OpenBSD 8.0 adds Intel Arc graphics support and larger AMD64 VRAM mapping
The new release also raises per-guest virtual CPU support to 64, widening what OpenBSD can handle on current hardware.
OpenBSD 8.0 has shipped, and the release is especially notable for adding Intel Arc A-Series graphics support plus a much larger AMD64 kernel virtual address space that can now map more than 4 GB of VRAM. The project says this is its 61st release and that OpenBSD still follows a twice-yearly cadence that began in 1996. Other updates include ARM64 hibernation support, a new RPKI-to-router daemon called rtrd(8), and RISC-V work that adds kernel support for the V vector extension and Advanced Interrupt Architecture. The release also expands wireless support, raises the per-guest virtual CPU limit to 64, and incorporates LibreSSL 4.4.0 and OpenSSH 10.6 improvements.
Why it matters
For users on Intel Arc A-Series cards, OpenBSD now has direct graphics support instead of leaving those systems outside the release’s supported set. The larger AMD64 kernel virtual address space also means systems with more than 4 GB of VRAM can be mapped, which expands what the platform can address. On the virtualization side, the higher per-guest virtual CPU limit gives guest machines more room to scale.
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Sources
- Ars Technica