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Linux 7.2 finally cuts off ancient x86 fallback code (unknownuniverse.uk)
submitted 2 days ago by to c/linux@programming.dev
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Linux 7.2 has landed, dragging x86 timing clean out of the nineties by making the Time Stamp Counter mandatory.

I wrote up a quick article on why ditching those ancient legacy fallbacks is good housekeeping, plus a few other bits like cache-aware scheduling and memory tweaks worth noting.

Is anyone still using legacy hardware? If so, what do you use it for?

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[–] 33 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I kinda miss the idea that the kernel would run on literally any hardware it ever did support, but I totally get it, especially now that there's an emphasis on reducing attack surfaces.

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    • [–] 19 points 2 days ago (16 children)

    Lots of retro enthusiasts still use legacy hardware for all sorts of reasons... I fear that a fork of the kernel will be necessary in the near future to keep these machines running.

    The notion of using Linux to revive old hardware and keep it out of the landfill may not last forever...

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  • [–] 10 points 1 day ago* (1 child)

    And why do they need to use the latest Linux kernel for that hardware, again?

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  • [–] 4 points 1 day ago* (1 child)

    Security updates if you use it online or copy new binaries to run on it. Even if you're not worried about hackers, there can still be viruses and malware that destroy your data.

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  • [–] 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

    There are LTS versions outside of current.

    But more importantly, who runs anything remotely critical on a 486 these days? These machines choke to death on TLS handshakes.

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  • [–] 1 point 4 hours ago (1 child)

    Who said anything about critical?

    I just don't want my hard disk wiped when I decide to try a piece of software.

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  • [–] 0 points 3 hours ago

    I just don’t want my hard disk wiped when I decide to try a piece of software.

    You aren't running any relatively recent software on a 486, period. Even if you did and it turned out to be a virus, the chances of it hitting a bug in the kernel are extremely low.

    This is just grasping at straws.

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    [–] 2 points 1 day ago

    Old news, this was clear in June: https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-Kernel-TSC-Unconditional

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    [–] 11 points 2 days ago (7 children)

    I use a Compaq CQ510-SD for writing. Lovely small keyboard, only has a resolution of 1024x600, but with some zoom configured in autostart that increases to twice that. It works as little more than a glorified text processor, but it suits my needs just fine while I can't find its equal in the x64 or ARM market.

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  • [–] 2 points 1 day ago (1 child)

    But why does it need updates if it works? Just don't connect it to the Internet and you can run it until either it dies or you die.

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