Off-Topic • [Discussion] Why nobody talks about MS Pluton?

Ubuntu, Redhat and OpenSuse have already openly discussed building packages for x86_64v2/v3 while maintaining "pathways" for users on "legacy" hardware. The problem is that software compiled for v2+ fundamentally cannot be run on v1. It is not backward compatible.

Serpent OS is already charging ahead with dropping x86_64v1. They're not even waiting around.

In their new blog post they also confirmed that Serpent OS will make the x86-64-v2 micro-architecture feature level its baseline for support while x86-64-v3 packages will continue to be built and used by systems that have the necessary support. Going to x86-64-v3 mandates AVX/AVX2 processor support and various other newer extensions.

So all those on Librebooted and Corebooted pre-ME/PSP era laptops and desktops are going to find an ever shrinking pool of available Linux distributions that support their hardware. They will most certainly be told by outsiders "Just maintain your own distro fork!" or "Just upgrade your hardware, sheesh!" without any awareness as to why somebody would opt to run Coreboot/Libreboot x86 devices.

This whole x86_64 feature level is aside from the very natural fact that the newest, fastest x86 chips that one can obtain which are not encumbered by ME/PSP/Pluton are already over a decade old. It will eventually become impractical to run those liberated systems just on the basis of performance.

I have a mixed bag of devices with different CPU architectures, as I want to cast a wide net. There is no guarantee that any one non-x86 architecture is going to succeed or remain viable.

Inexhaustive list:

• Old pre-ME/PSP era x86 desktops & laptops, some with Coreboot, others just with IPMI/BMC disabled
• Olimex open source ARM-based devices (however, ARM remains encumbered with "Trustzone", the ARM equivalent of PSP and in fact the basis of AMD's PSP)
• At least two functional devices from Raptor Computing Systems
• Looking to obtain RISC-V boards, once SiFive's graduate from being "development" products

This is not to despair! It is rather exciting that we have several off ramps to choose from. Development in the other ISAs is active and growing, as best I can tell, with Debian now officially supporting both RISC-V and POWER. And while I speak very tepidly about coreboot and me_cleaner, I think that the work those guys are doing has been commendable and a crucial stepping stone for those of us seeking to divorce from where x86 is headed.

Indeed we've lost a few "battles", but the "conflict" at hand is only just escalating and we have several great allies right out of the gate.

Statistics: Posted by Uptorn — 2024-02-21 20:29 — Replies 3 — Views 150

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