需适配哪个内核版本来应用Patchwork的补丁？以补丁9726505为例

Hey there, I’ve been in your shoes before—trying to apply a patch only to hit compatibility errors is super frustrating. Let’s break down how to figure out which kernel version works with your patch:

1. Dig into the Patchwork Page Details #

First, go back to the patch’s Patchwork page and look for these key clues:

• Patch Metadata & Description: Most authors mention the base kernel version they developed the patch against in the submission text. Look for phrases like "Based on v5.4-rc2" or "For stable v5.10 series"—that’s your first lead.
• Series & Merged Status: If the patch is part of a series, check the series overview to see which kernel branch it’s targeting (e.g., linux-next, a stable branch like stable/v5.15). If it’s marked as "Merged", click the associated commit link to see which kernel version it landed in (you can grab the tag from the commit page).
• Maintainer Comments: Sometimes maintainers will leave notes about compatibility, like "This applies cleanly to v5.8+"—don’t skip these!

2. Analyze the Patch’s Code Context #

If the Patchwork page doesn’t give you enough info, look at the patch itself:

• Open the patch file (you can view it on Patchwork) and note the file paths it modifies (e.g., net/ipv4/tcp.c).
• Use the Linux kernel git repository to check the history of those files. For example, run:

  git log --oneline net/ipv4/tcp.c
  

  Look for commits that changed the same lines your patch touches. The kernel version associated with those commits will help you narrow down when the code matched what your patch expects.
• You can also use git blame to see which version introduced the lines your patch modifies:

  git blame -L <start-line>,<end-line> net/ipv4/tcp.c
  

3. Test Compatibility with git apply --check #

Even if the patch fails to apply, run this command to get specific conflict details:

git apply --check /path/to/your/patch.patch

The output will tell you exactly which files and lines are conflicting. You can then compare those lines in your current kernel to older kernel versions (using git checkout or an online kernel code browser) to find the version where the code matches the patch’s expectations.

4. Check the Associated Mailing List Thread #

Almost every Patchwork patch links to a mailing list thread (look for the "Mailing List" section on the page). In the thread, you’ll often find:

• Discussions about which kernel versions the patch is intended for
• Follow-up patches that update it for newer kernel versions
• Maintainer feedback about compatibility issues

Quick Pro Tip #

If the patch was merged into the mainline kernel, you don’t need to apply it manually—just use a kernel version equal to or newer than the one it was merged into. You can find the merge version by checking the commit’s tags in git.

Hope these steps help you track down the right kernel version smoothly. If you hit specific conflicts or can’t find metadata, feel free to share more details about the error message or patch content!

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Jangwoong Kim