docs: Move deprecation, build and license info out of system/

Now that we have a single Sphinx manual rather than multiple manuals,
we can provide a better place for "common to all of QEMU" information
like the deprecation notices, build platforms, license information,
which we currently have in the system/ manual even though it applies
to all of QEMU.

Create a new directory about/ on the same level as system/, user/,
etc, and move these documents there.

Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org>
Acked-by: Markus Armbruster <armbru@redhat.com>
Reviewed-by: Philippe Mathieu-Daudé <philmd@redhat.com>
Reviewed-by: Daniel P. Berrangé <berrange@redhat.com>
Message-id: 20210705095547.15790-5-peter.maydell@linaro.org

5 files changed, 960 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/docs/about/build-platforms.rst b/docs/about/build-platforms.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..692323609e
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+++ b/docs/about/build-platforms.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+.. _Supported-build-platforms:
+
+Supported build platforms
+=========================
+
+QEMU aims to support building and executing on multiple host OS
+platforms. This appendix outlines which platforms are the major build
+targets. These platforms are used as the basis for deciding upon the
+minimum required versions of 3rd party software QEMU depends on. The
+supported platforms are the targets for automated testing performed by
+the project when patches are submitted for review, and tested before and
+after merge.
+
+If a platform is not listed here, it does not imply that QEMU won't
+work. If an unlisted platform has comparable software versions to a
+listed platform, there is every expectation that it will work. Bug
+reports are welcome for problems encountered on unlisted platforms
+unless they are clearly older vintage than what is described here.
+
+Note that when considering software versions shipped in distros as
+support targets, QEMU considers only the version number, and assumes the
+features in that distro match the upstream release with the same
+version. In other words, if a distro backports extra features to the
+software in their distro, QEMU upstream code will not add explicit
+support for those backports, unless the feature is auto-detectable in a
+manner that works for the upstream releases too.
+
+The `Repology`_ site is a useful resource to identify
+currently shipped versions of software in various operating systems,
+though it does not cover all distros listed below.
+
+Linux OS, macOS, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD
+-----------------------------------------
+
+The project aims to support the most recent major version at all times. Support
+for the previous major version will be dropped 2 years after the new major
+version is released or when the vendor itself drops support, whichever comes
+first. In this context, third-party efforts to extend the lifetime of a distro
+are not considered, even when they are endorsed by the vendor (eg. Debian LTS).
+
+For the purposes of identifying supported software versions available on Linux,
+the project will look at CentOS, Debian, Fedora, openSUSE, RHEL, SLES and
+Ubuntu LTS. Other distros will be assumed to ship similar software versions.
+
+For FreeBSD and OpenBSD, decisions will be made based on the contents of the
+respective ports repository, while NetBSD will use the pkgsrc repository.
+
+For macOS, `HomeBrew`_ will be used, although `MacPorts`_ is expected to carry
+similar versions.
+
+Windows
+-------
+
+The project supports building with current versions of the MinGW toolchain,
+hosted on Linux (Debian/Fedora).
+
+The version of the Windows API that's currently targeted is Vista / Server
+2008.
+
+.. _HomeBrew: https://brew.sh/
+.. _MacPorts: https://www.macports.org/
+.. _Repology: https://repology.org/
diff --git a/docs/about/deprecated.rst b/docs/about/deprecated.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6d438f1c8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/about/deprecated.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,339 @@
+Deprecated features
+===================
+
+In general features are intended to be supported indefinitely once
+introduced into QEMU. In the event that a feature needs to be removed,
+it will be listed in this section. The feature will remain functional for the
+release in which it was deprecated and one further release. After these two
+releases, the feature is liable to be removed. Deprecated features may also
+generate warnings on the console when QEMU starts up, or if activated via a
+monitor command, however, this is not a mandatory requirement.
+
+Prior to the 2.10.0 release there was no official policy on how
+long features would be deprecated prior to their removal, nor
+any documented list of which features were deprecated. Thus
+any features deprecated prior to 2.10.0 will be treated as if
+they were first deprecated in the 2.10.0 release.
