The Linux kernel is set to remove the outdated Stream Processing Unit (SPU) driver for the UltraSPARC T2, also known as Niagara 2, which has been largely non-functional for several years. This driver, consisting of 107,000 lines of code, has not seen significant use or support, leading to its proposed removal. The decision to eliminate this driver is based on its lack of relevance, as the SPU was phased out in later SPARC models in favor of more efficient cryptographic instructions.
The UltraSPARC T2 was released in 2007, and the SPU was also included in the SPARC T3 from 2010. However, the SPU was replaced by improved cryptographic capabilities in the SPARC T4, which debuted in 2012. The removal of the SPU driver will also allow for the elimination of a misfeature that has been increasing overhead in the crypto API for other users. The driver had been broken from 2015 to 2022, with no evidence of successful functionality or testing during that time. A bug report from 2017 highlighted that loading the driver could crash the kernel, further indicating its instability and lack of utility.
Given the historical context and the lack of interest or functionality associated with the SPU driver, its retirement from the mainline kernel appears to be a logical step forward in streamlining the codebase and improving overall system performance.
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