Pin multiplexing and configuration support for the CIX P1 (codenamed SKY1), a high-performance Armv9 system-on-chip introduced in the mid-2020s. It is best known as the processor in the Radxa Orion O6 board, which is sold for AI workstation and edge-computing use.
It should stay in the kernel because it supports a brand-new Arm SoC family that is actively shipping on Radxa Orion O6 hardware, with fresh upstream commits from multiple maintainers running into early 2026 and no sign of any replacement or removal discussion on the kernel mailing lists.
repository signals
5files
1,193source lines
4commits, 5y
+1,214 / −2lines added / removed, 5y
3authors, 5y
monthly commits · 2021-04-21 → 2026-04-21 · 4 total · active in 3/61 months
Kernel patch thread for bringing up CIX P1 (internal name SKY1) says it is a high-performance Armv9 SoC and ties it to the Radxa Orion O6 board, showing this driver supports a newly introduced platform rather than legacy hardware.
Radxa markets the Orion O6 with a Buy page and identifies it as powered by the CIX P1 SoC, indicating the hardware family is commercially available in the mid-2020s.
Radxa documentation describes Orion O6 as a motherboard based on the CIX P1 SoC with current specs and deployment targets such as AI workstations and edge nodes, supporting that present-day deployments exist but are niche.
codex reasoning notes (technical)
Directory inspection via shell shows a real platform pinctrl driver with OF matches for "cix,sky1-pinctrl*" and module metadata. Local git log via shell shows fresh upstream activity from 2025-10-21 through 2026-02-16 with fixes by multiple maintainers, which argues against deprecation. Lore-focused web search found only bring-up/enablement traffic and no removal discussion. Source acquisition: LWN URL from web search of lore/patch traffic; Radxa product and docs URLs from web search. Because SKY1/CIX P1 is a new SoC family still being sold on Radxa boards, there is no natural replacement driver and the correct disposition is keep.