+
+What follows is a list of all features currently marked as
+deprecated.
+
+System emulator command line arguments
+--------------------------------------
+
+``QEMU_AUDIO_`` environment variables and ``-audio-help`` (since 4.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``-audiodev`` argument is now the preferred way to specify audio
+backend settings instead of environment variables.  To ease migration to
+the new format, the ``-audiodev-help`` option can be used to convert
+the current values of the environment variables to ``-audiodev`` options.
+
+Creating sound card devices and vnc without ``audiodev=`` property (since 4.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+When not using the deprecated legacy audio config, each sound card
+should specify an ``audiodev=`` property.  Additionally, when using
+vnc, you should specify an ``audiodev=`` property if you plan to
+transmit audio through the VNC protocol.
+
+Creating sound card devices using ``-soundhw`` (since 5.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Sound card devices should be created using ``-device`` instead.  The
+names are the same for most devices.  The exceptions are ``hda`` which
+needs two devices (``-device intel-hda -device hda-duplex``) and
+``pcspk`` which can be activated using ``-machine
+pcspk-audiodev=<name>``.
+
+``-chardev`` backend aliases ``tty`` and ``parport`` (since 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+``tty`` and ``parport`` are aliases that will be removed. Instead, the
+actual backend names ``serial`` and ``parallel`` should be used.
+
+Short-form boolean options (since 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Boolean options such as ``share=on``/``share=off`` could be written
+in short form as ``share`` and ``noshare``.  This is now deprecated
+and will cause a warning.
+
+``delay`` option for socket character devices (since 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The replacement for the ``nodelay`` short-form boolean option is ``nodelay=on``
+rather than ``delay=off``.
+
+``--enable-fips`` (since 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This option restricts usage of certain cryptographic algorithms when
+the host is operating in FIPS mode.
+
+If FIPS compliance is required, QEMU should be built with the ``libgcrypt``
+library enabled as a cryptography provider.
+
+Neither the ``nettle`` library, or the built-in cryptography provider are
+supported on FIPS enabled hosts.
+
+``-writeconfig`` (since 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``-writeconfig`` option is not able to serialize the entire contents
+of the QEMU command line.  It is thus considered a failed experiment
+and deprecated, with no current replacement.
+
+Userspace local APIC with KVM (x86, since 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Using ``-M kernel-irqchip=off`` with x86 machine types that include a local
+APIC is deprecated.  The ``split`` setting is supported, as is using
+``-M kernel-irqchip=off`` with the ISA PC machine type.
+
+hexadecimal sizes with scaling multipliers (since 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Input parameters that take a size value should only use a size suffix
+(such as 'k' or 'M') when the base is written in decimal, and not when
+the value is hexadecimal.  That is, '0x20M' is deprecated, and should
+be written either as '32M' or as '0x2000000'.
+
+``-spice password=string`` (since 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This option is insecure because the SPICE password remains visible in
+the process listing. This is replaced by the new ``password-secret``
+option which lets the password be securely provided on the command
+line using a ``secret`` object instance.
+
+``opened`` property of ``rng-*`` objects (since 6.0.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The only effect of specifying ``opened=on`` in the command line or QMP
+``object-add`` is that the device is opened immediately, possibly before all
+other options have been processed.  This will either have no effect (if
+``opened`` was the last option) or cause errors.  The property is therefore
+useless and should not be specified.
+
+``loaded`` property of ``secret`` and ``secret_keyring`` objects (since 6.0.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The only effect of specifying ``loaded=on`` in the command line or QMP
+``object-add`` is that the secret is loaded immediately, possibly before all
+other options have been processed.  This will either have no effect (if
+``loaded`` was the last option) or cause options to be effectively ignored as
+if they were not given.  The property is therefore useless and should not be
+specified.
+
+``-display sdl,window_close=...`` (since 6.1)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``-display sdl,window-close=...`` instead (i.e. with a minus instead of
+an underscore between "window" and "close").
+
+``-no-quit`` (since 6.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``-no-quit`` is a synonym for ``-display ...,window-close=off`` which
+should be used instead.
