[systemd-devel] Antw: [EXT] Re: version bump of minimal kernel version supported by systemd?

[Zbigniew Jędrzejewski-Szmek]

On Thu, Mar 24, 2022 at 08:21:37AM +0100, Ulrich Windl wrote:
> I wonder:
> 
> Why not providing some test suite instead: If the test suite succeeds, systemd
> might work; if it doesn't, manual steps are needed.
> My guess is that most people will quit trying once manual steps are needed.
> In addition the configure procedure could include a "support window" (oldest
> kernel supported, latest kernel supported).
> And f the kernel is outside, print a warning at least that the configuration
> is not supported.
> Still I guess the kernel version is not the only dependency...

We *are* providing a support window: the lower boundary is being
discussed here, and the upper boundary is "open", always the latest
kernel.

Support for old kernels consists of various workarounds for missing
syscalls or other functionality, and local copies of kernel headers.
Instead of trying to write tests for this, we just add the workarounds
and then try not to touch them until they are removed.

(And this is similar for other dependencies. There's a list with
versions in README.)

Zbyszek