Linux kernel is leaving 486 CPUs behind, only 18 years after the last one made
Linux kernel is leaving 486 CPUs behind, only 18 years after the last one made
I didn’t know whether to mark this NSFW or not but it’s time to buy a new computer if you haven’t upgraded in multiple decades.
Wow, to wake up and see that a large number of people have downvoted my simple noob comment is definitely something. C'mon people, chill, I am quite new to all this stuff.
Latest 486 “distro” released 3 months ago:
https://github.com/marmolak/gray486linux
Same userland as Alpine Linux. Newer version of MUSL than current Void Linux ships with. Up to the minute kernel.
The oldest kernel version still getting updates at kernel.org is from 6 years ago. So, we may still have active 486 support in official kernels for years yet.
Even after that, the kernel will stay available. You can always backport any important security fixes yourself.
And this is just the kernel. A 486 will run current c libraries for decades most likely.
You can still use Linux on 386 and Git commits as recent as a year ago say things like “adding support for new hardware”.
https://github.com/marmolak/gray386linux
Again, even on a 386 you have the same C library and userland as found in current Alpine Linux.
Good
Old kernels still run on it, it just won't get new versions.
The reason Linux (and BSD) is perfect for old machines is that the source code is available, so anyone can maintain it if they want to. It doesn't mean the core Linux team has to maintain it for them though.
Yeah, you're right.
You really got dogpiled hard there, as if being corrected half a dozen times wasn't enough, they had to downvote you to oblivion as well :(
I don't mind that people write that old hardware can still be used, because they are correct, but the number of downvotes breaks my heart.
Dude it’s been almost 20 years of support and it’s not like they brick today. If you want to run one it will still work for years.
When was the last time you ran a 486?
Over 30 years of support :)
Doh went off the 18 lol
It's about 15 years ago I used a 486 based embedded board with ethernet, can't remember the name of it.
You could simply continue to use the older versions - with Linux, you're not forced to update if you don't want to. Since it's open source, you could even continue modifying it freely. I think the people behind Linux are being a bit overkill in supporting older hardware in the most recent releases.
Of course.
Can always go for NetBSD?
Make sure it is not a 486SX. NetBSD requires an FPU. Linux is able to emulate one in software.
I guess? I'm not very knowledgeable about BSD.
" The minimal configuration for a NetBSD/i386 system requires at least 32M of RAM and 512M of disk space. Smaller configurations are possible, but require e.g. custom kernel configurations.
Any i486 or better CPU should work - genuine Intel or a compatible such as Cyrix, AMD, or NexGen."
It should say 486DX or better as NetBSD requires an FPU.
But apparently somebody has been working on SoftFPU support and they just released a first version a week ago!
https://github.com/mezantrop/i486SX_soft_FPU?tab=readme-ov-file
Huzzah!
Its like... Bro... Its a 486 CPU
You can still run perfectly good software on it. You'll just be limited by the resources, so you're not playing Crysis by any means.
Just a few years ago I got a 286 up and running with Minix. It was neat, but I didn't get as far as compiling the Ethernet driver, so I didn't really do much with it and it eventually finished its journey to recycling.
And how much have you paid for the last 18 years of support? You can continue to run Linux on old hardware, as long as you’re willing to pay for the development. 18 years is one hell of a freemium model.
