Google Tensor GS101 SoC was launched in 2021 with Google Pixel 6 smartphones. After more than two years, the mainline Linux kernel is finally seeing upstream support in the upcoming Linux 6.8 kernel cycle.
The GS101 "Whitechapel" SoC is an eight-core processor that mixes CortexX1/A76/X55 cores, Mali-G78MP20 graphics card, and is built on the 5nm LPE Samsung process. After multiple rounds of code reviews, initial Google Tensor GS101 support as well as Pixel 6 smartphone device tree support is finally set to appear in the mainline Linux kernel, rather than just appearing in the various Android/AOSP downstream kernel sources.
The initial GS101/GoogleTensor patches as well as the Pixel 6DT have entered the "for-next" branch of the Samsung SoC tree ahead of the upcoming Linux 6.8 cycle.
With Pixel 6 "Oriole" support, it's been tested on this soon-to-be-mainlined code that it can boot with a minimal Busyboxinitramfs and successfully reach the shell. In the recent series of patches targeting Tensor/GS101 SoC support and Pixel 6 motherboard coverage, it’s easy to note:
gs101/TensorSoC is also used in Pixel6a (bluejay) and Pixel6Pro (raven) phones. Currently, gs101SoC and Oriole add DT. As you can see from the patch, the SoC is based on the Samsung Exynos SoC, so many low-level Exynos drivers and bindings can be reused.
Support added in this series includes:
*cpus
*pinctrl
*CCFimplementationofcmu_top,cmu_misc&cmu_apm
*watchdog
*USIuart
*gpio
Still, this is enough to boot into busyboxinitramfs and shell using the upstream kernel, and more platform support will be added to the Linux kernel in the coming weeks and months.
Better late than never. We have previously reported that the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen3 in Linux 6.8 will be able to boot the mainline kernel.