> Kernel support is a separate vector. E.g. in Debian it is common to > install 32-bit userspace with the 64-bit kernel. Thus using all the > CPU/kernel features, access all the memory, yet have lower memory > utilisation.
Right, but depending on what we decide it will also impact how tested the HWE stack is on Unity. Say we stop building the x86_32 image starting with 16.10. Would backporting the x86_32 bit kernel from 16.10 to 16.04.2 HWE release still happen? >> I'm also happy to revisit my survey [2] and see where people are today. > > I'm not sure it's about where people are, but rather where we want people to > be. I mean I want us to just drop 32-bit kernels and images entirely and just keep 32 bit compat libraries. But I also want to give lots of notice so the soonest I'd want to that would be after 18.04 at this point. > My argument for dropping .iso, but keeping the packages/archive is as follows: > > * we would like to support upgrades, for those that have 32 bit install > > * but we would like to prevent any new installations I just want to prevent further bit root for those upgrade users. There will be even less people testing those now, so I do think we need a plan to eventually remove Unity from the archive and maybe migrate those users to another DE? (Unity8 seems to be doing x86_32 releases? the obvious choice for me would be Xubuntu/Mate/Lubuntu but we don't need where to move today) > > * because any new installation is amd64 capable, or such is the Ubuntu > Desktop ISO installer requirement for 16.04 LTS > > * reduce releases.ubuntu.com mirror costs by about a third > > Otherwise, all survey results will remain constant. > > Building images is cheap, however I do not believe we can actually > adequately support i386 ones for ubuntu desktop: > > * there is no i386-only certified hardware > * image manual testing has a cost > * no ubuntu developers use them =) > > Could we start the sunset period with removing flavour dropdown from > the ubuntu desktop download pages for 16.04? (But keep the i386 images > on releases.ubuntu.com?) I'm 100% for that. Still supported (although not certified), but you really have to know you want to get it. So maybe a basic plan like: 1. Announce that Ubuntu 16.04 LTS will be the last officially supported release of Unity. Keep it on releases.u.c but remove from main download page. Also announce that x86_32-bit Ubuntu (server too?) won't be getting HWE? 2. Drop to cdimage for 16.10 with not tested/supported caveat (continue based on usage numbers) 3. For 17.04 evaluate migration options and consider dropping Unity7 from x86_32 archive 4. For 18.04 have migration options well tested for 16.04 upgraders. Kind regards, Bryan -- ubuntu-devel mailing list ubuntu-devel@lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel