# Linux 7.4 merge window receives 539 memory management patches

> **Key takeaway:** The Linux 7.4 merge window includes a massive influx of 539 memory management patches focusing on DAMON enhancements, MGLRU optimizations, and folio conversions.

**Published:** 2026-10-24T11:05:56+00:00 
**Source:** Phoronix Benchmarks & Drivers 
**Category:** kernel-os 
**Canonical URL:** https://fosswire.org/news/linux-74-merge-window-receives-539-memory-management-patches.html 

## Summary
Andrew Morton has released a significant set of memory management (MM) patches for the Linux 7.4 merge window. This cycle consists of 539 patches with a 76% review rate, covering a wide range of improvements. Key updates include expanded capabilities for the DAMON data access monitoring framework, performance enhancements for Multi-Gen LRU (MGLRU), and ongoing transitions toward using folios within the kernel's memory subsystem.

## Technical highlights of the MM updates
- **DAMON Enhancements:** The Data Access MONitor (DAMON) now supports access monitoring for HugeTLB-backed memory and introduces an auto-tuned mechanism for collapsing huge pages.
- **Latency Reduction:** Reading /proc/PID/smaps_rollup now utilizes per-VMA locks where applicable, significantly reducing latency when other threads are modifying mappings.
- **Performance Optimizations:** Improvements have been made to the Multi-Gen LRU (MGLRU) code and the initialization of zone-device struct pages to eliminate redundant operations.
- **Folio Migration:** The kernel continues its transition toward folios, including new page-to-folio conversions within swap I/O processes.

## Why it matters
These updates will improve system responsiveness and memory efficiency across various workloads, particularly for high-performance computing and database tasks. The continued refinement of DAMON and MGLRU provides developers and sysadmins with better tools for monitoring and managing complex memory patterns.