+
+
+QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP) commands
+------------------------------------
+
+``blockdev-open-tray``, ``blockdev-close-tray`` argument ``device`` (since 2.8.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use argument ``id`` instead.
+
+``eject`` argument ``device`` (since 2.8.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use argument ``id`` instead.
+
+``blockdev-change-medium`` argument ``device`` (since 2.8.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use argument ``id`` instead.
+
+``block_set_io_throttle`` argument ``device`` (since 2.8.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use argument ``id`` instead.
+
+``blockdev-add`` empty string argument ``backing`` (since 2.10.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use argument value ``null`` instead.
+
+``block-commit`` arguments ``base`` and ``top`` (since 3.1.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use arguments ``base-node`` and ``top-node`` instead.
+
+``nbd-server-add`` and ``nbd-server-remove`` (since 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use the more generic commands ``block-export-add`` and ``block-export-del``
+instead.  As part of this deprecation, where ``nbd-server-add`` used a
+single ``bitmap``, the new ``block-export-add`` uses a list of ``bitmaps``.
+
+System accelerators
+-------------------
+
+MIPS ``Trap-and-Emul`` KVM support (since 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The MIPS ``Trap-and-Emul`` KVM host and guest support has been removed
+from Linux upstream kernel, declare it deprecated.
+
+System emulator CPUS
+--------------------
+
+``Icelake-Client`` CPU Model (since 5.2.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+``Icelake-Client`` CPU Models are deprecated. Use ``Icelake-Server`` CPU
+Models instead.
+
+MIPS ``I7200`` CPU Model (since 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``I7200`` guest CPU relies on the nanoMIPS ISA, which is deprecated
+(the ISA has never been upstreamed to a compiler toolchain). Therefore
+this CPU is also deprecated.
+
+System emulator machines
+------------------------
+
+Raspberry Pi ``raspi2`` and ``raspi3`` machines (since 5.2)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The Raspberry Pi machines come in various models (A, A+, B, B+). To be able
+to distinguish which model QEMU is implementing, the ``raspi2`` and ``raspi3``
+machines have been renamed ``raspi2b`` and ``raspi3b``.
+
+Aspeed ``swift-bmc`` machine (since 6.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This machine is deprecated because we have enough AST2500 based OpenPOWER
+machines. It can be easily replaced by the ``witherspoon-bmc`` or the
+``romulus-bmc`` machines.
+
+Backend options
+---------------
+
+Using non-persistent backing file with pmem=on (since 6.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This option is used when ``memory-backend-file`` is consumed by emulated NVDIMM
+device. However enabling ``memory-backend-file.pmem`` option, when backing file
+is (a) not DAX capable or (b) not on a filesystem that support direct mapping
+of persistent memory, is not safe and may lead to data loss or corruption in case
+of host crash.
+Options are:
+
+    - modify VM configuration to set ``pmem=off`` to continue using fake NVDIMM
+      (without persistence guaranties) with backing file on non DAX storage
+    - move backing file to NVDIMM storage and keep ``pmem=on``
+      (to have NVDIMM with persistence guaranties).
+
+Device options
+--------------
+
+Emulated device options
+'''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+``-device virtio-blk,scsi=on|off`` (since 5.0.0)
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+The virtio-blk SCSI passthrough feature is a legacy VIRTIO feature.  VIRTIO 1.0
+and later do not support it because the virtio-scsi device was introduced for
+full SCSI support.  Use virtio-scsi instead when SCSI passthrough is required.
+
+Note this also applies to ``-device virtio-blk-pci,scsi=on|off``, which is an
+alias.
+
+Block device options
+''''''''''''''''''''
+
+``"backing": ""`` (since 2.12.0)
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+In order to prevent QEMU from automatically opening an image's backing
+chain, use ``"backing": null`` instead.
+
+``rbd`` keyvalue pair encoded filenames: ``""`` (since 3.1.0)
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Options for ``rbd`` should be specified according to its runtime options,
+like other block drivers.  Legacy parsing of keyvalue pair encoded
+filenames is useful to open images with the old format for backing files;
+These image files should be updated to use the current format.
