Release FAQ (2004.11.02 20:00:06)

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VServer Release FAQ

Q. What is a Stable vs. a Development Release?

A. Basically the stable (1.Xz) and development (1.Y.z) releases should be similar in functionality for Y = X+1, but the development releases will include features and enhancements not present in the stable branch. Once those features mature (and get well tested ;), they will be incorporated by the stable branch.

For example the first stable release (1.00) uses two systemcalls as the previous releases did. However, the vserver system calls have been changed in the first development release (1.1.0). Linus assigned the vserver project a single system call, so a System Call Switch (see Syscall Switch Info) has been implemented. Running a development release usually requires using recent (latest) tools from Enrico's util-vserver branch.

Q. How does the Versioning work?

A. Since version 1.00 the versioning is similar to the kernel versioning scheme. Even numbered releases (1.Xz with even X) are stable, reasonably well tested and expected not to change feature-wise. Odd numbered (1.Y.z with odd Y) releases are development releases. The last digit/number (z) is a subversion identifier. Experimental versions and Release Candidates might add a fourth identifier to that scheme.

Q. What Branch do I need for which Kernel?

A. 1.xz, and 1.Y.z releases are for the 2.4 kernels, while 1.9.x (obsoleted by now), and 2.x.y releases are for the 2.6 series.

Q. What features are supported in which branch/release?

A. The following matrix tries to give an overview (it might be outdated)