+## FriiDump 0.5.3.16-pf1 Linux Xbox DMI boundary correction
+
+Candidate20 proved the complete Linux GDR-8050L Xbox command and data path:
+direct SG_IO challenge delivery, both game-view transitions, XDVDFS metadata,
+drive-captured game lead-in, partial GAME-XDVDFS output, controlled
+cancellation, hashes, native reporting, and STOP UNIT.
+
+FriiDump 0.5.3.16-pf1 preserves that exact Windows-sequence control flow and
+SG_IO handshake. It corrects one remaining MMC boundary: standard READ DVD
+STRUCTURE uses CDB byte 7 for the Format field. Candidate20 incorrectly wrote
+the format to byte 11 (Control), so DMI format `0x04` was not captured and the
+media ID remained empty.
+
+The release also adds persistent PFI/DMI capture diagnostics and a source
+contract that compares the portable request against the proven copied Windows
+`GetMediaID()` request.
+
+The generic Xbox path still contains no RecoveryKick, generic media-auth kick,
+or synthetic LBA-zero recovery sequence.
+
+Linux vendor-command work continues to require a normal-user process with
+`cap_sys_rawio=ep` on the exact validated executable. Rebuilding or replacing
+the executable clears that capability.
+
+See [`docs/LINUX.md`](docs/LINUX.md) before Linux hardware use.
+
+## Exact-release Linux hardware validation
+
+The exact FriiDump 0.5.3.16-pf1 Linux executable was validated on two
+GameCube paths after release publication:
+
+- an `HL-DT-ST CDRW/DVD GCC4244 B101` completed profile selection, all 20 seed
+ blocks, a controlled partial read, cancellation, native reporting, profile
+ reporting, and STOP UNIT;
+- a physical GDR-8163B cross-flashed with modified GDR-8050L `0012` firmware
+ completed the modified `0xE7` path, all 20 seed blocks, a controlled partial
+ read, cancellation, native reporting, profile reporting, and FriiDump's
+ internal STOP UNIT.
+
+The validated cross-flashed unit had to start with a readable Video DVD before
+it identified as `HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8050L 0012`. The drive stayed powered and
+connected while the disc was changed to Sonic Mega Collection (US). Linux host
+media probing was temporarily quarantined for that run because earlier
+background reads had blocked the USB/SCSI path.
+
+See
+[`docs/reports/FRIIDUMP_LINUX_EXACT_RELEASE_HARDWARE_VALIDATION_0.5.3.16-pf1.md`](docs/reports/FRIIDUMP_LINUX_EXACT_RELEASE_HARDWARE_VALIDATION_0.5.3.16-pf1.md)
+for the exact evidence identities and validation limits.
+
+## Candidate11 Linux Xbox parity baseline
+Candidate11 begins the Linux parity campaign without replacing the validated
+Windows/MSVC GDR-8050L path. The Windows copied-reference implementation remains
+unchanged for challenge drives. Linux now uses the existing portable MMC/Xbox
+dump path with a shared XDFS/XBE metadata reader, XBE-derived default filenames,
+exact native-report result handoff, partial/full hashes, and consistent Xbox
+title, media ID, and region reporting.
+
+Candidate11 subsequently completed real Linux GameCube validation on a
+GCC-4244 B101, including an exact full-dump hash match. Candidate12 retains that
+transport and dump behavior while correcting resource discovery and evidence
+wording. The development-only XGD1 layout and raw-ID probes remain separate from
+ordinary Linux ISO/XISO user paths.
+