+
+Example of legacy encoding::
+
+  json:{"file.driver":"rbd", "file.filename":"rbd:rbd/name"}
+
+The above, converted to the current supported format::
+
+  json:{"file.driver":"rbd", "file.pool":"rbd", "file.image":"name"}
+
+linux-user mode CPUs
+--------------------
+
+``ppc64abi32`` CPUs (since 5.2.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``ppc64abi32`` architecture has a number of issues which regularly
+trip up our CI testing and is suspected to be quite broken. For that
+reason the maintainers strongly suspect no one actually uses it.
+
+MIPS ``I7200`` CPU (since 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``I7200`` guest CPU relies on the nanoMIPS ISA, which is deprecated
+(the ISA has never been upstreamed to a compiler toolchain). Therefore
+this CPU is also deprecated.
+
+Related binaries
+----------------
+
+Backwards compatibility
+-----------------------
+
+Runnability guarantee of CPU models (since 4.1.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Previous versions of QEMU never changed existing CPU models in
+ways that introduced additional host software or hardware
+requirements to the VM.  This allowed management software to
+safely change the machine type of an existing VM without
+introducing new requirements ("runnability guarantee").  This
+prevented CPU models from being updated to include CPU
+vulnerability mitigations, leaving guests vulnerable in the
+default configuration.
+
+The CPU model runnability guarantee won't apply anymore to
+existing CPU models.  Management software that needs runnability
+guarantees must resolve the CPU model aliases using the
+``alias-of`` field returned by the ``query-cpu-definitions`` QMP
+command.
+
+While those guarantees are kept, the return value of
+``query-cpu-definitions`` will have existing CPU model aliases
+point to a version that doesn't break runnability guarantees
+(specifically, version 1 of those CPU models).  In future QEMU
+versions, aliases will point to newer CPU model versions
+depending on the machine type, so management software must
+resolve CPU model aliases before starting a virtual machine.
+
+Guest Emulator ISAs
+-------------------
+
+nanoMIPS ISA
+''''''''''''
+
+The ``nanoMIPS`` ISA has never been upstreamed to any compiler toolchain.
+As it is hard to generate binaries for it, declare it deprecated.
diff --git a/docs/about/index.rst b/docs/about/index.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cd44456a6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/about/index.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+About QEMU
+==========
+
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 2
+
+   build-platforms
+   deprecated
+   removed-features
+   license
diff --git a/docs/about/license.rst b/docs/about/license.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..cde3d2d25d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/about/license.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+.. _License:
+
+License
+=======
+
+QEMU is a trademark of Fabrice Bellard.
+
+QEMU is released under the `GNU General Public
+License <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.txt>`__, version 2. Parts
+of QEMU have specific licenses, see file
+`LICENSE <https://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=blob_plain;f=LICENSE>`__.
diff --git a/docs/about/removed-features.rst b/docs/about/removed-features.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..28bb035043
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/about/removed-features.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,538 @@
+
+Removed features
+================
+
+What follows is a record of recently removed, formerly deprecated
+features that serves as a record for users who have encountered
+trouble after a recent upgrade.
+
+System emulator command line arguments
+--------------------------------------
+
+``-net ...,name=``\ *name* (removed in 5.1)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``name`` parameter of the ``-net`` option was a synonym
+for the ``id`` parameter, which should now be used instead.
+
+``-no-kvm`` (removed in 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``-no-kvm`` argument was a synonym for setting ``-machine accel=tcg``.
+
+``-realtime`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``-realtime mlock=on|off`` argument has been replaced by the
+``-overcommit mem-lock=on|off`` argument.
+
+``-show-cursor`` option (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``-display sdl,show-cursor=on``, ``-display gtk,show-cursor=on``
+or ``-display default,show-cursor=on`` instead.
+
+``-tb-size`` option (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+QEMU 5.0 introduced an alternative syntax to specify the size of the translation
+block cache, ``-accel tcg,tb-size=``.
+
+``-usbdevice audio`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This option lacked the possibility to specify an audio backend device.
