Re: Increasing minimum 'i386' processor
On Sunday 20 Nov 2011, Ben Hutchings wrote:
> On Sun, 2011-11-20 at 19:43 +0000, David Goodenough wrote:
> > On Sunday 20 Nov 2011, Ben Hutchings wrote:
> > > On Sun, 2011-11-20 at 10:10 +0000, David Goodenough wrote:
> > > > On Saturday 19 Nov 2011, Ben Hutchings wrote:
> > > > > The i386 architecture was the first in Linux and in Debian, but we
> > > > > have long since dropped support for the original i386-compatible
> > > > > processors and now require a minimum of a 486-class processor.
> > > > >
> > > > > I think it is time to increase the minimum requirement to
> > > > > 586-class, if not for wheezy then immediately after. (Later it
> > > > > should be increased further, and eventually i386 should be reduced
> > > > > to a partial architecture that may be installed on amd64 systems.)
> > > > > This would allow the use of optimisations and new instructions
> > > > > throughout userland that improve performance for the vast majority
> > > > > of users.
> > > > >
> > > > > The 486-class processors that would no longer be supported are:
> > > > > 1. All x86 processors with names including '486'
> > > > > 2. AMD Am5x86
> > > > > 3. Cyrix/IBM/ST 5x86, 6x86 and MediaGX
> > > > > 4. UMC U5D and U5S
> > > > > 5. AMD/NSC Geode GX1, Geode SC1100, Elan SC4xx and SC5xx
> > > >
> > > > I am still running a bunch of systems with SC1100 processors on them.
> > > > They are (and always have been) running off the shelf Debian kernels
> > > > and I would much rather keep it that way.
> > >
> > > [...]
> > >
> > > Then keep them running. 'squeeze' should continue to receive security
> > > updates until late 2013.
> > >
> > > Ben.
> >
> > Actually I am currently in the process of upgrading them because the
> > wireless cards they had are no longer available and I am having to
> > replace them with new ath5k compatible ones. I also need to work them
> > in frequencies where I need DFS support, and that is only just being
> > added to the driver.
> >
> > So I have to upgrade them.
> >
> > And this could/will happen again in the future.
>
> Whatever is decided, you should have some years' warning that you either
> need to upgrade the hardware or hire someone to continue support (though
> I doubt it'll be worth it).
>
> Ben.
Actually I do not generally find out that I can not get more of a part
until I come to order it. I then have to look for new hardware and make
sure that it is supported. I am having to rebuild these boxes with sid
packages as those are the only ones with the relevant support.
While I can build my own debs (and have done so in the past) if I can
avoid it I would much rather do so as it is one less thing to do.
David
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