[PATCH 0/3] [RFC] x86: start the MPX removal process

From: Dave Hansen
Date: Fri Jul 05 2019 - 14:06:58 EST


MPX requires recompiling applications, which requires compiler support.
Unfortunately, GCC 9.1 is expected to be be released without support for
MPX. This means that there was only a relatively small window where
folks could have ever used MPX. It failed to gain wide adoption in the
industry, and Linux was the only mainstream OS to ever support it widely.

Support for the feature may also disappear on future processors.

The benefits of keeping the feature in the tree is not worth the ongoing
maintenance cost.

It was a fun run, but it's time for it to go. Adios, MPX!

This set starts the process, beginning with the removal of code that is
unlikely to cause any collateral damage. The selftests have been
causing some trouble, so they along with the APIs are first to go.

This series is also available here, and will get some additional 0day
testing to ensure no funkiness:

git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/daveh/x86-mpx.git mpx-remove-201907

While there's no rocket science in here, this is probably not ready
to be pulled until 0day has the weekend to churn on it.

Cc: x86@xxxxxxxxxx
Cc: Andy Lutomirski <luto@xxxxxxxxxx>