Linux 7.1 Expected to Begin Removing I486 CPU Support (phoronix.com)

A patch in the lead-up to the Linux 7.1 merge window is set to start removing i486 CPU support by dropping the related Kconfig build options, preventing building new i486 kernel images. Linus Torvalds said there is “zero real reason” to keep the legacy support, citing the maintenance burden of the old 32-bit compatibility/emulation code. The removal is expected to proceed in stages, with the actual i486 support code removed in a later kernel series.