I just compiled 2.6.2 kernel for slack and was wondering, Is there a general preference when compiling a new kernel to build things within the kernel or as a module? If so what are the pros / cons of each.

the curious one,

iNiT

http://linuxquestions.org/questions/...threadid=73436

I believe a benefit to modules is that you can upgrade modules if something new is available and not have to recompile the kernel.

the choice is yours, id say if you not gonna always use it or are short on space (unless u need thins kernel for a flopy theres no reason to save space sence the kernel is a relativly small program), compile it what you need and what you want to compile in

jsut pick what you are gonna use always or need to start up and compile that in, then decide what the other stuff should be

It's been in my experience that you should build things into the kernel if you *know* you'll be using them all of the time. e.g.: I always compile ext3, various processor options, etc right into the kernel.

Modules are for things that you may use sometimes but not all of the time. Like various USB drivers, firewire, etc.

Now, the tricky part is some kernel options will not work when they are compiled. I don't know why...they just don't. Sound drivers in particular come to mind. I always compile these as modules.

Some SCSI drivers don't like to be compiled in. If you're running root on a scsi, you'll need to enable ramdisk images. You can find the tutural in http://tldp.org/HOWTO/SCSI-2.4-HOWTO/

Hope that helps.

Thx, After posting I read my O'reilly book before bed and acualy found out some other info on the topic. There are defanitly pro / cons to each side. It seems for an ultra secure server no loadable module support would be the best choice. Smaller the kenerl the faster also, so who knows .. To each there own I guess


........

Well I always used to compile everything as monolithic (compiled in basically). This lead to having kernels that were between 1.8Mb and 2.1Mb in size! Until about a week ago I decided to try and compile as much as I can as modules. The result of this was reducing the kernel size by 48% (the kernel is now 948Kb in size) and it is about 66% quicker booting up. The only things that I have compiled in as monolithic (apart from the options where you can't compile it in as modules) are JFS Support and IDE Support.

In short I would strongly recommend that you compile as much as you can as modules.