Hya,

Question is:
How to make system as lean as possible?

In other words, how to avoid unnecessary functions (in either kernel or module)? Or, how to create minimal .config file for custom kernel.

Background: Currently, I have three penguins, two Toshiba's and one Acer. These have different hardware configuration, so that necessary modules may differ. Historically, all started from same .config file. However, one has more than 600 modules, the other only 400. All of them are functioning well. I am a kind of confident that many modules (if not some) are useless.

If I go one by one, I am pretty sure it is possible to figure out, however it may take long looonnnnggggg. Also once unexpected side effect happens, it may take forever to troubleshoot.

I thought it was easier, but may be not. (I also have trouble finding web site..)

Any suggestions will be welcome.

Happy Penguins!

Search LQ m8, I believe this guide is all you need.

try this command option to make i386_defconfig for a 32bit linux
or x86_64_defconfig for a 64bit system
this will build the minimum hernel to boot your computer EXCEPT FOR THE FILE SYSTEM YOU ARE USING
but it will almost exactly match your hardware (I've seen it get the wifi card wrong)
you will still need to run make menuconfig to select file systems and turn off kernel debugging at the minimum may be more

you can make a kernel with just what is in the computer and have just about every thing in the kernel NO modules loaded at boot time
mine boots twice as fast as the stock kernel did