32-bit Linux Support Now and in the Future
summary
32-bit is obsolete for new products but still required for existing devices; Linux currently supports ~3,000 ARM machines and about 30 pre-ARMv7 SoC families, though only Vortex86, Xburst MIPS and Microchip SAM9 RV5 still see new chips. Expect most non‑ARMv7 support to be removed sooner; ARMv7 likely needs a decade more. Key pain points are 800 MB HIMM threshold and 2038 time fixes; recommended path is a 64‑bit kernel with 32‑bit userland where memory is constrained, never a 32‑bit kernel on 64‑bit CPUs.
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chapters (12)
- 0:0032-bit Linux support intro
- 1:27Desktop/server 32-bit status
- 3:41ARM embedded platforms
- 8:43Removing obsolete 32-bit
- 13:46Maintaining 32-bit problems
- 15:3464-bit kernel + 32-bit userspace
- 18:14High memory challenges
- 24:252038 time compatibility
- 26:56Big endian & mainframe support
- 28:45Recent removals & cleanup
- 30:3532-bit support timeline
- 32:45Q&A
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03mIntroduction