I am not sure of the status of the following issue as I no longer have access to hardware to test the issue against current ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/unity/+bug/1647184 however supporting mixed-mode systems, 64-bit system with 32-bit UEFI, like Debian Jessie 8.0's multi-arch installer (debian-8.6.0-amd64-i386-netinst.iso) would increase the pool of machines that can be migrated to the x86_64 by supporting those can can run a x86_64 kernel but need mixed-mode support to help with their 32-EFI. On Wed, May 9, 2018 at 4:07 PM, Bryan Quigley <bryan.quig...@canonical.com> wrote: > Hello, > > Less and less non-amd64-compatible i386 hardware is available for > consumers to buy today from anything but computer part recycling centers. > The last of these machines were manufactured over a decade ago, and support > from an increasing number of upstream projects has ended. > > Ubuntu and flavors just completed the 18.04 release cycle. This released > version will either be supported until 2021 or 2023, depending on the > product, team, and willingness to support it. At that point in time, the > majority of these machines are approaching two decades old. > > >>Previous 2016 thread: And in 2018, the question will come if we can > effectively provide security support on i386. > We can't. Machines running i386 Ubuntu which are capable of running amd64 > Ubuntu are vulnerable to the critical Meltdown vulnerability where they > wouldn't be if they were running amd64. (Some actual i386 hardware simply > isn't vulnerable, but some is). > > We still have a relatively high number if i386 downloads but that doesn't > mean users machines are not capable of amd64. For the flavors remaining > today on i386 here are some i386 to amd64 ratios for 18.04: > > Lubuntu cdimage - 0.87 > Lubuntu tracker - 0.64 > Lubuntu error (pcmanfm) - 0.11 > Xubuntu cdimage - 0.49 > Xubuntu tracker - 0.30 > Xubuntu error (thunar) - 0.10 > Kylin tracker - 0.30 > Kylin error (engrampa) - 0.10 > Kubuntu cdimage - 0.14 > Kubuntu tracker - 0.12 > Kubuntu error (kinit) - 0.07 > > The data retrieved from cdimage is for a limited time period on May 7th. All > cdimage statistics included many hundreds to thousands of downloads (except > Ubuntu Kylin due to it using it's own CDN, so not being included here). > The torrent tracker results are available here: http://torrent.ubuntu.com: > 6969/. > The error tracker statistics come from comparing top bugs shared between > i386 and amd64 over last week. Bugs that affect multiple flavors are not > included. > It's not fully understood why there is a large discrepancy between the > error tracker and other sources - but it's possible apport doesn't work as > well in low memory. > > With Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Budgie, and Ubuntu Studio joining Ubuntu Desktop > and Server in not offering i386 support in order to focus their efforts, > and these statistics in mind, we (flavors) should all join them. Now is > the ideal time to do so, because it's before the Cosmic cycle is really > under way, and if support were continued for i386, we don't want users to > meet a dead end with respect to upgrade paths, and would support it until > 20.04 (which means either five or seven more years of i386). Users still > have the support cycle of 18.04 to use their machines and get full support, > so these machines will still be able to function. But with no new machines > being manufactured, we have to deprecate support at some point. > > The first step would be to all agree on dropping images/installers but we > should keep the end goal of dropping the port in mind ideally soon as > well. > > On the list of known blockers for removing the i386 port are Steam and > Wine. Solus' snapped Steam is progressing nicely and Steam deb is difficult > to maintain as is [See removal bug]. That leaves coming up with a good > way forward for Wine. > > Thanks! > Simon Quigley > Bryan Quigley > > [2016 email thread] https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2016- > June/039420.html (was Installation Media and supportability of i386 in > 18.04 LTS Re: Ubuntu Desktop on i386) > [removal bug] https://pad.lv/1759715 > > > > -- > ubuntu-devel mailing list > ubuntu-de...@lists.ubuntu.com > Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/ > mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel > >
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