From nobody Tue Feb 10 06:18:08 2026 X-Original-To: arch@mlmmj.nyi.freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2610:1c1:1:606c::19:1]) by mlmmj.nyi.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4f9BFn1mzSz6RXfV for ; Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:18:21 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from adrian.chadd@gmail.com) Received: from mail-qk1-f175.google.com (mail-qk1-f175.google.com [209.85.222.175]) (using TLSv1.3 with cipher TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 (128/128 bits) key-exchange X25519 server-signature RSA-PSS (4096 bits) server-digest SHA256 client-signature RSA-PSS (2048 bits) client-digest SHA256) (Client CN "smtp.gmail.com", Issuer "WR4" (verified OK)) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 4f9BFm6sgfz3mJG for ; Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:18:20 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from adrian.chadd@gmail.com) Authentication-Results: mx1.freebsd.org; none Received: by mail-qk1-f175.google.com with SMTP id af79cd13be357-8c6a50c17fdso382291285a.2 for ; Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:18:20 -0800 (PST) ARC-Seal: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; t=1770704300; cv=none; d=google.com; s=arc-20240605; b=V0jsiJ9XpgIkhO+gR3JExO8RLu//ZGGf+Mb2xZazk1NB0J6fppKg/dtR/9prSFfF61 oq0u3cSzpn65nC/MXCU2DrgYjwLI2EirRhwMXZ41IPdz5GxgNyOCxhtC5gLPe6phbox+ Id5L99D6sUREppqNwb1M/o4O2v6QNLUScvt/1fxkxVakzQJ2DQnb//sVpFVSGRd1Fii/ 7KHcoeXhQhvFF8hyu9vajlz00dHZ6r/kJgbkbUb3xM5eKSj9xivM83cPnutImkJG/Ziz yFOc+AjCpJ6SNjk4JT5qNpAyhN+45PTXmFmiXXc4G9R4pVeQ9/8+eTwXauuBP0EhH866 MwGw== ARC-Message-Signature: i=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=google.com; s=arc-20240605; h=cc:to:subject:message-id:date:from:in-reply-to:references :mime-version; bh=Ej/MCR2gsJ4Zvq0VRR6D1lQJaEnWzS4J2S6Bgqj3CW8=; fh=WD0Ij+q28RJqMPDXhFCHMcAXccsCZvbuUS9TswyRXvA=; b=Z0BF+/YcTKlGkNUvzF/QudDwr1y3VjO30RkEec54IH0wdCeYk2dvfZMIIMLKSHogl1 yBieLBRZOSIb87HaSzNQrROm3ssRjVUZqUWMmh6xoyxXlfR88EET+OCkta5nSETFA9OT 58WRQL4WykeW0bKFlwPEE2/DQwydCtMJL/V2UA4V7oQ/qBqn4zobofBq3s5lKCUME+73 5VVfvGp1qDBJ5/KOzpTCuLzSAzEwy64OPYgukoOOHn3Rxp+jabJDkQBa6XTTbJsIxvOd zt24Ej3SMoWPsALoUqU4MaV1ZAMZSmwQWb6JRgk1MYda9TpaPTK4U5yZ+NjHlddUwERl 1r4g==; darn=freebsd.org ARC-Authentication-Results: i=1; mx.google.com; arc=none X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20230601; t=1770704300; x=1771309100; h=cc:to:subject:message-id:date:from:in-reply-to:references :mime-version:x-gm-gg:x-gm-message-state:from:to:cc:subject:date :message-id:reply-to; bh=Ej/MCR2gsJ4Zvq0VRR6D1lQJaEnWzS4J2S6Bgqj3CW8=; b=lw4MHgQ5mGpfQ8CcMDL0HvsFPM4TVd9DSiebvbRlKkUfaV3yuiTDLkDlcHsxZnbDC6 xJNiqfqc0rWCA8gF+MaC6HijubxR+wlAK0PQQXBSVj1R2XWoJgLet1q4CNmrSdUvSpdK rw1HXZY5KMT1BZjKOdONzk/POxSTfpUqym4mqyxfy9YX2esvgtR5A5TvBZhfJjuggLZw I6wTHF0g6jf47B/58rIBk9tWcLB00SAo8oDRzssGcf+4mcGp/8Tye3MINlENV0vk7WCy PsAbpzpvSK64VA6AXlqQ3bOZSIegwEjKEsbPGo5crEGUu1si9LtAnpyw0N/6AzfBBkdN VoxA== X-Forwarded-Encrypted: i=1; AJvYcCUEGcf7SvXwA/wDR46cSkeg2omuBwrcwYxwJ+vK68YS07crNut6jC0pPjo+RokEsOktEL0u@freebsd.org X-Gm-Message-State: AOJu0YzL1Jez8KI4lNgj56PqLpSHWpPYbXcs0zoPTocSofe7j1XU0Xvm