+Use ``-device usb-audio`` now instead (and specify a corresponding USB
+host controller or ``-usb`` if necessary).
+
+``-vnc acl`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``acl`` option to the ``-vnc`` argument has been replaced
+by the ``tls-authz`` and ``sasl-authz`` options.
+
+``-mon ...,control=readline,pretty=on|off`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``pretty=on|off`` switch has no effect for HMP monitors and
+its use is rejected.
+
+``-drive file=json:{...{'driver':'file'}}`` (removed 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The 'file' driver for drives is no longer appropriate for character or host
+devices and will only accept regular files (S_IFREG). The correct driver
+for these file types is 'host_cdrom' or 'host_device' as appropriate.
+
+Floppy controllers' drive properties (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``-device floppy,...`` instead.  When configuring onboard floppy
+controllers
+::
+
+    -global isa-fdc.driveA=...
+    -global sysbus-fdc.driveA=...
+    -global SUNW,fdtwo.drive=...
+
+become
+::
+
+    -device floppy,unit=0,drive=...
+
+and
+::
+
+    -global isa-fdc.driveB=...
+    -global sysbus-fdc.driveB=...
+
+become
+::
+
+    -device floppy,unit=1,drive=...
+
+When plugging in a floppy controller
+::
+
+    -device isa-fdc,...,driveA=...
+
+becomes
+::
+
+    -device isa-fdc,...
+    -device floppy,unit=0,drive=...
+
+and
+::
+
+    -device isa-fdc,...,driveB=...
+
+becomes
+::
+
+    -device isa-fdc,...
+    -device floppy,unit=1,drive=...
+
+``-drive`` with bogus interface type (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Drives with interface types other than ``if=none`` are for onboard
+devices.  Drives the board doesn't pick up can no longer be used with
+-device.  Use ``if=none`` instead.
+
+``-usbdevice ccid`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This option was undocumented and not used in the field.
+Use `-device usb-ccid`` instead.
+
+RISC-V firmware not booted by default (removed in 5.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+QEMU 5.1 changes the default behaviour from ``-bios none`` to ``-bios default``
+for the RISC-V ``virt`` machine and ``sifive_u`` machine.
+
+QEMU Machine Protocol (QMP) commands
+------------------------------------
+
+``block-dirty-bitmap-add`` "autoload" parameter (removed in 4.2.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The "autoload" parameter has been ignored since 2.12.0. All bitmaps
+are automatically loaded from qcow2 images.
+
+``cpu-add`` (removed in 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``device_add`` for hotplugging vCPUs instead of ``cpu-add``.  See
+documentation of ``query-hotpluggable-cpus`` for additional details.
+
+``change`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``blockdev-change-medium`` or ``change-vnc-password`` instead.
+
+``query-events`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``query-events`` command has been superseded by the more powerful
+and accurate ``query-qmp-schema`` command.
+
+``migrate_set_cache_size`` and ``query-migrate-cache-size`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``migrate_set_parameter`` and ``info migrate_parameters`` instead.
+
+``migrate_set_downtime`` and ``migrate_set_speed`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``migrate_set_parameter`` instead.
+
+``query-cpus`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``query-cpus`` command is replaced by the ``query-cpus-fast`` command.
+
+``query-cpus-fast`` ``arch`` output member (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``arch`` output member of the ``query-cpus-fast`` command is
+replaced by the ``target`` output member.
+
+chardev client socket with ``wait`` option (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Character devices creating sockets in client mode should not specify
+the 'wait' field, which is only applicable to sockets in server mode
+
+``query-named-block-nodes`` result ``encryption_key_missing`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Removed with no replacement.
+
+``query-block`` result ``inserted.encryption_key_missing`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Removed with no replacement.
+
+``query-named-block-nodes`` and ``query-block`` result dirty-bitmaps[i].status (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``status`` field of the ``BlockDirtyInfo`` structure, returned by
+these commands is removed. Two new boolean fields, ``recording`` and
+``busy`` effectively replace it.
+
+``query-block`` result field ``dirty-bitmaps`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``dirty-bitmaps`` field of the ``BlockInfo`` structure, returned by
+the query-block command is itself now removed. The ``dirty-bitmaps``
+field of the ``BlockDeviceInfo`` struct should be used instead, which is the
+type of the ``inserted`` field in query-block replies, as well as the
+type of array items in query-named-block-nodes.
+
+``object-add`` option ``props`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Specify the properties for the object as top-level arguments instead.
+
+Human Monitor Protocol (HMP) commands
+-------------------------------------
+
+The ``hub_id`` parameter of ``hostfwd_add`` / ``hostfwd_remove`` (removed in 5.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``[hub_id name]`` parameter tuple of the 'hostfwd_add' and
+'hostfwd_remove' HMP commands has been replaced by ``netdev_id``.
+
+``cpu-add`` (removed in 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``device_add`` for hotplugging vCPUs instead of ``cpu-add``.  See
+documentation of ``query-hotpluggable-cpus`` for additional details.
+
+``change vnc TARGET`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+No replacement.  The ``change vnc password`` and ``change DEVICE MEDIUM``
+commands are not affected.
+
+``acl_show``, ``acl_reset``, ``acl_policy``, ``acl_add``, ``acl_remove`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``acl_show``, ``acl_reset``, ``acl_policy``, ``acl_add``, and
+``acl_remove`` commands were removed with no replacement. Authorization
+for VNC should be performed using the pluggable QAuthZ objects.
+
+``migrate-set-cache-size`` and ``info migrate-cache-size`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``migrate-set-parameters`` and ``info migrate-parameters`` instead.
+
+``migrate_set_downtime`` and ``migrate_set_speed`` (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Use ``migrate-set-parameters`` instead.
+
+``info cpustats`` (removed in 6.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This command didn't produce any output already. Removed with no replacement.
+
+Guest Emulator ISAs
+-------------------
+
+RISC-V ISA privilege specification version 1.09.1 (removed in 5.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The RISC-V ISA privilege specification version 1.09.1 has been removed.
+QEMU supports both the newer version 1.10.0 and the ratified version 1.11.0, these
+should be used instead of the 1.09.1 version.
+
+System emulator CPUS
+--------------------
+
+KVM guest support on 32-bit Arm hosts (removed in 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The Linux kernel has dropped support for allowing 32-bit Arm systems
+to host KVM guests as of the 5.7 kernel. Accordingly, QEMU is deprecating
+its support for this configuration and will remove it in a future version.
+Running 32-bit guests on a 64-bit Arm host remains supported.
+
+RISC-V ISA Specific CPUs (removed in 5.1)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The RISC-V cpus with the ISA version in the CPU name have been removed. The
+four CPUs are: ``rv32gcsu-v1.9.1``, ``rv32gcsu-v1.10.0``, ``rv64gcsu-v1.9.1`` and
+``rv64gcsu-v1.10.0``. Instead the version can be specified via the CPU ``priv_spec``
+option when using the ``rv32`` or ``rv64`` CPUs.
+
+RISC-V no MMU CPUs (removed in 5.1)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The RISC-V no MMU cpus have been removed. The two CPUs: ``rv32imacu-nommu`` and
+``rv64imacu-nommu`` can no longer be used. Instead the MMU status can be specified
+via the CPU ``mmu`` option when using the ``rv32`` or ``rv64`` CPUs.
+
+``compat`` property of server class POWER CPUs (removed in 6.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``max-cpu-compat`` property of the ``pseries`` machine type should be used
+instead.
+
+``moxie`` CPU (removed in 6.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Nobody was using this CPU emulation in QEMU, and there were no test images
+available to make sure that the code is still working, so it has been removed
+without replacement.
+
+``lm32`` CPUs (removed in 6.1.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The only public user of this architecture was the milkymist project,
+which has been dead for years; there was never an upstream Linux
+port.  Removed without replacement.
+
+``unicore32`` CPUs (since 6.1.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Support for this CPU was removed from the upstream Linux kernel, and
+there is no available upstream toolchain to build binaries for it.
+Removed without replacement.
