3mo ago

Linux kernel is leaving 486 CPUs behind, only 18 years after the last one made

arstechnica.com

Linux @sh.itjust.works

cm0002 @lemmy.world

3mo ago

Linux kernel is leaving 486 CPUs behind, only 18 years after the last one made

arstechnica.com /gadgets/2025/05/linux-to-end-support-for-1989s-hottest-chip-the-486-with-next-release/

Linux @lemmy.ml

ShittyBeatlesFCPres @lemmy.world

3mo ago

Linux kernel is leaving 486 CPUs behind, only 18 years after the last one made

arstechnica.com /gadgets/2025/05/linux-to-end-support-for-1989s-hottest-chip-the-486-with-next-release/

22 comments

That's the last nail in the coffin for Linux. I'm switching to windows.
- Haha. 🤣 Made my day
Why would they make just 486 CPUs? /j
- No they made millions. They're just leaving 486 of them behind specifically.
- That's all we needed back on the 90s. Three for the government to run their wargames, one for each major university to run their interwebs pump. one for each blue-chip company to make sure they were complying with trickle-down economics. The remaining were sold overseas to allied countries so they could bootstrap themselves out of the late Renaissance. What a heady time it was to be alive.
o7
Discontinued 2007‽
- Afaik some where still used in space probes in the 2000's.
  
  I remember reading forever ago that NASA was hunting for old 8086 processors from 1978 for the space shuttle when it was still flying.
  Found this article from 2002.
- You can kind of still buy them:
  https://www.vortex86.com/products/Vortex86DX3
planned obsolescence obvs linux is the new microsoft /s
He's obviously working for Big 586.
Goddammit, now I have to upgrade my mail server...
- Are you running bleeding edge on your mail server?
  
  If 2.X was good enough for mah granpappy, it's good enough for me.
  
  I know this is all just in fun but a mail server is one thing I would certainly want a supported kernel on. Security and email are not friends.
- I think you are good on your mail server for a while.
  Linux kernel 6.15 will still boot on a 486. You can pair that with MUSL 1.25 (current) and the latest Busybox to create a perfectly viable Linux system.
  Debian Trixie is going to be released in a couple months with kernel 6.12 LTS.
  As somebody pointed out in a different post, the Linux Foundation will provide support for kernel 6.12 for 10 years after Debian Trixie is released.
  https://www.cip-project.org/about/linux-kernel-core-packages
  So, there will be a supported kernel that can be compiled for the 486 until mid 2035 at least.
Tbh, I understand the problem. There are just so many volunteers for making newer developments work on every platform. Streamlining the development and easing the load on the volunteer devs seems a good idea. Having that said, it’s ofc a pity to drop support for devices. At least the LTS kernels will support the current support for a while and the vibrant Linux community will find a good way to work it out, I have no doubt. Many machines, in particular old ones, run with very old kernels to begin with…
- I won’t repeat the whole message but
  https://www.cip-project.org/about/linux-kernel-core-packages
  There will be a Linux Foundation supported kernel that can be built for 486 until at least 2035. After that, you might have to backport security fixes yourself.
Just as the MiSTer has started putting (sorta) 486s back in people's hands, although if the newly required instructions aren't too complicated, I suppose someone could conceivably add them to the core.
I guess one unknown for me is how the capability detection of the kernel works and if it works on instruction detection or if it determines it via CPUID.
A big also is that I've not yet tried to run Linux on mine yet so I'm not even sure it's possible with a modern kernel anyway. I think I remember seeing someone got an old version of redhat or Debian working
I just learned that Tiny Core Linux still supports 486 out of the box in their latest release (Tiny Core 16 with kernel 6.12).
http://www.tinycorelinux.net/
Also, Arch 32 still supports 486 as well though I think only non-GUI packages.
https://www.archlinux32.org/architecture/

22 comments