Hi all,

maybe this can be a newbie question. I'll try to write it as best as I can.
1) Each new Kernel adds new features.
2) Some of these features are related to new processors/architectures
3) Some of these feature can be useful to all systems
4) It can happen that for a certain kernel release, the performances can be worst than an older version.

My questions are:
1) Is there any documentation related to performance test of various kernel version for certain architecture? ( couple or processor/quantity of RAM )
2) Does a newer kernel version has the capability to choose any of the older configuration while you want to recompile it?
3) Is there any guide that can give you advices to how recompile the kernel or how to choose the righe kernel for a certain architecture?

thank you very much

Pich

If you are not sure which kernel version to use I recommend to use the distribution's software update to update the kernel and not build it your self. In this case the kernel will always optimized for the distribution. For example, running sudo apt-get install linux-image-amd64 on Debian 7.3 x64 will install kernel 3.2.0-4-amd64

Generally speaking, the majority of Linux users choose a distro that has a good reputation (Debian, Slackware, CentOS, etc.) and use the tested, trusted, and supported kernel from the developers, applying updates as they are available through the package manager. That should give a good balance of stability and performance on most hardware.

To answer your specific question, all changes to the Linux kernel are extremely well-documented, since it is an "open source" project. The question then becomes, is it easy for a layperson like you or me to read through the changelogs to know if performance will be good on our hardware? And the actual fact is, it is much quicker to simply burn the Live CD and take it for a test drive, than it is to sift through the Linux kernel changelogs.

actually newer kernels may have better performance and fixed bugs. You can configure your source tree to include and exclude specific drivers if you want to do so, but you need to be familiar with the capabilities of your hardware.
so the answers: 1) I do not know about that, but it may exist.
2) yes, usually, but probably some really ancient drivers removed.
3) there is a guide, but that will not be enough.
http://www.cromwell-intl.com/linux/linux-kernel.html
http://alien.slackbook.org/dokuwiki/...kernelbuilding
http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/...l-build-system
google....

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