+
+System emulator machines
+------------------------
+
+``spike_v1.9.1`` and ``spike_v1.10`` (removed in 5.1)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The version specific Spike machines have been removed in favour of the
+generic ``spike`` machine. If you need to specify an older version of the RISC-V
+spec you can use the ``-cpu rv64gcsu,priv_spec=v1.10.0`` command line argument.
+
+mips ``r4k`` platform (removed in 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This machine type was very old and unmaintained. Users should use the ``malta``
+machine type instead.
+
+mips ``fulong2e`` machine alias (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+This machine has been renamed ``fuloong2e``.
+
+``pc-1.0``, ``pc-1.1``, ``pc-1.2`` and ``pc-1.3`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+These machine types were very old and likely could not be used for live
+migration from old QEMU versions anymore. Use a newer machine type instead.
+
+
+linux-user mode CPUs
+--------------------
+
+``tilegx`` CPUs (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``tilegx`` guest CPU support has been removed without replacement. It was
+only implemented in linux-user mode, but support for this CPU was removed from
+the upstream Linux kernel in 2018, and it has also been dropped from glibc, so
+there is no new Linux development taking place with this architecture. For
+running the old binaries, you can use older versions of QEMU.
+
+System emulator devices
+-----------------------
+
+``ide-drive`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The 'ide-drive' device has been removed. Users should use 'ide-hd' or
+'ide-cd' as appropriate to get an IDE hard disk or CD-ROM as needed.
+
+``scsi-disk`` (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The 'scsi-disk' device has been removed. Users should use 'scsi-hd' or
+'scsi-cd' as appropriate to get a SCSI hard disk or CD-ROM as needed.
+
+Related binaries
+----------------
+
+``qemu-nbd --partition`` (removed in 5.0)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``qemu-nbd --partition $digit`` code (also spelled ``-P``)
+could only handle MBR partitions, and never correctly handled logical
+partitions beyond partition 5.  Exporting a partition can still be
+done by utilizing the ``--image-opts`` option with a raw blockdev
+using the ``offset`` and ``size`` parameters layered on top of
+any other existing blockdev. For example, if partition 1 is 100MiB
+long starting at 1MiB, the old command::
+
+  qemu-nbd -t -P 1 -f qcow2 file.qcow2
+
+can be rewritten as::
+
+  qemu-nbd -t --image-opts driver=raw,offset=1M,size=100M,file.driver=qcow2,file.file.driver=file,file.file.filename=file.qcow2
+
+``qemu-img convert -n -o`` (removed in 5.1)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+All options specified in ``-o`` are image creation options, so
+they are now rejected when used with ``-n`` to skip image creation.
+
+
+``qemu-img create -b bad file $size`` (removed in 5.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+When creating an image with a backing file that could not be opened,
+``qemu-img create`` used to issue a warning about the failure but
+proceed with the image creation if an explicit size was provided.
+However, as the ``-u`` option exists for this purpose, it is safer to
+enforce that any failure to open the backing image (including if the
+backing file is missing or an incorrect format was specified) is an
+error when ``-u`` is not used.
+
+Command line options
+--------------------
+
+``-smp`` (invalid topologies) (removed 5.2)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+CPU topology properties should describe whole machine topology including
+possible CPUs.
+
+However, historically it was possible to start QEMU with an incorrect topology
+where *n* <= *sockets* * *cores* * *threads* < *maxcpus*,
+which could lead to an incorrect topology enumeration by the guest.
+Support for invalid topologies is removed, the user must ensure
+topologies described with -smp include all possible cpus, i.e.
+*sockets* * *cores* * *threads* = *maxcpus*.
+
+``-numa`` node (without memory specified) (removed 5.2)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+Splitting RAM by default between NUMA nodes had the same issues as ``mem``
+parameter with the difference that the role of the user plays QEMU using
+implicit generic or board specific splitting rule.
+Use ``memdev`` with *memory-backend-ram* backend or ``mem`` (if
+it's supported by used machine type) to define mapping explicitly instead.
