Linux Kills Ancient x86 Fallbacks
unknownuniverse.uk
As Linux 7.2 makes the Time Stamp Counter mandatory, we look at why dropping legacy x86 fallback timing code is long overdue.

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?

  • davidgro@lemmy.world
    28·
    10 days ago

    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.

    • Zephyr@sh.itjust.works
      81·
      10 days ago

      Someone will keep up support and you’re always welcome to merge it and compile your kernel.

    • offspec@lemmy.world
      4·
      9 days ago

      I have some xeons in an old server running that I can’t update to the next version of Rocky because the kernel won’t support them :(

      • boonhet@lemmy.zip
        6·
        9 days ago

        Isn’t that just Rocky configuring the kernel that way? You’re free to compile your own kernel and it’ll still support even old pentiums, just not i486 in new versions