FreeBSD debates sunsetting power64/power64le support
2 days ago
- #FreeBSD
- #powerpc64
- #Raptor-Engineering
- FreeBSD is considering retiring powerpc64 support, potentially making FreeBSD 15 the last stable version with this architecture.
- 32-bit PowerPC support was already dropped in FreeBSD 14, with OpenBSD and NetBSD serving as alternatives.
- Raptor's POWER9 systems (Blackbird, Talos II) are outdated and expensive, with no modern successors available due to IBM's issues with POWER10.
- IBM's POWER10 and POWER11 hardware is prohibitively expensive, raising concerns about maintaining FreeBSD's powerpc64/powerpc64le ports.
- Timothy Pearson from Raptor Engineering has offered to maintain the powerpc64le port, citing Raptor's existing contributions and resources.
- Linux continues to support POWER as a primary target, but FreeBSD's future support remains uncertain without IBM or Raptor intervention.
- The powerpc64 port has had unresolved issues on G5 and IBM systems for years, limiting its usability.