linux-kernel - Re: Query: Y2038 patch series for 3.18 Kernel

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Message-Id: <c40a0a35-ac43-4079-80ca-361bc8c9ae8a@app.fastmail.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Nov 2025 10:47:33 +0100
From: "Arnd Bergmann" <arnd@...db.de>
To: "Pintu Kumar Agarwal" <pintu.ping@...il.com>,
 "Siddh Raman Pant" <sanganaka@...dh.me>
Cc: linux-kernel <linux-kernel@...r.kernel.org>,
 kernelnewbies <kernelnewbies@...nelnewbies.org>
Subject: Re:  Query: Y2038 patch series for 3.18 Kernel

On Tue, Nov 4, 2025, at 06:02, Pintu Kumar Agarwal wrote:
> On Mon, 3 Nov 2025 at 10:35, Siddh Raman Pant <sanganaka@...dh.me> wrote:
>>
>> Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:57:18 +0530 को Pintu Kumar Agarwal ने लिखा :
>> > We have an arm32 based embedded product which is based on the 3.18
>> > kernel and a simple busybox.
>> > We wanted to support the Y2038 issue on this older kernel.
>> > Is this feasible
>> > Do we have the Y2038 separate patches available for both kernel and userspace
>> > ?
>> > Or upgrading the kernel is the only option ?
>>
>> Upgrading is a much much better option.
>>
> Yes, I understand, but upgrading the kernel on this older SoC brings
> more complexities, challenges and time taking.
> Customers also do not agree for the upgrade at this stage and they are
> looking for alternatives.
> So, we are exploring both the options right now.
>
> Are there any patchset maintained separately for this Y2038 issue for
> each kernel version to have a look ?

I used to maintain a 5.4 kernel with backports from the 5.6 patches,
but I would not recommend using that. Anything earlier than 5.4
is completely hopeless for 2038 because one would have to essentially
redo the changes from scratch.

Which chip exactly are you using?

     Arnd