6.1 kernel only on antiX-full (64bit)?

I do not need Kernel 5.10- but probably people with very old computers need it? If their systems can’t boot correctly using Kernel 6.1, they can’t install 5.10. That’s the single example that I can see that people “need” that kernel (instead of “prefer” using it).

I can see your point, having only one kernel probably makes it much easier to maintain antiX… You do enough work as is, so anything that is taken off your shoulders would be nice.

P.

…but probably people with very old computers need it? If their systems can’t boot correctly using Kernel 6.1, they can’t install 5.10…

This is the point we need to take into account. We can’t just think about our reality, but other people’s reality.

At least in the full 64-bit ISO, if we have two kernel options, it would be to continue maintaining antiX compatibility with as many computers and laptops as possible.

Perhaps a “4.xx” kernel could be made available along with the 6.1 kernel, if antiX doesn’t start in graphical mode with the latest kernel, surely antiX will start in graphical mode with the “4.xx” kernel.

I suggest not having the “modern kernel” and “legacy kernel” texts anymore, I think the best option is to display the kernel version in place of the texts which are subjective as to what is “modern” and what is “legacy” “.

Outside the subject of this topic, I intend to try to remaster two other full antiX 23 ISOs with the 4.4 kernel, if it is still being available in the repositories.

– – – – –

…but probably people with very old computers need it? If their systems can’t boot correctly using Kernel 6.1, they can’t install 5.10…

É este o ponto que precisamos levar em consideração. Não podemos pensar apenas na nossa realidade, mas na realidade das outras pessoas.

Ao menos na ISO full de 64 bits, se tivermos duas opções de kernel, seria para continuar mantendo a compatibilidade do antiX com a maior quantidade possível de computadores e laptops.

Talvez um kernel “4.xx” poderia ser disponibilizado junto com o kernel 6.1, se o antiX não iniciar com o modo gráfico com o kernel mais recente, certamente o antiX irá iniciar com o modo gráfico com o kernel “4.xx”.

Eu sugiro ainda não ter mais os textos “kernel moderno” e “kernel legado”, eu acho que a melhor opção é exibir a versão do kernel no lugar dos textos que são subjetivos quanto ao que é “moderno” e o que é “legado”.

Fora do assunto deste tópico, eu pretendo tentar remasterizar outras duas ISOs full do antiX 23 com o kernel 4.4, caso ainda esteja sendo disponibilizado nos repositórios.

FWIW, I run my very old netbook (BIOS is from 2010) under 6.1x 64bit and it works absolutely fine.

My oldest 64-bit laptop (bios dated 2007) boots live on 23-beta with 6.1 kernel, with no problems. (All my systems tested do, as well.)

@anticapitalista I haven’t gone back as far as old 32-bit systems, at least not yet, but I’ve gone back to a couple of HP, Dell, and Lenovo 64-bit systems that date back nearly to the beginning of antiX and all of them so far have worked with our 6.1.18 kernel.

Also calciumsodium reports that a system dating clear back to 2003 actually works with a really new kernel. Given the unfortunate fact that the Bookworm architecture is going to effectively knock out a few old systems, but add considerable support for many more, I recommend that we do this:

1) Proceed with the idea of including one standard kernel in most, if not all, of our Version 23 builds.
2) Keep at least one 19 and/or 22 series build with a Version 4 kernel series as long as possible.

On point 2, I vaguely recall looking into this with regard to 4.4 and 4.9 kernels; since it was a while ago, it MAY have been 4.19, but I specifically remember checking to see if ANYONE, anywhere, was somehow retrofitting and maintaining life for kernels that were no longer officially supported, and I recall seeing at least one such effort. Perhaps we can collaborate with someone else who also shares the desire to keep at least a smidge of effort for those who simply can’t get the current stuff working. I know the Debian team did months of asking before they cut support of old architectures for Bookworm and they didn’t get much, if any, responses, and their research also indicated a relatively low demand. Still, we know from OUR work that there are some, usually people who acquire someone else’s “cast off systems”, that obtain old computers, only to find out that they don’t work with current software.

With this in mind, maybe one or two souls here, or maybe even one or two leaders, somewhere along the way, can create or remaster something that will continue to work with some hardware/software combinations that are no longer supported. The last such work I’m vaguely aware of is something that Xecure did before he left our team. Granted, that work isn’t used by a lot of people, but I remember an education initiative called “No Child Left Behind”; do we have to leave anyone behind? So my thought is if we can keep one image somewhere to cater to this small in number scenario, to be of service to those few who have relics that don’t seem to work in any other way – I think it would be a great example of what “lean and mean” can mean to the “least” of our rusty, crumbling collection of plastic, metal, silicon, and integrated circuits that once provided “exciting personal computing” technology.

People like Seaken64, Linux Daddy, Xecure, marcelocripe, and others who have used what they’ve used, and others we don’t know, but want to use computers, just may still have a reason to use stuff that’s now “no longer supported”. We’re not talking about millions of people (at least we haven’t heard from them, but of those still regularly seen here, Marcelo can probably give us an idea of what would be helpful.

christophe wrote:

Slightly off-topic:
Since there has been no 32-bit beta to test, I tried the 6.1 Debian kernel on antiX-22 32-bit, and it runs very well on this Pentium 4 laptop (bios 2002). Just bit of data, in case it helps to decide what may be appropriate for 32-bit, when the time comes.

Thanks christophe; that gives us two actual data points; calciumsodium and you have each used systems in the 2002-2003 time-frame with 32-bit processors and V6+ versions.
If Marcelo can add to this, along with others in the Brazilian (and other) communities who use really old hardware, this will provide additional information.

It is evidence that the majority of users WILL be able to keep their systems working with a 6.1 kernel; I just don’t want to eliminate anyone without allowing their experiences and opinions to be voiced.