Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2022 16:47 Post subject: Kernel 4.4 to 5.10?
Now that 4.4 is EOL are there plans to get older devices working with 5.10?
I assume it may be a lot of work due to out of tree code and blobs, and I assume 5.10 would be best as it is projected to be supported the longest.
I don't see kernel versions listed in the supported-devices or the router-database,
and the src seems to list my device (RT-AC66U) in every supported kernel. Is there a way to look up which kernel a device is using?
If a remote security issue is found past 4.4.302 (2022-02-03) are there plans for older devices to be manually patched or have support/builds dropped?
I doubt that there will be updated versions... only some things are backported by the devs but there are still routers on the 2.x and 3.x version of the kernel... The solution would be to upgrade to a newer router... do you really want a system made 15-20 years ago to handle your newest devices?
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14249 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 1:36 Post subject:
I'm still running a production machine with Linux 3.18.140+ kernel; the base of the distro is Progeny Debian (but it in no way is 100% completely original). The sky isn't going to fall. I can guarantee you that there are network appliances between you and the Internet that are *NOT* running an LTS or current kernel. I can also guarantee you that there are plenty of SOHO routers *NOT* running an LTS or current kernel. If you're that concerned about it, then put together an old PC with multiple NICs and build your own router OS from any distro of your choosing like I did in the past. _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
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Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
Has slow crypto (for VPN/FDE/etc)
and the 64bit v4 (increasingly required for apps and kernel options) has bad thermals, late official 64b support, and more cpu vulnerabilities.
Sure the pi4 is popular, has 8GB RAM, and I could find a 3rd party cooler but the C4 is better in 3 ways so I'd rather put my $ on that.
mwchang wrote:
OpenWRT
Is using 5.4 for all devices which is supported to Dec 2025 but they are on 5.4.154 which is 4 months and 25 bug fix sets behind. DD-WRT was nicely keeping the kernel up to date until it EOL-ed.
It will be interesting to see how Pavel will perform now that he will be put to the test. I'm glad to learn dd-wrt might have somewhere to pull from now that upstream has given up on 4.4
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14249 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 16:51 Post subject:
You should probably look at what is being used out in the field.
My "brand new" ISP-supplied appliance is using Linux 3.12.x.
Most embedded Linux systems I have any first-hand anything
with aren't running Linux 4.x whatsoever. Not all upstream
patches apply to a network appliance, anyway. _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
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Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14249 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2022 23:19 Post subject:
Embedded systems don't have a 1GB boot drive. While it would be entirely possible to run Linux 5.x across the board on all supported devices, said devices do not have enough flash space for such a big fat clunky kernel that would introduce more vulnerabilities than it would fix. There is a happy medium of offering all the features in DD-WRT while maintaining some sense of security. Kernel version isn't a de-facto measurement of said security. _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
Contribute To DD-WRT Pogo - A minimal level of ability is expected and needed... DD-WRT Releases 2023 (PolitePol)
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Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
