this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2026

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Linux 7.2 finally cuts off ancient x86 fallback code (unknownuniverse.uk)

submitted 3 days ago by cm0002@literature.cafe to c/linux@programming.dev

57 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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 20 points 2 days ago (3 children)

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.

[–] offspec@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

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 6 points 2 days 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

[–] khleedril@cyberplace.social 8 points 2 days 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 4 points 2 days ago

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

[–] Kazumara@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 2 days ago

Old news, this was clear in June: https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-Kernel-TSC-Unconditional

[–] refalo@programming.dev 5 points 3 days ago (20 children)

Lots of retro enthusiasts still use legacy hardware for all sorts of reasons... I fear that a fork of the kernel will be necessary in the near future to keep these machines running.

The notion of using Linux to revive old hardware and keep it out of the landfill may not last forever...

[–] AudaciousArmadillo@piefed.blahaj.zone 10 points 2 days ago

Or just don't connect to the public internet and continue using a kernel that works? Even with internet, the attack vectors for such a machine are nearly non existent.

[–] smaximov@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

And why do they need to use the latest Linux kernel for that hardware, again?

[–] refalo@programming.dev 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Security updates if you use it online or copy new binaries to run on it. Even if you're not worried about hackers, there can still be viruses and malware that destroy your data.

[–] mabeledo@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago (2 children)

There are LTS versions outside of current.

But more importantly, who runs anything remotely critical on a 486 these days? These machines choke to death on TLS handshakes.

[–] refalo@programming.dev 0 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

Who said anything about critical?

I just don't want my hard disk wiped when I decide to try a piece of software.

[–] mabeledo@lemmy.world 0 points 22 hours ago

I just don’t want my hard disk wiped when I decide to try a piece of software.

You aren't running any relatively recent software on a 486, period. Even if you did and it turned out to be a virus, the chances of it hitting a bug in the kernel are extremely low.

This is just grasping at straws.

[–] jumping_redditor@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Industrial machine controllers frequently run on ancient hardware

[–] smaximov@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Do they run the latest Linux kernel?

[–] mabeledo@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

And they are very notoriously outdated in terms of software.

[–] yetAnotherUser@discuss.tchncs.de 19 points 2 days ago

There are ultra long term support Linux kernels though.

Linux 6.12 will be supported until at least 2036 for instance.

[–] menas@lemmy.wtf 1 points 2 days ago

I do agree. Maybe I'm little paranoid, but I feel like in some years, recycle old chips will be the only IT available

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