FreeBSD 16 plans to drop support for PPC64.

[DKnoto]

Hi

I have sad news for fans of diversity on the PPC64 platform. The FreeBSD team plans to discontinue support for PPC64 starting with version 16. Link to the original discussion: https://lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-arch/2025-November/001078.html.

[ClassicHasClass]

Thanks. I know Warner and I asked him to clarify if this is BE-only or if this applies to ppc64le also.

[tle]

We'd like to retire powerpc64 and powerpc64le just before the FreeBSD stable/16 branch.

It would be a great disappointment if FreeBSD drop support for PPC64. I find FreeBSD extremely useful for hosting ZFS.

[pkubaj]

We'd like to retire powerpc64 and powerpc64le just before the FreeBSD stable/16 branch.

It would be a great disappointment if FreeBSD drop support for PPC64. I find FreeBSD extremely useful for hosting ZFS.

In that case, reply to the mailing list. If no one replies about using FreeBSD on POWER, the conclusion will be that it's unused code ready for removal.
FYI, I already replied. Note that you need to be subscribed to reply.

[tle]

We'd like to retire powerpc64 and powerpc64le just before the FreeBSD stable/16 branch.

It would be a great disappointment if FreeBSD drop support for PPC64. I find FreeBSD extremely useful for hosting ZFS.

In that case, reply to the mailing list. If no one replies about using FreeBSD on POWER, the conclusion will be that it's unused code ready for removal.
FYI, I already replied. Note that you need to be subscribed to reply.

I am still trying to figure out how to get the mailto to respond to the message. If you happen to know how to do so for mlmmj-based mailing list, please point me to the right place. Many thanks in advance

[MPC7500]

You only have to click on the list name:
https://lists.freebsd.org/subscription/freebsd-arch

[MPC7500]

tle, if you write to the mailing list, please also mention that there will soon be a new ppc64 (e5500) motherboard. Hopefully it will be affordable. https://mirari.vitasys.nl/

[ClassicHasClass]

Good news: I heard back from someone "who would know" who said they are probably going to keep ppc64le, at least. However, big-endian ppc64 is still being considered.

[MPC7500]

Well, RabtorCS offered to help. So it would be very surprising if they would drop ppc64le.

[MPC7500]

3 December: New committer: Timothy Pearson (src)

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