The openSUSE family of Linux distributions are known for their rock-solid stability, powerful system management tools, and flexibility, allowing users to tailor an installation to their needs.
Just a few days ago, they revealed that Tumbleweed would be switching to SELinux, ditching AppArmor as the default MAC system, and now it looks like we may have yet another major move from them in the opening quarter of 2025.
One of the main arguments behind this planned move is said to be the x86-64-v2 architecture requirement on the upcoming SLES and Leap releases that act as a โcompatibility filterโ, where devices supporting x86-64-v2 or later are assumed to support UEFI.
As expected, many do not agree with this proposed change, as this would kill support for older hardware, many of which were expensive to acquire in many cases. Some even raised concerns that this could cause issues with virtual machines deployed in sensitive use cases, where support for BIOS is the only option.
A Few Thoughts
While I agree with those who say that axing support for older hardware is not the way to go, Legacy boot has been on its way out for quite some time now, with UEFI replacing it as a more modern and secure alternative.
If there is a notable impact on existing users, then openSUSE should not go ahead with this move. On the other hand, a suggestion by John Paul Adrian Glaubitz of SUSE caught my eye, where he shared his willingness to work on an unofficial openSUSE distribution for old/exotic architectures.
This would act as a nice middle ground if openSUSE were to retire Legacy boot support.
Currently, this move is still in the evaluation phase, and it will likely take some time to arrive at a final decision. Until then, we can only wait. Also, do keep in mind that openSUSE Tumbleweed would not be affected by this.
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