As listed by the Linux Foundation Real-Time Linux project in 2026, 6.18-rt is the development line. The listed actively maintained lines are 6.12-rt, 6.6-rt, 6.1-rt, 5.15-rt, and 5.10-rt. These are PREEMPT_RT patch-line statuses, not a guarantee that a suitable package exists for your distribution or hardware.
Which PREEMPT_RT versions are maintained?
The Linux Foundation Real-Time Linux project’s version overview, accessed in 2026, lists these lines and projected support endpoints:
| PREEMPT_RT line | Listed status | Projected support endpoint |
|---|---|---|
6.18-rt |
Development | Not stated (Linux Foundation Real-Time Linux project overview, accessed 2026) |
6.12-rt |
Actively maintained | December 2026 (projected; Linux Foundation Real-Time Linux project overview, accessed 2026) |
6.6-rt |
Actively maintained | December 2026 (projected; Linux Foundation Real-Time Linux project overview, accessed 2026) |
6.1-rt |
Actively maintained | December 2027 (projected; Linux Foundation Real-Time Linux project overview, accessed 2026) |
5.15-rt |
Actively maintained | October 2026 (projected; Linux Foundation Real-Time Linux project overview, accessed 2026) |
5.10-rt |
Actively maintained | December 2026 (projected; Linux Foundation Real-Time Linux project overview, accessed 2026) |
The overview marks 6.17-rt through 6.13-rt, along with several earlier patch lines, as no longer maintained. Because these statuses and projected dates can change, check the project’s current version overview when choosing a line. Projected endpoints are not guaranteed end-of-life dates; kernel.org notes that long-term support projections can change.
Is PREEMPT_RT included in the Linux kernel?
PREEMPT_RT configuration entered the mainline Linux kernel in version 6.12 for x86, ARM64, and RISC-V, according to the Realtime Linux guide. That does not mean every kernel based on 6.12 or later is configured for real-time operation, nor that the separate PREEMPT_RT patch queue is obsolete. The guide says that queue continues development and carries additions not yet merged upstream. Older kernel versions require the patch.
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What does PREEMPT_RT change?
PREEMPT_RT makes most kernel execution contexts more preemptible to reduce the time between a high-priority task becoming runnable and being scheduled. Kernel documentation describes its use of priority-inheritance-aware sleeping locks and forced-threaded interrupt handling. A small number of critical paths remain outside full preemption, so PREEMPT_RT is not a universal timing guarantee: results depend on hardware, workload, and configuration.
How should you choose a PREEMPT_RT line?
Compare a candidate against the system and application you actually need to run, rather than selecting by version number alone.
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- Architecture, drivers, and board support: confirm that the required architecture, device drivers, and board support package work with the candidate kernel.
- Distribution or vendor policy: check which kernel package or build the OS vendor supports. Kernel.org cautions that distribution kernels can differ from upstream kernel.org versions; distribution users should consult their distribution’s support channels.
- Maintenance horizon: compare the project’s current line status and projected endpoint with the support commitments that matter to your deployment.
- Measured latency: evaluate under the application’s real workload and timing requirements; a maintained line or RT configuration alone does not establish that latency targets will be met.
The Realtime Linux guide gives Debian’s linux-image-rt-amd64 package and Yocto’s linux-yocto-rt recipe as examples of ways to obtain or build an RT kernel. They do not establish availability for every release, architecture, or vendor board.
How do you check whether the running kernel has PREEMPT_RT?
The Realtime Linux guide’s basic runtime check is to read /sys/kernel/realtime. A value of 1 indicates that the running kernel reports real-time configuration:
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cat /sys/kernel/realtimeExpected output:
1A recent kernel version by itself does not verify that PREEMPT_RT is active. To investigate timing, the guide names cyclictest and the kernel rtla/timerlat tooling. Use them to assess latency under representative application load and compare the results with the application’s actual deadlines.
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