Linux kernel mirror (for testing) git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git
kernel os linux

stable_kernel_rules: reorganize and update submission options

The current organization of Documentation/stable_kernel_rules.txt
doesn't clearly differentiate the mutually exclusive options for
submission to the -stable review process. As I understand it, patches
are not actually required to be mailed directly to
stable@vger.kernel.org, but the instructions do not make this clear.

Also, there are some established processes that are not listed --
specifically, what I call Option 2 below.

This patch updates and reorganizes a bit, to make things clearer.

Signed-off-by: Brian Norris <computersforpeace@gmail.com>
Signed-off-by: Greg Kroah-Hartman <gregkh@linuxfoundation.org>

authored by

Brian Norris and committed by
Greg Kroah-Hartman
5de61e7a c1038307

+34 -10
+34 -10
Documentation/stable_kernel_rules.txt
··· 32 32 - If the patch covers files in net/ or drivers/net please follow netdev stable 33 33 submission guidelines as described in 34 34 Documentation/networking/netdev-FAQ.txt 35 - - Send the patch, after verifying that it follows the above rules, to 36 - stable@vger.kernel.org. You must note the upstream commit ID in the 37 - changelog of your submission, as well as the kernel version you wish 38 - it to be applied to. 39 - - To have the patch automatically included in the stable tree, add the tag 35 + - Security patches should not be handled (solely) by the -stable review 36 + process but should follow the procedures in Documentation/SecurityBugs. 37 + 38 + For all other submissions, choose one of the following procedures: 39 + 40 + --- Option 1 --- 41 + 42 + To have the patch automatically included in the stable tree, add the tag 40 43 Cc: stable@vger.kernel.org 41 44 in the sign-off area. Once the patch is merged it will be applied to 42 45 the stable tree without anything else needing to be done by the author 43 46 or subsystem maintainer. 44 - - If the patch requires other patches as prerequisites which can be 45 - cherry-picked, then this can be specified in the following format in 46 - the sign-off area: 47 + 48 + --- Option 2 --- 49 + 50 + After the patch has been merged to Linus' tree, send an email to 51 + stable@vger.kernel.org containing the subject of the patch, the commit ID, 52 + why you think it should be applied, and what kernel version you wish it to 53 + be applied to. 54 + 55 + --- Option 3 --- 56 + 57 + Send the patch, after verifying that it follows the above rules, to 58 + stable@vger.kernel.org. You must note the upstream commit ID in the 59 + changelog of your submission, as well as the kernel version you wish 60 + it to be applied to. 61 + 62 + Option 1 is probably the easiest and most common. Options 2 and 3 are more 63 + useful if the patch isn't deemed worthy at the time it is applied to a public 64 + git tree (for instance, because it deserves more regression testing first). 65 + Option 3 is especially useful if the patch needs some special handling to apply 66 + to an older kernel (e.g., if API's have changed in the meantime). 67 + 68 + Additionally, some patches submitted via Option 1 may have additional patch 69 + prerequisites which can be cherry-picked. This can be specified in the following 70 + format in the sign-off area: 47 71 48 72 Cc: <stable@vger.kernel.org> # 3.3.x: a1f84a3: sched: Check for idle 49 73 Cc: <stable@vger.kernel.org> # 3.3.x: 1b9508f: sched: Rate-limit newidle ··· 81 57 git cherry-pick fd21073 82 58 git cherry-pick <this commit> 83 59 60 + Following the submission: 61 + 84 62 - The sender will receive an ACK when the patch has been accepted into the 85 63 queue, or a NAK if the patch is rejected. This response might take a few 86 64 days, according to the developer's schedules. 87 65 - If accepted, the patch will be added to the -stable queue, for review by 88 66 other developers and by the relevant subsystem maintainer. 89 - - Security patches should not be sent to this alias, but instead to the 90 - documented security@kernel.org address. 91 67 92 68 93 69 Review cycle: