linux End of an era: Linux distributions will soon stop supporting 32-bit PCs

[Sylence]

“Now’s the time to consider letting it go,” said OpenSUSe's Richard Brown.

 

 

AMD and Intel released the first 64-bit CPUs for consumers back in 2003 and 2004. Now, more than a decade later, Linux distributions are looking at winding down support for 32-bit hardware.

Google already took this leap back in 2015, dumping 32-bit versions of Chrome for Linux.

Ubuntu is just the latest distro to plan for this

Ubuntu’s Dimitri John Ledkov put forth a proposal to wind down 32-bit support on the Ubuntu mailing list recently. Hardware that can’t run 64-bit software is becoming much less common, while creating 32-bit images, testing them, and supporting them takes time and effort. (On Linux, the “i386” architecture is the standard 32-bit for Intel-compatible CPUs, while “amd64” is the 64-bit architecture originally made by AMD that Intel CPUs are compatible with.)

Ledkov points out that Ubuntu wants to limit the number of new 32-bit installations, with Ubuntu 16.10. This next release will not offer a 32-bit Ubuntu Desktop or Ubuntu Server image. The software could still be installed for legacy compatibility purposes via more traditional installers. By Ubuntu 18.10 in October 2018, Ubuntu would completely end support for 32-bit software and encourage running it in a virtual machine or container instead.

Fedora has made similar choices. Fedora Server no longer offers a 32-bit image as ofFedora 24. A proposal to dump all 32-bit images in Fedora 24 failed, and Fedora 24 still offers 32-bit versions of Fedora Workstation. However, Fedora no longer considers themimportant. As the developers put it during the meeting, no one wants to support the 32-bit images. I’d expect to see Fedora stop releasing 32-bit images within the next few releases, too.

OpenSUSE Leap hasn’t even offered 32-bit images since its inception. OpenSUSE Chairman Richard Brown explained on Reddit that it wasn’t worth supporting 32-bit for another three years after the release because downloads of 32-bit releases have steadily declined. “I know some people passionately enjoy their old 32-bit hardware, but I think now’s the time to consider letting it go,” he wrote.

32-bit Linux distributions will still exist

Thankfully, 32-bit Linux distributions will continue to exist for a long time. The recently released Ubuntu 16.04 LTS will be supported for five years until 2021. Even after many of the big Linux distributions stop releasing new versions for 32-bit hardware, there will be Linux distributions out there specializing in support for this older hardware. But, by then, more 32-bit hardware will be out of commission.

 

PCWorld

[steven36]

Debian is dropping support for  older* i386 CPUs that are not 686 (aka Pentium II)-class.,    Pentium 2/3 were follow-ups more-or-less of the same architecture .Debian 9  now requires a 686-class processor. They will still support Pentium 4  and newer 32bit .  I got  my 1st Pentium 4 back around  14  or 15 years ago .  Ubuntu is just built on Debian core without  Debian Ubuntu could not even exist . People who use Arch know more about building a O/S  than those who build  Ubuntu derivatives . only reason Ubuntu has any claim to Linux is because it uses the Linux Kernel . Its about as much as Linux as Android  both are black sheep distros  dominated by big companies .  One day Shuttleworth will get tired of footing the bill and going in debt making Ubuntu and maybe he will sell it to Microsoft or just file bankruptcy.  

[Pequi]

OMG, I suppose I'll have to choose between 16 bit and 64 bit ?

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embeddable_Linux_Kernel_Subset

;)

 

The trouble with open-source is that a couple of wealthy CEO's can't "decide to kill it".

If there is anyone out there willing to support the software, it lives on, and you will ALWAYS have a choice.

Unlike commercial stuff.

[DKT27]

While I'm fine with this, infact, I support a push to move everything towards 64-bit due it's superiority over 32-bit and many other reasons. However, I have some issues about the hardware, specifically RAM. I ran my PC on a 64-bit OS with 2GB RAM for a few months. While it did ran fine, I noticed considerable amount of speed cut of my PC, from pages to programs to folder to other things, everything was slow. As soon as I got my other 2GB RAM back, the speed got fixed. That showed that 2GB RAM was not enough for the 64-bit OS. You may say, so what, RAM is cheap. The problem is, some things still get sold with 2GB RAM, especially laptops. These 2GB devices are sold in good numbers I must mention. Slowly making complete way for 4GB.

 

Obviously, this also depends on how Linux handles RAM usage. It probably does it fine. So it should not be a big issue, but if things are being ran from the pagefile, then the computer is not going to be fast.

 

If this above thing is somehow taken care of, then I see no issue with it.

[Sylence]

People were happy because they could install an updated OS on their old hardware which are mostly 32-bit, with this there is no reason they go for Linux anymore only because it is free. being free means nothing, the quality matters which Windows is undeniably the best for almost all purposes.

[pc71520]

3 hours ago, saeed_dc said:

People were happy because they could install an updated OS

on their old hardware which are mostly 32-bit,

with this there is no reason they go for Linux

anymore only because it is free.

True...how true.

[steven36]

2 hours ago, pc71520 said:

True...how true.

How is it true? Linux only has 2 market share the highest  ever they claim . Meaning most people never tired it  at. all  Just because it can install on you're  old wore out x86 pc from 1st decade of 21st century don't mean it's going run good , most all old boxes regardless  run like crap unless its old outdated OS  Most everyone with outdated hardware stayed on XP.  So that statement  is not even realistic!  Only way to have something new is buy something new , you cant turn straw into gold  Most any PC you bought in the last 10 years can run x64 . The last XP  i bought  it came with XP x86 but you could install a x64 OS  I put Windows 7 x64 on it    There's all kinds of Linux OS  that  focus on old x86.  antiX based on Debian  is one such distro .

[Sylence]

4 minutes ago, steven36 said:

How is it true? Linux only has 2 market share the highest  ever they claim . Meaning most people never tired it  at. all  Just because it can install on you're  old wore out x86 pc from 1st decade of 21st century don't mean it's going run good , most all old boxes regardless  run like crap unless its old outdated OS  Most everyone with outdated hardware stayed on XP.  So that statement  is not even realistic!  Only way to have something new is buy something new , you cant turn straw into gold  Most any PC you bought in the last 10 years can run x64 . The last XP  i bought  it came with XP x86 but you could install a x64 OS  I put Windows 7 x64 on it    There's all kinds of Linux OS  that  focus on old x86.  antiX based on Debian  is one such distro .

 

The straw and gold example is so unrelated

[steven36]

2 hours ago, saeed_dc said:

 

The straw and gold example is so unrelated

No its Not I got and old PC from the early 2000s with a AMD Athlon XP microprocessor  right now.  I can stick XP on it  and runs OK . I can put  AntiX  x86 O/S on it from 2016. It will run but it's slow as shit and not very user friendly ! If you want  something that runs good you must buy it . You cant turn straw into gold . Even the  x86 x64 PC XP with 2GB of ram  i bought  witch was the last XP  i bought  it ran Windows 7 x64  but it was not very user friendly . You could not do everything you could do on  a PC that came with Vista or Windows 7 on it.

 

The problem existed every since Vista came out on windows  and it didn't matter if and x86 or x64 O/S  Vista and newer never ran good on old hardware made for XP.. People had better luck with Linux  in the past witch even less people used it in the past. but in 2016 no new OS is going bring new life into a PC from the early 2000s even if it is x86 OS its going run slow.  .

 

Another problem is most people that code Linux are Volunteers and most all use x64 so there's never no x86 Linux  with UEFI  for newer x86 laptops All the x86 OS Linux  only installs trough BIOS. I have one x86 PC  here I never use it because it only runs good with XP . Ive not really used x86 since 2010 when i was still on XP  I don't like it because it's not as good.

 

Anyone who takes and writes Linux articles  comparing  it too windows,  is a windows only user . What do the journalist in OP  suggest  you put on you're old  retro pc? If he has no answer  he  only adds to the problem . XP  is the only  O/S that will run good on many old machines and it's not had a update in 2 years . If you want a better O/S you need to put you're money were you're mouth is and put up XP or put it in the trash.  And many Linux users buy new pcs  and install Linux . Back when this old retro crap came out Linux had less users than it has today and that's not saying much  .  89.79 %  of desktop users use Windows  so you cant compare Linux  to Windows .  Why do windows users waste there time raging on Linux ? Do you feel threatened from its 2% marketshare or have you ran out of problems on windows too talk about?

 

Like the fact no one is going to buy Windows 10 at home and they wiil be lucky to even sell it to businesses by 2018 or 2019.  If no more free upgrades after July 29th Windows 10 is dead in the water  for awhile  tell businesses  if and when they  decide to upgrade. It will only be the talk of the 320 million that upgraded to it  there will be over a billion users still left on a old flavor of windows .

http://www.computerworld.com/article/3091787/microsoft-windows/as-windows-10-free-deal-nears-end-growth-slows-slightly.html

 

Here is less than a month away tell they free deal ends and it looks like people would want get in on it but it's not happening Win 10  installs slowed down some even and  Windows 7 seen gains in June even  .

 

 

 

 

 

[pc71520]

21 hours ago, steven36 said:

How is it true?

Linux just shot their legs...

[steven36]

27 minutes ago, pc71520 said:

Linux just shot their legs...

You must be smoking something ?  Ubuntu  is  is only one Linux  distro  anyways people have tell 2021 they can use Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, if they have a 32 bit pc . If there still using a 15 or 20 year PC in 2021 they don't need a computer  . I pray they stop making 32 bit PCs by then. Most people who use  32 bit are using them for Ubuntu server anyways and not desktops. Debain  is a more better to use for a server anyways  It has more users than Ubuntu anyways.  x64  Linux is great it has mostly native x64 programs its not like windows were most  of the software is so outdated and still only x86 that almost half it is still in the x86 windows folder of a x64 PC

 

Quote

 

ANOTHER KEY voice in the Linux world has added to calls for 32-bit builds of the OS to be scrapped to allow more developer time for the 64-bit editions.

 

Ubuntu's Dimitri John Ledkov has proposed that 32-bit installations are increasingly unnecessary, as so few machines run on 32-bit processors.

 

However, he may see a backlash from people who have opted to use Linux to revive an old netbook or laptop.

 

Many first-generation machines run Intel Atom processors which have only 32-bit capabilities, and the withdrawal of the major players from the Linux 32-bit market could pave the way for smaller distros such as Puppy or Mint to find a niche catering to the have-nots.

 

It has already been confirmed that there won't be a 32-bit image available for the next release of Ubuntu 16.10, but it would be available via installers.

 

Under the plan, Ubuntu 18.10, due for release in autumn 2018, would see the end of 32-bit versions of the OS, favouring virtual machines or containers.

 

Fedora and OpenSuse Leap are already 64-bit products. Fedora said on Reddit: "I know some people passionately enjoy their old 32-bit hardware, but I think now’s the time to consider letting it go.

 

"32-bit support doubles our testing burden (actually, more so - do you know how hard it is to find 32-bit hardware these days?). It also doubles our build load on OBS. You also have to ask 'do we really want to support 32-bit for another three years?' That's a lot of work for a long time, and we won't have any 32-bit-specific support from Suse for its SLE parts."

 

Given that Ubuntu 16.04 LTS will be supported into 2021, it's unlikely that many people will be affected if the proposal to ditch 32-bit goes ahead.

 

Coding skills are a premium commodity right now and many jobs are left unfilled, so an open source project has to consider how to use its community resources, and companies are fast coming to the conclusion that supporting outdated hardware makes no sense.

 

Google has already ditched 32-bit builds of Chrome for Linux, while Skype has become increasingly frustrating for Linux users, so the hour of reckoning is being played out not just by the distros, but by their software vendors.

 

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2463739/ubuntu-backs-calls-to-wind-down-32-bit-linux-support

 

 

[pc71520]

21 hours ago, steven36 said:

You must be smoking something?

Neither am I a Linux junkie,

nor do I have Linux blinders...

 

What about you?

[steven36]

4 minutes ago, pc71520 said:

I am Not a Linux junkie...

you can tell you don't know nothing about Linux at all , you been smoking with Bill Gates they the one who makes software for Pot Growers,  that's what happen to windows 10 they was stoned when they made it.

[pc71520]

- Last time I checked, NSANE offers Forums for Windows-based Apps!

 

- Last time I checked, there are No Linux Forums on NSANE!

This is the wrong place to come and preach for the Linux 'supremacy'.

 

Other members have called you 'Linux *TROLL*', '

because you have constantly hijacked various Threads

by adding irrelevant Linux info.

 

I won't call you the way others have done it, here.

 

I feel a pity for your Linux Addiction/Obsession...

You definitely need professional help.

 

May God have mercy upon you!
 

[Sylence]

22 hours ago, pc71520 said:

- Last time I checked, NSANE offers Forums for Windows-based Apps!

 

- Last time I checked, there are No Linux Forums on NSANE!

This is the wrong place to come and preach for the Linux 'supremacy'.

 

Other members have called you 'Linux *TROLL*', '

because you have constantly hijacked various Threads

by using irrelevant Linux info.

 

I won't call you the way others have done it, here.

 

I feel a pity for Linux Addiction/Obsession...

You definitely need professional help.

 

May God have mercy upon you!
 

 

 

Ouch.

[CODYQX4]

.

[luisam]

"People" say that Linux is great for old computers. But let's talk about REAL LIFE: I know some people using old computers but I don't know anyone and haven't heard about anyone in my more or less open circle using Linux on an old computer.  So, I presume the effect of Linux distributions to stop supporting 32-bit PCs  is negligible.

[steven36]

On undefined at 0:46 PM, pc71520 said:

Other members have called you 'Linux *TROLL*',

 Just because I like to use something sometimes don't make me troll  , I like to  use windows too . .. If I was Linux troll do you think I would tell  windows was better in some ways than Linux in this topic here

 

On undefined at 0:46 PM, pc71520 said:

This is the wrong place to come and preach for the Linux 'supremacy'.

So you're saying Linux is supreme even though it only  has 2% markshare you're not even being realistic .

 

On undefined at 0:46 PM, pc71520 said:

Last time I checked, NSANE offers Forums for Windows-based Apps!

 

Last time I checked this is a forum  of of technical nature no were is it wrote in the rules that this is a windows only forum. But I didn't  start this topic no ways. But there's all kinds of stuff posted about stuff that don't got nothing too  do with windows at  alt on here . And its all with in the rules .

 

The reason i waited 2 days reply too you, most of the time you're post  never add nothing to the topic others complained about this too  just like those topics you use too  post here  with just a link to a article and no info  to just too get you're post count up under the name you had  before you was banned  under you're old name. .  And since you are close minded toward any thing that's not Windows, who's the troll ?

 

There's even some who are closed minded toward anything that/s not Windows 10 on here . This is community with Linux  , Mac OSX ,  Windows XP , 7 , 8 ,10  and smart phone users but some  of you have a fit if anything gets posted that don't  give glory to   Windows 10 and we should make like nothing else exist? What a boring little self centered world were there's no choices you live in  Life is about the freedom to use what ever you please and when you please.

 

On my PC  Linux  and Windows coexist with each other,  Windows don't care that Linux is there in my boot manger and Linux don't care Windows  is there  Even Microsoft is sticking Linux components in windows even they know a good thing, maybe you should  stop being so closed minded and become more like the software you use.  Microsoft  are far more open minded than a lot  of  it's users.   . .

 

Windows should have stopped making x86 OS long ago as well , But then again  most stuff that's not open source for windows is done for a profit so those developers can afford  to make x86  programs .  Even Google who is one the richest companies in the world make like they cant afford to make x86 software for Linux  . That's there lost there plenty of x86 browsers on Linux anyway .   Just like the distros who chose not too make x86 OS,  that's there lost there's distros that do still make x86  and windows do too.

 

Ubuntu does not own Open Source Linux, the rest of the Linux community cant stand it.    they give Linux a bad name,  it becomes more crappy with every release,  and its a distro for noobs. They make more unstable releases than they do stable... Even some distros that's bleeding edge is more stable than that pre complied OS they call Ubuntu . And it carries  a lot of unwanted PR  with it like Windows does . that's not true .

 

Open Source Linux means if  you cant find nothing you like pre built, you can build you're own OS anyway you want. Ubuntu is a version of Linux that's controlled  by a big company  It should not even be considered to be  Open Source Linux . I think the only reason open source puts up with them is to  give Windows users somewhere to go  too get started with Linux . I  love too learn new things,  when things become old and crusty  to me and i need a change of pace i can tinker with something else. my motto in life is no boring  and knowledge  is power.

[pc71520]

20 hours ago, steven36 said:

So, you're saying Linux is supreme even though it only has 2% market-share you're not even realistic.

I wrote Linux ' supremacy '.

 

The term supremacy was inside quotes  ' '

to show my disagreement!

 

I didn't expect from you to understand it...

20 hours ago, steven36 said:

my motto in life is no boring and knowledge  is power.

 

The usual one-page posts

full of inconsistencies and irrelevant stuff...

 

 

20 hours ago, steven36 said:

you're post  never add nothing to the topic others complained about this too  just like those topics you use too  post here  with just a link to a article and no info  to just too get you're post count up under the name you had  before you was banned  under you're old name. . 

I was not banned because of what you claim.

You have No idea about what you are writing!

Allow me to know better on the specific matter....

 

I will be a Veteran again,

because I will Not repeat the Mistakes I did!

Especially with members, like you,

who complained about me behind my back...

 

Now, I know with whom I am dealing with...

[pc71520]

Every-time, someone posts something bad for Linux,

he/she is automatically attacked by you.

 

Who appointed you the Linux-POLICEman, here?

 

I guess your pathetic Linux obsession/addiction.

[steven36]

2 hours ago, pc71520 said:

 

 

I wrote Linux ' supremacy '.

 

The term supremacy was inside quotes  ' '

to show my disagreement!

 

I didn't expect from you to understand it...

 

The usual one-page posts

full of inconsistencies and irrelevant stuff...

 

 

I was not banned because of what you claim.

You have No idea about what you are writing!

Allow me to know better on the specific matter....

 

I will be a Veteran again,

because I will Not repeat the Mistakes I did!

Especially with members, like you,

who complained about me behind my back...

 

Now, I know with whom I am dealing with...

I didn't even say why you was banned..  i got feeling i know why you was banned... and i don't know why they let you come back i guess you came back without permission or they would gave you you're old name and post count  back and would not have too re earn if  they did give you permission .  and i didn't  complain about you. So really you dont  know no more than you did before.. But when someone was acting  like you were no one had too tell on you so don't blame others for you're own mistakes you done it to yourself it was no ones fault but you're own I don't care if you spam you're way to being a veteran here from  one liner post that add nothing to the board  but if there going to allow that too go on they may as well never removed thank you post from the board.because one liner post are no different.  You don't get no extra privileges from being  a vet that you get from a VIP   and a VIP don't really get you nothing much , because you don't earn it, it's done by post count  not by works . The staff  are the ones who do most all the work here.and when they were normal posters they did too that's why there staff they earned it.  

 

 

[DKT27]

Please guys. Do not make me repeat myself. Our forums are open to everyone with similar interest as what our forums provide, even if you do not share the interest, you are fine to fill in anything that is useful / helpful / contributive and such, to the site.

 

Having said, please do not overdo the my interest versus yours. Please keep it each to it's own here.

[pc71520]

I respect DKT27

and put an end, here.