Linux Kernel 5.4
TLDR: Linux Kernel 5.4, released in November 2019, introduced significant features and improvements, enhancing performance, security, and hardware support. Among its key additions were the introduction of Lockdown mode, aimed at improving system security, and native support for the exFAT filesystem. Kernel 5.4 was widely adopted by distributions like Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, reflecting its importance in modern computing environments.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux_kernel
One of the standout features of Linux Kernel 5.4 is Lockdown mode, which restricts kernel interactions to improve security in environments where the integrity of the kernel is critical. This feature is particularly useful for systems requiring high-security standards, such as servers and embedded devices. Additionally, native exFAT support eliminated the need for third-party drivers, simplifying data exchange between Linux and other platforms using this filesystem.
https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/admin-guide/kernel_lockdown.html
Linux Kernel 5.4 also brought enhancements to memory management, including improved support for large workloads and updates to Transparent Huge Pages (THP). Performance gains were made in networking and storage, with optimizations for NVMe devices and new features in the Btrfs filesystem. By addressing both security and functionality, Kernel 5.4 remains a key release that balances innovation with stability.