+++ Deepak Saxena [2012-05-03 22:38 -0700]:
I'm of the opinion that we support DT only platforms for multi-platform but this is based on the approach of only caring for multi-platform for newer systems and not worrying too much for legacy HW. I don't expect distros (the main users of a single zImage IMHO) to spend many cycles on older platforms
Well, it depends exactly what you mean by 'older', and 'spend many cycles', but distros certainly care about relatively old platforms, because that's often what users have on their desks, and that is the driver for what is supported.
Debian tries very hard not to support anything in the kernel that upstream don't support in the kernel because otherwise it's way too much work. The current list of supplied arm kernels is:
iop32x (ThecusN2100, intel SS4000, GLAN tank) ixp4xx (Linksys NSLU2) kirkwood (*plugs, QNAP NAS, OPenRD) orion5x (QNAP NAS, HP mv2120) versatile mx5 omap
because that's a good compromise between coverage and 'building 20-odd images'. I have no idea how much of that lot is going to get DTified, but I'm guessing the older stuff won't be?
We are keen on multiplatform kernels because building a great pile of different ones is a massive pain (and not just for arm because it holds up security updates), and if we could still cover all that lot with one kernel, or indeed any number less than 7 that would be great. But the focus is very much on 'still in use' hardware, not just 'still newly available' hardware, and definately not 'will be available sometime' hardware.
So I think that means we'd vote for multiple zImages that did support non-DT platforms, but my impression of the available effort is that we'll take what we're given and make the best of it. If the older stuff has to be supported with current-style one-platform/few machines kernels then we'll carry on supporting them like that until no-one cares any more or it's too hard.
Note that that I'm not involved with the Debian arm kernel team, so this is merely my general impression from afar. Someone closer to the problem could be more authoratative.
Wookey