In a significant development for Intel's Itanium CPUs, the next version of the Linux kernel will no longer include support for the architecture. Phoronix reports that all code related to Itanium support is being removed from the upcoming 6.7 release after careful consideration. This marks yet another blow to the beleaguered Itanium chips, which have endured multiple setbacks and discontinuations over the years.

Officially discontinued in 2021, the demise of Intel's Itanium processors has been a long time coming. The first Itanium chips were introduced in mid-2001, the result of a collaborative effort between Intel and HP. Initially intended for use in servers, the IA-64 architecture aimed to enhance performance by enabling parallel execution of multiple instructions.

However, Itanium struggled due to its slow execution of 32-bit x86 code, causing a disruptive transition. In 2003, AMD's introduction of a 64-bit extension to the x86 instruction set that offered better compatibility with existing systems further dented Itanium's prospects. With AMD's extension gaining traction among server and PC manufacturers, Intel eventually had to adopt and support AMD's x86 extensions instead.

The removal of Itanium support from the Linux kernel is part of a broader trend highlighting the dwindling relevance of the architecture. Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, recently removed a staggering 65,219 lines of Itanium-supporting code in a commit, effectively signaling the end of an era. Torvalds justified this decision as a "well-earned retirement as planned" for Itanium.

Although Itanium support will be absent from the upcoming Linux kernel 6.7 release, the currently available LTS (long-term support) version 6.6 will still maintain Itanium support for the time being. However, it is important to note that Itanium's lack of widespread testing and maintenance played a significant role in the removal of its support.

Meanwhile, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) has stepped up to offer continued support for its remaining Itanium-based servers until 2025. This move aims to assist customers who are still reliant on Itanium technology during the transition period.

Notably, Itanium is not the only Intel processor facing potential removal from the Linux kernel. Discussions have taken place among developers and kernel maintainers regarding the fate of support for Intel's 80486 processors, which were introduced in 1989. However, no definitive action has been taken regarding their removal as of yet.

As Linux withdraws support for Itanium CPUs and Intel halted shipments of the processors in 2021, the once-promising architecture finds itself facing its final death knell. The demise of Itanium further underscores the ever-evolving landscape of computer processors and the relentless pursuit of better performance and compatibility.