PCMCIA/CardBus To USB Drivers On The Chopping Block With Linux 6.4

[phoronix]

Phoronix: PCMCIA/CardBus To USB Drivers On The Chopping Block With Linux 6.4

Earlier this month I wrote about Linux 6.4 planning to start removing old, unused, and unmaintained PCMCIA drivers. That began with the PCMCIA "char" drivers queued for removal in this upcoming kernel cycle and now joining them are removing tow PCMCIA/CardBus to USB adapter drivers...

https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.4-CardBus-USB-Dropping

[skeevy420]

That began with the PCMCIA "char" drivers queued for removal in this upcoming kernel cycle and now joining them are removing tow PCMCIA/CardBus to USB adapter drivers.

Remove? Like giving the boot. Boots kick.

You don't kick Char, Char kicks you



Michael

Typo: tow

[Michael]

Remove? Like giving the boot. Boots kick.

You don't kick Char, Char kicks you



Michael

Typo: tow

Thanks, fixed.

[mifritscher]

This seems to be a rather special device. The other way around (a Cardbus card which provides USB) is far more common. In fact, I still use them on a regular basis. But these are handled almost like "normal" UHCI/OHCI/EHCI PCI(e) cards.

[EphemeralEft]

Lol at the last paragraph trying to quell the inevitable shitstorm in the comments. It’s a fact of the universe. Learn to bask in the shit.

[caligula]

But aren't many still using these? PCMCIA?

[Delgarde]

But aren't many still using these? PCMCIA?

A 2006-vintage adapter for connecting PCMCIA cards to a USB port? Doubtful...

[stiiixy]

People trying to utilise older pre-ME gear likely. And theyve probably learned enough hacks to build their own kernel, anyways.

[stormcrow]

But aren't many still using these? PCMCIA?

Not very likely. PCMCIA dates back to 1990 and the standards association disbanded in 2009 years after devices stopped using the standard in favor of Cardbus, which superseded it. Now new laptops don't even have Cardbus, just USB and Bluetooth, and maybe a built in SD card slot hanging off the USB. Getting rid of it in a still living and evolving OS is inevitable.

A lot of people just don't seem to realize just how old and obsolescent PCMCIA really is... and how finicky it could be, nor the unlikelihood of these old systems still being operational - and useful.

[dlq84]

But aren't many still using these? PCMCIA?

If they need to use this driver they can stay on kernel 6.3.