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Re: Bug#1124838: release-notes: 5.1.2. Reduced support for i386: provides incorrect information

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Martin-Éric Racine <martin-eric.racine@iki.fi> writes:

> ke 7.1.2026 klo 12.52 Justin B Rye (justin.byam.rye@gmail.com) kirjoitti:
>>
>> Martin-Éric Racine wrote:
>> > Release notes for i386 currently state:
>> >
>> > "The i386 architecture is now only intended to be used on a 64-bit (amd64) CPU.
>> >  Its instruction set requirements include SSE2 support, so it will not run
>> >  successfully on most of the 32-bit CPU types that were supported by Debian 12."
>> >
>> > "Users running i386 systems should not upgrade to trixie. Instead, Debian recommends
>> >  either reinstalling them as amd64, where possible, or retiring the hardware.
>> >  Cross-grading without a reinstall is a technically possible, but risky, alternative."
>> >
>> > The second paragraph is especially problematic since 32-bit hardware
>> > cannot run 64-bit binaries.
>>
>> It doesn't say they can; it's talking about systems currently running
>> Debian's i386 arch, which may include 64bit-capable machines.  The PC
>> I'm writing this on, for instance, was running a 32bit OS when I first
>> got it many years ago, but now runs 64bit trixie.  Hence the advice
>> that users should switch "where possible".
>
> It does imply that they can. "where possible" is too vague.

you think we should give more info on how to tell?

> Additionally, i386 on amd64 hardware is a corner case. Whoever does
> this already knows what they're doing.

I think you overestimate users' knowledge. i ran i386 on amd64 for years
because it had an intel processor and not an amd processor.

> They don't need separate
> instructions, let alone a whole section written under the assumption
> that if someone is still running something on the i386 port, they do
> so on amd64.
>
> What's instead needed is a section that emphasizes what users with
> real i386 hardware need to know: Don't upgrade, since your hardware no
> longer is supported, except maybe if it's Intel Core or newer, and,
> even then, we don't ship any kernel, so you're have to track Bookworm
> kernels. What we instead recommend is retiring your 32-bit hardware.
>

doesnt it already say this? 

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Bug#1124838: release-notes: 5.1.2. Reduced support for i386: provides incorrect information Martin-Éric Racine <martin-eric.racine@iki.fi> - 2026-01-07 10:50 +0100
  Bug#1124838: release-notes: 5.1.2. Reduced support for i386: provides incorrect information Justin B Rye <justin.byam.rye@gmail.com> - 2026-01-07 12:00 +0100
  Re: Bug#1124838: release-notes: 5.1.2. Reduced support for i386: provides incorrect information Richard Lewis <richard.lewis.debian@googlemail.com> - 2026-01-08 00:50 +0100
  Re: Bug#1124838: release-notes: 5.1.2. Reduced support for i386: provides incorrect information Richard Lewis <richard.lewis.debian@googlemail.com> - 2026-01-09 23:00 +0100

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