+Users of existing VMs, wishing to preserve the same RAM distribution, should
+configure it explicitly using ``-numa node,memdev`` options. Current RAM
+distribution can be retrieved using HMP command ``info numa`` and if separate
+memory devices (pc|nv-dimm) are present use ``info memory-device`` and subtract
+device memory from output of ``info numa``.
+
+``-numa node,mem=``\ *size* (removed in 5.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The parameter ``mem`` of ``-numa node`` was used to assign a part of
+guest RAM to a NUMA node. But when using it, it's impossible to manage a specified
+RAM chunk on the host side (like bind it to a host node, setting bind policy, ...),
+so the guest ends up with the fake NUMA configuration with suboptiomal performance.
+However since 2014 there is an alternative way to assign RAM to a NUMA node
+using parameter ``memdev``, which does the same as ``mem`` and adds
+means to actually manage node RAM on the host side. Use parameter ``memdev``
+with *memory-backend-ram* backend as replacement for parameter ``mem``
+to achieve the same fake NUMA effect or a properly configured
+*memory-backend-file* backend to actually benefit from NUMA configuration.
+New machine versions (since 5.1) will not accept the option but it will still
+work with old machine types. User can check the QAPI schema to see if the legacy
+option is supported by looking at MachineInfo::numa-mem-supported property.
+
+``-mem-path`` fallback to RAM (removed in 5.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+If guest RAM allocation from file pointed by ``mem-path`` failed,
+QEMU was falling back to allocating from RAM, which might have resulted
+in unpredictable behavior since the backing file specified by the user
+as ignored. Currently, users are responsible for making sure the backing storage
+specified with ``-mem-path`` can actually provide the guest RAM configured with
+``-m`` and QEMU fails to start up if RAM allocation is unsuccessful.
+
+``-smp`` (invalid topologies) (removed 5.2)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+CPU topology properties should describe whole machine topology including
+possible CPUs.
+
+However, historically it was possible to start QEMU with an incorrect topology
+where *n* <= *sockets* * *cores* * *threads* < *maxcpus*,
+which could lead to an incorrect topology enumeration by the guest.
+Support for invalid topologies is removed, the user must ensure
+topologies described with -smp include all possible cpus, i.e.
+*sockets* * *cores* * *threads* = *maxcpus*.
+
+``-machine enforce-config-section=on|off`` (removed 5.2)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The ``enforce-config-section`` property was replaced by the
+``-global migration.send-configuration={on|off}`` option.
+
+qemu-img amend to adjust backing file (removed in 6.1)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The use of ``qemu-img amend`` to modify the name or format of a qcow2
+backing image was never fully documented or tested, and interferes
+with other amend operations that need access to the original backing
+image (such as deciding whether a v3 zero cluster may be left
+unallocated when converting to a v2 image).  Any changes to the
+backing chain should be performed with ``qemu-img rebase -u`` either
+before or after the remaining changes being performed by amend, as
+appropriate.
+
+qemu-img backing file without format (removed in 6.1)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The use of ``qemu-img create``, ``qemu-img rebase``, or ``qemu-img
+convert`` to create or modify an image that depends on a backing file
+now requires that an explicit backing format be provided.  This is
+for safety: if QEMU probes a different format than what you thought,
+the data presented to the guest will be corrupt; similarly, presenting
+a raw image to a guest allows a potential security exploit if a future
+probe sees a non-raw image based on guest writes.
+
+To avoid creating unsafe backing chains, you must pass ``-o
+backing_fmt=`` (or the shorthand ``-F`` during create) to specify the
+intended backing format.  You may use ``qemu-img rebase -u`` to
+retroactively add a backing format to an existing image.  However, be
+aware that there are already potential security risks to blindly using
+``qemu-img info`` to probe the format of an untrusted backing image,
+when deciding what format to add into an existing image.
+
+Block devices
+-------------
+
+VXHS backend (removed in 5.1)
+'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The VXHS code did not compile since v2.12.0. It was removed in 5.1.
+
+``sheepdog`` driver (removed in 6.0)
+''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
+
+The corresponding upstream server project is no longer maintained.
+Users are recommended to switch to an alternative distributed block
+device driver such as RBD.