On Sunday 20 Nov 2011, Ben Hutchings wrote: > On Sun, 2011-11-20 at 19:43 +0000, David Goodenough wrote: > > On Sunday 20 Nov 2011, Ben Hutchings wrote: > > > On Sun, 2011-11-20 at 10:10 +0000, David Goodenough wrote: > > > > On Saturday 19 Nov 2011, Ben Hutchings wrote: > > > > > The i386 architecture was the first in Linux and in Debian, but we > > > > > have long since dropped support for the original i386-compatible > > > > > processors and now require a minimum of a 486-class processor. > > > > > > > > > > I think it is time to increase the minimum requirement to > > > > > 586-class, if not for wheezy then immediately after. (Later it > > > > > should be increased further, and eventually i386 should be reduced > > > > > to a partial architecture that may be installed on amd64 systems.) > > > > > This would allow the use of optimisations and new instructions > > > > > throughout userland that improve performance for the vast majority > > > > > of users. > > > > > > > > > > The 486-class processors that would no longer be supported are: > > > > > 1. All x86 processors with names including '486' > > > > > 2. AMD Am5x86 > > > > > 3. Cyrix/IBM/ST 5x86, 6x86 and MediaGX > > > > > 4. UMC U5D and U5S > > > > > 5. AMD/NSC Geode GX1, Geode SC1100, Elan SC4xx and SC5xx > > > > > > > > I am still running a bunch of systems with SC1100 processors on them. > > > > They are (and always have been) running off the shelf Debian kernels > > > > and I would much rather keep it that way. > > > > > > [...] > > > > > > Then keep them running. 'squeeze' should continue to receive security > > > updates until late 2013. > > > > > > Ben. > > > > Actually I am currently in the process of upgrading them because the > > wireless cards they had are no longer available and I am having to > > replace them with new ath5k compatible ones. I also need to work them > > in frequencies where I need DFS support, and that is only just being > > added to the driver. > > > > So I have to upgrade them. > > > > And this could/will happen again in the future. > > Whatever is decided, you should have some years' warning that you either > need to upgrade the hardware or hire someone to continue support (though > I doubt it'll be worth it). > > Ben. Actually I do not generally find out that I can not get more of a part until I come to order it. I then have to look for new hardware and make sure that it is supported. I am having to rebuild these boxes with sid packages as those are the only ones with the relevant support.
While I can build my own debs (and have done so in the past) if I can avoid it I would much rather do so as it is one less thing to do. David -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [email protected] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [email protected] Archive: http://lists.debian.org/[email protected]
