LWDW 349: ARC drivers on Linux and Windows 11 on ARM

Attempting to install the official Intel ARC drivers, removing i486 support from the Linux kernel, Ubuntu 22.10 has Pipes, and Microsoft releases an ARM dev kit for Windows 11.


Listen:


Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
08:44 Intel ARC drivers on Linux
17:44 Ubuntu 22.10 defaults to Pipes
24:48 RIP i486 Linux support
35:24 Microsoft ARM dev kit


Running the ARC

https://bioslevel.com/articles/2022/intel-arc-dedicated-gpus-linux-kernel-60-and-latest-mesa-on-ubuntu-2204

  • Intel released official drivers and I’m curious how those work OOTB. 
  • This project came about due to Intels packaged drivers not installing on correctly 22.04?
  • The Intel guide requires running a specific kernel 5.17 among other things and I would like to know where it failed. 
  • So would Intel. 
  • Setup isn’t that bad, considering. 
  • Kernel 6.0, latest firmware, latest Mesa, compiling Intel media drivers, and some added i386 bits for Steam. 
  • However, I don’t think this method will give you access to Compute / OpenCL with the Arc series but you should be able to play games. 
  • Thank you Sean Potter for documenting all your troubleshooting and creating a manual for those of us who want to play with an Intel ARC on Linux.
  • I knew Kernel 6.0 would be needed.  We talked about that here on LWDW.
  • And I have been using the oibaf PPA for updating Mesa on my Ubuntu installs with my AMD GPUs for quite some time, and it is very stable.  In fact, I am using them right now.
  • My interest in ARC has waned to the point of passing curiosity. 
  • I’m waiting for AMD but who knows what my next GPU will be. 

 

RIP 486

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/linux-removes-486-cpu-support

  • The Intel i486 architecture was introduced in 1989, two years before Linus Torvalds announced the kernel.
  • Intel discontinued the 486 in 2007.
  • Linus has a point. 
    • “the kind of work needed to keep i486 alive is the kind of maintenance burden we simply shouldn’t have – no developer actually cares (correctly), nobody really tests that situation (also correctly – it’s old and irrelevant hardware), but it also means that code just randomly doesn’t actually work.”
  • Industrial PCs of that vintage are usually running DOS, not Linux. 
  • I’m all for removing bloat. 
  • Back in 2012 the Linux Kernel stopped supporting the i386, and I was sad then for my old 386 machines.  Especially since the i386 CPU is what Linus used to create Linux on.
  • Well now the Linux Kernel may drop support for the i486.
  • The news comes via a post on the Linux Kernel Mailing List from Linus Torvalds himself who states:
    • “We got rid of i386 support back in 2012. Maybe it’s time to get rid of i486 support in 2022?”
  • The new Linux kernels would run on P5-class hardware or newer.
  • So when Kernel 6.2 comes out, I probably won’t be able to update the Kernel on my i486s :-(
  • It is a good thing that NASA has been upgrading from using their older i486 CPU machines.

 

Ubuntu 22.10

https://ubuntu.com/blog/canonical-releases-ubuntu-22-10-kinetic-kudu

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/08/ubuntu-22-10-release-new-features

  • Canonical has released Ubuntu 22.10 “Kinetic Kudu” with major updates and lots of new features!
  • And one of the biggest updates lots of us have been looking forward to is that Pipewire is now the default audio system in Ubuntu 22.10, with the WirePlumber session manager included too.
    • Pipewire provides better bluetooth connectivity, improved performance for video conferencing and better integration of end user and professional audio tools.
  • There is a new version of GNOME, GNOME 43, and it has a new quick settings feature on the top right of the GNOME panel and features a new pod-based system menu instead of the previous list-based one.
    • From here you can just one click to enable/disable Wi-Fi, VPN, Bluetooth, Night Light, Airplane Mode, and Dark Mode.
    • The network pod also supports in-menu sub-panels where you can select a different network directly, no more pop-up modal or trip to Network settings required.
    • And one of my favorite new changes:  With the new quick toggles panel you can change audio input and output devices right from the menu.
  • The Nautilus file manager now uses GTK4, is more responsive, and is better integrated with GNOME Disks.
    • Visually it has been updated to look more modern and cleaner, and it’s easier to select and copy multiple files in the list view by dragging a box around them.
  • Ubuntu 22.10 features Linux Kernel 5.19 and Mesa 22.2.
  • And the new Steam snap available in Ubuntu Software includes the latest Mesa.

Slice of Pi

MS Pie

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/10/microsofts-snapdragon-powered-mini-pc-for-devs-includes-32gb-of-ram-costs-599/

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/windows-dev-kit-2023/94K0P67W7581?activetab=pivot:overviewtab&atc=true

  • This is the second half-attempt from MS to release an ARM devkit. 
  • I’m surprised at the price for a 32GB RAM device.
  • It’s powered by a Snapdragon 8cx Gen 3 and comes with 512GB of storage. 
  • Yeah, more of  a mobile phone box vs M2 or M1 competitor. 
  • The Windows Dev Kit 2023 is exclusive to Windows 11, with no official support for running other operating systems such as Linux.
  • Yeah, about that. 
  • I guess Microsoft doesn’t want their devs to run Linux LOL
  • The box can connect up to three monitors using its two USB-C ports and mini DisplayPort.
  • And two of the displays can be 4K at 60 Hz.
  • The Windows Dev Kit 2023 has three USB-A ports, gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1.
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