maybe off-load the real-time stuff on the GPU?

In a word, no. And I'm not going to elaborate. If you want to know what real time systems really do, you need to educate yourself on what it is, what makes software real time and why real time and low latency aren't the same thing. Audio production requires low latency, not real time environments. This forum isn't the place to learn or teach about the intricacies of real time platforms.

[jorgepl]

In a word, no. And I'm not going to elaborate. If you want to know what real time systems really do, you need to educate yourself on what it is, what makes software real time and why real time and low latency aren't the same thing. Audio production requires low latency, not real time environments. This forum isn't the place to learn or teach about the intricacies of real time platforms.

Well, if you could explain it provide some info it would be great.

RT as far as I know means deterministic, as in you always know with a certain confidence how long will it take to perform one job.

[erniv2]

What about PREEMPT_RT?

Preempt should be in the kernel for years now, they sorted out the kernel functions that can stay in line for more critical things ages ago ?

And i bet every distribution nowdays is atleast build with voluntary preemptible, meaning kernel functions that know about their state can go lower on the queue for other executions for some time.

About the real RT stuff i used ubuntu studio ages ago and it was a horrible expierience, so nope aslong you dont need it dont use it.

If you compile yourself you should be fine with voluntary preemptible and 300 HZ jiffeys i think thats the middle ground for a desktop system, but that was probably 3 years ago~~.