In the context of Linux kernel not supporting i486 processor anymore, I am getting curious.
I’ve seen my share of obsolete system, including these “Green screen” computer connected to a plotter drawing on graph paper. and a shit load of “Windows XP” still used in production. So I get the whole never change a working system.
However, Why would you want to run a modern kernel on this legacy hardware
Computer engineer here (well I have a computer engineering degree and have worked on several computer engineering projects at least). The only point of fucking with an i486 in 2025 for reasons besides “vintage computing” or playing MS-DOS games is that it’s probably the most powerful cpu that can still run on a cheap 4 layer circuit board. This cpu is also simple enough that a i486 chipset can be DIY’ed without ball grid array components. Electronic devices with 4 layer circuit boards are less susceptible to getting ruined by tariffs because they can be manufactured for a reasonable price in places besides just China. Ball grid array components require specialized equipment in order to put them on circuit boards. The easier surface mount (quad flat package) chips required to build a viable and performant i486 motherboard are simple enough that all you need is a cheap soldering iron and a steady hand to solder them onto a circuit board.
What I’m getting at is that prior to them dropping i486 support in Linux, it was possible to use cheapo microchips from Mouser, connect them to i486 cpu and singlehandedly DIY a modern-Linux capable computer, in theory at least.
With Linux dropping support for i486, the bar is now much higher. It’s still possible to completely DIY an ever more powerful, non-i486 based Linux-capable computer yourself if you REALLY know what you’re doing (and people HAVE done it).
I wanted to build one just for fun and maybe to use it like super high performance arduino but now there’s a lot less of a point so meh.
Embedded controllers, especially in manufacturing. I work on machines that use basically an embedded Pentium 1 and a custom kernel. I know of some CNC machines running on 486 that still receive software updates but I don’t know what the OS is based on.
Most industrial embedded PCs I’ve serviced ran on Windows XP Pro but you’d never see it (under the machine control software that autoruns on boot) unless things had gone pear-shaped. It was kinda trippy how at the time you could find that OS running on everything from grandpa’s old Gateway 2000 all the way up to $100K+ industrial CNC machines and million-dollar medical imaging equipment.
Absolutely. The machines I work on the most are XP embedded, but I’ve heard rumors that there are Linux based systems coming down the line.
I’m pretty sure there’s a Bridgeport conversation from back in the day that used a 486 PC running sysunix and an embedded controller card, but I could be mistaken.
It could be things like ATM machines, that have bespoke motherboards, but need to be networked, and therefore patched.
automatic ATM machines.
For FFS’s Sake, your comment made me SMH My Head, What Wtf The Fuck is wrong with you?!?
Automatic automatic teller machine machines
Anything on the network. Common in factories that do CNC machining.
Need compatibility with legacy stuff, but also security?
Something something security reasons maybe? 🤔
Because you had the hardware on hand?
Idk, but this made me have to get rid of a machine with a perfecly good Cyrix CPU.
It’d still run NetBSD!
I’ll have to check that out. I’m more of a Linux guy.
