6 series kernel for 32bit arch

Hi @anticapitalista, I had running the 6.12 vanilla debian kernel on antiX 23 full runit 32 bit with no issues (on my daily driver notebook, technical data see https://www.antixforum.com/forums/topic/cachyos-vs-windows-11-comparative-game-test-do-steam-epic-and-windows-games/page/3/#post-206894 ). Had not enough time still to finish the endless questions of make oldconfig to compile the 6.12 kernel for 32 bit on antiX 26 trixie; had answered for several hours one by one already, before accidentally hitting Ctrl-C once, for copying a line from console for researching its meaning. Sigh. But I noticed already, there are lots of entries active which are completely irrelevant for 32 bit systems, since the hardware these refer to is explicitly 64 bit. I have identified and written down many of them already. I guess, the 32 bit kernel could be much lighter and more RAM saving when disabling these instead of building them integrated or as modules: Nobody will ever use them on an antiX kernel. (Sorry for not attaching a listing, will catch up on this asap; currently fully absorbed by updating the desktop files for antiX 26.1)

I’ll give the 6.18 kernel also a try, once I can manage to actually start compiling finally. I guess, the newer, the better, at least from the perspective of postponed updates of features for older Nvidia cards in Nouveau.

Btw: I also noticed already some more recent Bluetooth functionality missing in the 5.x kernel series, which explains possibly the issues I have with audio via bluetooth on 32 bit antiX 26 (thread slumbers somewhere in forum still, waiting to be resolved finally: I’ll give an update once I can recheck this on an 6.x kernel.

marcelocripe wrote:

anticapitalista wrote:

The 5 series expires at the end of 2026

So this is yet another obstacle to keeping 32-bit technology running.

Robin wrote:

currently fully absorbed by updating the desktop files for antiX 26.1

Thank you very much, Robin. I’ll be able to help you with testing the new “antix26-desktop-files” package when it’s ready.

I think I mentioned something a couple of years ago, at that time mostly a reference to the eventual expiration of Bookworm code, but it equally applies to expiring kernel code. Unless someone grabs a copy of source code and attempts to rebuild some of this stuff, soon it will be gone for good.

Even if we got the code I’m not sure if it would be possible to patch it with additional changes, but for those who want to keep those 32-bit systems, the more we can retain the better we can use those systems for at least a few things, though I’d be hesitant to do much, if any, networking with an old insecure environment, but who knows, they may still be useful as a file server, a media player or a few things like that, perhaps even an offline editing machine, connected only to exchange files with another newer file server.

I have not played with a 32-bit system for a while.

For what’s it worth, these are the configs of the 6.12 32-bit kernels that have worked for me.

Maybe it can used as a starting point for further exploration.

Best.

Brian Masinick wrote:

Cana was one of the most recent individuals I can recall who regularly built custom “CaNa kernels”. The last one I can recall was a 6.13 kernel, though he may have built one or two 6.14 kernels before leaving the forum.

I want to say I do miss calciumsodium in this forum.
I seems to me his builds of 386 kernels may come in handy now, much later after his departing from this forum.
I do use 32bit antiX 26 on a few laptops Core2Duo, which are capable of running 64 bit antiX as appliances, such as music and video players, such as streaming music and aCSTV, but using the default kernel 5.10. I could try to revive my last 32bit machine though, just to test.
Currently sitting on deck with my wife and listening to music running antiX 26 32 bit on Thinkpad X61 2G memory, connected to speakers. As a dedicated purpose player, observing lxtask for memory use and I must say it is rock solid. Memory use with streaming xmms is a consistent 320-330M, running round the clock, just low volume at night.
This means something about antiX 26 32 bit as rock solid…

• This reply was modified 3 months ago by olsztyn.
• This reply was modified 3 months ago by olsztyn.

Built 6.12.94 in DSL (v23). Took defaults from cana 6.12.0 to .94…overwrote config notes accidentally & would need to recreate list. Wasn’t that bad. Felt like 5-10 “new”. Needed libelf-dev and of course git (***)

Ran fine in vbox. Wanted to provide real hdwe feedback as fast as possible. ’01 Athlon and ’03 Celeron so far….[Edit 6/24: P4 tomorrow morning. worked fine, too–all 3 boxes NV cards/nouveau).] If you guys nail a kernel (or just config) you like for 6.12 in antiX26, I’ll get it tested on the dinosaur boneyard.

Booting from usb drive inconsistent, but nomimally successful. Various methods (plop, ventoy, live-usb-maker) of attempting to boot remaster with 3 kernels were inconsistent in what would be selected/appear. Sometimes 5.10.x, sometimes 6.1.x. Installed it in an HD-installed version, booted perfectly. Remastering original leaving only a 6.12.94 worked on the two real boxes from usb thumb drive (one Ventoy only, one Plop to get to Ventoy). Came up maybe 6MB more ram than 5.10.259. dmesgs look clean.

So far, the only hard error-errors have been related to inability of vbox guest additions modules to be built.

*** Tried env var to avoid git but that failed. Ended-up, after make prepare && make clean, just:
git init && git add -A && git config user.name "grindstone" && git commit -m "Local build (synthetic git repo)" --no-gpg-sign
to make deb-pkg (make) happy so it would effing TAR :). If someone has time & inclination, it’d be great to learn what should’ve been done.

If anyone cares, v23/bookworm -image & -headers here.
—> Edit: 7/28/26 6.12.94 replaced with 6.12.98 at preceding link — no config changes req’d. <—

***** Edit: 09/17/26 6.12.110 update same url *****

08/31/26 6.12.107 8/22/26 6.12.104 —
Edit: 8/12/26 6.12.103 8/3/26 updated to 6.12.101 ( comment: these all build/run fine on antiX23 EXCEPT for building Vbox Guest Additions Modules — vbox may be too old )

• This reply was modified 3 months ago by grindstone.