Charles Esther
Intel’s ongoing job cuts have led to several Linux kernel drivers losing their official engineering support, raising concerns over long-term hardware compatibility.
The Linux kernel mailing list shows multiple Intel-developed drivers marked as “orphaned” after the departure of their maintainers.
Loss of Maintainers for Critical Intel Linux Drivers
Among the affected components is the Intel WWAN IOSM driver, which powers certain M.2 modems and is used in some Chromebooks.
This driver lost support after the exit of its maintainer, M. Chetan Kumar.
Similarly, the Intel PTP DFL ToD driver — responsible for managing time-of-day functions on FPGA cards — was left without a maintainer after Tianfei Zhang’s departure.
Networking Drivers Also Impacted
The Intel Ethernet RDMA driver lost one of its maintainers, Mustafa Ismail, leaving only a single Intel engineer to handle it.
Other abandoned components include the Keem Bay DRM driver, kernel probes once maintained by Anil S. Keshavamurthy, and the T7XX 5G WWAN driver, which lost both of its maintainers.
Tied to Intel’s Wider Job Cuts and Product Exit
These maintainer losses are part of Intel’s broader 2025 restructuring, which has already eliminated more than 12,000 jobs.
The company’s withdrawal from specific hardware markets, such as WWAN and modem production, has also contributed to its decision to stop supporting related drivers.
Risks of Outdated Drivers in Linux Systems
If replacements are not found for these maintainers, affected drivers may fall behind Linux kernel updates.
This could result in reduced performance, compatibility issues, and possible hardware malfunctions for devices like laptops used in programming, mobile workstations, and systems running various Linux distributions.
Reliance on Community Developers
Without official Intel updates, users may have to depend on community-driven patches or entirely new drivers to keep devices functional.
The Linux community has a history of stepping in to maintain orphaned code — sometimes even outperforming the original vendor’s work.
However, complex drivers that involve high-performance networking, advanced debugging tools, or specialized hardware are more challenging to sustain without original engineering expertise.
Questions About Long-Term Intel Linux Support
While Intel continues to contribute to Linux kernel development, its reduced involvement in certain areas raises concerns about the long-term support of its hardware.
How well community developers can fill the gap will determine the stability and performance of Intel-based Linux systems in the future.
