Linux 7.4 Kernel Merges Block and Storage Updates
The latest kernel update adds Apple M4 NVMe support and fixes 33 bugs in the legacy SWIM floppy disk driver.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Semiconductors
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The Linux kernel development team has officially merged the 7.4 block and storage updates. This release expands hardware support to include NVMe storage on Apple M4 devices while resolving numerous issues in legacy software components.
Why it matters
Updating the Linux kernel ensures broader compatibility with modern hardware while maintaining the stability of legacy drivers used by the developer community. These improvements prevent potential security vulnerabilities by addressing long-standing coding errors in older subsystems.
The update incorporates 33 specific fixes for the SWIM floppy disk driver, which were verified using the Kernel Address Sanitizer. Additionally, the kernel now provides native support for NVMe storage controllers found in Apple M4 devices.
The players
Linux m68k community
This group of developers maintains support for the Motorola 68000 series processor architecture within the Linux kernel.
Apple
Apple is a multinational technology corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells consumer electronics including devices using the M4 chip series.
The details
The fixes addressed a stack out-of-bounds issue and a regression stemming from 2017 code refactoring that rendered the SWIM driver unreliable. These updates were driven by the Linux m68k community to improve the utility of legacy drivers for testing purposes.
Timeline
The regression that required recent intervention was introduced during 2017 code refactoring.
The block and storage updates were officially merged into the Linux 7.4 kernel on October 25, 2026.
The Tech Race
The kernel update demonstrates the ongoing tension between supporting cutting-edge silicon and maintaining legacy infrastructure. By balancing modern Apple M4 NVMe support with deep-level fixes for 1990s-era Macintosh hardware, the Linux kernel preserves its role as a universal platform.
Users running Linux on Apple M4 hardware will benefit from improved storage performance and stability following the new NVMe support. For vintage computing enthusiasts, these fixes restore the functionality of the SWIM floppy driver on legacy Macintosh systems.
The takeaway
Maintaining the Linux kernel requires a constant effort to both integrate modern hardware and audit decades-old code. Developers should prioritize using diagnostic tools like the Kernel Address Sanitizer to proactively identify regressions in legacy drivers.
Further reading
For more information on the development of kernel-level support, visit the Semiconductors section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Phoronix.
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Should open-source software projects prioritize adding support for proprietary hardware like the Apple M4?
