End of an Era: Linux 7.0 Finally Retires the 1980s Supercomputing Legend

The Linux kernel has endured for a considerable epoch, and within its vast architecture, there remain vestiges of code associated with technologies that have long since faded into obsolescence. Nevertheless, there persists a latent possibility that these archaic solutions are still in use, as aficionados of vintage hardware are ubiquitous. Consequently, such code is typically preserved and maintained with meticulous care.

Yet, even the Linux kernel possesses its thresholds of tolerance. In the forthcoming Linux 7.0 iteration, support for HIPPI is slated for excision. Should this acronym be unfamiliar, it is hardly surprising; it represents a standard that occupied a highly specialized niche even two decades ago.

As observed by analysts at Phoronix, a definitive commit has been integrated into the Linux 7.0 codebase to dismantle support for the High Performance Parallel Interface (HIPPI) protocol. This protocol was a cornerstone of supercomputing architecture during the twilight of the 1980s and throughout the 1990s. In its heyday, it was a profound innovation, facilitating data transfer velocities of up to 800 megabits per second over distances of 25 meters. Given that such bandwidth is now commonplace in residential fiber-optic connections, the utility of HIPPI has entirely evaporated.

In the commit documentation, developers elucidate their rationale: HIPPI has lacked relevance for more than twenty years. It was swiftly supplanted by Fibre Channel technology, and even during its zenith, HIPPI was reserved exclusively for exorbitant, elite-tier hardware. Throughout the history of Git, the HIPPI codebase has received only superficial maintenance and general refactoring. Thus, the decision was reached to abolish HIPPI support and the RoadRunner HIPPI driver, while relegating the former maintainer to the honorary credits file. Interestingly, the header file will be retained to preserve the integrity of TUN code and to forestall the fragmentation of user-space applications, however improbable such a disruption may be.

While this adjustment is unlikely to impact any modern user, it is fascinating to contemplate how deeply these relics of a bygone era are embedded within the Linux source. While there is a certain nobility in preserving them for historical posterity, it is essential to discern the appropriate moment to relinquish the past and progress toward the future.

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