[Re: [RFC PATCH 0/4] Remove some e300/MPC83xx evaluation platforms] On 25/02/2023 (Sat 07:40) Christophe Leroy wrote:
> > > Le 20/02/2023 ?? 12:59, Paul Gortmaker a ??crit??: > > [This RFC is proposed for v6.4 and hence is based off linux-next.] > > > > This series removes support for four e300 (MPC83xx) Freescale processor > > family evaluation boards that were added to the kernel in the 2006 era. > > > > These boards were all of a very similar form factor, a largish PCI or PCI-X > > card that could also be used standalone with an external power brick, and > > all shared the Modular Development System (MDS) designation. > > > > These platforms were made in limited quantity and were generally designed > > to get early silicon into the hands of OEMs who would later develop their > > own boards/platforms. As such, availability was limited to those who would > > be working on boards and/or BSP support. > > > > Many early revision MDS platforms used a mechanical clamping system to hold > > the BGA CPU in place to facilitate CPU updates -- something not normally > > possible for a soldered down BGA in a COTS system. > > > > The point of these details is to give context that reflects that these four > > boards were made in limited quantities, were not in a form factor that is > > really "hobbyist" friendly and hence make sense for removal 17 years later. > > > > Here, we remove the MPC8548E-MDS[1], the MPC8360E-MDS[2], the > > MPC837xE-MDS[3], and the MPC832x-MDS[4] board support from the kernel. > > > > There will still exist several e300 Freescale Reference Design System (RDS) > > boards[5] and mini-ITX boards[6] with support in the kernel. While these > > were more of a COTS "ready to deploy" design more suited to hobbyists, it > > probably makes sense to consider removing these as well, based on age. > > Those boards are still being sold, see > https://www.components-store.fr/product/NXP-Semiconductors-Freescale/MPC8323E-RDB.html > > they have 4600 pieces in stock. Just to clarify for others - your link is for RDB boards - which I said should be considered, but are not touched in this series. Secondly, even if there may exist a large amount of NOS (New Old Stock) of RDB boards from 15+ years ago - the reality is that they will only be used in small quantities to repair legacy STB or similar - where no hardware upgrade path exists. That corner case will happen w/o changing firmware or software (i.e. u-boot or kernel). I can assure you that no sane company is going to take a 2006 STB/PVR and do a software update to a 6.4 kernel. That would go against decades of Product Life Cycle experience, and would be inviting disaster as you go up the wrong side of the bathtub curve. As for hobbyists - feel free to go ahead and e-mail the folks at your components-store link and ask for a quote, since they don't list a price. When you get an answer of $800-$2000 USD - tell me who is going buy one vs. a modern PC. Oh, and ask if they have next day shipping, since they claim to have 4600 in stock - which also seems very suspect, or a horribly bad investment on their part. Don't get me wrong - I appreciate the input, but I don't think it really alters what the right thing to do is for the 6.4+ kernel. Thanks, Paul. -- > > Christophe