OpenBSD 8.0 arrives with security record still intact

The OpenBSD project has launched its 8.0 software update, continuing a semiannual release schedule that began in 1996. Project founder Theo de Raadt announced the milestone in a mailing list post, emphasizing the operating system's long-standing security record of more than thirty years with only two remote holes in the default installation.

The new version introduces support for Intel Arc A-Series graphics cards alongside an expanded kernel virtual address space on AMD64 systems. That address space jumps from 4 GB to 512 GB, enabling the operating system to map more than 4 GB of video RAM. Additional updates include hibernation support for ARM64 hardware, a new RPKI-to-router daemon named rtrd, and RISC-V improvements that add kernel support for vector extensions and advanced interrupts.

Practical enhancements extend to wireless networking, virtualization, and core cryptographic libraries. The qwx wireless driver now supports 802.11n and 40 MHz channels, while the virtualization stack gains support for up to 64 virtual CPUs per guest virtual machine. The release also incorporates updates and security improvements for LibreSSL 4.4.0 and OpenSSH 10.6.