OpenBSD 7.8 Released: Raspberry Pi 5 Support and Snapdragon X Elite Compatibility with AMD SEV Virtualization
OpenBSD 7.8 Released: Raspberry Pi 5 Support and Snapdragon X Elite Compatibility with AMD SEV Virtualization
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OpenBSD 7.8 Released: Raspberry Pi 5 Support and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite Compatibility with AMD SEV Virtualization
October 22, 2025 — Project founder Theo de Raadt announced the release of OpenBSD 7.8 today, marking a significant milestone for the security-focused operating system.
This latest version introduces preliminary support for Raspberry Pi 5, AMD SEV secure virtualization capabilities, and numerous improvements across hardware platforms and graphics drivers.
Major Hardware Platform Updates
OpenBSD 7.8 brings first-time support for the Raspberry Pi 5 platform, with basic functionality currently available through serial console control.
This expansion of ARM compatibility doesn’t stop there—the release also includes enhanced support for Apple ARM architecture and early-stage compatibility with Qualcomm Snapdragon X(1) Elite platforms.
The Snapdragon support encompasses new Qualcomm DRM graphics drivers and DisplayPort controller drivers, signaling OpenBSD’s commitment to supporting cutting-edge ARM-based systems.
AMD SEV Secure Virtualization
A standout feature of this release is the introduction of AMD Secure Encrypted Virtualization (SEV) technology support. The implementation includes several critical components:
- A new PSP ioctl encryption interface for SEV-ES (Encrypted State virtualization extension)
- New VMD options to enable virtual machines running in SEV-ES mode
- Additional related functionality laying the groundwork for future SEV-SNP support
AMD SEV-ES is now fully operational for launching confidential virtual machines within the VMM/VMD hypervisor, and maintains compatibility with OpenBSD virtual machines running under KVM/QEMU platforms. This advancement positions OpenBSD as a serious contender in the secure virtualization space.
System and Driver Improvements
OpenBSD 7.8 delivers substantial improvements to core system functionality. The FUSE filesystem has been updated to improve compatibility with Linux implementations, while the system’s suspend/resume mechanisms and SMP (multiprocessor) performance have received optimization attention.
Graphics support takes a significant leap forward with DRM drivers updated to a base equivalent to Linux 6.12.50. The update includes multiple new drivers for Rockchip and Raspberry Pi RP1 hardware. Video capabilities are also enhanced, with the uvideo driver now supporting H.264 video format. Network drivers have received multiple stability and performance improvements across the board.
Additional Enhancements
The comprehensive changelog from version 7.7 to 7.8 includes numerous refinements:
- Bug fixes: Resolved Xorg crashes on Intel i945G devices
- Networking: Improved dhcpleased(8) IPv6 priority logic
- Security libraries: Updated LibreSSL to version 4.2.0
- DNS resolver: Upgraded Unbound to version 1.24.0
- Raspberry Pi 5 drivers: New dedicated drivers including rpipwm, rpirtc, and rpiclock
- Terminal multiplexer: New layout options in tmux(1)
- Certificate management: Refined acme-client(1) certificate renewal logic
- Wireless performance: Enhanced qwx(4) wireless driver performance
- Parallel processing: Continued expansion of multi-core architecture optimizations
Availability
OpenBSD 7.8 is available for download from the project’s official website and mirror network.
The release represents six months of development work and maintains OpenBSD’s reputation for security, code correctness, and comprehensive hardware support.
As OpenBSD continues to evolve, this release demonstrates the project’s adaptability to modern hardware while maintaining its core principles of security and code quality.
The addition of Raspberry Pi 5 support and Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite compatibility reflects the growing importance of ARM architecture in both embedded and desktop computing environments.
