K3s, the lightweight Kubernetes distribution, has released version v1.28.2+k3s1. This update brings several improvements and bug fixes to the platform.

One of the key changes in this release is the update of Kubernetes to version v1.28.2. Some other notable changes in this release include the update of Kine to version v0.10.3, as well as updates to embedded components like containerd, stargz-snapshotter plugin, and more.

For a full list of changes and details on what’s new, users can refer to the Kubernetes release notes.

For more information, see release notes K3s.

Liliputing reports that Zotac has released two new ultra-thin PCs, the ZBOX Edge MI648 and MI668, both equipped with Raptor Lake-P chips. The ZBOX Edge MI668 is a compact computer measuring 149.5 x 149.5 x 28.5mm and features a 28-watt Intel Core i7-1360P processor with support for up to 64GB of DDR5 memory. The ZBOX Edge MI648, on the other hand, comes with an Intel Core i5-1340P processor and offers similar features.

Both models include two SODIMM slots for DDR5 5200 MHz or 4800 MHz memory and two M.2 slots for storage. The ports available on the PCs include HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.1 Type-A and Type-C, 2x Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The computers feature a fan for active cooling, but the chassis has a honeycomb-style vent for heat dissipation, making them “whisper quiet.” The 2x Gigabit Ethernet ports could make it interesting for a variety of networking applications.

Zotac has not yet announced pricing and availability details for both models. For those looking for a silent computer, Zotac has also introduced the ZBOX Edge CI343, a fanless PC with an Intel Processor N100 chip, although it offers lower performance compared to the MI648 and MI668 models.

Source: Liliputing.

Intel announced at their Innovation 2023 conference that they are collaborating with software vendors such as Red Hat, Canonical, and SUSE to provide Intel-optimized Linux distributions, Phoronix reports. This is part of Intel’s push for “optimized performance” in the Linux world.

The collaboration aims to provide Intel-optimized distributions of enterprise software releases, ensuring optimized performance for the latest Intel architectures. This is an extension of previous collaborations, such as Canonical and Intel’s work on Ubuntu optimized for select Intel CPUs.

In addition to the collaboration on Linux distributions, Intel and Red Hat announced an expanded collaboration with Intel contributing to upstream RHEL through CentOS Stream. Intel will also continue contributing performance optimizations to tools and frameworks in the AI space, such as PyTorch and TensorFlow.

These collaborations are expected to bring new optimizations for performance and power efficiency. Intel’s Clear Linux platform will continue to be maintained with aggressive performance optimizations. The enterprise Linux distributions, such as Red Hat and SUSE, are exploring raising their baseline requirements and implementing optimized libraries based on the CPU in use.

Phoronix promises to report on the results of these collaborations, including benchmarking.

Source: Phoronix.

NVIDIA is making advancements in their Linux InfiniBand driver to support 800Gb/s (XDR) speeds. The company has posted a set of six patches for the upstream Linux kernel, aiming for inclusion in Linux 6.7. These patches will enable the 800Gb/s support in the InfiniBand core networking code and the Mellanox MLX5 driver. The NVIDIA Mellanox Skyway GA100 InfiniBand to Ethernet Gateway is believed to be the first product capable of achieving the XDR speeds. This development showcases NVIDIA’s commitment to delivering high-speed networking solutions for servers.

The details of the preparations for the 800Gb/s (XDR) speed implementation in the Linux kernel’s InfiniBand code can be found in the patch series provided by NVIDIA.

Source: Phoronix.

Source: WilliamLam.com

Earlier this year, William Lam from WilliamLam.com discovered the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny, a compact system with a lot of potential. Lam, a tech journalist and blogger, was intrigued by the system and was particularly interested in its suitability for VMware deployments, especially with the recent announcement of VMware Edge Cloud Orchestrator (VECO) and Project Keswick.

The Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny offers a range of Intel CPU options, including Core i9, i7, and i5. This is notable because it’s uncommon to find an Intel Core i9 in such a small form factor system. The system also supports DDR5 4800 SO-DIMM memory, although it does not support the new non-binary DDR5 48GB memory modules. The P3 Tiny has a compact form factor, measuring 179 x 182.9 x 37mm, making it smaller than a Supermicro E200-8D but slightly larger than an Intel NUC.

In terms of networking, the P3 Tiny comes with a single Intel I219-LM (2.5GbE) Ethernet port. However, Lenovo offers optional Ethernet-based add-ons that can provide additional networking capabilities. The system also has a Thunderbolt 4 port, which can be used to add faster networking options.

For storage, the P3 Tiny supports up to 2 x M.2 PCIe x4 Gen 4 (2280) drives. These drives are easily accessible by removing a single screw from the back of the system. It’s also possible to add additional storage using the low-profile expansion slot and the Thunderbolt 4 port.

Another notable feature of the P3 Tiny is its graphics capabilities. The system comes with built-in Intel integrated graphics (iGPU), but it also has a low-profile expansion slot that can accommodate an additional NVIDIA discrete GPU (dGPU).

Lam confirmed that the latest release of ESXi 8.0 Update 1 and ESXi 8.0 Update 2 can be installed on the P3 Tiny without any issues. He also provided instructions for disabling E-cores within the BIOS to prevent ESXi from encountering errors related to non-uniform Intel CPU cores.

Overall, the Lenovo ThinkStation P3 Tiny is a powerful and compact system that is an interesting option for servers and home labs. Its small form factor, networking capabilities, storage options, and graphics capabilities make it a versatile choice for various use cases, including edge deployments and virtualization projects.

Source: WilliamLam.com.

The Linux Foundation has announced the launch of OpenTofu, an open-source alternative to Terraform’s infrastructure as code provisioning tool. OpenTofu was created in response to Terraform’s recent license change, which raised concerns within the open-source community. OpenTofu is community-driven, impartial, layered, modular, and backward-compatible. It has received support from industry leaders and has formal pledges from over 140 organizations and 600 individuals. The Linux Foundation emphasizes the importance of open collaboration and innovation in the infrastructure as code field.

OpenTofu aims to be a reliable, accessible, and truly open-source solution.

Source: Linux Foundation.