Linux 7.2 Begins Making Preparations For NVIDIA "Blackwell-Next" - Phoronix

Recent developments indicate that Linux 7.2 is beginning preparations for NVIDIA's next-generation GPU codenamed 'Blackwell-Next.' While the changes in the VFIO subsystem patches for the Linux 7.2 mer... Read original →

NVIDIA’s early integration of Blackwell-Next support into Linux 7.2 is a strategic move to lock in ecosystem control before hardware even ships. Technically, the VFIO-CXL/DVSEC alignment signals a shift toward memory-disaggregated, heterogeneous architectures, compelling server OEMs and cloud providers to retrofit their stacks prematurely. From a compliance standpoint, while this strengthens open-source compatibility, it simultaneously raises barriers for rivals—especially Chinese AI chipmakers restricted by U.S. export controls, who lack early kernel collaboration and face heightened supply chain fragility. AMD and Intel will likely fast-track native CXL support in ROCm and oneAPI to contest NVIDIA’s de facto standardization. Over the next 18 months, the Linux kernel will become the silent battleground for AI hardware dominance: control the driver model, control the compute fabric.