News Linux Kernel May Drop i486 Support as Torvalds Backs Pentium Plan

[Admin]

The Linux kernel lost support for i386 CPUs in 2012 and it seems that 2022 could be when i486 support is removed

Linux Kernel May Drop i486 Support as Torvalds Backs Pentium Plan : Read more

 

[George³]

I agree with removing the support of such ancient hardware. If we continue to maintain cave technology, we will never get to planets around other stars.

 

[InvalidError]

Most major platforms have dropped native support for 32bits a while ago.

I agree with removing the support of such ancient hardware. If we continue to maintain cave technology, we will never get to planets around other stars.

I doubt retaining backwards compatibility with the 486 hurts anything when you are compiling an x86-64 kernel or module which shouldn't get anywhere near 32bits legacy stuff.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Most major platforms have dropped native support for 32bits a while ago.


I doubt retaining backwards compatibility with the 486 hurts anything when you are compiling an x86-64 kernel or module which shouldn't get anywhere near 32bits legacy stuff.

Not to mention there are a multitude of 486 machines still in use around the world. Just because they're no longer used in the PC gaming world doesn't mean that they're useless.

 

[George³]

Not to mention there are a multitude of 486 machines still in use around the world. Just because they're no longer used in the PC gaming world doesn't mean that they're useless.

I don't see any connection. Existing hardware outside of PCs doesn't needs updates to make it's job.

 

[vern72]

Damn! Soon I won't be able to run the linux kernel on the first PC model that I ever bought.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

I don't see any connection. Existing hardware outside of PCs doesn't needs updates to make it's job.

And I highly doubt there any 486s running around anywhere. The hardware would be long dead by now.

 

[Chung Leong]

And I highly doubt there any 486s running around anywhere. The hardware would be long dead by now.

I imagine there are some AMD 586s and Cyrix 686s still in use. Twenty years aren't that long ago.

 

[InvalidError]

And I highly doubt there any 486s running around anywhere. The hardware would be long dead by now.

PC hardware can be surprisingly durable when kept under reasonably good operating conditions. I have no doubt that some companies still have arcane systems running pieces of critical software they still do not want to replace running on similar or even older hardware, though I doubt any such system would be running a remotely modern OS build.

 

[artk2219]

PC hardware can be surprisingly durable when kept under reasonably good operating conditions. I have no doubt that some companies still have arcane systems running pieces of critical software they still do not want to replace running on similar or even older hardware, though I doubt any such system would be running a remotely modern OS build.

A few years ago I had to service a 386 machine that was being used on a newspaper printing press, it needed a power supply, the original one lasted 30 years in a non temperature or dust controlled environment. Industrial machines are a different breed.