iirc the Linux kernel dropped support for pre-Pentium x86 in the last few years, so any distro with 486 support now would be using an unmaintained kernel.
I think if you want a maintained operating system for your 486 today, NetBSD is probably the thing to run.
I am surprised to learn it was May of last year, with the 6.15 kernel being the first to drop 486 support and the 386 family dropping out back in 2012.
After a touch more research to figure out what the oldest currently-supported computers would be: I also hadn’t realized the first Pentium debuted in 1993. Pentium and compatibles are still operable, so there are maintained distros out there like Tiny Core Linux that will work on computers made 33 years ago. Just amazing.
It really is amazing how far back Linux reaches. Aren’t there a few distros with current support that will run on a 486?
That was the case
o7
iirc the Linux kernel dropped support for pre-Pentium x86 in the last few years, so any distro with 486 support now would be using an unmaintained kernel.
I think if you want a maintained operating system for your 486 today, NetBSD is probably the thing to run.
https://ostechnix.com/linux-kernel-ends-486-support/
I am surprised to learn it was May of last year, with the 6.15 kernel being the first to drop 486 support and the 386 family dropping out back in 2012.
After a touch more research to figure out what the oldest currently-supported computers would be: I also hadn’t realized the first Pentium debuted in 1993. Pentium and compatibles are still operable, so there are maintained distros out there like Tiny Core Linux that will work on computers made 33 years ago. Just amazing.