Linux 7.1 to Phase Out i486 CPU Support, Ending Legacy Compatibility
The upcoming Linux 7.1 release is set to begin the process of phasing out support for Intel 486 CPUs, marking the end of an era for these legacy processors. A patch has been queued into the development branches ahead of the Linux 7.1 merge window, which will remove the CONFIG_M486SX, CONFIG_M486, and CONFIG_MELAN Kconfig build options. This change is driven by the rarity of i486 CPU usage and the lack of support from Linux distribution vendors. Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, has expressed that there is 'zero real reason' to maintain support for these outdated processors, as it diverts development resources. Ingo Molnar, who authored the patch, noted that maintaining support for these 32-bit CPUs requires complex hardware emulation, which poses ongoing maintenance challenges. 
