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Linux 7.2 finally cuts off ancient x86 fallback code (unknownuniverse.uk)
submitted 4 weeks ago by cm0002@literature.cafe 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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[-] davidgro@lemmy.world 34 points 4 weeks 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.

[-] khleedril@cyberplace.social 14 points 4 weeks ago

@davidgro @cm0002 At least you can still get the last kernel which ran on any hardware it ever did support.

[-] Zephyr@sh.itjust.works 8 points 4 weeks ago

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

[-] offspec@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks 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 7 points 3 weeks 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

this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2026
126 points (98.5% liked)

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