JsIhOTUs4UQCTUkUaE6uUXxMZ68Zxy7F5s5CmMHTxBF/GQGnIIu7WlSqOIXal6dftWxFm7EHPrn n7WS5iKO0iEgML3seTDz/jTcMi32SzByxuQ== X-Gm-Gg: AZuq6aJyqTB309NaLvKqfob/OqOrlThlLGD6v6pDQab1cWpHDCT6hPy0N1fsIQUtOGX rfeKAzesrphRhao5JfYhOZYbnkf+cfzHhxXILvQRv3VwEELzv+UlwqcLwvGNs5borJjwU/SjnOS JgPrXFovE6Y8xDaYT/xCPQa1qNkEef6DVqAx+bAfWaGCMv3hPRoCE5K6BoIp3XPkK/GC2Eb8cGf hWLRyA3jlP1JFK3k5jMrhpQ5XCxhU8gzrBDm8eqMC/xAbVHmqVz96tBGn2egZw5kAg6Cbq0M4B+ wpv0JFVEKbn0o5dQS9s9j7tkAwsTgp25ZPVcZzyTKHQAk4lHuPK5n/qUaF4rSbMFIIbKJMt/Z8u DdJ2sRw/MygNzHsiE3TU4CYPNAk8E7tGS70qbMhe4A2NivLzn3+WySh6RYEhYU4qZyQ2C X-Received: by 2002:a05:620a:2893:b0:85e:b7b6:81e2 with SMTP id af79cd13be357-8caf0961009mr1844841485a.50.1770704299748; Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:18:19 -0800 (PST) List-Id: Discussion related to FreeBSD architecture List-Archive: https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-arch List-Help: List-Post: List-Subscribe: List-Unsubscribe: Sender: owner-freebsd-arch@FreeBSD.org MIME-Version: 1.0 References: <4a805bc7-d636-4434-923d-6cd3b1ce957d@yahoo.com> In-Reply-To: <4a805bc7-d636-4434-923d-6cd3b1ce957d@yahoo.com> From: Adrian Chadd Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2026 22:18:08 -0800 X-Gm-Features: AZwV_QhfRR58U5GSMJoDwkCa5Oi1aq-Ep8o8kERmHmg6IoSaxuFb5_Ag6beLGbA Message-ID: Subject: Re: What's the plan for powerpc64 in FreeBSD 16 To: Mark Millard Cc: Minsoo Choo , Warner Losh , "freebsd-arch@freebsd.org" Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" X-Rspamd-Pre-Result: action=no action; module=replies; Message is reply to one we originated X-Spamd-Result: default: False [-4.00 / 15.00]; REPLY(-4.00)[]; TAGGED_FROM(0.00)[]; ASN(0.00)[asn:15169, ipnet:209.85.128.0/17, country:US] X-Rspamd-Queue-Id: 4f9BFm6sgfz3mJG X-Spamd-Bar: ---- On Mon, 9 Feb 2026 at 21:50, Mark Millard wrote: > > A question may be how much of the powerpc64 hardware in folks hands that > would otherwise develop/support one or both of the powerpc64{le,be} > FreeBSD OS platforms is still just old Apple PowerMac G5 hardware? How > many of those hands would not also have access to a powerpc64le as well? > As I understand it, that old Apple PowerMac G5 hardware can not switch > to the little endian mode intended: that mode came later. > > Old Apple PowerMac G5 hardware being uncommon compared to powerpc64le > capable hardware could help point to targeting just powerpc64le. But if > old Apple PowerMac G5 hardware is fairly common compared to powerpc64le > capable hardware instead? I spent a bunch of time earlier this year figuring out QEMU setups for big/little endian pseries guests for POWER8 and POWER9. POWER7 requires some love; it hangs during boot. In any case, "everyone" has access to the same fully emulated or hardware accelerated pseries guest support for both big and little endian systems. (And yes, I just got SMP working again on G5.) As for hardware - POWER8 is relatively cheapish but it's not easy to host (they're loud and power hungry), and it runs fine in both big and little endian varieties. POWER9 is not as cheap. Don't get me started on POWER10. :-) powermac G5 hardware is still plentiful and relatively cheap. -adrian