Linux kernel developers merged a broad set of networking updates for version 7.2. The changes touch core code, wireless protocols and a range of device drivers. Some improvements build directly on work that landed in Linux 7.0, where Accurate Explicit Congestion Notification became the default and UDP receive paths shed unnecessary overhead.
But 7.2 takes a different direction. It focuses on device-to-device connectivity without infrastructure, faster USB Ethernet options for laptops and servers, and preparations for the next WiFi generation. The pull request that delivered these changes, sent by Jakub Kicinski, now sits inside the mainline Git tree. Phoronix first reported the full scope on June 19, 2026.
WiFi Aware receives the most attention. Also known as Neighbor Awareness Networking, the technology lets devices discover, pair and exchange data without a router, Bluetooth link or internet connection. The 7.2 updates add multicast support, refine scheduling algorithms and improve multi-station handling. Such features matter for smart-home setups where lights and sensors talk directly. They also help local gaming sessions and quick file transfers between nearby laptops. “WiFi Aware should be useful for smart home integration, local gaming and file sharing purposes, and more,” the Phoronix report noted.
And the work continues. Developers keep expanding the protocol’s reliability in crowded environments. The changes reflect years of incremental effort rather than one dramatic rewrite.
Hardware vendors now prepare for WiFi 8.
On the WiFi front, coders extended Ultra High Reliability features, known as 802.11bn or UHR, inside mac80211 and cfg80211. Intel engineers added early hooks in the iwlwifi driver for their forthcoming WiFi 8 silicon. These patches lay groundwork. Actual performance gains will arrive once the hardware ships. Still, the kernel will not lag when those cards appear.
Wired networking sees practical gains too. The Realtek r8152 USB driver now handles 10Gbit link speeds and Energy Efficient Ethernet. It also gains support for the RTL8159 chipset found in several sub-$100 USB adapters. Without the required PHY firmware the link tops out at 5Gbit. With firmware it reaches full 10Gbit. Phoronix highlighted the RTL8159 addition in early May 2026. The firmware itself will land in the linux-firmware repository soon.
Intel’s ixgbe driver picked up EEE support for the E610 series. MediaTek’s mt76 driver gained MT7927 chip support. Realtek’s rt89 driver added the RTL8922AU and began work on the RTL8922DE. Qualcomm’s ath12k driver now exposes thermal throttling and cooling controls. These additions expand compatibility across consumer, embedded and enterprise gear.
New drivers arrived from unexpected quarters. Collabora developers Louis-Alexis Eyraud and AngeloGioacchino Del Regno upstreamed support for the Airoha AN8801R Gigabit Ethernet PHY. The low-power single-port transceiver targets switches, routers, set-top boxes and televisions. Their code originated in Airoha’s vendor tree for MediaTek’s Genio platform. Phoronix covered the Airoha driver on June 11, 2026.
Other fresh entries include the Alibaba Elastic Ethernet Adapter and the NXP i.MX94 NETC switch driver. Each fills a specific niche. Alibaba’s adapter serves its cloud instances. NXP’s switch targets industrial and automotive Ethernet designs.
Yet not every change adds capability. The kernel drops AppleTalk entirely. The decades-old protocol no longer justifies maintenance. TLS offload through TCP Offload Engines disappears too. And cfg80211 plus mac80211 retire support for 5 and 10 MHz channels, a move that trims code for rare outdoor wireless deployments.
These deletions free maintainer time. They reduce attack surface. They signal that Linux networking increasingly favors modern, high-speed, secure paths over backward compatibility with 1990s systems.
The broader context matters. Linux 7.0 had already made Accurate ECN default, letting TCP react to congestion with finer granularity than the original binary signals. That single shift cut unnecessary retransmissions on video streams and large transfers. UDP throughput rose 12.3 percent in Google tests on 100Gbps links after the kernel stopped calling the timekeeping code on every packet. IPv6 routing inconsistencies that caused drops in container meshes were fixed. Network World examined those 7.0 changes on April 13, 2026.
Version 7.2 builds on that foundation without repeating the same themes. Instead it delivers device discovery, affordable 10G USB, and driver refreshes that vendors actually ship. Enterprise users gain better thermal control on WiFi cards. Embedded developers receive the Airoha and NXP pieces they requested. Laptop owners can buy a $99 USB adapter and expect full mainline support.
Performance numbers remain sparse for the newest patches. The WiFi Aware multicast and scheduling work carries no published benchmarks yet. The 10G USB adapters will depend on host controller quality and firmware. Real-world tests will follow once distributions ship the kernel.
Even so, the direction feels clear. Linux networking tightens focus on practical, power-efficient, standards-based connectivity. It sheds protocols few still use. It prepares for silicon that vendors plan to launch next year. And it does so through hundreds of small commits rather than flashy overhauls.
Jakub Kicinski’s pull request lists every change. Network engineers who maintain large fleets or develop drivers will want to read it. The rest of us will notice faster local transfers, one fewer legacy module to worry about, and the quiet knowledge that the kernel stays ready for tomorrow’s hardware. The 7.2 networking updates won’t grab headlines like a new filesystem or GPU driver. Their impact will show up in smoother smart-home meshes, cheaper 10G laptops and fewer support tickets for obsolete protocols. That counts as progress.
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