best way to compile a kernel

ninja master · 02-01-2009, 12:21 AM

is it better to compile everything into your kernel, and have a giant kernel, or is it better to run your kernel as modules, with initrd images? i currently have everything i have / use compiled in, and it seems to be slower and larger than the huge smp kernel i started with. im seeking to extract every ounce of performance out of this machine, and am open to tips and suggestions.

i did trim everything out of the kernel that i dont use, but switched everything that i do use to compiled in.

dividingbyzero · 02-01-2009, 11:01 AM

I don' think it really matters. I don't think that attaching modules will give you a faster or slower kernel. The cpu, memory, and system bus are what gives you speed, the kernel, etc. are just a bunch of 1's and 0's. On old (really old) computers software things mattered more; today's computers are so fast that software issues such as optimization, etc. go mostly unnoticed.

i92guboj · 02-01-2009, 07:19 PM

It really doesn't matter performance-wise.

Disabling the module support in your kernel however has other implications (for example, the fact that you are going to be invulnerable to rootkits that comes as kernel modules). But in modern desktops that's almost impossible, because you need it to install drivers like those for graphics cards, which most times have a closed source nature.

H_TeXMeX_H · 02-02-2009, 08:04 AM

It does matter in startup speed. Loading a larger kernel can in some cases mean a big difference in boot speed.

My theory is compile most things as modules. This is not only because it will be faster to boot, but also because it will cause less potential problems derived from driver conflicts. Still I would make sure to make the filesystem drivers built-in so you don't have to use an initrd. Most of the rest can all be modules.

ninja master · 02-02-2009, 11:25 PM

i find myself agreeing with H_TeXMeX_H my coustom kernels i was compiling in the sound and other stuff. my hand compiled kernels would be larger than huge smp. almost 5 meg! i would like the thoughts of a few others on this though.

ErV · 02-03-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninja master

i did trim everything out of the kernel that i dont use, but switched everything that i do use to compiled in.

Not sure if this is "the best way", but I prefer to take official slackware kernel configuration, then enable few additional things I need (optimize for cpu, larger timer frequency, etc).

H_TeXMeX_H · 02-03-2009, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErV

Not sure if this is "the best way", but I prefer to take official slackware kernel configuration, then enable few additional things I need (optimize for cpu, larger timer frequency, etc).

Yeah, I agree, I use the generic kernel config, then tweak it.

jstephens84 · 02-03-2009, 09:16 AM

Same here but I normally only compile in the eseentials along with my NIC and then add everything else as a module.