NetBSD 11: The OS That Never Forgets Your Old Hardware
The NetBSD team has officially announced the commencement of preparations for the release of version 11: a dedicated code branch has been created, and the project has now entered the phase of active testing. The final release is anticipated by October, with a preliminary version likely to debut during the EuroBSDCon conference in September.
It has been less than a year and a half since the launch of NetBSD 10 and its subsequent 10.1 update. The spotlight now shifts to platform support restructuring, architectural modularization, and significant enhancements to both the kernel and core system utilities.
NetBSD continues to distinguish itself through its expansive support for diverse hardware platforms. The project categorizes these into Tier 1 and Tier 2: the first tier encompasses eight primary architectures, including x86-32, x86-64, ARM, MIPS, PowerPC, SPARC, and the Xen hypervisor, while the second tier comprises 49 additional, lower-priority ports. NetBSD 11 will introduce a clearer separation between 32-bit and 64-bit components. For instance, installation images will now be offered in two formats: “CD-R” for lightweight builds without debuggers or backward compatibility, and “DVD-R” for full-featured images including supplementary software.
Among the newly introduced features are improved monitoring tools—such as watchdog timers, vital for embedded systems—enhanced Linux emulation, and continued development of the RISC-V port. The development tools, userland, and kernel itself have also received substantial updates.
While several additional improvements were anticipated, some have not made it into this release, including updated Wi-Fi support and new graphics drivers. Nevertheless, the developers aim to maintain a short release cycle, promising continued enhancements post-launch.
The release of NetBSD 11 arrives amidst notable shifts in the broader world of open-source Unix systems. Debian 13, set to debut next week, will drop support for x86-32, as will FreeBSD 15, expected by year’s end. Meanwhile, support for older processors in the Linux ecosystem is also waning, with discussions already underway about removing support for 486 and even single-CPU systems.
Against this backdrop, NetBSD’s stance appears increasingly resilient. Unlike OpenBSD, which lacks Bluetooth and ZFS support, or Linux, which is burdened by modern frameworks like systemd, Snap, and Wayland, NetBSD continues to embrace simplicity, minimalism, and unparalleled hardware compatibility. It remains one of the few operating systems capable of running on dozens of aging and obscure platforms.
The project’s slogan—“Of course it runs NetBSD”—resonates more than ever. As other operating systems abandon legacy hardware, NetBSD stands as a safe haven for those who value compatibility, reliability, and freedom from intrusive innovations.
